Members of the PokéGym!
On this last day of our Birthday Celebration we have two announcements of important changes to share with you!
We have some staff who are stepping back to regular status (or who have retired). We'd like to thank each of them for their service to you the members over the months and years:
Sensei. Mike Proch was a founding member of Team Compendium and longtime admin on the PokéGym's various incarnations. He was one of the original PokéGym's Moderators, dating back to 1999. Without Sensei, Team Compendium may not have gotten off the ground. He has moved on from all of that and the game. We miss him and wish him all the best. Thanks for all you've given to the game and the 'Gym, Mike!
Onederlnd. When Wizards lost the Pokémon franchise, the 'Gym lost its home on the Internet. Randy Christenhusz stepped up and quickly created a new home for the PokéGym from scratch, mixing the ideas of the admins, graphics from the community (e.g. Purity) and his own creative touch. Randy has given lots of his time over the years to make this place run. He was also very generous sharing knowledge when bulbasnore was added to the technical staff. Since Randy has gotten busy with other things in life, its been a bit lonely in the PokéGym's boiler room, but he will now become Administrator Emeritus.
Maverick Hunter Zero. Jason Comerford came on to provide graphics help and helped start the Gallery. He contributed the first feature article on the current 'Gym front page (How to Create a Fake Card), and some really cool custom flash graphics. He still frequents the 'Gym, so say hi and thanks, but his studies and pursuit of photography have moved him to retire from helping out with the 'Gym.
GymLeaderPhil. Phil McKinney was incredibly productive during his brief time as PokéGym moderator and global moderator. Before that he contributed quite heavily to the Pojo site, both on the content pages and forums. We will miss him as a fun and hard-working teammate. Phil has decided to focus on playing the TCG over judging and modding for the immediate future.
Patriarch. What can you say about Johnny Kettler? He is one of our founding cardiologists, sure, but he got there by being an incredible contributor on the 'Gym. The last few Iron Chef deck contests were incredible in terms of sheer work and quality. JK is an active tourney player and concentrating on the transition to College at the moment. He may return to Cardiology at some point in the future, but he will always be an Iron Chef Master.
Daddiursa. Simon Sigurdson Hjelle was our first non-us moderator. He stepped up, along with Ancient Absol, to bring some common sense and tolerance to the Deck Help forums a couple years ago. Since then he has also modded on the International event forums. He is up to his ears in work and studies right now, and may return later when things are less busy.
And we have some new staff coming on board or adding extra responsibilities. Each of them is here to serve the members and enhance your experience on the 'Gym.
Meganium45. Vince Krekeler, currently PTO, Judge and PokéGym mod, has agreed to increase his moderator responsibilities and help out in the News & Gossip forum. Don't mess with Vince!
Dendrobatida. Jacob Burt is a builder of unusual and successful decks, a tourney winner and has actively served on the Cardiology team. Jake will be stepping up to full moderator in the Deck Help and Strategy forums.
Prime. A long-time member and contributor on the 'Gym, Matthew Riddle has agreed to replenish our depleted moderator ranks. Welcome, Prime!
BigChuck01. Alex Brousseau is a highly accomplished player & deck builder who is also skilled at teaching strategy. He'll be joining the Cardiology team and helping to produce featured fixes, evaluate/fix your feature deck article submissions, and help mod in the Deck Forum.
dld4a. Dave Coleman II is unstoppable as a feature writer. You may or may not always agree, but his stuff always makes us think, just like the Page2 columnist in your local paper. He will be recognized with the Feature Writer rank. Keep an eye out for his next article and let him know what you think about his topic.
FlamingSpinach. Truly firey, but no vegetable, Matt McPike's articles are some of our most linked threads. He is willing to help out as Feature Editor bringing other people's articles up to snuff so they can get published. Check for his critique/suggestions on your next article and if he calls on you to write for the PokéGym, step up!
The Admins hope you'll take a moment at the close of the celebration to PM the new, departing or active staff to tell them thanks for their service on the PokéGym. They work very hard to make the site fun and welcoming.
On this last day of our Birthday Celebration we have two announcements of important changes to share with you!
We have some staff who are stepping back to regular status (or who have retired). We'd like to thank each of them for their service to you the members over the months and years:
Sensei. Mike Proch was a founding member of Team Compendium and longtime admin on the PokéGym's various incarnations. He was one of the original PokéGym's Moderators, dating back to 1999. Without Sensei, Team Compendium may not have gotten off the ground. He has moved on from all of that and the game. We miss him and wish him all the best. Thanks for all you've given to the game and the 'Gym, Mike!
Onederlnd. When Wizards lost the Pokémon franchise, the 'Gym lost its home on the Internet. Randy Christenhusz stepped up and quickly created a new home for the PokéGym from scratch, mixing the ideas of the admins, graphics from the community (e.g. Purity) and his own creative touch. Randy has given lots of his time over the years to make this place run. He was also very generous sharing knowledge when bulbasnore was added to the technical staff. Since Randy has gotten busy with other things in life, its been a bit lonely in the PokéGym's boiler room, but he will now become Administrator Emeritus.
Maverick Hunter Zero. Jason Comerford came on to provide graphics help and helped start the Gallery. He contributed the first feature article on the current 'Gym front page (How to Create a Fake Card), and some really cool custom flash graphics. He still frequents the 'Gym, so say hi and thanks, but his studies and pursuit of photography have moved him to retire from helping out with the 'Gym.
GymLeaderPhil. Phil McKinney was incredibly productive during his brief time as PokéGym moderator and global moderator. Before that he contributed quite heavily to the Pojo site, both on the content pages and forums. We will miss him as a fun and hard-working teammate. Phil has decided to focus on playing the TCG over judging and modding for the immediate future.
Patriarch. What can you say about Johnny Kettler? He is one of our founding cardiologists, sure, but he got there by being an incredible contributor on the 'Gym. The last few Iron Chef deck contests were incredible in terms of sheer work and quality. JK is an active tourney player and concentrating on the transition to College at the moment. He may return to Cardiology at some point in the future, but he will always be an Iron Chef Master.
Daddiursa. Simon Sigurdson Hjelle was our first non-us moderator. He stepped up, along with Ancient Absol, to bring some common sense and tolerance to the Deck Help forums a couple years ago. Since then he has also modded on the International event forums. He is up to his ears in work and studies right now, and may return later when things are less busy.
And we have some new staff coming on board or adding extra responsibilities. Each of them is here to serve the members and enhance your experience on the 'Gym.
Meganium45. Vince Krekeler, currently PTO, Judge and PokéGym mod, has agreed to increase his moderator responsibilities and help out in the News & Gossip forum. Don't mess with Vince!
Dendrobatida. Jacob Burt is a builder of unusual and successful decks, a tourney winner and has actively served on the Cardiology team. Jake will be stepping up to full moderator in the Deck Help and Strategy forums.
Prime. A long-time member and contributor on the 'Gym, Matthew Riddle has agreed to replenish our depleted moderator ranks. Welcome, Prime!
BigChuck01. Alex Brousseau is a highly accomplished player & deck builder who is also skilled at teaching strategy. He'll be joining the Cardiology team and helping to produce featured fixes, evaluate/fix your feature deck article submissions, and help mod in the Deck Forum.
dld4a. Dave Coleman II is unstoppable as a feature writer. You may or may not always agree, but his stuff always makes us think, just like the Page2 columnist in your local paper. He will be recognized with the Feature Writer rank. Keep an eye out for his next article and let him know what you think about his topic.
FlamingSpinach. Truly firey, but no vegetable, Matt McPike's articles are some of our most linked threads. He is willing to help out as Feature Editor bringing other people's articles up to snuff so they can get published. Check for his critique/suggestions on your next article and if he calls on you to write for the PokéGym, step up!
The Admins hope you'll take a moment at the close of the celebration to PM the new, departing or active staff to tell them thanks for their service on the PokéGym. They work very hard to make the site fun and welcoming.