Club Spotlight: CSM Pokefans

Are you crazy about Charizard? Excited about Eevee? Are you looking for a place to chat about Pokemon, play card and video games, and get to know other people just like you? Then the Pokefans club is the right place for you!

John Bristow, the president of the club, Mitch Pradis, the vice president, and Stephen Cuttler, the public relations manager, were shocked that the CSM campus did not have a Pokemon club. They decided to take matters into their own hands and start their own in January of 2016..

“We knew there were enough people on campus who enjoyed Pokemon; we just wanted to get them all together,” Bristow stated. The Pokefans are a self-proclaimed chill and non-committal club.

“We’re not going to hunt you down if you don’t attend every meeting” said Bristow, laughing. “We just want to provide a relaxed place people can come and enjoy the culture of the game. Anyone who likes Pokemon is welcome, whether [they are] a casual or intense gamer.” There are no dues, but the club is very involved in many card and video game tournaments. They also host pre-release parties, Pokemon Go walks, Pokken tournaments, and more.

“We want to be a type of gateway community,” explained Bristow. “There’s a larger Pokemon community in the area and we want to be a halfway point for people who don’t know about it.” The club is anticipating several big events, including the upcoming release of Pokemon Sun and Moon on November 18th, 2016. The Pokemon club is partnering with Gamestop to plan a midnight release party on the night of Thursday, November 17th.

The Pokefans are also planning to go see Symphonic Evolutions, an orchestral group that travels around the world playing musical pieces from both recent and classic Pokemon video games. Symphonic Evolutions will be playing in Denver on March 9th, 2017 at the Boettcher Concert Hall in the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

“When people walk in the door we just want them to feel welcome,” stated Cuttler. After a brief round of announcements and some banter, members pulled out Nintendo DSs and Pokemon cards. Several people gathered to watch two members begin a card battle, while others discussed the new legendary Pokemon, Victini, that became available on September 1st. Players snacked on cookies and chatted in a completely relaxed atmosphere.

The club welcomes new members any time of year. Come visit the Pokefans on Thursdays in Berthoud 204 from 6-8pm. Find them on Orgsync, and check out their Facebook page “CSM Pokefans.”

Friends Stephen Cuttler, Mitch Pradis, and John Bristow started the club in January of 2016.

The Pokefans are also planning to go see Symphonic Evolutions, an orchestral group that travels around the world playing musical pieces from both recent and classic Pokemon video games. Symphonic Evolutions will be playing in Denver on March 9th, 2017 at the Boettcher Concert Hall in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Bristow and Cuttler and the other Pokefans are welcoming new members any time of year. Come visit the Pokefans on Thursdays in Berthoud 204 from 6-8pm, find them on Orgsync, and check out their Facebook page “CSM Pokefans.”

“When people walk in the door we just want them to feel welcome,” stated Cuttler. The Pokefans meet in Berthoud Hall room 204 on Thursday evenings from 6-8 pm. The meetings are relaxed and members can come and go whenever they please.

After a brief round of announcements and some banter, members pulled out Nintendo DSs and Pokemon cards. Several people gathered to watch two members begin a card battle, while others discussed the new legendary Pokemon, Victini, that became available on September 1st. Players snacked on cookies and chatted in a completely relaxed atmosphere.

Cuttler expressed “A Pokemon club can seem silly but it’s for people to relax, meet people, and have fun. School can get grueling at times but I’ve met lots of friends thru Pokemon.”