TPN Special PSA: Rachel’s Corner - IFPA Women’s State Pinball Championships

The Pinball Network·video·10m 21s·analyzed·Jan 18, 2023

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.021

TL;DR

Rachel Risto urges pinball community to fund women's state championships

Summary

Rachel Risto, a competitive pinball player and organizer, creates a podcast PSA to promote the inaugural IFPA Women's State Pinball Championship on January 22, 2023, held in Wisconsin. She advocates for financial support from manufacturers, content creators, and the pinball community to help women organizers fund their championships, sharing her personal experience of organizing events on a shoestring budget and the unique supportive culture of women's pinball.

Key Claims

The inaugural IFPA Women's State Pinball Championship is being held on Sunday, January 22, 2023 in Wisconsin
high confidence · Rachel explicitly states this is the event she is promoting, with a specific date and location reference
Women organizers and tournament directors often break even or lose money on women's pinball events
high confidence · Rachel states: 'almost every women's event I have organized, I'm so very lucky to break even. And if I don't, who cares?' She also notes 'so many organizers and TDs that end up putting their own money into the events'
There is a significant gender gap in competitive pinball participation
high confidence · Rachel says: 'When I first started playing competitive, it was blatantly obvious that there was a huge gender gap within the hobby, to the extent that it's so easy for me to remember the names of the women that I've met in pinball because there are so few of us'
Rachel organized a bake sale with a three-strike pinball tournament to fund the women's state championship
high confidence · Rachel states: 'I ran a bake sale. Well, a bake sale with an open three-strike pinball tournament this past weekend' to raise funds for trophies and swag
Women's pinball events create a uniquely supportive and nurturing atmosphere compared to open tournaments
medium confidence · Rachel describes the culture: 'women hug it out after a close game. You hear women clapping, whooping it up, and cheering each other on' and emphasizes safety and encouragement

Notable Quotes

“My answer is so simple, to get more women to play pinball. Honest truth, that's it.”
Rachel Risto @ early in podcast — Core motivation statement for Rachel's work in women's pinball advocacy
“When I first started playing competitive, it was blatantly obvious that there was a huge gender gap within the hobby, to the extent that it's so easy for me to remember the names of the women that I've met in pinball because there are so few of us”
Rachel Risto @ mid-podcast — Describes the severity of gender imbalance in competitive pinball
“Every woman who qualified to play in this championship series has earned the right to be there. They played so hard to be there, to be recognized.”
Rachel Risto @ mid-late podcast — Emphasizes the importance of recognizing women's achievement in competitive pinball
“There is no money in women's pinball. What do I mean by that? Well, for me, almost every women's event I have organized, I'm so very lucky to break even.”
Rachel Risto @ mid-podcast — Key economic challenge statement for women's pinball organizing
“I have a voice. I have a platform. And all the encouragement I need to bring a message to the pinball enthusiasts of the world.”
Rachel Risto @ late podcast — Turning point where Rachel explains her motivation to use her platform for advocacy

Entities

Rachel RistopersonLadies Flip WisconsinorganizationIFPAorganizationFoxy's Pinball StreamorganizationTri-Multi-BallproductRay-Ray ShowproductMidwest Gaming ClassiceventIFPA Women's State Pinball Championshipevent

Signals

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community_signal: Systemic underfunding of women's pinball events compared to open tournaments, limiting quality of championship experiences and accessibility for women players
high · Rachel appeals for financial support from manufacturers and community, noting women organizers 'may not be able to provide a lunch to their players' or 'afford any type of trophies'
?
community_signal: Rachel Risto organizing inaugural IFPA Women's State Pinball Championship with community fundraising efforts (bake sale, sponsorships, donations) to provide proper championship experience including trophies and custom keychains
high · Rachel describes organizing a bake sale with pinball tournament, soliciting donations from Wisconsin pinball community, and creating custom trophies and keychains for all participants
?
community_signal: Women's pinball organizers struggling financially to sustain events, with most breaking even at best and often absorbing costs personally
high · Rachel states: 'almost every women's event I have organized, I'm so very lucky to break even' and notes 'so many organizers and TDs that end up putting their own money into the events'
~
sentiment_shift: Growing recognition and formalization of women's pinball with IFPA creating inaugural state championship, representing shift toward mainstream integration of women's competition
high · First IFPA-sanctioned Women's State Pinball Championship is being held, suggesting institutional recognition of women's division

Topics

Women's pinball advocacy and community buildingprimaryGender gap in competitive pinballprimaryFunding challenges for women's pinball organizersprimaryCommunity support and donation drivesprimaryIFPA Women's State Pinball Championship inaugural eventprimarySupportive culture in women's pinball vs. open tournamentssecondary

Sentiment

positive(0.85)— Rachel is passionate and inspirational about women's pinball, expressing gratitude for community support while also making a clear call to action for broader financial support. Her tone is earnest, motivational, and inclusive. Some underlying frustration about systemic lack of funding for women's events, but framed constructively.

Transcript

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Hello friends, welcome to Rachel's Corner 2023 IFP Women's State Pinball Championship. This is just a little podcast to bring awareness to women's pinball. I am your host, Rachel Risto. I am a pinball enthusiast, a competitive pinball player who likes to travel, a pinball commentator for Foxy's Pinball Stream, and of course I have two podcasts about pinball, Tri-multiball and the Ray-Ray Show. I also run Ladies Flip Wisconsin, a traveling pinball tournament series for women in my home state of Wisconsin. I'm also in the process of starting to organize the open tournament event at the Midwest Gaming Classic coming up. So yeah, you could say that I like pinball and have an interest in the community. So why am I creating yet another podcast? Well, I wanted to put a spotlight on something really awesome that is happening this Sunday, January 22nd, 2023 in women's pinball. It is the very first, dare I say, inaugural IFPA Women's State Pinball Championship, which will be held at a pinball location near you, dear listener. But first, why women's pinball? That is a question I often get asked. I've learned that there are different answers depending on who you ask. But for me, when I'm asked, why women's pinball, Rachel? My answer is so simple, to get more women to play pinball. Honest truth, that's it. I'm not talking about getting more women to play women's pinball. I'm just trying to get more women into the pinball hobby overall, period. When I first started playing competitive, it was blatantly obvious that there was a huge gender gap within the hobby, to the extent that it's so easy for me to remember the names of the women that I've met in pinball because there are so few of us in comparison to the rest of the hobby. So I decided to do something about this. It's why I do women's pinball, why I created Ladies Flip Wisconsin, to learn more women's names, to get them involved in this awesome community, to help them connect with their partners over pinball, and just for the pure fun of it. By proxy women pinball provides a more relaxed atmosphere for women to gather a space to feel safe an encouraging environment to ask questions about games and to develop their skills In turn there is this energy an amazing vibe that can only be found at women leagues and tournaments Women are by nature generally more nurturing right You can see this at any women's event. You see women hug it out after a close game. You hear women clapping, whooping it up, and cheering each other on, or even better, getting solid advice to keep your head up after a double drain choo-choo train straight out of a multiball. The encouragement and endless support to play better. So many cool things are just naturally born within women's pinball. And all I want to do is get more women to experience this. And I try to plant a seed with every woman I meet that I quote-unquote recruit into women's pinball. A little dandelion seed that I blow in their path hoping they catch it, plant it, and jump in feet first into the world of competitive pinball, open and women's, or just get into enjoying pinball as a hobby. Personally, there will never be enough words to explain how awesome it is to have this community of women that share the same passion that I do about a pinball and flippers inside of a big old box. With that foreknowledge, I want to ask the greater pinball community to hear me out about this amazing thing happening on Sunday, January 22, 2023. It is the very first IFPA-sanctioned Women's State Pinball Championship. Most open women's division organizers and tournament directors are running their events on a shoestring and a prayer, trying to charge your players a fair amount to keep them coming to events, but also not too much to scare new players away. Ultimately, I know so many organizers and TDs that end up putting their own money into the events to make them run. Yes, this is their choice to do it, but as we all know, it takes money to make money, or in this case, it takes money to make an event happen, whether it be the monthly gathering, a player's home collection or Tuesday night at the local bar. I want to reiterate that I know this happens in both open and women's division. So many people hustling to make ends meet and connections happen over their love of the hobby. With that said, there is no money in women's pinball. What do I mean by that? Well, for me, almost every women's event I have organized, I'm so very lucky to break even. And if I don't, who cares? As I view the money as well spent, hoping that that little dandelion seed will grow. To make ends meet, I absolutely hustled to get financial sponsorship, asking friends to open their collections to host events, and I write to the industry folks asking for swag items or something extra to give to the winner. So when I signed on to run the inaugural IFPA Women State Pinball Championship for Wisconsin I wasn concerned about organizing the event or finding a location as I already had a really kind person who stepped up and offered his collection for the women to play that day What I was concerned about however how the heck can I provide a tournament that feels like a championship that makes every woman so proud to attend and most importantly to not go broke The IFPA provides an awesome plaque for the winner of the event. The purse prize is 100% made up from the $20 entry fee that each woman pays at the door to play the event. So could I just run the event with the plaque for the winner and a tiny purse prize of $360 split between the top four if I have 16 players? Sure. But is that what a state pinball championship is all about? My answer is no. Every woman who qualified to play in this championship series has earned the right to be there. They played so hard to be there, to be recognized. They should be recognized and celebrated for their achievement, regardless if they come in 16th or first place. So I did something I never thought I would do in pinball. I ran a bake sale. Well, a bake sale with an open three-strike pinball tournament this past weekend. I had wonderful gentlemen in the Wisconsin pinball community reach out and make significant donations towards the championship as well, and providing a little extra seed money to get Ladies Flip Wisconsin off to a good start in 2023. I am so incredibly grateful to my community for showing up, buying brownies, flipping some games for a good cause, and for their financial assistance. Because of the generosity, I was able to offset the cost of making trophies, custom keychains for all players, and some other, no spoilers, swag for everyone. Also, a host gift just to thank them. I mean, I am so blessed, I thought, when I woke up the next day thinking about how amazing my local community is. And then I thought about all of the other women's organizers and tournament directors out there who may be struggling to make ends meet for their own championship, how they may not be able to provide a lunch to their players, or perhaps they have to pay for their venue, and simply they might not be able to even afford any type of trophies. But then I remembered something. I have a voice. I have a platform. And all the encouragement I need to bring a message to the pinball enthusiasts of the world. So here's my pitch. And I know it is a lot to ask concerning the inflation that many of us are feeling at the gas pump in the grocery store. But here we go. I challenge all pinball manufacturers, content creators, podcast listeners, stream junkies, and all pinball enthusiasts to help financially support the Women's State Pinball Championship near you. Even can make a difference I encourage you to do this by reaching out to your IFPA state rep You can simply Google that and they will be able to hook you up with the organizer or director for the state women pinball championship Hurry please hurry Do not delay as the championship is this Sunday, January 22nd. If you cannot donate cash, consider donating some pinball related goodies, a trans light or even some rad stickers. Or better yet, offer to open up your collection for an event down the road. If you cannot help in any financial way, go like your local women's pinball organization, social media, share their events, encourage other women you know to attend a women's event, watch the women's championships that will be streamed on Twitch on Sunday. And I encourage you to reach out to the women's organizers and tournament directors in your state to see if they need help with anything. Please join me in lifting up women's competitive pinball in the community. Thanks for listening to my passion and happy flipping. Now here you go again, you say you want your freedom Well, who am I to keep you down? We're sure you're right That it should play the way you feel it But listen carefully to the sound Of your loneliness like a heartbeat that you made And still you listen Remembering what you had And what you love And what you have And what you love Thunder only happens when it's raining Players only love me when they're playing Say when they will come and they will go. When the rain washes you clean, you'll know. You'll know.