Making Connections!

When Jenn Burke was planning her next travel adventure, she stumbled across a certain wee Scottish football club that would change everything.

Fast forward six months, she has co-founded a growing Facebook community that keeps fans connected with all things Caledonian Braves. Along the way, she’s made lasting friendships and helped build a unique, cross-continental community.

“I’m an avid traveller,” explains Jenn. “I was working a night shift at the hospital and looking in to Scotland for travel when Chris Ewing’s face started popping up on my feed, talking about the Caledonian Braves. I watched some reels, saw fan posts and I was hooked. I bought in right then and there.”

What began as a small effort has flourished into a thriving online community, helping Braves support - spread far and wide across the globe - feel more connected than ever. Established earlier this year, Jenn fondly recalls the story behind the creation of the USA Owners Facebook group.

“It was April when I invested, there weren’t really any places for owners to connect yet. I made friends with another enthusiastic owner, Coz Balazs, and we decided to make the Facebook page so we could start connecting with other USA owners. From there we started planning meet ups and started making connections.

The Facebook group was meant to be a place for USA owners to connect and plan travel, get excited about the community and have watch parties.

“There’s only so much we can do from across the pond, so Coz and I really wanted to establish a community here in the States and make meaningful connections here.”

While the Braves fan base grows in Scotland, fans across the Atlantic are also building strong ties. Jenn recalls her first meetup with owner Ashley Hobbs in Seattle.

“We were both in Seattle at the same time — she flew in from Florida — so we got together. That was my first owner meetup, and I don’t think a day has gone by since that we haven’t talked. That’s the kind of connection this team is creating.

“We had a Seattle meet up that same week. I met Erik, Jose and his wife, as well as Adam and his wife. We really just named a time and place and got together.

We spoke with Chris and I think that was probably a moment when we all realised this adventure could really be something big.

For Jenn, owning and supporting the Caledonian Braves is about more than football; it’s about shared community and belonging.

Being involved from the beginning of an ambitious project is something she’s hugely proud of. “No matter how you got turned on to the Braves, being a Braves fan has meant making meaningful connections with people I would have never had the opportunity to meet otherwise.

“I think everyone wants to belong to something and find purpose, and we are getting the chance to be involved in being a community that helps build this from the ground up. How cool is that?”

“If you want to be a part of an adventure and watch something great grow, a team, and a community in a sport we all love, then absolutely get in on this... like yesterday!
“I can’t wait to see where these fellas go in the years to come!”

And after some eager anticipation, Jenn has finally got her first trip booked to come see her team in person.

“I’m very excited to meet all the strangers that will become friends along the way. I will be in Scotland in December and I will see you at Alliance Park!”

Thanks to Jenn and the team behind the USA Owners group for all their continued hard work, keeping our community closer than ever before!

This article was created for the Braves Members Newsletter. If you would like to be the first to this article, and many others, make sure you become a Member today. Join by clicking the link here