Pagan Yuleide traditions, also known as the Winter Solstice, hold a significant place in the history and folklore of various cultures around the world. The celebration revolves around the shortest day and longest night of the year, which typically falls around December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere. Although today it is often associated with Christmas festivities, the origins of these traditions can be traced back to pre-Christian pagan rituals. One of the most prominent pagan Yuleide traditions is the burning of the Yule log. This practice symbolizes the return of the Sun and the warmth it brings after the long, dark winter nights. Traditionally, a large log, usually from an oak tree, is chosen and set on fire using the remains of the previous year's log.

Group Sales Account Executive

The Manchester Monarchs, ECHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, are looking for an experienced individual to join our group sales team. The Manchester Monarchs are owned and operated by PPI Sports. We want passionate individuals looking to stand out and build a successful career in the sports industry.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop and maintain a personal client base of group sales customers.

- Build relationships with local youth associations and non-profit organizations in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Northern Massachusetts.
- Consistently fill assets/fan experiences in order to maximize group ticket sales.

- Develop and implement programs designed to drive sales volume and maximize sales revenues.
- Responsible for making 60-80 phone calls a day and setting appointments to achieve the overall sales goals and objectives.

- Prospect and cultivate new business leads through creative lead generation methods, as well as follow up on leads provided by sales manager.

- Minimum of (1) year experience in ticket sales with a professional sports team.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Must be enthusiastic, creative and able to think both strategically and tactically.
- Strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
- Proven track record in ticket sales.

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Lakeland Magic: Communicating the Orlando Magic’s Commitment to Lakeland & Polk County

Join the huddle as the leadership team of the Lakeland Magic, including team President Shelly Wilkes, discuss the successes and challenges of introducing Polk County’s own NBA development league professional basketball team to the area. They’ll share the game plan of developing fans in a new market, building community partnerships, and scoring broad support for a familiar but unique brand.

Online registration ends Monday, April 16.

Special thanks to our April meeting sponsor,
Mail Processing Associates!

About the Presenters:

Shelly Wilkes, President – Lakeland Magic

Shelly Wilkes is the team president of the Orlando Magic G League affiliate team in Lakeland, FL. She is responsible for launching and overseeing the day-to-day business operations of the team.

Wilkes spent 13 seasons with the Orlando Magic and started as a game-night staff member in the marketing department during the 2003-04 season and was hired full-time in August 2004 as group sales coordinator. She was promoted to group sales account executive in July 2005, then named game presentation manager in July 2006. Wilkes was then promoted to assistant director of event presentation in July 2007, later promoted to the director of event presentation in July 2010 and later named the senior director of live entertainment and production services in July 2015.

Wilkes received her bachelor’s degree in general business from the University of Central Florida in 2002. She later graduated from the DeVos Sport Business Management Program at UCF in 2004, and earned master’s degrees in both business administration and sport business management.

Wilkes lives in Orlando, Fla. with her husband, Dallas, and their daughter, Quinn.

Michael Rodriguez, Vice President of Sales – Lakeland Magic

Michael Rodriguez is the Vice President of Sales of the Orlando Magic G League affiliate team in Lakeland, FL. He is responsible for all revenue and marketing partnerships for the team including ticket sales, premium suite sales, and corporate partnerships

Rodriguez spent five seasons with the Orlando Magic and started as a game-night staff member in the premium services department during the 2008-09 season and was hired full-time in December 2012 as a Sr. Partnership Development Manager. He was later promoted to Senior Manager of Premium and Partnership Sales in 2014. Prior to joining the Orlando Magic organization, Rodriguez lead partnership development for The Walt Disney Company and the Alliance Development group within Walt Disney Parks and Resorts including Walt Disney World and Disneyland from 2008 – 2012.

Rodriguez received his bachelor’s degree in communications from Stockton University in 2006. He later graduated from the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Temple University in 2009, and earned a master’s degrees in sports and recreation administration.

Rodriguez lives in Orlando, Fla. with his wife, Marci, and their two children, Mia (3) and Mason (1).

Jimmy Missouri, Ticket Sales Manager

Lakeland native Jimmy Missouri is coming back to where it all started in his new role as ticket sales manager of the Lakeland Magic. He previously spent five seasons with the Orlando Magic serving as a ticket sales representative and most recently as a group sales account executive.

Missouri primary responsibilities will include oversight of the team’s ticket sales including full season ticket memberships, group experiences, premium products, and employee training and development.

While with the Orlando Magic, he was recognized for his exceptional sales efforts receiving Outstanding Sales Achievement awards for three consecutive years – 2013, 2014 and 2015. He was also named the Community Volunteer of the Year for the Magic Volunteer Program (MVP) in 2014. The highest honor given to a Magic staff member for their efforts in the Central Florida community.

Missouri volunteers his time coaching youth basketball, previously coaching teams at Kathleen H.S. (2011-2012) and the Lakeland Fire (2010-2015) and continues with his passion, mentoring youth. He is a graduate of Kathleen High School in Lakeland and earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of South Florida in 2008 and a master’s degree from the University of Central Florida in sports leadership and coaching in 2013. Missouri resides in Lakeland, Fla.

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Front Office

Dan DeVos serves as chairman of the Orlando Magic and a member of the NBA Board of Governors. In this role, he focuses on long-term strategic planning for the organization and new business initiatives. He also represents ownership in business and public relations activities while working closely with the Magic’s CEO regarding business and basketball operations. DeVos is chairman of RDV Sports which, in addition to the Orlando Magic, includes the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL, the Lakeland Magic of the NBA G League, and Magic Gaming of the NBA 2K League. He also leads the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation as the organization’s chairman. In addition to his commitment to the Magic, DeVos supports a number of sports, business and philanthropic endeavors. He is co-owner, CEO and governor of the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL) – the 2013 and 2017 Calder Cup Champions, and the top affiliate for the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. DeVos serves as a member of the AHL’s executive committee as well. In business, DeVos is chairman and CEO of DP Fox Ventures, LLC, a diversified business development and management company with interests in real estate, transportation and sports. DP Fox employs more than 1,500 professionals through companies including Fox Powersports and Fox Motor Group, a retail transportation group representing 48 manufacturers at 50 locations in Michigan and Chicago. A member of the board of directors of Amway, the world’s largest direct selling company, DeVos also serves as president/CEO of Cape Eleuthera Resort and Marina on the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas. Additionally, DeVos is a partner in the Georgian Automotive Group, based in Barrie, Ontario, as well as a partner of CWD Real Estate Investment in Grand Rapids, Michigan. DeVos is involved in a variety of philanthropic organizations including serving on the board of trustees for Hope Network Foundation, as past president of the board of the Grand Rapids Symphony, and as vice chair of the Grand Valley University Foundation. He also serves on the board of trustees for Northwood University, his alma mater. His wife, Pamella, is president and creative director of PAMELLA ROLAND. They have two daughters and one son.

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Traditionally, a large log, usually from an oak tree, is chosen and set on fire using the remains of the previous year's log. As the log burns, people gather around it, singing songs, sharing stories, and celebrating the hope of the coming spring. Another important aspect of pagan Yuleide traditions is the decoration of evergreen trees.

Alex Martins

Alex Martins, who has spent 33 years in professional sports management and rejoined the Magic in June 2005, was promoted to chief executive officer on December 7, 2011. He previously served as president for more than one year and was the team’s chief operating officer from 2006-10. Martins also serves as CEO of SED Development, LLC, an affiliate of the Magic which is currently planning an entertainment mixed use development across Church Street from the Kia Center. Martins represents the Magic as the team’s alternate governor to the NBA Board of Governors, as well as managing partner of the Lakeland Magic, Orlando’s affiliate in the NBA G League. Martins is a member of the NBA’s Team Media Advisory Committee, Labor Relations Advisory Committee and Business & Basketball Committee, as well as having served on the NBA’s Season Restart Committee which has advised the league on the return to play from the COVID-19 hiatus. Martins, who served in various senior-level management capacities with the Magic between 1989-98 and as the organization’s executive vice president of marketing and franchise relations in 2005-06, oversees all operations of the club. During the past 14 years, Martins led the Magic in a transformation of its business operations, while overseeing a ticket sales, premium sales and corporate partnership effort which saw the most successful business year in the history of the franchise in the 2010-11 season. The transformation process received the recognition of the SportsBusiness Journal which named the Magic as a finalist for Professional Sports Team of the Year, the only NBA team to be named a finalist that year. Similarly, Martins has spearheaded the transformation of the current Magic basketball operations department, with the hiring and management of the current basketball administration leadership. Included in the franchise’s success has been the largest season ticket base in franchise history in 2010-11(14,200) and the most successful corporate sales effort in franchise history in 2014-15. Amongst these records are the largest increase in attendance in the NBA over that five-year period. Martins was instrumental in helping to secure the new state-of-the-art Kia Center in Orlando. The Kia Center is part of a public community venues program that also includes a new Performing Arts Center and a renovation of the Citrus Bowl Stadium. The new Amway Center opened in October 2010 and is now named Kia Center. The facility was named a finalist for the SportsBusiness Journal’s Sports Facility of the Year Award for two consecutive years and captured the award in 2012. Additionally, the Magic also contributed $20 million toward and constructed five community recreation centers throughout Orange County, Florida, as part of its commitment to build the new Kia Center. The Kia Center was also honored in 2013 with the Customer Experience Award during TheStadiumBusiness Awards presentation held in association with TheStadiumBusiness Summit in Manchester, England. At the annual NBA Sales and Marketing Meetings, the Magic organization has been awarded the “New Full Season Ticket Award” twice for being No. 1 in the NBA in new full season tickets sold, a “90 Percent Renewal Award” for being just one of five teams to achieve a 90 percent or higher season ticket renewal rate in 2007, a “Sponsorship Account Performance Award” for the extraordinary number of accounts secured by the global partnerships department and the “Retailer of the Year Award” twice, for the team’s retail sales performance. The team has currently led the NBA in group ticket sales for four consecutive seasons. Martins originally joined the Magic as director of publicity/media relations in April 1989. In September of 1996, he was promoted to senior director of communications. He also previously served as the Chairman of the Board of the Magic Action Team Community Fund. The Magic Action Team Fund developed into the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, which has distributed nearly $25 million to local nonprofit organizations during the last 30 years, including more than $1 million last season. Additionally, Martins served on the developmental board of the DeVos Sport Business Management Program at the University of Central Florida. The program has been funded through a $9 million endowment by Rich and Helen DeVos and awards dual Masters degrees in Sport Management and Business Administration. Martins also has served as the senior vice president of marketing and branding for the NBA’s New Orleans Hornets, vice president of communications and public affairs with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns and vice president of sports ventures with the Tavistock Group. At Tavistock, Martins served as tournament director of The Tavistock Cup, a PGA Tour-sanctioned event. Martins started his career as a student assistant in the Villanova sports information department, assisted in the Philadelphia 76ers public relations department and was also the assistant sports information director at Georgetown University (1988-89). Martins currently serves as the Vice Chair to the University of Central Florida Board of Trustees, also serving as Chair of the Finance and Facilities Committee. He is also past chairman of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission and The Central Florida Partnership, as well as past chairman of the Orlando Community Construction Corporation, the entity responsible for the construction of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Martins also has served on the board of directors of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Central Florida Commission on Homeless. He currently serves on the Central Florida board of directors for Seaside National Bank & Trust, and is the Chairman of the Governor’s Council of the Orlando Economic Partnership. In April 2015, Martins received the James B. Greene Economic Development Award, which is the highest honor bestowed by the Orlando Economic Development Commission, and recognizes an individual whose work has contributed substantially to the economic prosperity of the region. In 2013, he was awarded the Charles Andrews Memorial Hospitality Award for Community Leadership by the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association. The award is CFHLA’s highest honor recognizing an individual’s achievements and contributions to the Central Florida hospitality industry as well as the community at large. Following the tragedy at Pulse nightclub in June 2016, Martins was chosen by the City of Orlando to Chair the board of directors for the largest fund for victims of the shooting, the city-sponsored OneOrlando fund. Martins earned his MBA from the University of Central Florida, where he is a member of the College of Business Administration’s Hall of Fame and recipient of University’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. He also serves on the Dean’s Executive Council for the College of Business Administration at UCF, and was honored with the opportunity to serve as Commencement Speaker at UCF in August 2008. A native of Kearny, New Jersey, Martins earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Villanova, where he graduated from in 1986. He resides in Winter Park, Fla., with his wife, Juliet, and daughters,Sophia (16) and Gabrielle (14).

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Evergreens were seen as symbols of everlasting life and natural resilience, even during the harsh winter months. These trees were often adorned with ribbons, ornaments, and candles, which represented the returning light and the rebirth of the Sun. Feasting and merriment also play a significant role in pagan Yuleide celebrations. It was believed that by sharing food and drink, people invited good fortune and abundance into their lives. Special meals were prepared, and traditional dishes and drinks were enjoyed. These festivities aimed to bring people together, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie during the challenging winter season. Additionally, various divination practices were performed during pagan Yuleide celebrations. These included rituals such as scrying, in which individuals attempted to gain insight into the future by gazing into reflective surfaces such as water or mirrors. It was believed that during this time, the boundaries between the human and spiritual realms were blurred, making it easier to connect with the divine. Overall, pagan Yuleide traditions celebrate the cycles of nature and the importance of light and warmth during the darkest time of the year. These customs have influenced many of the festivities associated with Christmas today, reminding us of the ancient roots and rich tapestry of our holiday traditions..

Reviews for "The Magic of Pagan Yule Spells and Rituals"

1. Sarah - 2/5 - I was really excited to try out "Pagan Yuleide Traditions" as I'm always looking for unique and alternative ways to celebrate the holiday season. However, I was quite disappointed with this book. While it did provide some information on Pagan Yule traditions, I found it to be quite repetitive and lacking in depth. I was expecting more detailed explanations and practical suggestions for incorporating these traditions into my own celebrations, but instead, I felt like I was reading the same basic information over and over again.

2. John - 3/5 - As someone who is new to Pagan traditions, I was hoping that "Pagan Yuleide Traditions" would provide a comprehensive guide to help me navigate and understand these ancient rituals. While the book did touch on some interesting aspects of Pagan Yule celebrations, I felt that it lacked organization and clarity. The information was scattered and the author jumped from one topic to another without providing a clear structure. Additionally, I would have appreciated more references and historical context to better understand the origins and significance of these traditions.

3. Emily - 2/5 - "Pagan Yuleide Traditions" had a lot of potential, but it fell short for me. The book seemed to focus more on the author's personal experiences and beliefs rather than providing a balanced view of Pagan Yule celebrations. I was hoping for a more objective and informative read, but instead, I felt like I was reading a personal memoir. While I respect the author's perspective, I was looking for a book that would delve into the history and traditions of Pagan Yule in a more educational way. Overall, I found the book to be lacking in substance and not what I was expecting.

The Significance of Feasting in Pagan Yule Celebrations