The Fan Club foregoes business meetings in both November and December to focus fully on celebrating the holidays with our membership. Traditionally, we gather the first Sunday in December for holiday cheer.

After last year’s snowfall truncated our post-dinner gifting and games, we were relieved to see clear skies and feel a December chill on the 7th. Thankfully, everyone safely returned home last year.

Fan Club Christmas Party dessertAfter greeting each other, sharing snacks and finding seats, Dave Prediger offered grace. We enjoyed a fantastic dinner thanks to the hard-working team at American Legion Post #143, New Cumberland. Dessert included chocolate and white cake topped with a light baseball-themed icing.

During dessert, Fan Club board members began to call prize winners. Each attendee could choose among the many attractive gifts and poinsettia centerpieces.

Fan Club Gift TableFollowing a full round of gift giving, we donned our thinking caps for a couple of fun holiday-and-baseball-related word games. Our festivities with even more gifts, more skill (such as the ever-popular “Guess the number of pieces of candy in the jar” game), and a special prize generously donated by John Barrick.

Congratulations to Annie Miller, who won both the candy guessing game and the special backpack prize!

Dolly Kmetz donated creative, homemade holiday tissue box covers. One lucky person at each table took one home to add to their decorations.

I want to thank everyone for participating in this year’s event. Special thanks to our Fan Club board, (Jeanne Jacobs, Margie and Barry Fealtman, Ruth Patrick and Barb Thomas), who invest a lot of time and effort to make our events special for all of us.

VP Jeanne Jacobs displays the special gift donationThank you also to Dave Prediger for his constant support and willingness to offer thoughtful prayers. And a special thanks to the Harrisburg Senators for supporting the Fan Club. Due to the timing of baseball’s Winter Meetings in San Diego, we only got to enjoy the company of two front office representatives: my long-time friend, Todd Matthews, and the newest member of the team, Blair Jewell.

I know that all of us want to enjoy this season with family and friends. Please know that your newly elected officers (thank you again for your votes of confidence!) held a recent board meeting and are already working on an aggressive 2015 Fan Club calendar.

We promise to reveal more during our next business meeting Tuesday, January 20th, at the New Cumberland American Legion. Details to come. Meanwhile, Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas!

Brian Williams, President

Poinsettia centerpiece