Wednesday, CEO Jane Shury and secretary Ina Williams put together a home made meal for volunteers of the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, as a thank you for their efforts over the past year.
People started arriving to the Lions Club House in Battleford at about 5 p.m. to the aroma of comfort good, featuring Shury's favourite scalloped potato recipe.
"I got to peel them," said Williams.
It was an informal affair, with visiting amongst the 35 or so people gathered who had volunteered in many capacities, some just for the last year, some since the inception of the organization.
Each received a certificate and a copy of the calendar being used as a fundraiser to make Battleford home of the biggest bat in Canada.
The board is volunteer as well, but, Shury laughed that they don't get certificates. Besides, many of them live across the province and weren't able to attend.
Shury thanked the volunteers, some of whom were involved in the annual induction ceremonies, an event typically attended by 400 or more people. Others volunteered in other capacities. Somebody has to send out all the invitations and the regular newsletters, and that's a job worth many hours. Somebody has to help with the annual summer garden tour, a fundraiser for the organization. Somebody has to help with maintenance, someone has to sew tablecloths, and the list goes on.
"We really appreciate the help," said Shury. "Without you we couldn't exist."
On behalf of the volunteers, Ruth Vetter thanked Shury and Williams for a wonderful evening.
The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum was organized in 1983. Annual inductions have been held each year since 1985, honouring those who have contributed to Saskatchewan's baseball history.
The museum is located at 292 - 22nd St. W. in Battleford. Battleford was the home for the very first recorded baseball game in the history of Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, which was played on the grounds of the Battleford National Historic Site on May 31, 1879.
The group has reenacted that baseball game in recent years, said Shury, but it's been rained out the past four years.
The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a non-profit association that has never received financial support from either the provincial or federal government. The hall of fame operates through membership fees, donations and fundraisers with many volunteers from throughout the province. It is the legacy of founder Dave Shury, who passed away in 2008.
Open throughout the year from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, the museum houses a display of memorabilia including uniforms, photographs, baseball bats, baseballs, equipment, trophies and more, including the David W. Shury Memorial Library.
The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum board of directors, all volunteers, come from, and represent every corner of the province, providing a strong base to this association.
