Windsock

Our Wildly Popular Game Club

Where is a great place to go for socializing and fun after school on Tuesdays?  There may be multiple answers, but an especially popular one for, though not limited to, six and seventh graders, is Board Game Club sponsored by Mr. Larry Martin.

Board Game Club began as Acquire Club in 2004.  Over several years other strategy games such Settlers of Catan and Puerto Rico, have been added to the repertoire.  Now, though many of these games are still played, "it's kind of what they want to play," says Mr. Martin.  Apples-to-Apples and Dutch Blitz have made their appearances. 

Mr. Martin and members of the club all agree that it is a good place to get to know some other people and make new friends.  Although participants like the games, they also enjoy hanging out and "making people angry."  In other words, winning is fun.

This year, the club generally has about 15-20 people come weekly, however, numbers have declined slightly with sports seasons, and other activities such as letter writing taking up the majority of people's after school time. 

When asked about favorite games, and favorite parts of game club, sixth grader Andrew Miller stated his favorite game is Settlers of Catan, and he likes sitting around with friends.  Julia Wright, also in sixth grade, says, "I don't know...I just like playing games!" 

- Malinda Bender

The United Nations Club

Every other week during lunch about fifteen members of the United Nations meet in their sponsor Elwood Yoder’s classroom. It has met twice this year and is going to meet at least once or twice every three weeks throughout the school year. History teachers Elwood Yoder and Shannon Roth sponsor this club. Juniors Katie Bergey and John Gullman are the student leaders. The secretary and press secretary is junior Becca Christ.  Each student represents one nation from the UN in world topics such as politics and the economy so there are as many nations as there are members.

So far the presidential elections and candidates have been subject of debate but the club has moved on to other issues. The members are now discussing topics such as the children of the world, resources and healthcare. This fall the UN club is hoping and planning to have a general assembly simulation on healthcare needs of children in the world. This simulation’s subtopic would be resources such as food, medicine, and water for kids through out the globe. Other people outside the club are invited to attend this event.  Mr. Yoder says that outsiders should know that the club is a fun place to find out more about where we are living and critical issues. He said that there have been more members in the past, but he is pleased with 15.  He added, “If [students] would like to learn more and be involved they are still welcome to join.” 

-Hannah Bendfeldt

The Club That Tastes Good

This year, for the first time ever, pie making will serve as a club option. Together, seniors Ellie Fisher and Laura Anderson planned to bring about the formation of the Pie Making Club, an idea that was very successful. Mrs. LuAnn Bender agreed to sponsor them in their pursuit of making pies. In chapel, the club commissioner announced that the club would be open to anyone and that it would meet once a month.

Interest in the Pie Club was enormous. The number of people who originally signed up surpassed even that of the LARPing Club. Their numbers were so large that a Middle School Pie Club emerged to make room for everyone involved.

When the first meeting came around ten to fifteen people went to make pies, which was only a fraction of those who had signed up. They made key lime pie as one of their first projects. They then went on and made their own peanut butter pie recipes. According to senior Josh Kanagy, the first meeting seemed entirely successful. Hopefully, many pies will flow from the skilled culinary experts into the mouths of the anticipating student body.

- Freeman Bendfelt

Strat-O-Matic: Club or Cult?

Four people are gathered around the glowing screen, staring intently. On the wall, a poster displays symbols that are incomprehensible to the unenlightened. These boys are playing baseball, but not in the traditional sense. They are managing fictitious teams in the baseball Strat-O-Matic computer game, as members of the club of the same name.

Strat-O-Matic baseball is a virtual interface for Fantasy Baseball, where members pick real life players and place them into imaginary teams, which they run themselves. Due to the complex and sometimes frustrating nature of the game, the membership is fairly small, but dedicated. This is not a club you join for kicks. On any given day, you can visit Mr. Leonard's classroom and see at least two people sitting in front of a laptop, playing the game.

The level of commitment to this club is fairly extraordinary, considering the level of commitment found in other clubs. This level of commitment led to Mrs. Johnson's "cult" comment, which she could observe first-hand because Mr. Leonard's room is just across the hall. Interestingly enough, by one of the definitions of "cult" (a great devotion to something), the Strat-O-Matic club is, technically, a cult.

This is not a religion, but it is definitely an obsession. This is a game that can transcend hobby, a game that the players can really become attached to. When they play, they sometimes deride their virtual players, or cheer them on. (Stefan can be heard yelling "Hobo!" from time to time.) There are inside jokes specific to the club. Of all the clubs at EMHS, this is one that comes closest to what an actual club is: a group of people who have mutual interests that tightly bind them together. If that is considered a cult at this school, then sign me up.

- Joe Phillips

LARPing Club Enters the Fray

                                     Freeman takes a whack at Ashton

The normal repertoire of EMHS clubs has been augmented this year with rather unique addition: LARPing club. While technically encompassing a variety of activities, LARPing at EMHS consists of friendly sparring with foam equipment. The roots of the club go back to last winter, when a handful of Nerds were inspired to create a group. While they received support among last year's seniors and a handful of other recruits in the spring, LARPing (Live Action Role-Playing) has truly only begun to blossom this year.

The first several meetings have included at minimum ten people, at maximum about twenty, with nearly thirty people signing up for the club. Interest has especially developed among sophomores, but has also engaged in all high-school grades. While potential exists for a conflict with the pacifistic ideology of the Mennonite Church, this has not become a problem, with a general perception among parents that is harmless fun, and with more than half the original members and many of the new ones Mennonite. While some of the members affectionately refer to the meetings as "violence," the team oriented and friendly environment ensures that competitive spirit and aggression are harnessed only for good sport.

The reception among interested persons has been good thus far. While any group can lose its support base, many repeat members have consistently demonstrated interest, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive in water break and post-meeting conversation. Considering the retention and continued interest of the original members (to quote Freeman Bendfeldt: "[LARPing] will be awesome today!") the club shows considerable promise for the future. Potential for a team-like participation in a several hundred person meeting, while not yet explored, should also present an interesting opportunity should the club continue its growth and success.

- David Jost (photo by Matt Layman)