Greetings, friends, and happy holidays! Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, First Choices, Winterbloom, Festivus, or Christmas—whether your holidays are done for the year or just beginning—we hope you’re spending the close of the year surrounded by your chosen family, friends, and loved ones. Here at Organized Play, we’re hunkered down for the year. Linda has dug herself free of the sanctioning slush pile and dashed off into the woods; Mike is trying to put his gingerbread house back together after something shadowy smashed it to bits; Jessica has finally decrypted her holiday card list; and Thurston… well. Who knows what nonsense Thurston is cooking up these days. I myself will be spending the holidays curled up with my husband and a good book as I desperately try to complete my resolution of cutting down the pile of books on my bedside table.
As a special winter treat, I wanted to share this field report from one of our Venture Captains about a recent holiday charity event. Take it away, Nicholas!
Left to right: TFT Norfolk MU, photographer VL Brad. TFT Frederick MU, photographer VA Zach D.
For the last three holiday seasons, VC Nicholas Ruchlewicz has organized charity events for his local lodge to help others. The Toys for Tots program is a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit and help those in need!
This year, the charity event expanded from a single local lodge in Fairfax to multiple REGIONS! Obviously, during covid time, everyone has become more flexible with hybrid events—so this event had a physical presence organized by Northern Virginia Venture Captain Nicholas and Baltimore Venture Lieutenant Nathan, plus online offerings including VOs from other lodges a bit further from the DC area. This year, the VOs directly engaged our Friendly Local Game Stores (FLGS). We have all been through difficult times with the pandemic, including many of the small businesses that support our players in a safe, welcoming environment. The community was able to support the amazing charity by purchasing toys and books at the FLGS and immediately donating them to the onsite Toys for Tots boxes.
On 12/11/2021, Pathfinders participated in interactive special PF2 #3-99 Fate in the Future at the Cayden’s Keg convention. This charity event added 7 physical tables to the 19 online tables! In addition to the physical toy donations, the raffle ticket sales provided an additional $1320+ donation to the cause.
Below are the locations and Venture officers in each FLGS! If you are ever near one of our lodges, please visit their business—we can’t thank our community enough!
www.GCpairodice.com
VOs – VC Nicholas R, VL Paul C, VA DJ
10385 Main St, Fairfax, VA 22030
www.Grittygoblingames.com
VO – VL Nathan S
6420 Freetown Rd, Columbia, MD 21044
https://stores.comichub.com/beyondcomicsfrederick
VO – VA Zach D
5632 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick, MD 21704
https://www.facebook.com/AtomicComicsEmporiumI/
VO – VL Brad F
50 W Mercury Blvd, Hampton, VA 23669
https://www.atlantis-comics.com/
VO - VA Shannon
9649 1st View St, Norfolk, VA 23503
https://www.facebook.com/TriStatesGamesHobbies
VO – VC Jimmy D
834 S 8th St, Quincy, IL 62301
From all of us here at Organized Play, we wish you a very happy holiday season. If you’re looking for seasonal fun, check out SFS 4-12: A Festive Operation, as well as Pathfinder Bounty #5: Witch’s Winter Holiday. The Beginner Boxes are a great way to get your family into Pathfinder and Starfinder as well, and they make great last-minute gifts!
Until next time—Explore! Report! Cooperate! And eat some cookies for me!
Alex Speidel
Organized Play Coordinator
Nicholas Ruchlewicz
Venture Captain, Northern Virginia