Utica Fireside White Sox Club combines baseball, friendship and charity work – Shaw Local

Almost 20 years ago, Bo Windy and five friends attended a Chicago White Sox first-class game.

“We drove there in a limo,” Windy said. “We had enough beer and food and I think we stocked half the parking lot. We were well stocked.”

This trip planted a seed.

“We got home and I started thinking about it. It was a great group of guys who really enjoyed each other’s company,” Windy said. “I organized several meetings and got their opinions. I thought maybe it would work out.”

And so the Utica Fireside White Sox Club was founded. The official founding took place on February 2, 2007.

“We met at the Canal Port by the fireside,” Windy said. “We said, ‘Well, we need to come up with a name.’ We had a lot of suggestions. We sat by the fireside and it became ‘Utica Fireside White Sox Club,’ and that stuck.”

The six founding members were Windy, Ron Chalus, Gary Harmon, Jason Harmon, Joseph Carey and Mark Klinefelter.

The club has 24 members and is looking to add more to reach the maximum membership of 30.

At meetings throughout the year, members discuss the White Sox, but the club is also heavily involved in charitable work, raising money for several local organizations.

“Even when we were just six members, our goal was to help children in need, and it has remained that way ever since,” Windy said. “When we have the opportunity to visit children at Lighted Way and Friendship Village, it is close to our hearts. We stay with those people. We want to give them as much as we can.”

Randy Tuftie joined the club about 12 years ago at the invitation of his cousin Chalus.

“He invited me to one of the meetings and I really liked it, so I joined,” said Tuftie, who is in his third year as the club’s treasurer. “It’s a fun group. We talk about the White Sox at our meetings. There’s not much to talk about this year.”

“It’s a great group of guys doing great things for local charities. I’m very proud to be a member of the club.”

Dave Fowler, the current president, also joined at Chalus’ invitation about 15 years ago.

“Ron brought me in,” Fowler said. “He knew me from work. One day he came by and I had a White Sox lamp next to my desk. We got talking, he invited me in and the rest is history.”

Fowler said he really enjoyed the charitable aspect of the club.

“We raise money to help children,” said Fowler about the reasons for his continued commitment. “We help disabled and underprivileged children. What could be a better cause than children?”

The club hosts an annual raffle that has raised more than $60,000 since its inception 15 years ago. Proceeds have gone to Lighted Way, Friendship Village, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Easter Seals, Ronald McDonald House, Waltham Boy Scouts, United Way and the Illinois Valley Food Pantry.

The winner of this year’s drawing will be drawn on July 24. The grand prize is four box seats and a parking pass for the Cubs game against the White Sox on August 10, and the second prize is four box seats and a parking pass for the New York Mets game against the White Sox on September 1. There will also be memorabilia prizes.

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased from any club member or by calling Fowler at 815-343-8039 or Tuftie at 815-343-1080.

“When we tell people what we’re doing this for, they get really excited,” said Tuftie. “People are really generous in buying tickets.”

At its annual Christmas party, the club collects toys that are donated to the La Salle County Sheriff’s Department for distribution to underprivileged children and hosts an auction to raise money to purchase life-saving equipment for local fire departments.

Auction items this year include baseballs signed by Bob Gibson and Kevin Costner, a signed picture, hat and baseball from White Sox prospect and former Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp pitcher Noah Schultz, and a hat signed by Caitlin Clark.

“The White Sox donate some items,” Tuftie said. “The Sox have been generous enough to donate tickets to a game where you can go on the field and take pictures in the dugout. Members donate items. They all sell really well. It’s a big draw.”

The club is looking to recruit new members. Although it is called the Utica Fireside White Sox Club, it is open to members from across the Illinois Valley.

“You have to be a loyal White Sox fan,” Windy said. “You can’t be a Cubs fan. If you go to a Cubs game, you have to pay a $10 fine. You have to be willing to participate in our fundraisers.”

If you are interested in becoming a member, call Windy at 815-667-4799.