Through thick and thin, good times and bad, and every win and loss, the Lincoln Saltdogs have always enjoyed the constant support of the official Lincoln Saltdogs Fan Club.  As the club enters its seventh season of cheering on its favorite team, plans are in the works for the best year to date.

“We’re making our plans to be part of the fun in 2009,” said fan club secretary Jerry McNeese.  “There is a minimal cost to join the fan club, but all the activities make it well worth the investment.  Beyond that, all you really need is a love for baseball, and a desire to cheer on the Saltdogs all the way to a championship.  We offer fan club memberships on three levels: one for individuals at $25 a year, another for couples at $35 a year, and a third for families with kids 12 years and up that costs $45 a year.”

The first activity scheduled for 2009 is the fan club’s holiday party, which will take place on January 31st at 5:30pm.  For the first time, this year’s party will take place at Haymarket Park, in the Diamond View Lounge.

“The party serves as a kickoff for the fan club, to gear up for the upcoming season,” McNeese said.  “It’s a great way to get together with people we haven’t seen since the end of last season, and to get everyone excited about what we have planned for 2009.  The party is for fan club members only, so now is a great time to sign up!”

During the season, the fan club issues its own newsletter at the beginning of every homestand—usually with pictures of the club’s latest tailgate party.  Fan club members get the chance to mingle and share a meal not just with fellow members, but also with several Saltdogs players who routinely stop by.  In 2008, first baseman Dustin Yount made a visit to a fan club tailgate, just days after being hit in the face by a line drive during batting practice.  Despite the extensive bruising around his eye, Yount chatted with several fan club members and posed for some of the most memorable pictures of the season.

Of course, the signature event for the fan club each year is the annual road trip to see the Saltdogs play away from home.  “This season, we’ll be traveling to Sioux Falls to see the Dogs take on the Canaries,” McNeese said.  “It’ll be fun to see how this year’s team fares against the defending champs.”  The fan club will catch the bus to Sioux Falls for the August 27-30 series, the final series of the regular season.

Each year, the fan club holds elections for its eight board member position in February and March.  “With the elections coming up, this is a really good time to join the club,” McNeese said.  “Every paid member of the club is eligible to vote, so joining now gives people a chance to have their voices heard in how the club operates.”

The Lincoln Saltdogs Fan Club has its own website, www.saltdogsfanclub.com, and fans can e-mail the club for more information at info@saltdogsfanclub.com.

The 2009 Lincoln Saltdogs season begins on May 14 in Wichita, with the home opener scheduled for May 22 against Fort Worth. For more team and ticket information, go to www.saltdogs.com.