The evening was filled with fun and fellowship as members of Grundsau Lodsch Nummer 16 Am Jahden gathered for their 42nd annual fersommling.

Approximately 200 members of Groundhog Lodge No. 16 on the Jordan attended the conclave to participate in the festivities at the Schnecksville Fire Company social hall.

Lodge President David Adam said the group had the highest membership in 10 years with 250 members.

Founded in 1972 with 120 members, the groundhog lodge has grown ever since.

Musical entertainment was presented by Die Sauergraut Bowe (The Sauerkraut Boys).

At 6:30 p.m. the procession entered with Jacob Adam, the grandson of David Adam, carrying the revered groundhog, Yahdee, to the front of the audience and placing him in his resting place for all to see.

Dinner, consisting of pork and sauerkraut, beef, vegetables, salad and dessert, was then served.

Schnecksville Fire Company volunteers provided an excellent meal.

After dinner, David Adam led the audience in singing "O Fensa Mous, Mir Sin Pennsilfaanisch Deitsche" and the classic "Schnitzelbank."

Members were initiated with the groundhog oath, members from other lodges were recognized and last year's minutes were read.

Presentation of the board members by Dennis Hartman and their re-election moved the meeting along.

President and Secretary is David Adam. He is joined on the board by Vice President Robert Schantz, Treasurer Richard Schaffer, Foodmaster Ted Rothrock, Ticketmaster Myles Miller, Jr., Swearing in, Robert Everett and Board members Russell Rader, Carson Frey, Helmet Wicker, Robert Bleiler, Roger Hermany, the Rev. David Smith and Steve Rosko.

The groundhog's weather forecast came next.

He advised everyone to start getting their gardens ready to plant.

At the beginning of February, Yahdee said there would be on-and-off warm and cold weather for that month, followed by nice weather in March.

He said to plant early crops, such as peas, by March 17.

Everyone was then given a groundhog cookie and a shot of some liquid, rumored to contain Geritol, Ex-lax, horse liniment and some other mysterious ingredients, for a toast of the evening.

The highlight of the evening was the skit presented by some of the board members.

The show was a parody of the old Lawrence Welk Show and was very well performed.

Master of ceremonies was Llewelyn Welschaane (Robert Everett), with Dobbich Arthur (David Adam) doing a tap dance while Geritza Santiago (Robert Schantz) tried to do a solo but was yanked from the stage.

Also starring in this production were Jakey Schmutz (Theodore Rothrock) The Lodwaddich Swesters (Steve Rosko, Helmut Wicker, Robert Bleiler and Roger Hermany), Lulu Schmoyer (Ken Schneider), weightlifter Myles Miller and imitating the bubble machine, Richard Schaffer.

Adam said that they have a different skit every year to keep the members coming.

Anyone wishing to join this group should call David Adam at 610-395-4282.

Members should have some working knowledge of the Pennsylvania Dutch dialect.