The Grapevine. April (The Northeast Florida Square and Round Dance Association, Inc.)

Transcription

1 The Grapevine The official publication of NEFSARDA (The Northeast Florida Square and Round Dance Association, Inc.) April 2018 Clubs: When and Where to Dance Pages 2-4 Special Dances and Events Pages 5-8 NEFSARDA Dances Special Dances in Northeast Florida Florida State Square and Round Dance Conventions Square and Round Dance Cruises National Square and Round Dance Conventions Special Dances Outside of Northeast Florida NEFSARDA News Page 8 Notes from the Grapevine Editors Page 8 Dance Club News Pages 8-13 News and Happenings Pages Caller s and Cuer s Corner Page 18 Dancer Profiles Pages Dancers at Other Activities Pages Farewells and Concerns Pages Helpful Web Sites and Addresses Page Back to Page 1

2 Monday Clubs JACKSONVILLE Mandarin Marauders Mainstream & Plus Square Dancing Lessons - 7-7:30 PM Club Dance 7:30-9:00 PM 3848 Hartley Road (Mandarin Senior Center) Jacksonville, FL Callers, Shane & Ken Perez President, Tom Porwoll (904) tporwoll@yahoo.com GAINESVILLE Mixed Nuts/BAD Dancers Advanced Square Dancing 7-9 PM Grace Presbyterian Church 3146 NW 13th St. Gainesville, FL Caller, Bill Chesnut Contact sparkandme@bellsouth.net or Bill Chesnut (352) Banner chair, David Smith (904) opdaves@comcast.net Tuesday Clubs JACKSONVILLE Rollaways Round Dancing, Mainstream & Plus Square Dancing Round Dance Lessons 6 7 PM Square Dance Less. 7-8:30 PM Club Dance - 8:30-9:30 PM 2750 John Prom Blvd (Sandalwood HS Cafeteria) Jacksonville, FL Caller, Mark Fetzer Cuer, Susan Snider Presidents, Patrick & Joan Amarino (904) jnorve@netzero.com Banner chairs, Walt & Dianne Syphard (904) wlsyphard@aol.com diannehall6@aol.com JACKSONVILLE Seabreeze Singles Mainstream and Pus Square Dancing Lessons - 7-8:30 PM Club Dance - 8:30-9:30 PM 1300 Sprinkle Drive (Arlington Presbyterian Church) Jacksonville, FL Caller, Jim Cosman President, Jane Johnson (904) msjj18@bellsouth.net Banner chair, Betty Smith (904) bettybsmith2002@yahoo.com 2 Back to Page 1

3 LAKE CITY Dixie Dancers Round Dancing and Plus Square Dancing Square Dance Lessons 7:00-8:15 PM Club Dance 8:15-9:30 PM Richardson Community Center 255 NE Coach Anders Lane Lake City, FL Caller, Bill Chesnut Cuer, Ralph Beekman Contact, Barbara Rosenthal (386) ST. AUGUSTINE Joy Seas Mainstream & Plus Square Dancing Every Tuesday except 2nd Tuesday Square Dance Lessons 7:30 8:30 PM Club Dance 8:30-9:30 PM Coquina Crossing Clubhouse St. Augustine, FL Take I-95 to exit 311 West on SR mile, on left You MUST be through the gate by 8:00 PM Caller, Mike Akers Contact, John & Mary Burso (904) burzom@bellsouth.net call to verify dance availability GAINESVILLE Grand Squares Basic, Mainstream and Plus Square Dancing 6:30-9 PM 1001 NW 34st Street (Westside Park Recreation Bldg) Gainesville, FL Caller, Lon Ligon President, Susie Moon (352) susiemoon@cox.net grandsquares@bellsouth.net Wednesday Clubs Thursday Club WILLISTON Clover Squares Mainstream & Plus Square Dancing Square Dance Lessons 4:00 5:00 PM Club Dance 2:00-4:00 PM 213 W. Noble Ave. (US 27A) (First United Methodist Church) Williston, FL Callers Either Bill Chesnut or Rod Barngrover Contact, Mignon Craig (352) mignoncraig@yahoo.com Facebook JACKSONVILLE Fun n' Frolic Advanced Square Dancing 6:15-8:15 PM (dark June, July & August) 7750 S. Tempest Street (Jacksonville Heights Elementary School) Jacksonville, FL Caller, Jim Cosman Contact, Russ & Carolyn Ueber (904) carolynu9@gmail.com JACKSONVILLE Moose Promenaders Round Dancing, Mainstream & Plus Square Dancing Advanced Square Dance 6:30-7 PM Square Dance Lessons - 7-8:30 PM Club Dance - 8:30-9:30 PM 5051 Collins Road (Moose Lodge 2020) Orange Park, FL Caller, Bill Chesnut Contact, Wayne & Debbie Miller (904) dlmiller0331@yahoo.com Banner chairs, Chuck & Mary Giera (904) maryvmusic@comcast.net 3 Back to Page 1

4 Friday Club Weekend Camping Clubs STARKE Silver Fox Squares Mainstream with Announced Plus Club Dance - 7:00-9:00 PM First Methodist Church 200 North Walnut Starke, Florida Caller, Ken Perez Co-Caller, Shane Perez (904) dogcat@centurylink.net Banner chair, Susie Kirby silverfoxsquares@mail.com VARIOUS CAMPGROUNDS Gypsy Squares Mainstream / Plus / Lines Usually on the 3rd Full Weekend of Each Month Normally with the Square Wheels Caller, Bill Chesnut President, Gail LaRue (352) glarue2775@gmail.com VARIOUS CAMPGROUNDS Square Wheels Mainstream / Plus / Rounds Usually on the 3rd Full Weekend of Each Month Normally with the Gypsy Squares 2:30-4:30PM MS Workshop Caller, Bill Chesnut President, Don MacGregor (904) dmacgr@comcast.net Round Dancing Saturday Dances Georgia Club JACKSONVILLE First Coast Rounds Round Dancing Round Dance Lessons 5-6 PM Special Teaches 6-6:30 PM Phase II-IV Dance from 6:30-8:30 PM 4758 Shelby Ave (St. Catherine's Episcopal Church) Jacksonville, FL Cuer, Susan Snider (904) frausbs@aol.com Currently Dark VARIOUS LOCATIONS NEFSARDA 5th Saturday dances Contact, Walt & Dianne Syphard (904) wlsyphard@aol.com diannehall6@aol.com Brunswick, GA Jekyll Island Squares Line Dancing, Mainstream & Announced Plus Square Dancing Club Dance Thursdays 7:00-9:00 PM 3890 Altama Avenue (United Methodist Church) Enter at Back of Church Brunswick, GA Caller, Don Heins Contact, Don Heins (912) or (912) Call to verify dance schedule Call prior to dance to confirm 4 Back to Page 1

5 2018 April 28 September 29 Special Dances and Events NEFSARDA Dances 5th Saturday Dance, Trinity Lutheran Church, 1415 McDuff Avenue South, Jacksonville, Florida, theme is Happy Things Jane Johnson ( ) or Kathy McKinney ( ) 5th Saturday Dance, theme will be Sports, location and time to be determined November April NEFSARDA Fall Festival, Palms Presbyterian Church, rd Street South, Jacksonville Beach, Florida Joan Amarino ( ) Special Dances in Northeast Florida Florida State Square and Round Dance Conventions Party Weekend (fund raiser for the 2019 State Convention) at the Deerhaven Retreat & Conference Center, Paisley, Florida Randy or Carol Poole May 19 October February February April 7-15 July The Power to See the Future, fund raiser for the 2020 State Convention, Plant City, Florida Terri Little, ( ) 43rd Florida State Camporee, Eustis, Florida Ron & Linda Imus ( ) 65th Florida State Square & Round Dance Convention, Daytona Ocean Center, 101 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach, Florida 66th Florida State Square & Round Dance Convention, Daytona Ocean Center, 101 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach, Florida Square and Round Dance Cruises Fourth Annual Cruisen for Bob 4 with Bill Chesnut from Jacksonville to the Bahamas & Bermuda on the Carnival Elation Marilyn Scott ( ) scottymjane@gmail.com Square Dance Cruise with Tony Oxendine, Jack Pladdys & Mac O Jima from Honolulu to Maui, Hilo, Kona & Kauai on the Norwegian Price of America CI Azumano Travel ( ) 5 Back to Page 1

6 December February June June August 30 to September June June June April 6-7 April 7 April April April Square Dance Cruise with Jack & Ilene Lewis (Ft. Lauderdale, Haiti, Jamaica, and Cozumel) Seth Mintz ( ) 8th Annual Florida Winter Fest Cruise with Tony Oxendine and Jack Pladdys from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas on the Carnival Liberty John Manning ( or ) National Square and Round Dance Conventions 61st International NSCDA Camp-O-Ree, Sedalia, Missouri - John & Dolly Ide ( ) or Gary & Gail LaRue ( ) 67th National Square Dance Convention, Kansas City, Missouri Jim & Edythe Weber ( ), registration@67nsdc.com 48th National Singles Dance-A-Rama, Indianapolis, Indiana info@ssdusa.org 68th National Square Dance Convention, Atlanta, Georgia, Bob & Virginia Walker ( ), registration@68nsdc.org 69th National Square Dance Convention, Spokane, Washington reg2020@comcast.net 70th National Square Dance Convention, Jackson, Mississippi register70@yahoo.com ( ) Special Dances Outside of Northeast Florida 65th Alabama Jubilee (Square & Round Dance), Gardendale, Al. Marie Rogala ( ) Swinging Squares 46th Anniversary Blue & White Ball, Panama City, Fl. Mary Riley ( ) or Patricia McLendon ( ) 27th Spring Fling, Pensacola, Florida Larry Belcher ( ) Central Florida Square & Round Dancers Association Party Weekend, Paisley, Florida Randy & Carol Poole ( ) 43 rd South Carolina Square & Round Dancers Convention, Columbia, South Carolina Ken & Darlene Padgett ( ), D.Goley@yahoo.com 6 Back to Page 1

7 April 29 May 4-5 May July 21 August 2-4 August 5-9 August 11 August 18 August September September September October October November 9-10 December January 19 50th Anniversary of John Swindle s Dance Calling, Melbourne, Fl. Jackie Holmberg, jholmber002@gmail.com ( ) Blairsville Spring Sashay Callerama, Blairsville, Georgia 57th Derby City (Square Dance only) Festival, Shepherdsville, Ky Bob & Geri Jeffers ( ) Seaside Squares July Jamboree, Pensacola, Florida terriwilaby@hotmail.com ( ) 44th Annual Square Dance Convention, Gatlinburg, Tennessee Shea Meincke ( ), meincke_us@yahoo.com Maggie Valley Square Dance Vacations Pride RV Resort Plus Week, Maggie Valley, North Carolina (RV sites and cabins available) Pride RV Resort ( ) 30th Anniversary Dance - Jekyll Island Squares, United Methodist Church (back entrance), 3890 Altama Avenue, Brunswick, Georgia with Don Heins, Bill Chesnut & Ernie Rollen 7:30 to 9:30 pm. (Mainsteam, Plus & Line Dances) Don or Donna Heins ( ) Seaside Squares 55th Anniversary, Pensacola, Florida Terri Wilaby terriwilaby@hotmail.com ( ) 40th Alabama Square & Round Dance Convention, Oxford, Alabama Jim Purvis ( ), asardanews@gmail.com Focus on Bolero Fall Weekend of Rounds, Panama City, Florida Susan Snider ( ) 47th Georgia State Convention Let s Sail Away, Athens, Georgia Roscoe Johnson ( ) Autumn Holiday of Rounds (round dancing), Fontana Village, NC Carol Cooke ( ) Grand Square Daytona Beach Ball, Ormond Beach, Florida Judi Corbett ( ), LadybirdDB@gmail.com NWFSRDA 44th Annual Round Up, Panama City, Florida Patricia McLendon ( ) or Mary Riley ( ) WCSRDA 44th Annual Fall Fun Fest, Bartow, Florida Bells and Bows New Year s Eve Dance, Plant City, Florida strawberrydance@aol.com ( or ) January Shine, Pensacola, Florida Terri Wilaby terriwilaby@hotmail.com ( ) 7 Back to Page 1

8 January 31 to February 2 February th Aloha State Square & Round Dance Festival, Honolulu, Hawaii Dee ( ) alohafestival@cox.net Belles and Buoys 41st Annual Mardi Gras Festival, Biloxi, Mississippi Nell Knott ( ) or Carol Beinhauer ( ) NEFSARDA A Fifth Saturday Dance will be on Saturday, April 28th at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 1415 McDuff Avenue South, Jacksonville, Florida from 7:00 to 9:30 pm. Callers will be Bill Chesnut and Rod Barngrover. Ann Hadsall will be the Cuer. Early Rounds will begin at 7:00 pm, and regular dancing will begin at 7:30 pm. The theme will be Happy Things. Each club is encouraged to decorate a table with happy things and to bring treats to share NEFSARDA Fall Festival Joan Amarino ( ) and Sherry Boatman-Burris will be the chairpersons for the 2018 Fall Festival that will be held on November 16th and 17th, The theme will be Murder in Maui A Luau to Die For. The location will be the same The Palms Presbyterian Church, rd Street South, Jacksonville Beach, Florida. The Cuers will be Doug and Cheryl Byrd and the Caller will be Bobby Poyner. Notes from the Grapevine Editors The Grapevine is sent via at the beginning of each month to square and round dancers in the NEFSARDA community. Please send us your club news (past and planned), flyers and pictures. While it is best to send us your input at your earliest convenience, your final input is due five days before the end of the month. We prefer that your input be in Word, as an , or as an attachment to an (not PDF). It has been said that one picture is worth a thousand words. That seems to hold true for the Grapevine as pictures have certainly improved each edition. We welcome suggestions to make this a better and more useful publication. Please let us know of address changes, additions and deletions, especially new members to your club. Use squaredancejax@gmail.com for all communication related to the Grapevine. You can also call Laura on or Jim on Laura Martin and Jim Maroldo Clover Squares - Williston Dixie Dancers Lake City Fun n Frolic - Jacksonville Dance Club News Grand Squares Gainesville Grand Squares had a special guest on March 6 th former dancer Henry Kelly. Henry and five of his family came to our dance so we could honor Henry for his 100 th birthday. Former USDA presidents Jerry and Donna Robey presented Henry with a special certificate and lapel pin. Grand Squares hopes to graduate five new dancers on May 22nd. Also, we will be electing new officers in May. We have a brand-new banner! It was designed by our own Margo Reese. Thank you so much, Margo. We can t wait to show it off. Please come see us so you can steal our banner. We also have new t-shirts, and they were also designed by Margo Reese. The orders were handled by Don and Kathie Frison. Thank you so much, Margo, Don, and Kathie. For more information, call Susie (352) We love visitors! 8 Back to Page 1

9 Gypsy Squares and Square Wheels Combined Camping Weekends Gypsy Squares & Square Wheels - March 16-18th, 2018 Campout We had the luck of the Irish at our weekend campout at Ocala Sun RV resort, with 28 rigs. There were a number of visitors; Jim Cosman, Herman and Fran George, and a few couples from the campground. Campers gathered at different restaurant s at 5:00 pm, so there was not one big crowd for dinner at one place. We heard the Mexican restaurant was really good. I want to say to those of you who parked in the back 40, you were good sports. It was nice of the campground office to loan us the golf cart limo. Dick was our limo driver, but he didn t get any tips! The club house dance floor was filled with dancers, with Bill calling and Ann cueing. There were plenty of snacks to share; even some Leprechaun bait. The after parties were well attended both nights. Saturday morning the camp ground had a yard sale, craft, and bake sale in the club house. Some of us did a little shopping before we did our craft. There were 10 ladies who make silk dogwood blossoms. Everyone was given the Legend of the Dogwood poem to go with their flower. Gail shared the Japanese art of silk flower making. She brought her collection of bonsai silk trees she made when she lived in Japan.The Gypsy Squares had their General Meeting, and the weather was so nice it was held outside at the LaRue s site. Workshops were great. Ann even let us non-round dancers try a pattern dance. Bill had four squares with one half square sitting out. That was great.food galore at the pot luck dinner and it was all so good. Marilyn and Paul Scott came for dinner and the special dance. After dinner, we all got gussied up in our festive green dance attire. Saturday night we did something different. We headed over to On Top of the World to really celebrate St. Patrick s Day. We were guests of the New Circle Squares club. There were a number of other clubs there too. It was a great time with at least 18 squares on the floor. Jack Lewis was the guest caller. We were so happy he was there after his scary heart attack and he looked great. Loretta Hanhurst was the cuer, and the dance floor was full of round dancers all dressed in green, twirling around and around the dance floor.the New Circle Squares want to thank everyone for coming to the dance at On Top of the World. It may have been good for Bill to have the night off. He was not feeling well on Saturday night. He really sounded bad on Sunday morning. He canceled his Monday dance. We all sure hope he s feeling better now. Sunday morning was a grab and go breakfast of donuts and coffee. Spring Fling is our next campout, at southern Palms, Eustis on April Square Wheels are hosting. Don MacGregor will be the Wagon master for both clubs, he has sent out s. Mary Chesnut will be collecting the money for both clubs for the weekend dance. Some people are making their reservations for Thursday, so they can attend the pot luck breakfast on Friday. Saturday will be the pot luck dinner. The Gypsy Squares will be joining the Saturday yard sale. The money collected will go to the Gypsy club treasurer. So, remember to bring your stuff to donate while you are doing your Spring cleaning. Mary Burzo has asked me to collect $.50 from each member to pay for our club membership to be printed in the CampoRee book. She always does the collecting herself, but she is busy with fun family stuff. Even though she won t be camping for a while she is working hard as ever on all the CampORee stuff. Gypsy Squares will be hosting the weekend of May It will be a 50 s theme weekend at Southern Oaks RV Resort. More information to follow. Gail LaRue Jekyll Island Squares Brunswick 9 Back to Page 1

10 Joy Seas St. Augustine The Joy Seas returned to dancing on January 16th. We have changed their dance times to be from 7:30 and to 9:30 pm. Dance lessons are being held from 7:30 to 8:30 pm. Mary Burzo Mandarin Marauders - Jacksonville Ken and Shane Perez became our new callers on March 5th. We are very pleased to have them with us. March 19th was the candle lighter dangle dance. We all had to dance in the dark! What fun for us, but I think it was a little rough on Shane who had to keep track of us in the dark (but not completely dark as we had lanterns and office lighting we didn t want anyone getting hurt!). We are now dancing on MONDAY nights. The location and the time are the same the Mandarin Senior Center, 3848 Hartley Road, Jacksonville from 7:00 to 9:30 pm. Elections for new officers will be on April 2nd. Members are asked to attend that night so that their vote will count. Pat Chidester Mixed Nuts/BAD Dancers - Gainesville Moose Promenaders - Jacksonville The Moose Promenaders will be dark on Thursday, April 12th. The Promenaders will have their 28th Anniversary Dance on Thursday, April 26th. There will be a potluck dinner from 6:15 to 7:00 pm. Early rounds will be from 7:00 to 7:30 pm and club dancing will be from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. Our caller, Bill Chesnut, will provide the square dancing and Susan Snider will be our Cuer. If you want to participate in the dinner, please arrive by 6:00 pm with your dish to share. If you do not want to participate in the dinner, come anyway and arrive in time for the dancing. Contact Wayne or Debbie on (904) or dlmiller0331@gmail.com. Wayne & Debbie Miller Rollaways - Jacksonville The Rollaways dance Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm at Sandalwood High School, 2750 John Prom Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida. January ended with the Circus Dance. Our Cuer, Susan Snider, did a great job in organizing and executing the dance, which helped raise over $7,000 for Dreams Come True. February continued our love affair with food and helped keep club members well-fed with our annual Mardi Gras/Valentine s Day dance (the two were combined this year due to the almost simultaneous occurrence of the two holidays). Sherry Boatman-Burris and MaryAnn Lawrence, with help from Beth Sharkey, ensured we had our fill of pancakes. Of course, we also had King Cake and plenty of chocolate. The Rollaways also supported our club presidents, Joan and Patrick, by having the most members at the Moose Promenader s President s Dance. They received a certificate from the Moose for this honor. 10 Back to Page 1

11 Thirty-three of our club members attended the State Square Dance Convention in Daytona Beach and had a blast! Our caller, Mark Fetzer, was also on hand for three fun activities: the Blast Class, the Sand Flea dance on the beach, and the Dangle Dance. Way to go, Mark! Rollaways members also won two of the 50/50 raffles; amazingly enough, Jacksonville area club members won all five of the raffles. Three cheers to the Wasserman s and their Committee for a wonderful dance at this new venue. Several members also attended the Federation meeting that occurred on Sunday after the State Convention in Daytona Beach. The key topic of discussion was the just-completed State Convention, which everyone enjoyed, as well as upcoming Convention activity. Our Cuer, Susan Snider, donned her caller hat one Saturday afternoon in March as she led a square in a demonstration helping celebrate the Beach Hut Café s 30 th anniversary. March also found us celebrating St. Patrick s Day and the birthday of our caller, Mark Fetzer. We also made a banner raid at the Moose Promenaders. Our normal dancing venue was unavailable to us on March 20th as it was Spring Break, so we joined the Seabreeze Singles with an Appreciation Dance for Ernie Rollen as he retires from club calling. We presented him with a card and token of our appreciation for 36 years of calling for NEFSARDA. Unfortunately, some of our club members are still having serious health issues; we wish them a speedy recovery. Ken Shacter; photos by Jack McKinney) 11 Back to Page 1

12 Seabreeze Singles Jacksonville Margaret Cahan, Betty Smith, & Charlene Mitchell plus Inez Everett & Eric Lincke at the State Convention in February Janell Garvey, Cynthia Mims and Margaret Cahan with their Easter Bonnets. Margaret Cahan, Mary Lou Pelz and Wayne Ballasso Silver Fox Squares - Starke The Silver Fox Squares are currently dark until Mid-April. We normally dance on Fridays at the First United Methodist Church in Starke. We are preparing to start beginner classes in upcoming month and welcome beginners and dancers of all levels to come join us. Our callers are Ken 'Silver Fox' Perez and Shane 'Little Bear' Perez who are a father/son duo that also call for the Silver Stars in Fort White on Tuesdays and the Mandarin Marauders in Jacksonville on Mondays. Please like and follow the Silver Fox Squares & the Silver Stars on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram! You can always find information about past and upcoming events as well as flyers on the facebook pages and the Silver Fox Squares website at: Remember square dancing is good for the heart, mind, body, and soul! Susie Kirby 12 Back to Page 1

13 Silver Stars Squares Fort White The Silver Stars are a new square dance club located in Fort White. We normally dance on Tuesdays at the Tustenuggee United Methodist Church in Fort White. We welcome dancers of all levels to come join us. Our callers are Ken 'Silver Fox' Perez and Shane 'Little Bear' Perez who are a father/son duo that also call for the Silver Fox Squares in Starke on Fridays and the Mandarin Marauders in Jacksonville on Mondays. Susie Kirby The Silver Stars graduation class in December Left to Right - Linda Caldwell, Kristy Lindsey, Jacob Lindsey, Susie Kirby, Gloria Smith, Ken Perez (Caller), Bill Cassidy, Debbie Cassidy, Linda Fleming, Jim Fleming, Max Wilson. Far back from left to right - Toby Lindsey, Ellis Lindsey, and Gerry Murphy. Square Wheels - See Gypsy Squares & Square Wheels Combined Camping Weekends News and Happenings 65th Florida State Square & Round Dance Convention Green Flag Dancing from Daytona February 22-23, The MAGIC of the 64 th Convention has come to a close, and it s time to get ourselves in gear for the 65 th Florida State Square and Round Dance Convention, chaired by Fast Ed Drexel and Terry Wetherby. Get ready for the fast track. An outstanding line-up of drivers will be steering the 2019 convention to new heights and greater glories. The theme will be GREEN FLAG DANCING FROM DAYTONA. Did you purchase your ribbons yet? It s not too soon to do so. Ribbons purchased before May 31, 2018 are $35 per person. Ribbons purchased between June 1, 2018 and February 21, 2019 will be $40 per person. Ribbons purchased at the door will be $45 per person. Please make checks payable to: 65th FSDC Mail to: Carol Poole, Reg. Chair 1541 Lakeside Drive 13 Back to Page 1

14 Deland, FL Phone: or Please register early -- We need to know how much flooring to order. Returned ribbons will be cheerfully refunded until February 21, 2019 for any reason. Also make plans to attend the Party Weekend in Paisley, Florida on April 20-22, 2018 at the Deerhaven Retreat and Conference Center. It will be a fun weekend of games, dancing, laughter, great food, and even greater company to raise money for the 2019 convention. It will also include some time for an Advanced workshop and tip! Callers will be Keith Stevens and Rod Barngrover and the Cuer will be Susan Snider. For more details, call Randy and Carol Poole on Other fundraisers for the 2019 convention include polos, t-shirts, buttons, and tote bags. They re coming soon to a race track near you. Speaking of buttons, Cheryl Miller, the Ways and Means Chair, is selling GOLD SPONSOR buttons. If you purchase ($25) and wear this button, you will not be harassed to participate in any other fundraising effort for the 2019 Convention. I have my button I think it s a fantastic bargain. Susie Moon - Publicity A Special Appeal for Pull Tabs Each year at the International Camporee, the NSDCA (National Square Dance Campers Association) collects aluminum pull-tabs and donates the money received for the recycled aluminum to the Shriner s Hospitals for Children. The Shriner s hospitals provide much needed medical assistance to any child of need. Children with orthopaedical conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patients' ability to pay. Within our square dance camping community, Bill Chesnut s daughter and Ron and Linda Imus grandson have received support from the Shriner s hospital. You can help by saving your pull-tabs (not the entire can), and then giving them to a member of the Gypsys or Square Wheels camping clubs including Dale Fredrickson and Don MacGregor. The collected pull-tabs will be donated at the National Camporee in June Jim Maroldo SEGFRS Southeast Georgia Federation of Rounds & Squares The SEGFRS hosted a dance in Brunswick, Georgia on March 24th that was well attended by dancers from Northeast Florida. It featured five callers Bill Chesnut, Shane Perez, Don Heins,Sam Rowan and Mark Fetzer. SEGFRS is a similar organization to NEFSARDA, but for southeast Georgia. We were also able to celebrate Jenell Garvey s birthday with her. 14 Back to Page 1

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16 th National Square Dance Convention in Atlanta, Georgia Activities have already begun in anticipation of a great convention in The location is great for the NEFSARDA dancers so hopefully we can have a big presence in Atlanta. The following picture was taken at their Pre-Convention Kick-Off Dance and "Peach Pit Skit" held at the Cobb Galleria Convention Centre in Atlanta on March 10th. 16 Back to Page 1

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18 Caller s and Cuer s Corner Every square dancer in Northeast Florida knows Bill Chesnut, and he knows every square dancer. Bill is also well known throughout the state of Florida and beyond. Bill was born and raised in Gainesville. He is a graduate of Gainesville High School and Santa Fe College. In 1969 Bill began a five-year career in the Navy where he served in the submarine service. He returned home after his discharge where he worked briefly with his father at the Central Florida Office Plus. Bill s father started the family business in downtown Gainesville in Bill moved to Montgomery, Alabama in 1976 where he worked as a manufacturer s representative for an office supply company. By 1980 Bill had returned to Gainesville and was working with his father again. Bill assumed the lead of the company when his father retired. Bill remained in this position until the store closed in Bill started calling when he was very young. He took dance lessons from Scotty Thomas in 1965 when he was 15 years old. Square dance calling seemed like fun, so Bill decided to give it a try. He began by calling an occasional tip at the Sunshine Twirlers. He was only 15, so his father had to drive him to the square dances. He got his first paid calling job as an occasional caller with the Lake City Square Dance Club (now the Dixie Dancers). He was only 17 years old at the time. Bill continued to be a part-time caller while he was in the Navy. After he was discharged from the Navy, Bill got his first regular calling job with the Older American Council in Gainesville. He also began calling for a club in Beverly Hills, Florida. Bill continue to call after he moved to Alabama and even started a club for teenagers. Bill s calling career really blossomed when he returned to Gainesville in His first jobs were with the Gator Twirlers and the Square Wheels. He also worked as a substitute caller at other clubs in the area. Since then he has been the regular caller at many clubs. Some are no longer dancing such as the Friendship Squares in Keystone Heights and Crazy 8 s in Jacksonville. His current clubs are the Moose Promenaders, Square Wheels, Gypsy Squares, Dixie Dancers, Clover Squares and Mixed Nuts. Bill was the president of the Florida Callers Association in 1992 and the Rural Callers Association various years. Bill has served as caller coordinator for the state convention 4 times. Bill and Mary Chesnut have been married for 32 years and live in Melrose, Florida. They have three children, 6 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. 18 Back to Page 1

19 Dancer Profiles George and Suzanne Tower George and Suzanne have been square dancers since They took their lessons from Ernie Rollen at the Palatka River Ramblers. You can see them at the Moose Promenaders every Thursday night where Suzanne is the Club Treasurer. Suzanne was born in Baltimore, Maryland, but moved to Orlando when she was a young girl. After high school, Suzanne attended the University of South Florida in Tampa. While in college, she began an internship/coop program with the Jacksonville Naval Air Station (NAS) which was her introduction to Jacksonville. She moved to Jacksonville to work fulltime at the NAS after college. George was born and raised in Hopedale, Massachusetts. He joined the Navy after high school where he served for eight years as an avionics electronic technician. He was on the USS Saratoga s 1971 Mediterranean tour, and he was then stationed at the Jacksonville NAS. George took flying lessons on his own time while he was in the Navy, and he earned his pilot s license in In 1978 Suzanne began taking flying lessons at the Jacksonville Navy Flying Club. Her instructor was a young sailor, George Tower. These lessons led to dating and ultimately to their marriage in George left the Navy in He worked briefly at the NAS, and he was an instructor at the St. Augustine Technology Institute. He graduated from the University of North Florida in 1987 with a degree in Computer Science. Many of us remember George s parents, George Sr. and Annie, who danced at the Moose Promenaders along with their son and Suzanne for many years in the early 2000s. They took their dance lessons in Massachusetts before they moved to Jacksonville to join their son in the 1980s. Misfortune struck George when he was in an airplane crash in He spent six months in the hospital or rehabilitation center afterwards. George s eyesight was impaired to the point that while he can see, he is legally blind and cannot drive a car. Nevertheless, George remains active with dancing. He also functions as the photographer for the Promenaders. Cynthia Mims Cynthia Mims began taking Mainstream square dance lessons in September 2017 at the Seabreeze Singles where she recently graduated. She is currently taking Plus classes.this makes three generations of her family dancing with the Seabreeze Singles including her mother (Jenell Garvey) and her daughter (Ashley Mims). Cynthia was born and grew up in Jacksonville. She graduated from Wolfson High School and later received a Master s in Culinary Arts from Florida Community College in Jacksonville. She has worked as a master chef at several well-known local restaurants and at the Prime Osborn Center. Cynthia has five adult children and five grandchildren. Her hobbies include crafts of all kinds, bowling, fishing, cooking and, of course, square dancing. She is a member of the Red Hat Ladies, Eastern Star and the Moose Lodge. 19 Back to Page 1

20 Jeremy Hoblit, Ashley Mims, Cynthia Mims & Jenell Garvey Three Generations of Dancers Dancers at Other Activities Maxine Thomas and Jane Johnson of the Seabreeze Singles attended the 53rd Aloha State Square and Round Dance Festival in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 1-3, 2018.They stayed at a condo at Waikiki Beach. They had a great time at the festival, and they visited the many local sites. The festival drew people from many areas including 17 dancers and a caller from Japan. This was Jane s 11th state where she has danced. This puts her over 20% toward her goal of square dancing in all 50 states. When she is finished, she will qualify for a USA Traveler Badge with a Gold Bar from the United Square Dancers of America (USDA). Jane will qualify for a USA Badge with a Red Bar once she dances in her 12th state. Maxine is well ahead of Jane in that she has already competed her quest of dancing in all 50 states, and thus she earned her USA Badge with a Gold Bar. Maxine is now working on a second Gold Bar by visiting each state an additional time. She has already danced in 34 states toward this goal! The 2019 Aloha Festival will be held from January 31st to February 2, Back to Page 1

21 Top Callers Buddy Weaver, Ken Bowers & Tacomaka (from Japan) with Maxine & Jane Bottom Jane & Maxine Enjoying the Beach & Also Seeing the Local Sights Farewells and Concerns Alonzo Harrison Gilbert - Those of you who attended our Single-Rama dances will no doubt remember Harrison Gilbert who died on February 28, 2018 at the Augusta University Medical Center. Funeral services were conducted on March 2, Survivors are four daughters, Deborah Stephens, Darlene Murdoch, Pamela Cavanagh and Paula Knight; brother, James Barry Gilbert; and five grandchildren. Mr. Gilbert will be missed by his choir members at Greggory Parrish Catholic Church, Hollywood, FL. He also will be missed by his Square Dance Partners as well as his family. Harrison is a past president of the Florida Association of Single Square and Round Dancers (FASSRD). Memorial contributions in memory of Mr. Gilbert may be made to the American Cancer Society, (800) , P.O. Box 42040, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, or to the St. Jude's Children Research Hospital, Memorial id: ; (800) , PO 21 Back to Page 1

22 Box 1000, Memphis, Tennessee If you would like to send a card, the address of one of his daughters is Deborah Stephens, 975 Cameron Avenue, Martinez, Georgia Mary Lou Pelz Frank Meyers of the Seabreeze Singles and the Moose Promenaders died on March 4, They were officers in the Moose Promenaders. Barbara and Frank Meyer in 2010 Keith Myers - When Donna and I were going to the Lane Wile Senior Center on February 6th to dance, I had strong chest pains. We went to NAS Naval hospital. They determined that I had had a heart attack. They transferred me to St Vincent's since they were better equipped to handle my problems. They determined that I had clogged arteries to the heart. The repairs are now done, and I am home regaining my strength. Keith Myers Helpful Web Sites and Addresses General Grapevine Editors, Jim Maroldo and Laura Martin squaredancejax@gmail.com Florida Federation of Square Dancers floridasquaredance.com Florida Callers Association National Square Dance Campers Association (John Ide) johnide2016@outlook.com Single Square Dancers USA th National Square Dance Convention in June Back to Page 1

23 Vendors sewemupfashions.com or (Sew em Up Fashions, Roebuck, SC) (vinyl decals) (Square Dance DVDs Both Instructional and Dance) (Suzie Q Creations) (Aron's Square Dance & Western Wear) (Tic TAC Toes - shoe vendor) (Sheplers - the world's largest western stores and catalog) (Perfect Petticoats) (Grande Square.com square dance clothes and accessories) 23 Back to Page 1