MSD NEWS ITEMS!
Important News!!!
The October 29th MSD will be at St. Paul's church in Red Hook.
MSD Dancers of the Year
Ethel Anderson and Eddy VanBuskirk have been named couple of the year. They have both been
long time members and very supportive of our club and square dancing in general. Please come to
the Hudson Valley Dance and support them as they march with the banner.
Remember that MSD members get a discount on the ribbons. Only $6.00 per couple or $3 single.
The annual Masked Ball will be held October 29. Dress in your favorite Halloween costume if you
wish. Ray Taylor will grace the stage at MSD. And don't forget our Cookie Dance in December
with Bob Labounty.
Many of the MSD 'ers have renewed their memberships. Our membership runs from September
thru August. It is only $10.00 per person for renewals.
Continue to make guests to MSD welcome. Especially if single dancers come, make sure these
people get a chance to dance. And when you can visit other clubs in the area to help support the
square dance activity and possibly make some new friends.
Future Events
November 19, 2000
Cuers: Shirley Underwood, Rosina Wagenhoffer
Bolos-N-Petticoats Square Dance Shop
Saugerties , NY
December 1-3 2000 more info for highlights!
Don & Dot Coy
with Ray Taylor calling.
Dance: 7:00-10 PM
November 12 Pie Night Dance.
Chuck & Gerry calling
December 3 Cookie Night Dance.
Bob LaBounty calling
Bobby Hanson 10/15
Ralph Roe 10/21
Hugo Schulz 10/27
Hugo Schulz 10/27
Martha Carlson 11/16
Winifred Badgley 11/17
Roy Greenberg 11/18
Anne Lawlor 11/28
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
Bill & Marge Lutz 11/19
We are selling square dance tee shirts and sweat shirts. Why not get one to wear or give as a gift
at Christmas. We need to spread the word about square dancing.
Some Humor
Living A Long Life
A woman walked up to a little old man rocking in a chair on his porch.
"I couldn't help noticing how happy you look," she said. "What's your secret for a long happy
life?"
"I smoke three packs of cigarettes a day," he said. "I also drink a case of whiskey a week, eat fatty
foods, and never exercise."
"That's amazing," the woman said. "How old are you?"
"Twenty-six," he said.
UNITED SQUARE DANCERS OF AMERICA
RESS RELEASE
SQUARE
DANCERS
CREDIT
CARD
PROGRAM
PROMOTES SQUARE DANCING
Funds generated from the Credit Card Program were distributed during the USDA annual
meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, June 21, 2000. Affiliates shared a total of$13,200.00 with the
understanding that the funds would be used in the promotion of Square Dancing. This was the
second sharing of surplus funds by affiliates.
The USDA Board of Directors authorized distribution of funds generated by the program as follows; one half to affiliates and the other half to the USDA Youth and Handicapable programs. Over $10,000.00 is currently being held in escrow for the Youth and Handicapable programs until release is approved. What a super and easy way to provide funds to help support our great activity. USDA extends a sincere "thank you" to all who have obtained the Square Dancers Credit Card.
Something Gerry and I really Need.
TIRED OF GETTING UNWANTED TELEMARKETERS' CALLS NIGHT AFTER
NIGHT? THEN END THEM FOREVER AT JUST THE PRESS OF A BUTTON!
WEED OUT UNWANTED CALLS WHILE TAKING THOSE FROM FRIENDS
Well now they won't have any choice! AT Etracks.com(tm) they just received a device today that's so helpful, we just had to immediately offer it to you: the EZ Hang Up from Zenith.
Simply connect it to your phone via the incoming line, and it plays the following polite, but FIRM, message at the press of a button: "I'm sorry, this number does not accept this type of call. Please regard this message as your notification to remove this number from your list. Thank you."
Upon completion of the message, it will then disconnect the line.
CALLERLAB
CONGRATULATIONS go to TONY OXENDINE, Sumter, South Carolina, the newest
recipient of the CALLERLAB Milestone Award. This prestigious award was presented to
Tony at the 2000 CALLERLAB convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tony has been deeply
involved with square dancing since he first learned to dance in 1972. He entered square dance
calling in 1974 when it was well developed. The techniques of dub calling were well
understood and widely practiced and the methods and presentations of traveling callers had
become reasonably standardized. It was also just before the CALLERLAB Mainstream
Program was developed. The establishment and acceptance of a standard list of calls required a
new way of calling. A caller could no longer simply introduce new terms (moves) as a means
of "leveling the ability of the floor. Tony quickly realized he needed to develop presentation
skills which would permit the dancers to enjoy this new style of choreography. He combined a
unique presentation style and a masterry of choreography, with an uncanny sense of
showmanship. Though these skills he quickly became one of the most popular festival callers.
This provided other callers the opportunity to observe his many talents to bring enjoyment to
the dancers. His presentation and showmanship skills had a tremendous influence on the way
other callers viewed their presentations and provided them a model to follow.
In addition to his leadership on stage, Tony accepted, somewhat reluctantly, a position of
organizational leadership by serving on the Board Of Governors. Later he was called upon to
assume an even greater leadership role when he was elected Chairman Of The Board. This
turned out to be a turbulent time for CALLERLAB and few will ever know how very
important and valuable it was to have Tony as our Chairman at this critical time. His leadership
and stature represented CALLERLAB most effectively during some difficult negotiations. His
energy, devotion, leadership, and diplomacy were exemplary.
His professionalism, showmanship, leadership, and other talents have had a broad influence on
the square dance activity, callers, and CALLERLAB. He has unselfishly devoted vast amounts
of time and money toward the preservation and promotion of square dancing.
The Milestone Award is CALLERLABs highest honor. It is presented to individuals who
have met the five point criteria in the field of square dancing and been selected by
representatives of the membership. This most prestigious award is presented to callers who
have made significant contributions to the square dance activity.
CALLERLABPRESS RELEASE
PHOENIX PLAN
Research Results Are A
SURPRISE!
CALLERLAB, through its Foundation, has completed the analysis of its initial research study. It was conducted as a 'first step of, The Phoenix Plan, a new marketing program. And the 'findings were surprisingly pleasant! The survey, conducted by StarWorks mc, a Michigan based Research firm, under the direction of Jim Hensely, the Foundations Marketing Director, was a preliminary study of general public opinion with the following objectives:
-- Assess the image of Square Dancing
-- Explore potential for expanding interest in Square Dancing
-- Identify other possible marketing targets for marketing efforts
-- Test viability of"Boomers" as a target
The nearly two thousand respondents, who were balanced geographically and
demographically, were given three questions, establishing: If they had ever square danced,
whether they had negative, positive or neutral opinions about it, and whether they might
consider joining a square dance class.
The findings were surprisingly positive in many areas. Square dance activity is a wide open
market, with less than 15% of our population ever having experienced it as an adult. The
image issue was decidedly stronger than anticipated. In this study, it proved to be
moderately POSITIVE, with only a small minority (12%), having a negative opinion. Most
people were neutral, but a THIRD were positive. People who had contact with square
dancing as an adult, were twice as likely to be positive. Experiencing the activity apparently
breeds goodwill. Almost all income levels reacted the same way, with lower level incomes
being twice as positive. Positioning square dancing as a 'FunSocial-and Healthy activity
would draw one in six, to consider joining a class, with another 40% maybes.
Additional work win be needed to validate results, but this preliminary study showed the
general context for square dancing as relatively favorable. There is considerable potential
for expanding interest in this activity. The 'Baby Boomers are a viable target market for
square dancing. Other marketing targets should include singles, who have been married and
people with lower incomes.
In August, 2000 the Foundation win began a series of Focus Group Research Studies in
three cities, Charlotte NC, St Louis MO, and Portland, OR. These will be in depth, face-to-face sessions, with a professional moderator questioning a small, representative group of
carefully chosen people, in detail, about their opinions and feelings. In each city we will visit
with three separate groups, two who have never square danced and one group who
dropped out of square dancing, after only a few lessons. Names of discontinued dancers will
be obtained through local callers and club leaders. If you know of people who have dropped
out of a square dance class, please send that information(name, address and telephone
number) along with your name and telephone number to the CALLERLAB Office. These
sessions, which are video taped and reviewed, will give everyone better insight into our
problem areas.
Hopefully, other square dance organizations will want to participate in similar research
studies to learn more about their individual market area. The results of our final report will
be made available through the Foundation at a later date this Fall.
THE CALLERLAB FOUNDATION
Some Humor-- Headlines
1. Include Your Children When Baking Cookies
2. Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
3. Drunks Get Nine Months in Violin Case
4. Iraqi Head Seeks Arms
5. Is There a Ring of Debris around Uranus?
6. Prostitutes Appeal to Pope
7. Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
8. British Left Waffles on Falkland Islands
9. Teacher Strikes Idle Kids