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June 2007 Blog
Rick Hampton Square Dance Caller

June 3rd
So whazzup with the "V" area website- 9 days and counting- no site up?????  Oh well, nothing new here.
The Friday club claims they have not decided on a caller- Yet the banner mentions one, and a group of Slappers and Stumblers who were traveling announced the have hired a new (old) caller- News to him... I have indicated that I'll be happy to call 25-25 Fridays a year, but every week-No Thanks.    In The "U" a turning point- will the folks move on from a minor festival issue, a committee issue OR will the nice folks start down a familiar road- Time will tell- Will the "U" prez have to resort to hitting folks in the head with spoiled fish to wake them?---Will efforts by myself and others to calm down the fracas work- Stay Tuned -  Meanwhile in the Sacramento area folks are starting to behave in a manner more reminiscent of these parts...............................AGGGHHH........Can't we all just Square Dance?

Rick

June 5th
The "V" area website remains down, The main reason is that the association did not follow my 11 month ago suggestion that they own the domain- They don't it's down and I've removed the link from my site........Meanwhile In the "U" a healing started Monday with a close vote. Is the "U" in need of some adjustments? Is The Festival? YEPPERS!!!!! So now let's hope ALL nice folks come together and "steer" the good ship Fiesta/USDA toward  long term success- A good step was taken Monday- KEEP IT UP and who knows, perhaps all favorite callers will appear in the future- IT'S POSSIBLE!!!.  I called for the Tehachapi group tonite- The kids were quiet while I taught (Music off) and Rambunctious (Music on) THAT'S PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!- Ironically I had to ask the ADULTS to shhhhh while I was teaching- Just once ::))

Rick

June 9th
A FUN nite with a nice group in Torrance.  I hear the Roseville Ricky B. Benefit went well!!!!  I'm about ready to cut my left foot off DAMN GOUT (I was fine at 4pm, can't bear to stand 11 hours later) The VASD website remains kaput, The nice folks in the "V" who are attempting to bring a Squarama resurrection had best get with it- 8 months away and no finalizing of small things like PUBLICITY???? Why not try something new here??? Please don't stomp the Sequoia weekend into same stuff different year, same result.  I was involved with some folks who were willing, able and ready to provide a weekend, ready to have the publicity out 4 months ago (11 months prior) but we backed off to help this group who wanted to revive the weekend- Good luck, you're nearing publication deadlines that are a must if you want anyone there.  I hope this works, I doubt it will.

OFW
Rick

June 14th
A GREAT couple of days, I hear the Visalia Sat. Dance went fiscally OK-a lil bit of loss-but manageable- The Caller was not well received-Live and learn eh'? That's OK as this group has come out of a 3 year "coma" and is doing well!!!!!!!!!!!! It is my favorite class, and the class is motivating the club.  Monday we graduated our class and we had a normal sized crowd-in spite of a square off traveling-YAY Last nite I called for the new Oakhurst group and had a really fun luau- Kudos to Jan- The class is dancing VERY WELL and the club has improved a "tad" (That seems familiar) The numbers up there are truly good- I'm glad this group listened, and learned, from a 35 year perspective that Wednesdays in Oakhurst WORK WELL- I called 8 years there on Weds. Lynn and Kid # 2 are off to Italy in 7 days and I hope that there will be no more fiscal surprises-the latest is a B**ch- Oh well Sh*t happens.......Oh yeah I was sad to hear the Oakhurst group -so excited about their V website-didn't know it's gone, I had to tell them.

Rick

June 17th
A fun Friday at Steppers (aka Swelterers and Stompers)  I hear they're voting next Friday..... I hope I'll be involved, but we'll see- After all this is the "V"- and I made it clear how many dates I could not do-thru 2008, The others likely will likely let them know later, as was done the last time, Anyway Sunday Fathers Day was the BEST EVER- Both kids, nieces and food....Thank you LORD for my family, keep Lynn and Cass safe on their trip overseas, Keep Jess safe here...Thank you Lord-Amen

Rick

June 24th
The Italy travelers are having fun, The choir did leave one member at Heathrow, But I hear they caught up. I've been busy with catching up every movie I've TIVO'ed  in the last year.  I Steppers has a new caller, an old one- And are going dark for the summer.  Ah yes the more things change, the more deja vu- To bastardize to quote.  I'll calling A2 this afternoon, Then Whirlaways Monday and Tues off to nationals.

Rick