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September 2006 Blog
Rick Hampton Square Dance Caller
 

September 6th
A GREAT weekend in Los Banos- Monday was dark for labor day- Tuesday crowds are trending up (hmmm faster-better level=visitors and good finances.....whoda thunk) Tonite the A2 starts at Skirts/ Tomorrow it's the Frazier kickoff and Saturday it's a Studio day (SharpShooter Youth Project) then Aces & Deuces in Palmdale. Sunday the Frazier Pizza Party class kickoff!!!!
Did you see how a certain caller has got his Teat in a wringer over emails/letters written?  I told him not to pursue suing clubs but nooooooooo.............Used Togas anyone

Rick

Sept 11th
REMEMBER!!
We had a great session for the Youth Music project and we're getting some great stories of how well using newer music, losing the funny clothes and not getting mired in political minutia is working and growing s/d groups.  Sat Night I called for Aces & Dueces- a bigger than usual nite, 4 squares-scary Huh. Frazier park tried a pizza party to attract new dancers-failed to bring any significant numbers. Politics are rearing their ugly head in one of my areas again- I HOPE they don't goof this one up-PLEASE

Rick

Sept 12th
Square dancing 1-Politics ZERO in the afore-mentioned area!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so glad that the U area is functioning toward the future and not mired in the "old ways" (I was a tad worried) Now let's give kudos to those (IMHO) who are "thinking out of the box" and generating a push to repair our declining activity in Central Ca.-  John R., Judy R. Roger W., Wes C. Phil A. Kenny H. Ron V. Ron V. (yep 2 of 'em) Terry P. John M. and so many more- Gosh I'm really tempted to do a list of those who are not helping but I'll give a question  instead 1) Are YOU willing to modify dress codes/length of classes/amount of meetings/duties for members/any other "Outreach Strategies"  if it will grow our numbers?  if YES-add yourself to the kudos list- If NO-Take up Bowling and please go away-Really Please-Some of us want to dance.

Rick

Sept 17th
A fun weekend at Ichabods- Good workshops this week too- My # 1 Daughter took her first SOLO road trip (which is why I was up at 5:30am Sat-Directions) She's home and no worse the wear other than a pre-trip getting bumped in the back (by the truck who was hit hard) and a blow out Sunday- Yee haw

Rick

Sept 18th
The last nite of the summer plus workshop-a FUN season and I hope all the visitors who participated will remember us. (and perhaps remember their DARK club over the summer-Just a Thought) I hope that the sign modifications happened in Visalia so that we will have a laugh over the smallest first nite of class (by a factor of 10) in 35 years. I'm looking forward to Oakhurst this weekend! We'll have a GREAT time-Meanwhile down south-I hope the FF doesn't screw the calling staff again but it looks like they may- Gotta luv s/d politicos, Y'all got boycotted once for this crap, It seriously hurt attendance and here you go again???

Rick

Sept 19th
I hadn't heard from y'all about your thoughts in a while but this morning's email from a veteran dancer and former multi-year club officer sums it all up

I've been reading your blog, and I'll bet that those that are always lamenting the fact that dance attendance is down, are the ones who also don't want changes. Everything Evolves! We don't drive the same cars we drove 40 years ago. I remember the "76" convention in Anaheim. They had a fashion show in which they updated the square dance fashions for every ten years. The ones for 50 years from then we're just short of being mainstream, and very cool and neat. No poofies.  Street length dresses and skirts, and light weight and subtle shirts for the guys.

 So I asked if this was intended for the blog?
 

Absolutely!!!

You know that I'm very militant when it comes to the POLITICS of a HOBBY! There should be no place for it. After all, it is just a hobby and not a money making scheme. We need to make it fun again, and until it gets back to what it was in the 70s and 80s, I Will Not Join Any Club.

And I've been dancing for 35 years.
 

 

       I MUST AGREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Do You?    EMAIL FOR BLOG
       
      Rick
 

Sept 24th
A Waaaayyyy Fun Weekend in Oakhurst- 2007 is ON !!- A shame that if we had to rely on local "Advanced" support-we would have not had a square- A BIG thank you to the few V area folks  that ventured out - and seemed to have a GREAT TIME!!!!  Anyway it's on for 2007- The Sunday A2 dances- I doubt it----- Change my mind y'all

Rick

Sept 28th
Say a prayer for the folks in the path of the Day Fire- My Thursday group lives up there and is in harms way!!-We're dark TFN. I hope all works out- I wonder if the club will survive this?? On to s/d WHY do those who need the help most (workshop) are the least regular attendees?  I had a bunch of the "hey where ya been" crowd tonight. I hope all will make this a priority or take a break-It's not fair to the regulars and I cannot cater to the in frequents.  I do want ALL to succeed but, y'gotta be there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!- PS The Oct 14th Dance is cancelled-

Rick