The Daphne-Norma Leadership Award was established 46 years ago. It is the highest honor awarded in the Western New York Federation. Since 1977, this award has been given to a person or couple who have made significant contributions toward fostering square dancing activities in Western New York. The recipient each year is chosen on the basis of accumulated nominations and letters of support from dancers.

Rick and Donna LaDonna, as recipients of the 2022 award, were honored to present this year’s award to Anne Granger and Don Naulin. Anne and Don are a very special couple. They met square dancing…Don was an accomplished dancer; Anne a beginner. They found common goals on the square dance floor and in their lives. They have been Co-Presidents of the Silver Squares for several years. Each Monday, their members say, “Club dances are like parties!” Anne is very creative coming up with themes for each weekly dance. When COVID struck, Anne helped establish health and safety guidelines for returning to dance after the pandemic which other clubs used as a template for their own CDC procedures. Anne served as Vice President of the Federation for one year. They were active members of the Federation’s Return to Dance Task Force. They have been on the DORish, Summer Dance and DOR committees for the past four years. They are always willing to help no matter what task is put before them. In addition, Anne and Don have brought square dancing into the community with participation in demos at local nursing homes, participation in the Greece Historical Society’s Strawberry Festival and Square Dance Demo and setting up square dance displays at local libraries. Anne, Don and the Silver Squares hosted the live Spectrum News square dance demo at the Greece United Methodist Church last year. No matter what the upcoming event is, they say “How can we help?”

Here are some statements from nominations the Daphne-Norma Committee received:

“(They) started a Club Zoom Meeting (during the pandemic). The goal was to keep communication alive. They did more than that—relieving the cabin fever of COVID fever and reassuring us that the square dance community is alive and well.”

“We feel that the outstanding leadership that this couple has provided to square dancing in the Rochester area during this recent pandemic make them ideal candidates for the Daphne-Norma Leadership Award…”

“They have the leadership skills, diplomacy and sense of humor a good leader needs.”

This year’s recipients are true “Ambassadors” of square dancing. It was with great pleasure that we were able to present the 2023 Daphna-Norma Leadership Award to Silver Square’s Co-Presidents, Anne Granger and Don Naulin.

We thank all those who submitted nominations, and we thank the Daphne-Norma Selection Committee.

Submitted by Donna and Rick LaDonna

Dance in a square and make a circle of New Friends! Last September, the Copy Cats held an Open House for new dancers. It was our first Open House since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. Twenty-seven guests arrived to try square dancing. Some decided not to continue and 14 decided that square dancing was fun and for them! Weekly they learned new dance steps and reviewed ones previously learned. Maybe discouraged at times, but they persevered. After our return from Florida, we could not believe the improvement in dance skills these new dancers had achieved.

We thank Debbie and Paul VanGraafeiland, our Class Coordinators, for the fabulous job they did this year shepherding the “kittens” each week. We extend a big thank you to our angels who weekly gave up their time to help our “kittens” learn the necessary steps. Lastly, we could not have had a class without our Caller/Instructor, Ron Brown. For more than 30 years, Ron has been instructing new Copy Cats dancers and we appreciate his dedication to our Club and square dancing in general.

April 18, 2023 was Graduation Night. We welcomed members and family & friends of our graduates. Everyone enjoyed a pizza party prior to the ceremony. Our candidates for graduation took the dreaded test while the Copy Cats did some Plus dancing. Following the Graduates’ grand march set to Pomp and Circumstance, members of the Copy Cats Board lit the candles signifying the four corners of a square—Friendship, Duty, Enjoyment and Democracy. Rick LaDonna then read a short poem about square dancing.

Square Dance is a Puzzle

It’s a puzzle of geometry: Squares, lines, columns and waves.

The puzzle is constantly changing.

Although you are only one piece of the puzzle, it can’t be completed without you.

There is always a specific place left for you to fit in.

So, dance, have fun, help others.

And if all else fails, Blame the Caller!

Ron presented each graduate with their “Bachelor of Square Dancing” Diploma. As Presidents, we presented each graduate with an invitation to join the Copy Cats Square Dance Club.

It is with great pleasure that we announce the Copy Cats Graduates of 2023:

Doris Eckert, Nancy Hutchings, Renee (Nay) Jacobson, Don Lucas, Lynn Lucas, Barb Manchee, Nadine Mucci, Pam Oblein, Edith Onusseit, J. Riddell, Mary-Ellen Riddell, Jim Schaefer, Timothy Storm Coleman, and Bernie Hoke.

Submitted by Donna and Rick LaDonna

Many of you know that I was struck unexpectedly with a serious illness last fall. After an MRI, I was diagnosed with an infection in my spine and rushed into emergency surgery performed by a neurosugeon. Over the next 3 months, I had 4 more surgeries and spent more than 50 days in the hospital, returning home finally on January 3.

I want to thank all of you for the wonderful outpouring of love and support. I received many cards, gifts, texts, emails, and most importantly prayers offered up on my behalf. There are no words to express how grateful I am for the friendship and support of this wonderful square dance community.

Thanks to all the caring and prayer, I am recovering well and have been able to return to my favorite activity…square dancing!

Through it all, I felt the warmth and love…and as it is said…the greatest of these is love. I feel very blessed to have all of you in my circle of love. Hope to see you in a square soon!

Dance in a square, make a circle of friends!

Submitted by Eileen Webster

On April 27 Grand Squares was privileged to celebrate a special anniversary of one of our members, Barb Miller. On that date 50 years ago, Barb was awarded her Graduation certificate after completing lessons at a club called Merry Mixers. And her diploma was not just something she filed away in her memory album. Barb has continued dancing at various clubs, including Southern Tier Wheelers, Swinging Singles, Belles ’N’ Beaus and Cloverleafs, and is currently a member of Silver Squares as well as Grand Squares. She has also, in the past, been club reporter and has held various offices in her clubs and in the Federation.

So, we congratulate Barb on this remarkable achievement and also thank her for her continued support of square dancing all these years.

Submitted by Carol Ann Stahl

Silver Squares said farewell to Jim Gotta on March 27. He had been calling for the Silver Squares since January 1, keeping the club dancing, smiling, and laughing. We thank you for everything, Jim!

Rosie Holley made him a beautiful cake from Silver Squares.

Submitted by Anne Granger

Just a quick note to thank everyone for participating in DOR 2023.

Whether you helped set up, made a basket to be raffled, greeted dancers at the door, registered dancers, called or cued, sold 50/50 tickets, sold basket raffle tickets, helped with the graduates, took pictures or videos, or stayed after to clean-up, we appreciated everyone’s efforts and support. DOR 2023 wouldn’t have been possible without your help.

It was so nice to have a full dance floor again on Saturday afternoon. There were 12 squares dancing. It was a fun afternoon of dancing and socializing with our friends. We are pleased so many dancers were able to attend.

This year’s basket raffle was a huge success. We appreciated the overwhelming generosity from our individual dancers and our clubs.

We were glad so many of our 2023 graduates attended DOR. We were able to recognize 15 of our 27 graduates at DOR. We are happy to welcome all the 2023 graduates, you are doing great!

Special Thanks to the members of the DOR 2023 Committee, we appreciate all you do!

Linda English, Lorraine & Gary Granath, Anne Granger & Don Naulin, Donna & Rick LaDonna, Sharon & Chuck Meyer, Mary Jo Webster

Submitted by Debbie & Jeff Blood, DOR 2023 Co-Chairs

One of the many Dance-O-Rama highlights is the annual parade of graduates. These are our new dancing friends who have completed the past season of Mainstream Square Dance classes at clubs in our Federation.

Many established dancers already know our new graduates—from serving as class angels or from the season’s many “class/club” dances.

Fifteen of this year’s 27 graduates marched in the parade at DOR 2023, their official welcome into the Rochester-area dancing community.

The June Promenader issue is our opportunity to congratulate this year’s graduates by name.

2023 Square Dance Graduates:

Cloverleaf Squares

Sharon Baart
Mary Helmer
Bernie Hoke
Nicole Pfuntner
Gayle Stahl
Joan Updaw

Batavia Silver Stars

Ann Williams
Tim Hayes
Maureen Adams

Cayuga Cut-Ups

Nara Schneider
Patti Schneider

Shirts ’n Skirts

Mary Himes

Copy Cats

Doris Eckert
Nancy Hutchings
Nay Jacobson
Don Lucas
Lynn Lucas
Barb Manchee
Nadine Mucci
Pam Oblein
Edith Onusseit
J Riddell
Mary-Ellen Riddell
Jim Schaefer
Timothy Storm Coleman

Dalton Gang

Betty Henderson
Carolyn Vanslyke

Submitted by Jeff and Debbie Blood

Meet the new mascots for the Western NY Federation: Panda Bears Acey & Deucey.

They are our “new” traveling mascots given to the Federation by Village Squares.

They made their WNYF debut at the 63rd Annual DOR on May 6, 2023.

Their original debut was 10 years ago on May 4, 2013, they attended DOR 2013.

It was their first dance.

From Acey’s & Deucy’s diary:

“We love to travel and dance and meet new friends in other places.

We like to record our travels through the words of our host so before you pass us on, we hope you’ll write a few lines in our diary to remind us of you and your club.

If your club or special dance has a dangle or some other small souvenir, we would love to add it to our collection.

A little history: Jerry Carmen gave Acey & Deucey to Village Squares back in 2013. We have been told they have attended several square and round dances throughout the US and enjoyed being traveling companions to our dancers. So, if you are at a dance and see them, you are welcome to take them with you to a dance or on vacation, etc.

All they ask is that you help them with their diary by providing a quick write up and a picture of their adventure with you.

Submitted by Jeff and Debbie Blood

On May 19, Grand Squares closed out their current dancing season with a celebration of the 62 years it has been a dancing club. About 50 people, including some who had been members but are not currently dancing, were treated to present day calls and some from the past. Special recognition was given to Gary Bubel who began calling for Lima’s classes in the late 70’s and took over class and club calling a few years later. We also recognized Mike Callahan who assumed the caller role in 2005 when Gary decided to step down from year-round calling and we recognized Jim Gotta for providing his calling expertise while Mike is away for the winter. To complete the special evening, we celebrated the occasion with ice cream and cake and other refreshments provided by club members and guests.

A little history—Grand Squares was started by four couples from Lima in March of 1961. Calling themselves the Lima Grand Squares, they danced in the basement of the town hall which, being without air conditioning, proved too warm for summer dancing. So, they danced summers in a barn in East Bloomfield and that structure became the source of the club’s banner and badge. The club danced in a couple different locations in Lima but in 2001 decided to move closer to the Rochester area and chose their present location at Roth Junior High. Thus, Lima Grand Squares became just Grand Squares.

Submitted by Carol Ann Stahl

At its May 25 meeting, the WNYF discussed the idea of recognizing area square dancers whose dancing career spans many decades. To get started on this, Carol Ann Stahl volunteered to collect names of dancers whose graduation from Basic/Mainstream class was 40 years ago or more. Eventually, it’s hoped that the WNYF can collect the graduation dates of all area dancers and the name of the club whose class they attended.

It’s not hard to imagine some of the fun opportunities this will create—such as cross-club class reunions and recognition at milestone years like 40th and 50th, or maybe a Wall of Fame for our longest-running dancers.

To get this started, club officers should identify any of their members who graduated 40 years ago or more (along with the name of the club from whose class they graduated) and send these to Carol Ann Stahl at: stahlsinrush@rochester.rr.com.

In the long run, perhaps in connection with next year’s insurance roster registration, club officers should request from each of their members who don’t mind sharing (or can remember!) their graduation year and club.

Dancers reading this can help by volunteering the information, or better yet by volunteering to be the data collector/submitter for their club.

In the discussion, the question of how to count “gaps” in active dancing came up. The consensus was that gaps don’t matter. What matters is coming back to the fun and socially rewarding activity of dancing after raising kids, getting over illness or whatever realities of life caused the interruption.

So, a dancer’s career is simply the number of years since Basic/Mainstream graduation.

Round dancing was not specifically addressed, since there does not seem to be an obvious “graduation” date to serve as a marker. If you have suggestions on how to measure a round dancing career, please share it with your club president or a WNYF leader, so we can include round dancers in this recognition program.

Submitted by Peter Emmel

The Village Squares are dancing on occasional Wednesday afternoons, using room 215 at the Pittsford Community Center (across the hall from where Jim Gotta’s Happy Squares dance on Fridays).

Their most recent dance was on May 10, with nearly enough dancers for two squares. The short notice of our scheduling makes it hard for more to attend, but those who do have a good time.

Their next dance will be on June 14, from 2–4:30pm, and they have a picnic scheduled for July 19 at King’s Bend Park. Check the Schedule and the Flyers pages for details.

In the accompanying group photo, if you look in the mirror just behind the banner, you'll see Peter Emmel's new bride, Sandy Barron, who took the photo. Childhood friends since the early 1950s, they were married in Chelmsford, Ontario (Canada) on May 21.

Submitted by Peter Emmel