Editor’s Page

Welcome to the Winter, 2019 issue of the Promenader—a quarterly publication of the Rochester Area Federation of Round and Square Dance Clubs.

In this issue

Our “Club News” section contains an article from each RAF member club, describing recent activities, upcoming special events and whatever else they would like you to know about their club. Browse the Club News page and see what’s going on right now in Rochester area square and round dancing.

The “Photos & Features” section includes photo articles about recent activities as well as commentary on topics of interest to dancers. In this issue, you’ll find illustrated articles on activities by the Copy Cats, Belles ’N’ Beaus, Penn Yan Friendship Squares and Village Squares.

There are two articles on RAF activities. One presents survey results from the 2019 edition of the Fall Friendship Ball and the other introduces a new call-in option for RAF meeting attendance.

And finally, there is a reminder that the deadline is approaching for Daphne-Norma Leadership Award nominations.

Mainstream Dancing

I hear that other clubs besides the Belles ’N’ Beaus are considering designating themselves as “Mainstream Clubs.”

If you prefer Mainstream dancing, you can easily locate appropriate dances in our schedule listings. Check the code letters given at the right-hand end of each dance listing. A dance with the code letter ‘M’ and without the code letter ‘P’ will be a Mainstream dance.

Using the “Sort by Club” link at the top of any schedule page, and then scrolling down, will show you which clubs dance at what level(s) … as well as other details about each dance.

The meanings of all codes can be found by clicking the “Key to Codes” link at the top of every schedule page.

If you are uncertain about the format of any dance, please don’t hesitate to contact the club to make sure. Their contact info can be found in at least two places on our website: their article in our “Club News” section and their listing in the “Club Presidents and Contacts” section.

RAF Activities

An initiative is taking shape at the RAF to extend the “Summer Fun” dances that were such a success over the past summer, into the other three seasons. Ideas are being discussed for how to integrate this with area clubs, in ways that will augment—rather than compete with—club activities.

The goal of this initiative is to increase the number of Mainstream graduates who stay in square dancing. If you have thoughts on this, please share them with your club’s RAF representative or contact Kris & Amy Aeckerle of the Promotions Committee (aaeckerle@yahoo.com).

Fall Friendship Ball

The 2019 Fall Friendship Ball drew about the same attendance as last year, but included far more recent Mainstream class graduates than previous years. I’m sure this was due to the pricing structure that rewarded established dancers for “bringing” a recent graduate with them. The personal touch is by far the most effective way to keep graduates engaged and integrate them into our community.

RAF Website

Reminder as we enter the “unsettled weather” season: The RAF website has a “Late Breaking News” feature. Clubs should notify Sidney Marshall (RAF Webmaster—sidneym@frontiernet.net) of a cancellation or other short-notice announcement.

As soon as he sees your email, he will post the announcement on the RAF Home Page (www/squaredancingrochester.org), where it will appear under a banner titled “LATE BREAKING NEWS.”

For maximum distribution of urgent messages, clubs should also use the “SquareDancingRochester” Facebook Group page. Your club’s communications person (or someone else who is a Facebook member) should join this Facebook Group so that you can post directly.

On Facebook, search for “SquareDancingRochester” then look for the “Join” button and click it. The moderator(s) will approve you as soon as they see your request. After that, you can post announcements any time. This group currently has 91 members, many of whom will receive immediate notifications from it and relay them to their dancer distribution lists, so your message will get out quickly.

Quarterly Chuckle

Sad News from Minnesota:

The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 75.

Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin.

Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies and Captain Crunch. The grave site was piled high with flours.

Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never really knew how much he was kneaded.

Born and bread in Minnesota, Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes.

Despite being a little flakey at times, and lately becoming somewhat of a crusty old man, he was considered a positive roll model for millions.

Doughboy is survived by his wife Play Dough, three children: John Dough, Jane Dough and Do-Si Dough, and an as yet unnamed offspring in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.

The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.