The Daphne-Norma Leadership Award was established 47 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.

Glynn & Linda English, as recipients of the 2024 award, we are honored to present this year’s award to Dave Eno.

It is our great pleasure to announce this award; as we are one of many fortunate enough to dance to this Dave’s dad and have known his mom for many years, as well. I’m told he learned to square dance in 1975 and has been calling for many years, well over 30. Locally for the Shirts n Skirts and Enovators, as well as the WNY Federation at DOR and Nationally at several conventions in the Northeast and Canada. His Zoom calling perfected during covid and kept us dancing in our kitchens!

Yet it is the Annual Elaine Eno Memorial ALS Dance that I’m sure pushes his heart to continue year after year. A wonderful tribute to Elaine which supports the work of the ALS Association in fundraising and awareness of this horrible disease. Many here join with this year’s Daphne-Norma Awardee Dave Eno in this endeavor.

Some notable quotes from the nominations:

“If you want a fun and enjoyable square dance, Dave Eno is your caller.”

“His vast professional experience is extremely valued by the Federation and the square dance community.”

“During the Covid Pandemic Dave participated in virtual square dancing to keep our dancers connected during quarantine.”

“He is a lively and enthusiastic caller.”

“In 2017, Jerry Carmen, a well known caller in Western NY and founder of the Hip Boot boys died of ALS. Jerry has also been honored at the Elaine Eno Memorial Dances since that time.”

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

Submitted by Glynn and Linda English

On Sunday, March 30th, Carl was awarded the Circle of Service Award, a nationally recognized award given to a dancer or couple who for three or more years are determined to have made a significant contribution to the Square and Round Dance Community. For Cloverleafs, as corresponding secretary, Carl prepares all the flyers, created a monthly newsletter to keep all the members updated on dances, club activities and Federation events. He is the webmaster for Cloverleaf’s website. As far as the Federation, Carl was on the team for more than a year that redesigned the Federation website. He provides pictures for the Federation website and formerly the Promenader. He is the “go to” person for researching archived square dance history for the Federation. Recently Carl taught a group of home-schooled teenagers how to square dance.

Submitted by Debbie and Jeff Blood

We began our DOR 2025 on May 3rd program by welcoming and congratulating our 2025 graduates.

We have 62 from all our WNYF clubs, a significant increase this year. There were 34 graduates who attended DOR and participated in the graduate parade. We’d like to also recognize everyone who helped these graduates achieve this success: our callers, club officers, angels and club members. Without you and your support, direction, assistance, and encouragement we would not be celebrating the class of 2025.

Submitted by Anne Granger

Spring 2025 Graduates

Batavia Silver Stars		Copy Cats
Joe Combo		Victoria Brzustowicz
Dan Luker		Maddie Csont
Elroy Power		David Foster
		Nicole Friberg
Cayuga Cut-Ups		Scott Gerstner
Katie Kelley		Lawrence Hohl
Bill Redden		Chuck Johnson
Christine Redden		Alice Juby
		Irene Kosciuk
Cloverleaf Squares		Jennifer Krolak
Karen Appleman		Laura Marou
Kathleen Bader		Kirk Miller
Susan Bailey		Robyn Miller
Cindy Brewster		Nia Nichols
Novis Brewster		James Ransom
Dean Campbell		Bobbie Scherer
Susan Carter		Hallie Sherman
David Coy		Judy Straw
Minnie Coy		Donald Thomas
Marjie Hurley		Robert Waldroff
Lisa-Anne McLouth		Rosa Waldroff
Chris McLouth		Pamela Whitney
Robyn Miller
Kirk Miller		Pairs N Squares
Mathew Oo		Jared Heath
Rick Pratt		Elizabeth Heath
Judy Pratt		Ella Heath
Judy Straw		Emma Heath
Kathy Yanklowski

Summer 2025 Graduates

Shirts N Skirts
Alice Black		Al Mosier
Bob Black		Carolyn Mosier
Gene Evans		Sue Richardson
Tish Evans		Byron Sizemore
Katie Kelley		Kim Sizemore
Joanne Leskoske		Monika Taft
Mark Leskoske		Rob Taft

We were so happy to welcome approximately 180+ dancers to our dance festival. The DOR 2025 program ran from 1-5 pm with Mainstream, Plus, and Advanced levels square dancing along with round dancers. We even had a few sessions of “Hot Hash Plus” for our more experienced dancers. We enjoyed dancing to Jason Raleigh from Grove City, Ohio, Ron Brown from Cicero, NY, and Mark Thone from Avon, NY.

Our DOR program started with the 2025 Graduate Parade. There were 34 participating graduates of our total list of 62 graduates for 2025. This class was more than double the class size of 2024.

We congratulate our newest Daphne-Norma Leadership Award recipient Dave Eno. (see related article)

A special Community Donation basket raffle was started this year. The proceeds of this basket raffle was approx. $285. It will be given to the ALS organization. Dave Eno, active supporter of ALS, pulled the ticket for the lucky winner.

We want to thank all the volunteers who helped the day of DOR. Whether it was signage, set-up, water, snacks, greeting dancers, basket raffle and 50/50 ticket sales, helping with the ALS raffle ticket sales, clean-up, or other tasks, your help was needed and we appreciate it very much.

Submitted by Debbie and Jeff Blood

We are insured by the United Square Dancers of America (USDA)

Insurance for Recent Graduates:
For those dancers graduating from class, the free insurance coverage ends after 9 months from the beginning of classes last fall. If these dancers continue to dance, they need to have the $5.90 paid to continue the USDA coverage for the remainder of 2025. Even though some dancers may continue with plus lessons during the summer, only mainstream lessons are covered by the free USDA insurance.

Since some dancers may join more than one club, it is important that I receive a paper copy listing of new members by May 30, 2025 from the clubs. I will divide those belonging to more than one club and will notify each club's insurance contact person with the amount owed. Checks should be made out to Western NY Federation and mailed to Carol Ann Stahl at address listed below.

Accident Forms and Reports:
All WNYF member clubs should keep USDA Accident Reports on hand at all events. USDA’s insurance acts as a secondary insurance in the case of an accident with injury. When an accident happens while dancing or when entering or leaving the dance site, each Club president is responsible for completing an Accident Report Form on the USDA website.

Insurance policies and suggestions are included with the form and all club presidents should have copied and reviewed them.

It is important to report all Accidents
Even when there is no apparent injury, the club should complete a report and keep it in their file and send Carol Ann Stahl a copy. Sometimes injuries do not surface immediately. Whenever there is an injury, a completed form should be sent to me. This is important whether or not immediate medical treatment is needed or if a complication occurs later resulting in further medical intervention.

If the injured person refuses to sign the accident report, they are waiving the chance of coverage.

Please note USDA covers only member dancers of our WNYF clubs. Generally, guests are not covered unless their home club has paid USDA for their coverage.

Please direct any questions pertaining to insurance to our WNYF Insurance Coordinator: Carol Ann Stahl
Phone Number: 585-533-9241
Email: stahlsinrush@rochester.rr.com
Mailing Address:350 Fishell Road, Rush N. Y. 14543

Addition insurance information including the filling accident reports and additional insurance forms are available on the WNYF website: Forms And Documents

Submitted by Carol Ann Stahl

The good news is the Western NY Federation (WNYF) has created a CALLER GRANT to assist in the local development of Callers in western New York. The reality of developing calling skills is not a quick or easy process.

Right now, our member clubs are in very good shape with many wonderful callers. They have been calling for many years and our dances are so much fun. Our callers never hesitate to share their passion for calling at demos or community events when asked. We are very fortunate to have so much talent in western New York.

The reality is we need to start developing new callers for the future. It takes several years to develop a caller. It involves a very dedicated person with the love of square dancing along with the help and guidance of an experienced caller as a mentor.

The WNYF realizes their new caller grant isn’t a quick fix to this challenge! It only helps but there is so much more involved. A caller’s school gives a “newbie” caller the very basics of: choreography, body flow, music, voice, diction, rhythm, methods of teaching, timing, stage presence, etc.

A person returning from caller school needs a place to practice along with working closely with an experienced caller or these basic skills are lost. The perspective caller needs to practice, practice, and practice along with having live dancers to call to when practicing.

We all have to buy into the development of future callers. Our area dancers need to understand this commitment and give perspective callers an opportunity to practice with live dancers at our club dances and WNYF sponsored events.

It is recommended any person considering calling school should call a song or two (singer or patter) to see if they really like it. Having several years of dancing experience also helps. Experience with a microphone is very important too, ideal if in front of a live audience.

Rule #1 - It is essential a perspective caller has an experienced caller to mentor them. Many of our WNYF callers are very willing to do this.

The experienced caller will be encouraging the perspective caller to try opportunities to develop the necessary skills to be successful. Participation in an amateur calling event is the perfect way to test the water and see if a person really likes it. Performing a guest tip at a club dance is another perfect opportunity for a perspective caller in training. Attending caller groups (such as Rochester Caller Co-Op), working with experienced callers, teaching sessions offered at larger dancer festivals or national conventions all provide perspective callers opportunities to learn. No one is excluded from any training program. The accredited programs usually start with a dance where coaches access perspective caller skills and divide them into groups to focus training to the various skill levels.

We hope the creation of the WNYF CALLER GRANT and promotion of amateur calling events will encourage some of our dancers to try calling.

We are happy to announce the new WNYF sponsored CALLER GRANT:

• The WNYF Board established the CALLER GRANT up to $350 to be used towards costs of training/school/education and lodging expenses. This grant is open to all perspective callers who are currently a member of one of our WNYF clubs.


• We would encourage perspective callers to apply for both the WNYF sponsored CALLER GRANT and CALLERLAB Caller education grants (if eligible) to defray the costs of training/school/education and lodging expenses as much as possible.


• A CALLER GRANT requirement is that the applicant has a local caller mentoring them and recommending them to attend caller training/school/education event. This stresses the caller’s guidance and support which is essential to the development process.


• Perspective CALLER GRANT applicant will be provided opportunity to practice calling a tip with the local caller’s help at some WNYF club dances or WNYF sponsored events.


• Each CALLER GRANT application will be reviewed individually and approved or denied by the WNYF President.

Submitted by Debbie and Jeff Blood

Square dancing, like all forms of dancing, has its own set of guidelines.

1. Ready to Dance - When getting dressed for square dancing, think about what you are going to wear… square dance attire, polo shirts, t-shirts or blue jeans. If you sweat excessively, wear a long sleeved top/shirt. Do not wear any jewelry that could poke or hurt someone and make sure you wear comfortable and supportive shoes or sneakers. Avoid using alcohol or drugs or anything that could affect your reaction time or equilibrium before attending the dance. Personal cleanliness is also important in square and round dancing.


2. Arrive on Time - There’s a lot to do and a short time to do it. Give yourself enough time to park, get situated with personal items and check in at the treasurer’s table.


3. Dance at Your Level - Don’t dance over your own level of dance, unless invited. If you haven’t completed mainstream lessons, don’t expect to dance with those who have unless you are explicitly invited. If you are a mainstream dancer and a plus tip is announced, sit out.


4. Square Up Promptly - When the music starts, quickly get on the dance floor. Try to join the square nearest you. It is considered “bad manners” to walk through a square or pass a square needing dancers in order to fill another square. If your square is not full, raise your hand with as many fingers extended as couples needed. If couples are squared up and do not have a hand up, they are waiting for someone who has promised to dance with them. Don’t cut into their square.


5. Dancer Considerations - When squaring up, if needed, introduce yourselves to each person in the square. Check to see if there are dancer considerations in your square. Be aware of “do not swing/twirl” badges. Some dancers have a difficult time lifting their arms and use a tap of the hand instead. Remember to not hold hands too tightly or to grab and clamp down on your hands or hook your thumbs. Be a gentle dancer.


6. Refrain from Talking - Once a tip is underway, refrain from talking. It is frequently difficult to hear and talking may very well prevent someone else from hearing a call. It is also difficult to hear announcements when others are talking. Give the speaker the same consideration you would want.


7. Never Leave a Square Early - Always dance to the end of the tip unless you become ill or there is an emergency. If so, advise the other members of the square so someone can find a replacement.


8. Thank you and Clean Up - At the end of each tip, applaud the caller and then thank each dancer for dancing with you! At the end of the dance, remember the dance is not over until the clean-up is done!

Additional Square Dance Manners

1. Sitting This One Out - You are not required to dance every tip. “No, thank you” is a perfectly acceptable answer. Don’t let anyone talk you into dancing if you need to sit one out.


2. Dance With Lots of Different People - Do your best to always avoid dancing with the same group. Also, when you “square up” don’t always be a Head or Side Couple. Mix it up!


3. Courtesy - Treating others how you want to be treated is a good rule of thumb. Each person who attends a dance should be able to leave saying they were treated with courtesy, friendliness and helpfulness.


4. Refrain From Giving Unsolicited Help to Other Dancers - We have knowledgeable callers/instructors and it is their job to teach students. When people are learning at the class level, angels are teamed up with new dancers in the squares to support the instruction of the caller. They can help the dancers in that specific tip to execute the calls.


5. Mistakes Happen - The goal of square dancing is to have fun, but we all make mistakes. Do not be angry with yourself or anyone else. Remain calm so others are encouraged to keep trying and practicing. If the entire square breaks down, it is best to form lines or square your set and start over again!!


6. Emergency Call for Medical Aid (ECMA) - If a dancer goes down, a second dancer attends to him. The remaining couples join hands and take a step backward (this allows the injured person and attendant space and air). They raise joined hands as high as possible in the form of an arch. Upon seeing this signal, the caller or hall monitor will immediately access the situation and possibly place an emergency call for aid. If you send for medical help or an ambulance, put a spotter outside the building to help the EMT team find the location.


7. Welcome visiting dancers - It is important to try to welcome every visitor to your dance. You want them to like dancing with your club and come back.

SQUARE DANCERS NEED TO SUPPORT THEIR CLUB

Square Dance clubs are the backbone of Square and Round Dancing. While there are Round Dance clubs, there are many more Square Dance clubs where Round Dancing is also a part of the activity. Without our clubs, Square and Round Dancing will cease to exist.

Therefore, it is very important that all dancers belong to and participate in at least one club. As a member of the club, consider how to support the club in addition to paying dues and attending dances.

You can volunteer to be an officer, support refreshment obligations, help set up and/or clean-up at the dances, attend dance demonstrations, attend club meetings, participate in special events, etc.

It is important to help clean up at the end of the dance. The rented hall along with the kitchen, bathrooms may need special clean-up before the building can be locked up and the officers leave.

Etiquette documents