Editor’s Page

Welcome to the Spring, 2023, issue of the Promenader, a quarterly publication of the Western NY Federation of Square and Round Dancers, Inc.

Website

In this issue

The Photos and Features section highlights club dances around the winter holidays, including the Silver Squares, Copy Cats, Cloverleafs, Cayuga Cut-Ups and the BooBull clubs.

There’s also an update on the Troopon program, through which area dancers donate manufacturer coupons to US military families.

In another sign of returning toward normal, we see from the Cayuga Cut-Ups that Banner Stealing has resumed. That’s good news indeed!

In other articles, Jeff & Debbie Blood explain the role of the WNYF and encourage dancers to volunteer for roles in the Federation leadership. Also, the WNYF announces initiation of a Wall of Recognition for Callers and Cuers, to be unveiled at DOR-2023.

Club News

News from clubs this quarter indicates a continued return to normal dancing, with the return of traditional events and classes.

We sadly note the demise of the Belles N Beaus, and send well-wishes to Bob and Alice Hager, their long-time leaders and source of inspiration.

Federation Website

Webmaster Sidney Marshall will post flyers and changes to the schedule listings as soon as he can after he receives them. For fastest service, he recommends sending flyers (in PDF form) and schedule change notices (in the body of an email) to him directly (sidneym@frontiernet.net), as well as to the Promenader (promenader@rochester.rr.com).

In addition, for maximum distribution of urgent messages, clubs should send Sidney the text for any “Breaking News” to go on the WNYF home page (squaredancingrochester.org).

And clubs should also consider posting their news on the “SquareDancingRochester” group Facebook page.

In Memoriam

In this issue, we say farewell to Fred Ventura, who danced with the Village Squares, the Copy Cats and others.

Editorial Comments

It’s wonderful to see Banner Stealing resuming and to hear about class activities, as square dancing rebounds from the shock of the past few years.

Quarterly Chuckles

Some thoughts on getting older—source unknown.

1. Age 60 might be the new 40, but 9:30 pm is the new midnight.

2. It’s the start of a brand new day, and I’m off like a herd of turtles.

3. The older I get, the earlier it gets late.

4. When I say, “The other day,” I could be referring to any time between yesterday and 15 years ago.

5. I remember being able to get up without making sound effects.

6. I had my patience tested. I’m negative.

7. Remember, if you lose a sock in the dryer, it comes back as a Tupperware lid that doesn’t fit any of your containers.

8. If you’re sitting in public and a stranger takes the seat next to you, just stare straight ahead and say, “Did you bring the money?”

9. When you ask me what I am doing today, and I say “nothing,” it does not mean I am free. It means I am doing nothing.

10. I finally got eight hours of sleep. It took me three days, but whatever.

11. I run like the winded.

12. I hate when a couple argues in public, and I missed the beginning—so I don’t know whose side I’m on.

13. When someone asks what I did over the weekend, I squint and ask, “Why, what did you hear?”

14. When you do squats, are your knees supposed to sound like a goat chewing on an aluminum can stuffed with celery?

15. I don’t mean to interrupt people. I just randomly remember things and get really excited.

16. When I ask for directions, please don’t use words like ‘east.’

17. Don’t bother walking a mile in my shoes. That would be boring. Spend 30 seconds in my head. That’ll freak you right out.

18. My luck is like a bald guy who just won a comb.

19. Sometimes, someone unexpected comes into your life out of nowhere, makes your heart race, and changes you forever. We call those people cops.

I hope you enjoy this issue!

Peter Emmel, Editor