Editor’s Page

Welcome to the Summer, 2024, issue of the Promenader, a quarterly publication of the Western NY Federation of Square and Round Dancers, Inc (WNYF).

In this issue

As we look forward to a warm and hopefully sunny summer, the Photos and Features section in this issue of the Promenader looks back at events and seasonal dances hosted by our area clubs and presents our annual highlights from the Dance-O-Rama festival: Recognition and thanks; Awards and honors; Graduates and dancing.

In a very interesting article, WNYF presidents Jeff and Debbie Blood present their “digest” of an informative article entitled “Let’s Dance” from the March/April issue of the Readers Digest. It scientifically reinforces the many physical and psycho-social benefits that all our dancers know, but newcomers might not be aware of.

The high-energy award for this issue goes to the Silver Squares, whose many themed dances produced a steady stream of delightful photos from their spring season.

When your club hosts interesting dances or special events, be sure to take photos and send them to us with a brief description of the event. Sharing these in the Promenader and on the Facebook page will help new dancers see how much fun it would be to come to your dances.

Graduates

The primary highlight of DOR each year is the formal introduction of our Mainstream Class Graduates. The annual Parade of New Graduates introduces the new class to the wider dancing community, and the Graduates’ Tip shows off their new-found skills. This issue of the Promenader includes a listing of clubs and their graduates—in the Photos and Features section.

Please encourage all new graduates to subscribe to the Promenader and familiarize themselves with the many useful features of our website. They should send us an email to Promenader@rochester.rr.com, with “SUBSCRIBE” in the Subject line.

Leadership Award

Numerous volunteers—from nearly every club—were recognized and appreciated at DOR, which could not be held without their efforts. The premiere recognition each year is presentation of the Daphne-Norma Leadership award. This year, 2023 recipients, Anne Granger and Don Naulin (Silver Squares), presented the 2024 Leadership Award to Linda and Glynn English, from the Cayuga Cut-Ups. You can read the citation in the Photos and Features section.

This is also a good time to look in the mirror and ask if you yourself could do more to help with the “mechanics” of your club—and of the WNY Federation.

Club News

News from our clubs this quarter indicates a continued return to normal dancing, with the continuation of traditional dances and classes at most clubs. Six clubs graduated 26 new Mainstream dancers in the 2023–24 class season, completing a third successful class season since COVID.

Federation Website

New Promenader Club News and Photo/Feature articles are posted every three months. However, webmaster Sidney Marshall maintains the Calendar/Flyer database continually, posting flyers and changes to the schedule listings as soon as he can after he receives them. So, there’s no deadline for schedule information. 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). Clubs should also consider posting their news on the “SquareDancingRochester” group Facebook page.

In Memoriam

In this issue, we say farewell to Clayton Wing.

Editorial Comments

The dancers who volunteer to fill positions on the Federation board will cheerfully welcome other dancers who want to help them with the “behind the scenes” business of ensuring that dancing thrives in our area.

Club Representatives and members of the WNYF board are a great group of dancers…and chances are you already know many of them. There are probably one or two in your club. Ask around and find out who they are. Look up “Who’s Who” in the Federation pages on this website (green “FEDERATION” Logo Button at the top of almost every page).

The jobs are not hard, and you will be helping to keep the activity you love active and fresh. Please contact Jeff and Debbie Blood (dfbjvbhome@aol.com) or one of the dancers in your club who take part in WNYF board meetings and activities.

Quarterly Chuckle

Man overboard:

A gawky lad from New England came to New York with his girl and took her to nearby Playland Amusement Park. They had heard a lot about the Tunnel of Love and were especially anxious to try it out.

But when they got home, they expressed disappointment.

“Shucks,” the boy said, “it was dark and damp and uncomfortable. Besides, we got soaking wet.“How come?” asked is father. “Did the boat leak?”

The kid looked amazed. “There’s a boat?”

Peter Emmel, Editor