Smooth NewsOfficial Newsletter of Bakersfield Smooth Dancers P.O. Box 1555, Bakersfield, CA 93303 Bakersfield Smooth Dancers
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June 2 nd at 6:00 pm – Board Mtg at Norris Road; at 6:30 pm; and Membership Mtg at 7:00 pm. Remember that we need a quorum at our membership meetings so please be there and bring someone with you. The food and fellowship are well worth your time and effort.June 5 th – Fresno Chapter Queen’s Coronation. Some of us will be traveling with Queen Kim and Larry Johnson to represent the BSD. If anyone would like to accompany our entourage, please see me, Larry, or Queen Kim. Check also the June 20, 2010 dinner dance in Fresno.June 12 th – Dancesteppers Dance – Rasmussen Center, 115 E. Roberts Lane, 7:30 – 10:30 pmJune 26 th – BSD Smooth Dancers Dance – Rasmussen Senior Center – 7:00 – 10:30 pmJuly 7 th at 6:00 pm–BSD Board Mtg at Norris Road; at 6:30 pm; & Membership Mtg at 7:00 pm.BOARD MEETING TIME CHANGE AUGUST THOUGH DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR Board meetings and membership meetings for August, September, November, and December will be conducted on the 1st Thursday evening instead of the first Wednesday evening at Norris Rd. Veteran’s Hall. The advantage to making this change is keeping those Wednesday evenings available for dance practice at the Norris Rd. Veteran’s Hall. Potlucks too will be on Thursdays!
New Yahoo Group for our club! We have a Yahoo Group entitled Smoothdancers where we can chat and exchange ideas. Use the link below and joing. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smoothdancers/
Don’t forget about dance practice every Wednesday evening at Norris Rd. Veterans Hall 6:30-8:30 pm, and the weekly Social Dances, sponsored by and held at The Grange every Friday 7:00-9:00 pm. Gene White spins the records on Wednesdays and the team of Dennis Acosta and Dwight Rollins do the music that made them famous on Fridays, and they play your requests as well. TRY THIS LINK http://www.wisdomportal.com/BallroomDancing.html We have it on our website under links. All the ballroom dance sites you will ever need.
Thanks to all the folks who helped us honor Queens past and present. And thank you Kim and Larry Johnson for the lovely waltz for our May dance. Previous Special Thanks Below This month, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Bakersfield Smooth Dancers’ Board of Directors. First of all, I thank them for giving of themselves to represent our membership both here at home and at National Smooth Dancer events and meetings throughout the state. Additionally, I am so appreciative of the adept manner in which potential problems are consistently and thoughtfully defused. One would not believe the number of issues presented to the BSD Board for consideration and/or resolution. I am indeed quite fortunate as a BSD President, myself being relatively new to Smooth Dancers, to have such immensely capable individuals to rely on for their exceptional talents and for their very valuable institutional memory. Those to whom I specifically refer are this year’s Board of Directors, just installed at the January Membership Meeting, by Past BSD President Jim Kephart, with exceptional humor, I might add; State Rep. Bill Landry, Vice President Bruce Wendt, Queen Jill Calcatera, Recording Secretary Jane Cuellar, Corresponding Secretary Chris Conrad, Treasurer Estelle Hughes, Membership Chair Margaret Hawkins, Social Chair Colleen Herring, Queen Elect Kim Johnson, and our Board Delegates, Frances Hein, Karen Kandarian, and Lyle Mills. Previous Special Thanks Below
You’re probably thinking it’s about time we recognize Charlene Miller for her outstanding service to Smooth Dancers. Charlene contributes in so many ways; for example, she’s always in attendance at monthly membership meetings, she’s always in the kitchen at our Grange Fundraisers, and she always supports “love of dance” wherever she goes. Charlene has won many trophies and other awards for dance, even teaming up with Dan Goss to do so for the past nine years. Charlene has also been a wonderful emissary for our chapter in other ways, frequently traveling to queen’s coronations throughout the state and attending statewide conventions every year. She has even served twice as our chapter queen. However, the reason we are most grateful to Charlene is the same reason that her name is immediately recognizable throughout National Smooth Dancers. And that reason is that the name Charlene Miller is synonymous with the “Bakersfield Boards.” Charlene literally works year round to make the “Boards” more and more memorable each and every year. No doubt, the 2010 “Boards” will be among the best ever. Thanks Charlene, for contributing so much to our chapter.
It’s quite unlikely that anyone has done more for our chapter and for so many years as Frances Hein. I’m sure that most Smooth Dancers from throughout the state of California know her name and know of the exceptional service she provides to our chapter. Frances has served as an officer for as long as I’ve been associated with our chapter and for many years before, as well. She is currently serving with distinction as Recording Secretary for the Bakersfield Smooth Dancers and she also works year round as Secretary for the annual “Boards,” which is celebrated each March right here in Bakersfield. Additionally, Frances provides very important guidance and counsel to many committees, such as the Membership and Social Committees, as well as very valuable advice and input to our own Board of Directors. Frances has twice dedicated herself to the very demanding responsibility as Queen of our chapter. Our chapter would certainly not be so successful without the amazing contributions of Frances Hein. I’m sure you will all join me in thanking this very special lady for all that she does for this chapter and for the National Smooth Dancers.
PRIVATE LESSONS BY ROBERT ALLGEYER ROBERT ALLGEYER is giving private lessons at the Grange, all day Tuesdays. If you want personal instruction, now is your chance to get it. DAN GOSS continues to give private lessons on the same day. START PLANNING FOR THE NEW YEARS EVE DANCE ON DECEMBER 31, 2010Our New Years Eve Dance is a formal dance with a catered champagne breakfast at Midnight. Held at the Womens Club, downtown. Have you made your reservation? Susan Salvucci and Jill Calcatera can save you a place. Special Thanks
This month, we say thank you to our webmaster. For as long as I can remember, Jim Kephart has been handling the exceptionally important duties of keeping our web site up to date. As most of us are fully aware, this is a monumental task, since something new is always taking place in National Smooth Dancers as well as in our own chapter. It’s so important to keep our website as current and as accurate as possible, because Smooth Dancers from throughout the state as well as potential dancers everywhere check out our web site each and every day. In addition to being our webmaster, Jim has also been a key member of The Grange, ensuring that we keep our wonderful practice floor for Tuesday night lessons and Friday night dances. Jim has been an important Board of Directors member also, most recently serving with distinction as Chapter President for two years, 2006 and 2007. Thank you Jim, for all you’ve done for so long.
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NAME OUR NEW BANNER CONTEST We’ve extended to July 1 st the deadline for submission of ideas for our chapter banner. As mentioned before, each year at the State Convention, our Dance Team marches onto the Dance Floor behind our BSD Banner. And since our current banners are badly in need of replacement, we’re having a contest to see who among us can create the banner which best depicts the Bakersfield Smooth Dancers and which will “WOW” the convention attendees from our own & other NSD chapters. Submit your drawings to Bob Kandarian and we’ll name the winning idea at the July Membership meeting.GOOD NEWS - GOLDEN GATE STATE Convention 2010 We hope many of you will be joining us at the Annual Smooth Dancers Convention, this year hosted by the Golden Gate Chapter of NSD and held in the beautiful City By The Bay. This year’s convention will be held Friday Sept. 3rd through Monday morning Sept. 6th. For further information and assistance in registration and/or reservations, see me, BSD Board Rep. Bill Landry, or any other BSD Board Member. The aforementioned “good news” is, the hotel rates at the Crowne Plaza Hotel have improved from the previous quote to $112.00/night for single occupancy and $117.00/night for double occupancy, and these rates include the All American Breakfast Buffet. Please note also that the printed phone number in the convention packet for hotel reservations should read 1-(650)-570-5700, rather than the 1-800 area code originally advertised. And please mention Smooth Dancers Convention in order to get the special hotel rates. There may be an upper limit on attendees so please get your reservations in very soon. Also, see the attachment, if you’d like to advertise in the Golden Gate 2010 Convention Yearbook. SPECIAL THANKS A very special thanks to long-time member of Bakersfield Smooth Dancers, Rosie Munoz, for taking on the very important responsibility as editor of our chapter’s section of the “NSD Dance Whispers.” As most of you know, our former editor, Rosemary Duffy has relocated, along with husband, Jack, to the beach area of Southern California. When asked, Rosie didn’t hesitate at all in accepting the new position. Also, if you’ve read the latest edition of the Whispers, you’ll see that Rosie does a wonderful job of news writing as well. She’s also an excellent dancer. Thank you so much Rosie, form all of us, for being part of our dance club, and for your wonderful spirit of service. SPECIAL THANKS One of the greatest assets of the Bakersfield Smooth Dancers Chapter is the gentleman who drives here from Fresno every Tuesday to provide us with our weekly “free” dance lesson. Thank you to Dan Goss for making that weekly trip, as well as for renting the Grange for us every Tuesday, and for having the incomparable patience to guide each of us toward improving our dancing skills. We are indeed fortunate to have this unique opportunity for exceptional professional instruction. Dan Goss is the primary reason BSD is “the best deal in town,” and “the best deal in NSD.” Not only should we all be hugely appreciative for the free beginner-level lessons and for the “intermediate lessons,” immediately afterwards, but also for the private lessons Dan provides every week, before and after the group lessons. Additionally, our members are invited to participate in Curtain Call, a dance exhibition held at Dan’s Fresno Studio (Studio 65) in April and October. Thanks Dan for all this and for bringing Robert and Cyndee to provide even greater opportunity for our members to have private professional instruction. Thanks Dan. You’re the best!
TRY THE LINKS SECTION OF OUR WEBSITEOur website has lots of good stuff. Go to the Links section and you will find a lot about dancing, local and elsewhere. BEST BARGAIN IN TOWNFor $85 a year, you get 1) 50 free lessons, 2) 50 free practice sessions, 3) Twelve free dances with decorations and food, 4) Professionally taught advanced dance lessons for a reasonable fee, 5) Opportunity to get private lessons from two fine professional dance instructors, 6) Friday night dances for $5 every Friday, 7) Two Hundred people to dance with. Join Smooth Dancers Now!FREE LESSONSDan Goss will now be teaching the beginners lessons and the intermediate lessons every Tuesday. Beginning lessons will be at 6:30.. Intermediate lessons follow at 7:30 at the Fairfax Grange at 4 Fairfax Road, Bakersfield, Beginning lessons are always free to members. GRANGE NEWS
Every Friday night from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. we will be dancing at
the Grange. Dennis Acosta
provides the ballroom music. UPDATE YOUR WILLWhen you update your will, don't forget to leave money for the Bakersfield Chapter of the National Smooth Dancers. This will help the club continue to be the best dance club in California. WEB PAGE IS UP TO DATE
Our web addresses are www.kerndancers.com.
& www.bakersfieldsmoothdancers.com
Everyone can get the Smooth
News and copies of the Minutes
of Last Meeting on the site.
Also you will find lots of Pictures
, and even the bi-laws and Links
to our sister NSD chapters. Our website is a working website.... You can
go on it for up to the minute announcements and facts. PRACTICE ON WEDNESDAY
EVENINGS!
On Wednesday night our club has practice at the Norris Road Veterans’ Building, 400 W. Norris Rd. We learn much faster if we practice, practice, practice. Gene White is faithful to keep this going. Thanks Gene! Special
Request
of Our
Membership We are all so appreciative for the exceptional service provided by so many of our members, especially those who serve as Chairpersons of our monthly dance committees. We certainly could not function without them. It’s the responsibility of our Social Chairperson to find twelve different individuals to serve in the aforementioned capacity. Susanne Landry is serving as Social Chairperson this year but she needs your help. Currently, we are in need of one of our members to accept the Chairmanship of the November Dance. It’s an awesome responsibility but it’s also a lot of fun. Those interested should contact Susanne or any Board member to volunteer. We’re also looking for volunteers for next year’s dance chairs and for others to serve on dance committees. Please let us know in which month you are available to serve. Please remember to sign in when you attend any of our dance activities, whether it be our monthly dance, our Tuesday night lesson, our Wednesday evening practice, or our Friday night dances. We are required to keep a record of attendance at each of these dance opportunities and we need to do so for your own safety as well as protecting the interests of our chapter.
Very recently, one of our members experienced the humiliation of loss of personal possessions from a vehicle parked in the Grange Parking Lot, while attending our Tuesday night dance lesson. Please remember that there are many desperate people in our city, especially now that the economy is in such crisis. These desperate people will perform desperate acts with absolutely no consideration of their victim’s financial status. Please lock your vehicle and do not leave valuables in plain sight inside your locked vehicle at our dance activities or anywhere else.
THE RASMUSSEN FLOOR For our past few dances at Rasmussen Senior Center, our shoes and, in some cases, our clothing as well, have picked up an unusually large amount of dust, especially toward the end of the evening as our shoes continuously slid across the dance floor. Our expert consultants have advised us that the reason for the residue is the breakdown of the acrylic wax put down by the custodial staff at Rasmussen. We’ve been in communication with the Rasmussen management staff in an effort to correct the situation. Their response is favorable but includes a request of us to please refrain from walking on the dance floor with “street shoes,” and also to refrain from using any foreign substance on our dance shoes. Powders to help you glide across floor are totally unnecessary on this sometimes-too-slippery dance floor. UPDATE: The Veterans Halls are all having trouble with the wax being used. They think perhaps the wax companies have changed their formulas.
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