Carole Hays
The SaddleBrooke Squares celebrated St. Patrick’s Day on March 12 at the MountainView ballroom with guest caller Craig Abercrombie. Craig, a national square dance caller, came down from Oregon to call for the Square Dance Club. During the first hour, everyone danced mainstream, and then the club’s plus dancers took over the dance floor. All members donned their green finery for this dance. Craig called and sang to a variety of music, from western to pop, including some Irish songs. In addition to the club’s two regular dance callers, Bob Asp and Dean Singleton, the club invites many callers from all over the nation to their weekly Thursday dances.
It was announced that the club’s co-presidents for the past 3.5 years, Cindy and JP Blount, were stepping down as well as vice presidents, Kris and Mike Westerbeck. The incoming officers are Richard and Donna Martin, co-presidents; Carole and Larry Hays, vice presidents; Kay and Rich Tornay, vice presidents; Elaine and Rick Beeble, treasurers; and Karen Lingelbach, recording secretary. The Blounts put in an incredible amount of work during their tenure, including graduating a class of 46 dancers in 2019 and recruiting another 35 students for the class of 2020. The Blounts will be members-at-large, with an emphasis on producing a new video of square dance lessons. Also, LuAnn and Steve Johnson are new members-at-large. The new board members are excited about their roles and preparing for many fun club activities once the coronavirus lockdown is over.
If you are interested in joining a square dance club with the reputation of being one of the warmest and friendliest clubs in the western states, don’t hesitate to check out www.saddlebrookesquares.com. In the words of our great former SaddleBrooke Squares caller, Larry Kraber, “To be a square dancer, you have to know how to laugh.”