Mid-Winter Festival 2025

 I just wanted to say a little bit about the highlight of the square dancing winter for myself and many others here in the Northwest.

I was there at the Lin County Fairgrounds from Thursday evening for the Trails End Dance through Saturday night.  I did not go on Sunday as there was no advanced being offered and my legs and feet had had enough.

In times past we used to have loads of dancers from our home club up in Albany dancing, but this year not so many: Larry Reetz, Linda Neushwander were the first I saw, Joy Pitts was there with her niece, Janet, who called,  and Janet's fiance, John Olson, all of whom worked hard on the used clothing they submitted for sale on behalf of the hall,, Connie Seamans working for the EEAC, Chris Vanderlinde, who was in charge of the Trails End dance, Patrick Welborn and his wife Mika, there for the weekend of dancing, and me.  I heard that Janice Sugar was there both Friday and Saturday and Paul Hash and Diana Hodges came on Saturday.   Also Ross Isobel came with his friend Sharon.  So we had a good representation there but not like it used to be.  If I missed anyone my  aoologies.

It appears the numbers are on the rebound for MWF.  When I first started dancing in 1985, we had over 5,000 in attendance, but nowadays we are lucky to get 1,000 and  often far fewer than that especially since COVID.  But the halls were fuller than I have seen in recent years so I am hopeful we will hear that the festival made a good profit and money will be there to fund next year's event.  According to Connie Seamans who informed me last night Na. 27, only five or six more ribbons were sold than last year.  Well, at least we are holding ou own, but it would have been nice to see over 900-1000 dancers there.  Oh, well, maybe next year.

We had a lot of great callers and I believe people enjoyed the featured caller, Jaden Frigo, who was from Australia and has called all over the world.  We also got to dance to some of our favorite callers like Randy Dibble and Scott Zinser.  So much fun.

In February Single Trees will celebrate its 61st birthday on Feb. 14.  Please come dance to Shaun McKamey and Christina Corelli.  There will be birthday cake and ice cream too, I'm sure.  Plus starts at 7:30 followed by pre-rounds and then mainstream at 8. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gaynor Hintz

Club Reporter

Jan. 10, 2025 New Dancer Dance

We held our annual New Dancer dance on Jan. 10 this year with at least two couples and several singles refreshing their skills in attendance.  It was such a pleasure to see the two younger couples there enjoying themselves.  I wish more people had come out to support them, but we have had quite a few members out with physical injuries or under the weather for one reason or another.  My thanks to Nancy Gowins and her husband, members of our sister club Whirl-A-Ways, for staying to support the new dancers.  Nancy does a good job of recruitment herself and is tireless in her enthusiasm for our beloved activity.   She like so many wants to see our dances continue for  a long time into the future.

 

Bruce Lowther called and his wife Judy Russell cued the dance.  Bruce watched the floor carefully to make sure the newer dancers were able to keep up.    There were some break downs but people regrouped quickly enough and I could tell they were having a good time by seeing all the smiles on their faces.  If we had had a few more guys there we could have had three squares on the floor but unfortunately we simply did not have enough so some like me stepped in to do the guy's part and that of course can be confusing for new dancers.  Still as I said we had a good time and that is all we can ask for at times.

 

One of the newer dancers who has been refreshing her skills had her 40th birthday so her grandmother provided a beautiful birthday cake for her and all of us.   She was quite pleased.

Here are some photos I took during one tip when I wasn't dancing.

 

 

 

 Next month on February14 we will celebrate our 61st birthday with our "Sweetheart of a 61st Birthday Dance".  Shaun McKamey will be calling that night.  He is a newer, up-and-coming caller who has good timing, a great singing voice with lots of clarity.  You will really like him if you don't already.  On Feb. 28 Mark Wheeler will come down from the Portland area to call for us.  We all like Mark who has a very genial personality and always gets right into the theme of the dances.  This one will be "Your Favorite Cartoon Character".  Perhaps we'll see some Minnie or Mickey Mouses or Donald or Daisy Ducks.  Christina Corelli will be cueing both dances for us.  Christina also likes to get into the theme!  It should be fun.

 

We just learned that our long time cuer Jackie Gale who hasn't been able to join us all that often lately is going to move with her husband Bill to Nevada to be closer t family.  We will miss you so much, Jackie and Bill!  We wish you every success in your new home.  Nevada's gain, our loss, for sure.

 

Hope to see all of you dancers at Mid-Winter.  Our club like others will go dark that weekend.

 

Gaynor Hintz

Club Reporter and Web Master

 

In December Single Trees only had only one dance on Dec. 20, our last third Friday dance since we resume our old schedule of 2nd and 4th Fridays starting in January 2025.  Dec. 20 we held our annual Christmas dinner and dance.  It was well attended with three squares in the hall and two on the floor.  The food was fabulous, much of it provided by members and especially our president Melba Walker.   Everyone had a good time eating dinner together before the dance and then dancing the calories off.  We had visitors from Lebanon Alliance clubs as well as from the south--Roseburg area.  Thank you to all who came and  participated in  making it all so much fun!  This reporter was in Mesa, AZ so it appears no photos were taken.

 

On Dec. 31st some Single Trees members gathered at the hall in Springfield to welcome in the new year with all our square dancing friends.  There were five squares in the hall and often four on the floor so that was a good turnout by today's standards.  b3esides Roger Putzler and Christina Corelli calling and cueing, Sandy Harris and the Coxes also called and cued.  We hope that 2025 will find everyone back out dancing and bringing in new dancers to lessons.   This is such a great activity and a very healthy one too.

 

My thanks to Margaret McVey and Roger Tendick for helping pass on these reports.

 

Our next dance is January 10.  It will be a New Dancer dance, and we hope to see as many new dancers out as possible.  Bruce Lowther will be calling and Judy Russell will be cueing so we hope any Alliance new dancers will join us.  We will probably have half an hour of plus at 7:30 and then the rest of the evening will be at new dancer level.  See you all there!

Happy New Year to all!

Gaynor Hintz