GCC USADance July 2003 Newsletter

July 2003 Newsletter

Double your dancing!

Double your fun!!

July 12th 6:30 PM

Annual summer cookout

dance and show

July 26th 7:30 PM

Dance and show

Where: The Barn 680 Cherokee Lane Columbia

Lessons and shows by Nicholai and Barbie of

Queen City Dance Studio Charlotte, NC

Dances start: 7:30 Lessons start: 7:45 Shows: 9:00

Members: $4; Non members: $7; Students: $3

Happy Independence Day

	Newsletter Publication Date: This is the first issue to be mailed out so that you will receive it by the first of each month, or thereabouts. I hope this better meets your planning needs
	Annual Cook-out on 7-12-03: USABDA provides the hamburgers, hot dogs, buns, condiments, paper supplies, and the cooks. You bring a dish to share and a good appetite. NOTE THE TIME!!! We start serving at 6:30. The dance starts at 7:30. There is a Samba lesson and a show by Nicholai and Barbie of Queen City Dance Studio in Charlotte. Door prizes!!! Don't miss any of this great evening!
	Big Band Month: I was not here for the first dance of the month, so I cannot speak to that one, but the one this past Saturday night was a roaring success. We had a great group of visitors from both Sumter and from Spartanburg, along with our usual members. The music was so good that I have received phone calls about it. We tip our hat to Lady Stephanie (see below) for those plaudits. Rarely was any one sitting at tables, just talking; they were doing what they came to do....dancing. In addition to our usual foxtrot mixer, Paul Lagatore led one of his famous conga lines, much to everyone's delight and fun. Mercedes Hull of Sumter won first place for the best Forties Costume. Congratulations, Mercedes!
	Special People: What would a dance without music be like??? Interesting question!!! It almost happened Saturday night. Three people prevented it: Stephanie Muga, Al Jayne, and Tom Savage. First, some of the background: A little over two weeks ago, Al was going down his porch steps at home, when they collapsed under him. He ended up in the hospital for a week with multiple broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and assorted other injuries. His one lung is still 15% collapsed and he is still in pain a good share of the time. Al was scheduled to do the music for Big Band Month in Mike Verdone's absence. Stephanie, being the trouper that she is, stepped in and did a fantastic job. I have received phone calls raving about the music that she played. Everyone must have agreed, because the dance floor was full almost every dance. Al Jayne came in to make the finishing touches to the equipment after Stephanie and Tom set it up, then went back home to rest. Tom and Stephanie left an afternoon party early so they could set up the equipment. How do we thank people who are so dedicated to dancing and to the Chapter dances? We can't. All we can say is, "Thank you, so much."
	Elections of Board Members: Please read the attached insert carefully and give it some thought. There will be two vacancies on the Board this year, that of President and of Treasurer. Neither our current president, Mike Verdone, or our current treasurer, Jerry Camillo, is eligible to run again this year. They have each completed two full terms. This is your organization, so take an active role in the running of it: Volunteer to run for an office. We need fresh ideas and new approaches to old ones. I will be the first to admit that being on the Board is work, but it is also a lot of fun and certainly presents a challenge.
	Salsa Workshop: We were few in number, but we were an enthusiastic group and Sheila Brown of Columbia's Ballroom did a fantastic job of teaching us. She just makes learning so much fun!!!. Newcomers and oldtimers, alike, left The Barn with that wonderful feeling of accomplishment. Several of the people there were newcomers to one of our workshops; they were delighted with it, and expressed intent to continue dancing. Mario Acevedo, president of Ballroom Dance Club in Charleston came to learn Salsa and the ins and outs of having a workshop. It was nice getting to know him.
	Angels of the Month: Our angels this month are Richard Durlach, Edna Free, Al Jayne, Barbara and Nisha Kubodera, Stephanie Muga, Tony Mumblow, Bob Perry, Michael Sherlock, and each of you who helped in anyway at all, big or small, to help make these dances a success. Your Board is grateful for your help; we just cannot do it without you. Haven't signed up, yet? Try it, you'll like it.
	June Guests: We want to extend a hearty welcome and a big "thank you" to all of our guests during June. We enjoyed your visits and hope to see you again, real soon. All together we had a total of 22: Cynthia Cutter, John and Carol Damewood, Tim and Joanne Duncan, Kim and S. Harvin, Patricia and Ray Hill, Freda Hunt, John Murphy, Boyd Newman, Meg Pridemore, Mary Sanders, Sharon Scholz, Bob Sitko, Marion and Barbara Tisdale, Gail Trussell, Phyllis Turner, and Jackie Williams.
	New Members: Welcome to Sep and Kim Harvin, our brand new members. We are so happy to have you join us. We wish you many, many happy times dancing with us.
	Just In Case You Missed It: Get out your last issue of Amateur Dancers magazine (May/June 2003) and turn to page 9. There you will find an article written by our Chapter president, Mike Verdone, called "Tenth at Greater Columbia". It is about our chapter celebrating its 10th anniversary as a part of USABDA last September. It is a great article, Mike. Congratulations.
	Etiquette Tip of the Month: Be sensitive. Once you have refused an invitation to dance, do not accept an invitation to dance for the duration of that song. Just sit that dance out, visiting with friends, getting a snack, or whatever.
	Delinquent Dues: We still have a few members whose dues are in arrears. Please check with Tom Savage for further information about this. We definitely do not want to drop you from the organization. You are the reason for our existence.
	Don't Miss This: Two-hour Showcase, Champagne Happy Hour, Dinner, and Social Dancing until 11:00 pm. What is it? A LUAU sponsored by Columbia's Ballroom, July 19th, 3:00 pm. to 11:00 Dancers from several dance studios in SC will participate in the show. It is going to be a fun day and evening. Where: Dupree's in Pontiac, SC. Show only: $20.00; The Works: $45.00. Call 750-0181 to make reservations and get directions.
	Another Special Event: The Ballroom Dance Club of Charleston is sponsoring an Independence Day Picnic and Barbecue on July 5th and has invited USABDA members to join them. Time: 7:30-11:00
	Big Apple Dance Workshop: From August 29th - August 31st, Historic Columbia will be sponsoring a workshop featuring Swing icon, Frankie Manning. It will include classes in Lindy Hop, Hip Hop, Swing, Shag, and Salsa. Information is available at (803) 252-7742 ext 24 or www.historiccolumbia.org.
	Survey: Please submit your responses to our survey online, or if you prefer, print it off, fill it out, and return it either by mail to the address at the bottom of the survey, or place it in the Suggestion Box at one of the dances at The Barn. The Board wants to hear your opinion on these things. For reason unknown to us, some of us have not been given the gift of mind reading, so please help those of us who are mind-reading challenged. And please don't wait until October to do it. The sooner we hear from you, the sooner we can address the issues.
	News from National: Nothing new this month. Maybe it's the fact that it's Summer. I do want to remind you about the sanctioned dance cruise they are going to have in October. No deadline yet for signing up. For more info, check out the links on the GCC USABDA web site.
	Last, but Not Least: Every month, as soon as I e-mail the Newsletter to those who have requested e-mail , it miraculously appears on our web site. To me, it seems like it is instantaneous. I am amazed by it. The person we have to thank for this is Bob Sitko. I don't ask him to do it; he just does it. Thanks, Bob, for making it possible for the people who visit our web site to learn a little about us and have the chance to come dance with us.

And if you have the choice to sit it out or dance,

I hope you dance.

Shall We Dance?

	July 5	Independence Day Picnic Ballroom Dance Club 1632 Ashley Hall Rd. Chas Members: $8 Students $5 7:30 - 11:00
	July 11 (Fri.)	Columbia's Ballroom 35 Diamond Lane 7:30 - 9:30. Students: No charge Guests: $5
	July 11	Palmetto Ballroom Dance Club. 252 S. Dargan St. Florence Members: $7 Guests: $12 7:30 - 11:00
	July 12	The Barn 680 Cherokee Lane, Columbia Members: $4 Guests: $7 Students: $3
	July 12	Starlight Ballroom 108 Trade St. Greer Members: $8 Students: $5 Non Members $10
	July 16	Augusta Bogey-Woogie Dance & Social - 6:45 to 9:45 Ballroom, Country, Latin, Line, Shag A World of Dance Studio 3497 Wheeler Rd. Augusta, GA $3
	July 17	Capital Ballroom Dance Studio 2732 Devine St. Columbia 8:00 pm No charge
	July 19	Starlight Ballroom 108 Trade St. Greer Members: $8 Students: $5 Non Members $10
	July 19	Luau by Columbia's Ballroom at Dupree's, 812 Bookman Rd. Pontiac, SC 3:00-11:00 3:00 pm: 2 hour show 5:30 pm: champagne happy hour 7:00 pm: dinner 8:00 pm: social dancing Show only: $ 20.00 The Works: $ 45.00 Call (803) 750-8091 for reservations
	July 26	Starlight Ballroom 108 Trade St. Greer Members: $8 Students: $5 Non Members $10
	July 26	GCC USABDA The Barn 680 Cherokee Lane, Columbia Members: $4 Guests: $7 Students: $3 Lesson 7:45 - 8:15
	Fri & Sat	Ballroom Dance Club 1632 Ashley Hall Rd., Charleston 7:30
	Fri night	Capital Senior Center Maxcey Gregg Park, Columbia Live music Members: Free Non members: $5.00

Newsletter Editors: Please e-mail me the times and dates of your dances.
Dancers: If you have information on any other places to dance, please e-mail me. Thanks!

GCC USABDA
Doris Wood, Sec.