Somewhat in line with that, we need volunteers to be on the election committee to draft a slate of officers for the Fall elections. Please contact me (Tom Savage) ASAP at 803 796 8488 or via email at .

Our membership currently lists 67 Social Dancers (6 delinquent), 13 Ballroom Dancers, 4 Adult Dancesport Dancers, and 1 Student Dancesport Dancer for a total of 85 members. We have one affiliate chapter and we send our Newsletter to 3 libraries.

On Monday, February 14th at 6:20 pm, Paul Lagatore and Tracy Steele of Columbia's Ballroom will present a Tango lesson and exhibition in the lobby of Koger Center. Participating amateur dancers from Columbia's Ballroom are Wolfgang Elfe, Grace Keller, Barbara & Nisha Kubodera, Joyce Lagatore, Pamela Marshall, Mike Verdone, and Doris Wood. An evening of romantic music is planned by the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra and Nicholas Smith, conductor. It is appropriately called "Be My Valentine" and starts at 7:00 pm.

On Saturday, February 19th at 2:00 pm, the Fancy Feet Dancers will be performing at Waterford Senior Living Center.

Wolfgang Elfe and Pam Marshall are teaching beginning ballroom dancing to residents and some of the Staff at Still Hopes Retirement Center. They teach one hour a week, Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30.

At the January 22nd dance, Joe Clark renewed both his National and Chapter memberships and Hubert Chandler, our newest member, joined both National and our local Chapter. We wish you many more years of happy dancing.

Robert Seay of Capital Ballroom gave two very good lessons on Fox Trot, this month, managing to teach steps that were interesting to most everyone there. He also added a nice touch at the end of the lesson.....plugging both studios in town. Later in the evening, he put on an exhibition of Cha Cha with Patti Hill and a Fox Trot number with Jo Morton, admonishing the audience to see if they could tell the number of times the lead changed. It was fun........and different. Jo and Patti, your dancing was superb.

Thanks to all who helped decorate for the Snowball Dance: Edna Free, Jeane Mader, Tom Savage, Jo Morton and Doris Wood. They spent close to two and a half hours there Saturday afternoon. An extra special thank you to those who stayed to help wrap up all those little knick-knacky things that the decorating committee brought to help create a Wintery mood for you to enjoy. Doesn't Jo Morton do a wonderful job with the food tables? She always has a new and pretty idea. Let's not forget those who stayed to help clean up and put away. Those I saw while concentrating on wrapping up some of those little knick-knacky things were Naomi Mart, Jo Morton, Ron Morton, Edna Free, Tom Savage. If I did not mention your name, please let me know.

"Aesthetic Accolades from an anonymous member: The decorations at our December and January dances have been especially attractive. [Who would guess that one accomplished dancer is a closet train buff, a passion up to now known only to her family]? ... Starting with the food/drinks bar the themes have been spread throughout our huge dance hall --- so marvelous to dance in, yet an impersonal , challenging social space. Thank you, Decorating Elves, for taking the creative trouble and considerable set-up/take-down time to give these winter dances seasonal magic."

  Give yourselves a big pat on the back and congratulate your fellow members when you see them; we were once again designated as a QUALITY CHAPTER by USABDA. This means that we had less than a 12 percent delinquency rate for this past quarter. The actual percentage was 8.24%. Sixty-eight chapters achieved this designation and we ranked 27th out of those 68. That is great! Let's shoot for 0% delinquency rate, this quarter, and be #1. Wouldn't it be nice to rank #1 in the country for something positive? Let's give it a try. All we have to do is renew our National memberships on time. And, now, you pay your $5.00 chapter dues at the same time....one check to National and one to GCC USABDA. This is much easier to remember and gives us a much better chance of getting to that #1 spot.

  If you have not already read the January/February issue of USABDA magazine, this will probably come as a surprise to you. Professional dancers are now able to serve on the Boards of local USABDA chapters. They have always been able to serve on committees, but they can now be a voting member of the Board. This information is in the upper left hand corner of page 25.

  Fred Rehm sent me an email last month telling me that the Adams Mark first floor is being renovated. Thursday night dancing is discontinued until around March of this year. The hotel will then become part of the Marriott chain. This is good information, especially since I am often telling out-of-towners where they can go to dance. I rely on members like you, Fred, to keep me posted. Thanks!!!

  We are unable to locate two of the eight white round tablecloths Emma Sharpe made when we purchased the round tables a few years ago. If you have any idea where they might be, give Naomi Mart a call. It is easy for things like this to get lost. Please take a quick look around to see if you might, unknowingly, have one, or, if you happen to know of some niche at the Barn where they might be hiding.

  Showtime Dance Shoes is sponsoring a "Dance Camp at Sea" from April 9th to April 16th on the ms Zuiderdam of the Holland America Line, one of its newest and most up-to-date ships, just commissioned in 2002. It departs Fort Lauderdale, Fl at 5:00 pm on the 9th, making stops in Half Moon Cay, The Bahamas, St. Thomas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, and Nassau, Bahamas before returning to Ft. Lauderdale at 8:00am on the 16th. Prices start at $950 for an inside cabin. For lots more information, read the article, then email Jim Brady at jamb@urgentmail.com or call him at 336 884 8185. To book the cruise, Call Barbara or Joel Schanker at 336 945 3113. Maybe we can get a group together to go. It sounds like fun.

  Anyone who enjoys decorating, feel free to join us at the Barn on Saturday, February 12th, at 1:00 pm to help dress it up for the Valentine's Day dance. And if you have some Valentine decorations, bring them along with you. It is fun and we desperately need help with all aspects of putting on the dances. A few members are having to do way too much. And volunteer to be an angel with the Clean-up Crew. About 50% of the time, it is left to 2 or 3 people and they are usually the ones who set-up, decorate, etc. Plan ahead so you can stay about 15 minutes after a dance to help with the housekeeping chores. You'll enjoy it.

  Tired of store-bought cookies, pretzels, and the like? We are looking for some really great snacks for our dances. Put your culinary skills to work and surprise us. We know there are some great cooks out there, and if you don't consider yourself to be in that category, hey, anyone can whip up a box of brownie mix that will taste almost as good, and sometimes better, as those made from scratch.