25th ANNIVERSARY

COUNTDOWN~Part 5

Last in a series

New class members bring a fresh energy to the dance floor and keep the club vital. It is easy to overlook the
veterans at the edge of the floor—those dancing with phantoms, sitting it out until needed, or discussing board
business. These members give the club a steady foundation. There is also a cornerstone: Russ has participated in
WSD functions on a weekly basis ever since he was a student in the Mainstream class of 1982.
As Russ tells it— And what was Mimi up to 25
“In 1982 I was living in Berkely, working at First years ago?
American Title Company in Oakland, and going to “I was working in the Clerk’s
ballet, opera and foreign movies, when I could fit Office of the federal Court of
them in. I'd been involved with the Oakland Appeals – the liberal Ninth
Lesbian/Gay Rights Organization for a while, but Circuit. I had settled into my new
began phasing that out when I discovered square job long enough to start making
dancing, which also had a political element; but was waves. I was the first deputy clerk
a lot more fun.” to wear boots in a court session –
“I became involved in
against the dress code at the time.
Scottish Country I watched in awe as my three
Dancing at Noe Valley children grew into interesting
Ministry in 1987, where I
adults (I helped do that?).”
met Mimi, and got her to
check out Western Star,
where she graduated in Less scratchy than crinoline
May 1990”

“I had Construction
just happened into an
Israeli dance class, which led to
Worker Steve
Scottish Country Dancing and
Cowboy Steve eventually to Western Star.”

Happy 25th Anniversary to

Western Star Dancers, and
Mimi—Folk dance diva Happy 25th to Russ!

Have you been paying close attention to the 25th Anniversary Countdown over the past year? Test
yourself by taking THE OFFICIAL COUNTDOWN QUIZ.
1. Who met his lover—a priest—at 21st Street Baths?
2. Who is celebrating 50 years with Jed?
3. Who was Wrestler of the Month?
4. Who had a swishy male cat named Ethel?
5. Who performed on stage with cocktail straws in his butt?
6. Who got his smarts from The Charley Brown Encyclopedia?
7. Who owned a foreign car garage in Ohio?
8. Who was a radar operator in the U.S. Army?
9. Who got dangled for dancing with C & D?
10. Who spent his early youth watching “The Price is Right” in
Melrose, Mass.?
 Compiled by Russ King
It was just over a year ago, at the joint Western Star/Foggy Dance Barbary Coast
last January 7, that caller Dick Henschel happened to workshop the call Rock Cloggers. Bill
the Boat. He didn’t know who wrote it, just that it had been a popular had never called
Callerlab Quarterly Selection back in the ‘80’s, and he thought it would be a for a gay group
fun novelty item to teach. As it happened, Stewart Kramer of El Camino before, but was
Reelers and I were already familiar with the call, and had known Bob willing to give it a
Bellville, the man who created it. Only the old-timers among us remember try despite the
Bob and his accomplishments as a gay square dancer and gay caller, but on technical
the occasion of our 25th Anniversary, it seems a good occasion to explain his difficulties of
place in our history, and I’ve asked Bill Hanzel, his mentor, and Andy Shore, sight-calling off of
who followed in the trail Bob helped blaze as an openly gay caller, to join me. same-sex
Bob learned to square dance at Western Star’s 4th Mainstream couples, and the
class, graduating in December 1983; he was Archangel for the next class. risk of getting flak
He quickly continued on through Plus and Advanced, and was one of the from his peers
most active members of both Western Star and Midnight Squares throughout (still very much a
the ‘80’s. His interest in teaching led him to seriously study calling; he didn’t reality in the early
have a particularly strong singing voice, choosing instead to concentrate on ‘80’s). Bill
his forte, the devising of creative hash choreography. He became Western became our primary liaison with the straight square dance community, and
Star’s Mainstream and Plus instructor in the late ‘80’s, until his declining also became Bob’s mentor, encouraging his interest in calling and helping
health from AIDS-related causes forced him to cut back; he passed away in him through the process of becoming an accredited caller. I’ve asked Bill
Spring 1990. (who now lives in Denver, but is planning to fly out and join us in March) to
Bob’s class was the first Western Star class to be taught by Bill share some of his thoughts about Bob, and here they are, followed by
Hanzel, the husband of Janice Hanzel, founder and choreographer of the Andy’s:

I met Bob when I started teaching for
WSD. He had an interest in calling, and when I
was asked by some members to start a callers
Archangel Bob
BILL HANZEL:
class, Bob was a part of it. He would share with
me some of the things he was working on and
asked questions about making choreography
flow comfortably.
He wrote the move “Rock the Boat.” It
was a good call which flowed better than “Load
the Boat.” Callerlab picked up the call and it was
put on the Quarterly list of new calls. It stayed
there for at least three quarters. Many calls are
on the list for one quarter and disappear.
Not.”Rock the Boat.”
In 1985 Bob made application to the
Square Dance Callers Association of Northern
California (SDCANC) and began attending
meetings. He learned from many top callers in
the Northern California area. He polished his
presentation by calling in front of his peers and
receiving their critiques and encouragement.
After completing his apprenticeship training he
was voted a Caller member of SDCANC. Before
he got the news, I was able to get his badge from
the engraver and made arrangements to present
it to him at the 1986 IAGSDC Convention in San
Francisco. Working with his partner Chris
Anderson, we decided to give him his badge at
the convention dinner. When I called Bob to the
stage there was a standing ovation. He became
the first openly gay caller in the SDCANC.
Bob and I attended the Callerlab
convention in Reno in 1988. This was the first
time Bob met many of the nationally known
callers. He learned much more at Reno, more
than he knew. When callers learned that it was
he who wrote “Rock the Boat” Bob walked a little
taller. The acknowledgement from callers, top
name callers, was tremendous. I think I saw new
pride in Bob that weekend.
The following week Chris called me
and gave me the bad news. Bob was diagnosed
with HIV. That was like getting a punch in the gut
for me. I know I shed a tear or many for Bob and
I knew I would eventually lose a friend. I kept in
touch with Chris when I could, to check up on
Bob. The news finally came that Bob had
passed and Chris said that Bob wanted me to be
a pallbearer. It was a great honor for me.
These are my memories of a good and
gracious being, Bob Bellville. I will forever
remember him as a friend and colleague.
Square dancing will miss the calls that were
never written because of his loss. Friends miss
the presence of Bob Bellville. I miss not being
able to work with him more and learn more from
him.
Peace Bob—Bill Hanzel

Continued on the next

page
 ANDY SHORE:
I learned to square dance with the El openly gay caller to ever achieve the status of a Bob was one of the first generation of
Camino Reelers. I was in their 3rd Mainstream CALLERLAB accredited caller, a rather obscure openly gay square dance callers, whose
class (1986-87) and our teacher was a big and rare status. Few callers seem to know of or contributions to the formation and success of the
straight guy named Bill Hanzel. I liked Bill and I attempt this these
thought he was a pretty good teacher and caller days, but it was a big
but somehow, as a beginning dancer, I had this deal 20 years ago.
notion of “oh – straight people call for us.” Bob was
This notion was blown away one night also a member of the
when Bill couldn’t be at class and arranged for a Nor Cal Callers
substitute caller. Bob Bellville, a gay caller from Association and he
San Francisco, came down with his partner Chris wrote the call “Rock
and taught our class that night. I remember the Boat” as part of
being very intrigued with a “wow – we can be on his membership
THAT side of the microphone too” feeling. So I’d application and
have to say that Bob was my earliest inspiration qualification. Rock
and roll model for being a gay square dance the Boat became
caller. A few years later, when I was starting to popular and earned
call, Bob held some calling workshops up in San the status of a Bob & Chris
Francisco. It was great having his insights and quarterly selection
just having the opportunity to learn and practice (an experimental call
calling. iin wide use) for a IAGSDC cannot be overestimated.
Bob was an openly gay member of time. I still hear it cued today: Ends Load the --Andy Shore, January 2007
CALLERLAB, the International Association of Boat while the Centers Single Circle to Wave,
Square Dance Callers. I believe he is the only Fan the Top, and Extend.

Western Star has been deeply involved in the history of the IAGSDC from the beginning--it is one of the five founding members of the
organization, the other four being The South Florida Mustangs,
Mustangs Mile High Squares of Denver, Puddletown Squares of Seattle and The New
Years Resolutions from Southern California. After moving to Seattle, Western Star co-founder Agnes Smith became active with the
Puddletown Squares,
Squares and was one of the committee co-chairs for the first IAGSDC Convention, which they hosted in 1984. In addition,
three of Western Star's Lifetime Members are also recipients of the IAGSDC's Golden Boot Award--Scott Carey (1987), Freeman Stamper
(1989) and Anna Damiani (1993).

Several Western Star graduates have gone on to found or co-found new clubs. El Camino Reelers
was co-founded by Marilyn Martinyak and Pat Dixon, who graduated from our July 1984
class. Robin Alpenglow (July 1986) founded the Madcap Squares in
Madison, Wisconsin after leaving the Bay Area. Ed Conley (March 1987
class) was one of the four founders of Diablo Dancers,
Dancers as well as their
first instructor.

Freeman Stamper (WSD class of June 1983) has had a particularly

strong influence on IAGSDC activities, thinking up and steering to
reality several programs and traditions whose existence we now
take for granted: The Bradley Bell Directory, the ten-and-twenty-
year Medallion Program, and the AIDS Memorial Panels which are
displayed at each Convention. As his life continues to move in new
directions he has passed their stewardship on to others, but he
provided the creative spark, brains and heart to get them started
and securely established. Freeman’s identical twin sister Stephanie
is pictured on the right.
 Scott Carey, one of the original conspirators in forming Western Star Dancers,
shares his thoughts on reaching our silver anniversary

Congratulations on Western Star's 25th Anniversary! I'm looking

forward to Club La Star Returns, the dinner, Anniversary dance and
all the gatherings that will bring the extended WSD family together to
celebrate this sparkling achievement. Let's Party!

I was asked if I ever expected WSD to go this far. I remember going to

the San Francisco Rebel’s 25th Anniversary dance in the early years
and being amazed and encouraged by their accomplishment, and of
course I did a little dreaming about how great it would be if WSD
could accomplish the same thing. Now it is here! Wow! There is one
small difference however, in my daydream none of us aged one bit!

How did we make it to 25?

For one thing, I’d like to think that the foundation that the club was
built on helped to carry it along: On the dance side we were
instrumental in instituting the Callerlab format not only for WSD but
for Gay Square Dancing at large, of respecting the courtesies of the
dance and the dancers, and in keeping our focus on the Mainstream
Scott manned the ticket and Plus Programs. We kicked in a lot of fun social activities with
window for the first parties, retreats, trips to Angel Island, Club La Star, Crossfire videos,
Club La Star and more parties to name a few! Thirdly we took an active role in
promoting Gay Square Dancing; we helped establish new clubs in the
Bay Area and across the country, helped create and build the IAGSDC, contributing many association leaders
and three Golden Boot Recipients, and supporting conventions and fly-ins and more. All members, past and
present and future, can take pride in the legacy of this Club.

But we know that without successive generations the club would not have continued. And that is the key element
of the club’s success. When we celebrate the anniversary
we are really celebrating the enormous amount of
enthusiasm, commitment, vision, parental care, and just
plain hard work of so many members throughout so
many years. It’s really a beautiful thing.

Finally, we are all blessed to share in this wonderful

activity that is known as “Friendship Set To Music”.
Twenty-five years after the founding of WSD, when I
look out at the many wonderful friends I am so lucky to
have, I see one thing in common – we are all Square
Dancers. I am sure that this is being repeated over and
over throughout the club, over the years, and across the
country. What a wonderful family we have created on
and off the dance floor! Scott & Russ King in
1983

D: What is your name?
E: Eloise Twining and I was born in Napa,
California.
D: Oh so right here. How long have your family
lived around these parts?
My Great-Great Grandfather, James Palache,
sailed into San Francisco bay in 1849 as a 16
year old cabin boy on a ship that never left. Later
he bought a small little darling farm at the end of
the road in the middle of nowhere, which was
across the street from the present day Claremont
hotel. My parents grew up in Berkeley and
Oakland. She got a degree in Botany from Cal.
Dad's degree is in Zoology also from Cal. I grew
up in Ukiah, attended grade school there and
was also home schooled by Mother in central
Mexico.
I have two sisters the older one takes care of
my Mother who's 91. We get along fairly well
considering I'm Pagan and she's a Jehovah's
Witness (Eloise laughs).
D: Tell me about life in Ukiah.
E: We lived on a ranch. When I was eight Father
took me out to the corral and said, "Well here's a
horse. If you can keep him alive, he's yours." A
little scrawny colt was standing there with a bad
case of worms and ribs and backbone showing.
We fed him up and he was my companion for 16
years. I called him Jim.
One day I went out for a ride on Jim and
decided to try and make it up a canyon I'd never
climbed. It got narrower and narrower and the
walls steeper and steeper. I started leading him
up this thing and he had to put his feet very
carefully lunging his body up to get his balance. I
myself was holding on to bushes to get up this
pretty close to vertical hill. And here's Jim
following after me. When we finally made it up to
the top he did something that I've never seen him
do before or since; he shook his whole body
thoroughly, turned around and gave me this look
saying, "What the heck did you do that for!" Then
he stuck his head in my arms as if saying “You
know I really love you a whole lot and I was so
scarred going up that thing and I'm so glad we're
at the top."
Somehow I got hooked up with the local
Horsemen's Association that did speed and
agility events. The first year I competed for one
or two shows and then the next year me and my
horse Leova won the High Point trophy in every
event for the year except the barrel race. I
regularly competed at three different club's horse
shows.
D: Where did you go to College and what
Major?
An Interview by Dan Smith
E: I walked into Willamette University and three back to the 70/80's and remembered, "Square
weeks later I had my first job in theater. Now dance is so lovely." Russ has been cleaning our
mind you we did not have, at any point, a high house for about 12 years and I mentioned to him
school program so I had had no experience. I that I was interested in square dance…and then
worked in the music department running lights for of course there wasn't any way that I wasn't
productions and since that time, 1974, I have going to come to Western Star. So I talked
never been out of work in the theater. I've been Donald into coming with me, he's proving to like it
Technical since the first day, basically an a great deal more then he thought he would.
Electrician.
After a year at Willamette I
did 2 years at Ukiah Junior
Collage, 2 at Sonoma State
for a BA. Then I did 5 years
of being married and finally 2
years of Masters level work
in Theater at San Francisco
State and in the process got
divorced. I worked in the
Theater Department until I
got my first job at Theater
Rhinoceros. I loved it. Then I
was on the crew for a
number of productions at the
Eureka Theater. I hung the
lights for the first ever
production of Angels in
America. I also had a long
and happy association with
Theater Arto, as well as in
the Caul at Stanford.
One day I worked the Cow
Palace for a Metallica show.
They needed 15 people to
run Follow Spots from the
tresses. I got into my little
seat and rode up to them,
pulled by chain motors.
Pyrotechnics where strung
between our follow spots. At
one point I had to move my
chair so that a piece of truss
on the hydraulics could fall past me. There were I find that it's interesting, having danced with a
mortars going off underneath my chair and I very traditional, straight club, who put a deal of
could not see the stage, 25 feet below. That was emphasis on dress…maybe that's what I
the Destruction tour. Anything for a little extra remember because I've always been a bit dress
noise. challenged. But to come into a group where there
Now I work at the Opera doing things like does not seem to be a dress code of any kind, is
checking the house lights. I even crawl down a interesting. I think I'm more comfortable with a
ladder in the ceiling into the chandelier and gay group then I would be with a straight group.
change stuff once or twice a year. At a straight group you showed up with a partner
D: How did you come to know about square and danced with him all night. I'd much rather
dancing? dance with a bunch of people who mix up
E: Well, way back when I was married my partners and don't have a problem with gender
Father-in-law was a Caller. A number of years assignment.
later after I'd met my long-term partner, Donald, D: Thank you Eloise.
we took Scottish dancing. One day I thought E: You're welcome.
Favorite color: Magenta and Red. The
brighter the color, the better.
Favorite food: I’m not much of a foodie;
practically anything you set in front of me is
Ok, except potato salad.
If you could be any animal, what would you
be? Is this one of those reincarnation
questions? What animal would I like to be
reincarnated as? I’ll say a house cat. Let’s
keep it simple.
Lucky number: Can’t say any number is my
lucky number, none of them as paid off yet.
Favorite movie: Edward Scissorhands,
Afterlife. I like quirky comedies and
documentaries.
Favorite song: I am a huge fan of Elvis
Costello; most of his music is on my Ipod.
Your hero/idol: I have a few, Boy George
(don’t laugh), Dali Lama, Ruth Gordon
(actor). I like spunky & bold individuals
(cause I want to be just like them, when I
grow up).
Other hobbies: I have many hobbies that
keep me busy. My main hobby is stained
glass. I have been doing it for 25 years now.
I also have a podcast. I do video editing.
Gardening, hiking, writing. I also have been
doing a little country dancing as well.
Where born/raised: Athens, Ohio. October
26, 1957. And I’ll do the math for you. That
makes me 49.
WORST subject in high school: Well, I went
to an all boys military high school for 4
years, so high school
wasn’t the best experience for me. Survival
was the main focus, especially when you
discover that you’re gay, as well. But, I
managed to get out alive.
Education & training: Some college, but no
degree (I was studying Theatre). I’m also a
certified massage tech. I’m also a certified
Life Coach, which is the business I’m
growing at the moment. I help folks to focus
on what is important to them; we then set
goals and get going.
Tell about your home: Why? Are you coming
over? Will I be getting a home makeover??
Is that why you asked me about my favorite
colors! Actually I live in small apartment
complex in San Rafael, where 5 out of the 7
tenants are gay, very usually for Marin.
Tell about your lovers: Why, will they be
showing up again! Well, ok. I say that I had 4
relationships; but I believe only 2 of them
were real relationships. The first relationship
was the worst and it caused me to move to
California. It was easier to move across the
U.S. then break up with him,
The last relationship was the
longest, 7 years and it ended about 4 years
ago. So, that makes me single, doesn’t it!
Presently I am returning to the dating field,
and it’s a trip.
Tell about your work: Presently, I work in a
local hospital, it pays the rent and allows me
time to work on my coaching business,
which I have already told you about. And by
the way, if anyone would like to experience
life coaching all they have to do is contact
me and I give you a free sample session.
You’ll love it!
Another work detail about me is that
I am presently on a board of a coaching
organization here in Marin. My role is that of
secretary and one of the tasks that I have to
perform is creating a monthly electronic
newsletter.
Along with that detail, is that for 10
years I was the production manager for the
only gay newspaper in Marin County. It was
called “The Slant”. This role was a volunteer
gig and the newspaper is a thing of history. It
died a couple of years ago. I think it tells a
little bit about the gay community in Marin:
struggling!
But, with both of these jobs you can see that
I have a value of community and
volunteering.
What is the BEST thing about you:
Interesting question! And how do I answer it.
I would have to say that I have a good sense
of humor and I’m very approachable
combined with real interest in people. Some
what smart and have lots of interests and
can hold a conversation. And, yes I do have
a shy side to me, but I hope that folks can
see past that.
What is the most amazing thing you’ve ever
done? A few years ago I was involved with a
unique program where I would teach prison
inmates (San Quentin) how to use life- skills
in their lives. It was the most satisfying
things I have every done. It really wasn’t a
scary thing at all.
How & why did you start square dancing? I
accompanied someone to the free classes
last year. We both joined and then she
dropped out, but I hung in there. I’m not a
quitter. And now, square dancing became
my new social group. And I always liked the
idea of learning something new while
meeting new people.
Funniest or happiest experience square
dancing: I think every time I step into a
square is the funniest experience. I also
love making mistakes and then quickly try to
correct myself. I know that might tick off a
few of the more expert dancers.
Favorite call: I’m not going to give out all of
my secrets.
Least favorite call: Oh, you know those spin,
chainy things.
Favorite callers: What are you trying to get
me in trouble! I’m still new to the square
dancing world and have not experienced a
lot of different callers.
I like square dancing because it’s fun!
Future square dancing plans: I plan on
continuing thru this year to get Plus level into
my body a little better. Then from there, who
knows!
Advice to new dancers: Don’t beat yourself
up if/or when you make mistakes. The
learning from mistakes is a good thing.
If you could have three wishes, what would
they be? Oh this is such a hard question to
answer. What I want for myself is: love, tons
of friends and many experiences (you’ll have
to ask to elaborate these answers at another
time).
And, if you want some other bits
about me. I moved to California about 20
years ago from Indiana. Moved straight to
Marin County and have been there ever
since. Other places I have lived: Missouri,
Nebraska, and Virginia. I’m the youngest of
3 boys. And, don’t forget to check out my
website: www.NidaCoach.com or my
podcast on Itunes. It’s called “Life Coaching
A Go Go” or do a search with my name.
 Meeting Minutes
In order to keep club members informed of the affairs of the club, the Board of Directors decided to publish
our meeting minutes. Comments may be directed to any board member. Members are always welcome to
attend board meetings.

Board Meeting -- November 20, 2006 The meeting adjourned early (at 7:25 p.m.) to deal with the scheduling
conflict at EVRC and the cancelled class.

Board members present: Brundage, Daniels, Dewsnap, King

Administrator Daryl Daniels called the meeting to order at 6:57 p.m. The Board Meeting -- December 11, 2006
minutes of the October Board meeting were approved.

The Administrator reported the following:

We received a grant of $604 from the Peterson Fund.

AA has asked us to swap places with them on
Wednesday evenings. We would reserve the right to
use the auditorium space on specific Wednesdays such
as the Christmas Party. It was suggested that an
informal agreement be drafted and signed by both
organizations.

Mark Nida has proposed that we create an alliance
with the Stompede organization for the purpose of
creating a square dancing event at/within the 2007
Stompede weekend (usually run in October). The
Board agreed to look into the alliance and Daniels will
ask Nida to serve as liaison.

The next Board meeting will be on Monday, December
11.
The Treasurer's report was accepted. We are in good financial shape
looking forward to the Anniversary events in March 2007.
With the Dance Coordinator, we discussed the booking of callers for 2008-
09. It was the consensus of the Board that we should utilize popular, well-
known callers who reside on the West Coast to avoid large transportation
expenses.
Board members present: Brundage, Casserly, Daniels, Dewsnap, King,
and Young.
Administrator Daniels called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.
It was decided to make a donation to EVRC twice a year. The first
donation will be a Safeway gift card.
The board decided not to swap spaces with AA on Wednesday evenings.
There was a discussion concerning options other than Yahoo Groups for
club communications. It was decided to keep using Yahoo Groups until we
find something better.
The Treasurer's report was accepted. We are in good financial shape.
The Anniversary/Events coordinator requested a 'modest' budget for
incidentals for the Anniversary celebration. He was given a $100 budget.
The Dance coordinator reported that callers for Club Nite have been set
for the first six months of 2007. He is working on callers for our 2008 Club
dances.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
 Capital City Squares Winter Dance—
Dance—Continuing the Silver Celebration Rick Boswell caller. 2:30-
February 3 5:30 pm A/C1* 7-10 pm Intro/MS/P Afternoon $7 Evening $8 Central United Methodist Church,
5265 “H” Street, Sacramento
February 10 Foggy City Dancers Valentine’s Dance Bill Eyler caller. Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 678 Portola
7-10 pm Drive, San Francisco
PACE,
PACE Ben Rubright caller. Friday 7:30 pm A2, Saturday 11 am & 2:30 pm C2, Sunday 11 am
February 16-18
C3A, 2:30 pm C3. Diablo Light Opera Co. 1948 Oak Park Boulevard, Pleasant Hill
February 21
7:30-9:30 pm
Club Night Neil Heather caller. EVRC
El Camino Reelers ¾ Through
Through Winter. St. Andrew’s Methodist Church, 4111 Alma Street, Palo
February 24
Alto
March 5
25th Anniversary Kickoff Celebration. EVRC
7:30-9:30 pm
PACE,
PACE Vic Ceder caller. Friday 7:30 pm A2, Saturday 11 am & 2:30 pm C2, Sunday 11 am C3A,
March 9-11
2:30 pm C3. Diablo Light Opera Co. 1948 Oak Park Boulevard, Pleasant Hill

March 10 Diablo Dancers Flip the Flowers

March 20
7:30-9:30 pm
Club La Star & Club Night Ron Masker, caller. EVRC
March 24 25th Anniversary Dance Eric Henerlau caller. Class/MS/P/A*
7:30-10:30 pm $8/$10 Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 678 Portola Drive, San Francisco
For the latest dance information, check www.bayareadancecalendar.org
National & International events can be found at www.iagsdc.com Click on Events
Western Star Dancers
584 Castro Street #480
San Francisco, CA 94114
In an emotional ceremony at the 25th Anniversary Dance on
March 24, Felix Fornino and Steve Scott were presented with
Lifetime Memberships, the highest honor WSD can bestow
onto a member. Felix earned his award with his relentless
drive that kept the club alive during the sparse times of the
1990s. Steve’s organizational and people skills and his
initiative helped the club become the vigorous active club we
are today.
Other lifetime members are Scott Carey, John Conley, Anna
Damiani, Russ King, and Freeman Stamper.
WSD recognize non-club members who made significant
contributions to the group by awarding Honorary
Memberships. Our Honorary Members are Peggy Shumway
and Bert & Rhonda Swerer.
Thanks to everyone who worked to make our anniversary celebrations
such a success. Russ King, Joe Casserly, Todd Young, Dan Smith, and
Tomás Todd performed incredibly in organizing and decorating for the
celebration. Russ’s connections and persistence provided us with a
huge turnout of WSD members old and new. It was an honor and a
privilege for me to represent your club as Administrator. At one point
in the evening, we had 12 squares dancing on the floor. Thank you for
your support, your enthusiasm, and your energy.
And so we stride confidently forward into the next 25 years.
Yellowrock,
Daryl Daniels
WSD Administrator
 TWO LEFT FEET
By Brenda Line

April Foolery DOWN MEMORY LANE

WSD during the administration of FELIX
WSD’S FAVORITE FELIX FORNINO
FENSTERMACHER aka Miss Camp Caz for All Time,
Sophie Whinestein
DAN SMITH Bucks & Does, Columbus, OH, 1977
INTERVIEWS WSD, Orange Class, 1990
MNS, dance level: A2
BRENDA LINE st
1 Convention, Miami 1991
Pictured: Medallion Dancer, Baltimore 2000
Dan Smith Current home: Manassas, VA
at age 25 WSD Service: Member at Large, 1993-94
Administrator; Newsletter Editor, 1997-2001
Dan Smith: Your name is?
Brenda Line: Brenda Line. In 1997, Western Star had very little money and few students.
Dan Smith: Parents? To make up for this shortfall, Felix contributed from his own
pocket for printing flyers, mailings and such. “Part of what I did
Brenda: 2.
during those years was concentrated our recruitment efforts at
Dan: Born where? the Folsom and Castro Street Fairs. We didn’t have enough
Brenda: I was born in a trunk—in the money for the flyers and the entrance fees for those events—
Princess Theater in Pocatello, Idaho. then I remembered the Petersen Fund. Through that, I managed
Dan: That sounds familiar. to get enough money to pay for the flyers, the entrance fees and
Brenda: I do a lot of channeling. the money for any equipment we needed. I also wrote the
Dan: Have you ever wrestled with Bob? contract for the Leather and Lace Dance requiring the caller to
Brenda: No, but I have given Tomás a call on Sunday at the Folsom Street Fair. During those years, it
soda straw thrill. looked as if I was getting nowhere. Many people told me that
Dan: You are very statuesque. maybe it was time to let it die. But I guess I was a little
Brenda: Nearly as tall as Caleb in heels. stubborn, and I persisted. I refused to let it die, and look where
Dan Smith: Are all the women in your we are now. I guess my proudest achievement would have to be
that Western Star is now celebrating its 25th Anniversary!”
family as glamourous as you?
Brenda Line: Oh, yes. My sister Dewa
was once one the cover of Crack
Whore Magazine. TRIBUTE
FRED—Our late friend
of fond memory.
LEFT—
No, not
Country/
Western.

See
interview
article
above.

CW ‘ZINE ABOVE—In 1982, Fred

$3 US
$27 CANADA accepted the Oscar on
behalf of Meryl Streep.
 By Virginia & Dan Smith
One night while visiting my Mother she drove me to the
queer square dance club, the Tucson T-Squares. She
wanted to see what gay square dancing was like. At the
dance she whispered into my ear, "That guy's making a
play for you." I told her I would let him down easy. We
chuckled on each other's shoulders. On the way home I
asked her if she'd ever square danced. She said she'd
danced in the 1930's in Thomas County which is in the
northwest corner of Kansas. I asked her to write a wee bit
about that. Below are her words.

My memories of Square Dancing

Saturday nights in the nineteen thirties, were a
big night out for my parents, Cecil and Ethel Littell. Dad
would take out his violin and lovingly rub the surface with a soft cloth and apply rosin to the bow. Mom
would dress in her best print dress and tie up oxfords, dust her face with talcum powder and put just a
dab of Vaseline on her lips.
They lived in Colby, but would travel to Levant, a very small town just to the north, where the
dance was held in the loft of a barn. People came from all around, seeing old friends only on these
nights. The men dressed in suits, shiny with age, string ties around white collars and work shoes shined
just for the occasion. Most of the women wore print dresses, but now and then there was a butterfly in
the crowd with a silk or chiffon gown. While it was a square dance basically, they waltzed, did the
foxtrot, and the two-step. However, there was no Charleston, which was too modern.
The barn was an actual working barn with bundles of hay and gear in corners. Just for the dance
they would place an assortment of chairs around, and put a layer of sand on the floor. It was supposed
to make the dancing easier. There were no refreshments as such, but the men would slip out now and
then to take a sip from a secret bottle of ‘bootleg whiskey’; Kansas was a dry state at that time.
I was around ten when they took me with them a few times. I don’t remember seeing any other
children my age, so I really don’t know why I was allowed to go. But, of course, I loved it. When Dad
stepped up on the stage and raised his violin (which became a ‘fiddle’) to his chin and begin to play, I was
so proud. There were other musicians, but I don’t recall what they played. My Grandfather, Charles,
taught music and had taught Dad how to play. He could play the ‘hoe-down’ type of music for a barn
dance, but at home he could really make the instrument wail enough to make you cry. Lucky man.
When the music began, people crowded the
floor. There were no wallflowers, every one danced.
I didn’t know any of the square dances, but they
included me any way. The caller, who could be
anyone of several men, chanted the moves and
everyone guided me around. My favorite was when
the men created a circle, lifted the women off the
ground and swung around and around.
As the depression gained ground and every
one was struggling just to stay alive, the barn dances
ceased. I think they were sorely missed by my
parents.
For ten year old me it was a bit of magic I will
always remember.

The Board of Directors meeting minutes are published In order to keep club members informed of the affairs of the club..
Oral or written comments may be directed to any board member. Members are welcome to attend board meetings.
Minutes of the Board
January 22, 2007
Board members present:
Casserly, Daniels, Dewsnap,
King, Young.
The meeting was called to order
at 6:45 p.m. by Administrator
Daryl Daniels.
The minutes of the December
meeting were approved.
Meeting Minutes
The Administrator reported Sunday, May 5th, to capitalize sympathy card has been sent to
that Mark Nida's proposal to on all the Cinco de Mayo foot former club secretary Tom
Sundance Stampede about a traffic. Ophardt whose mother was
possible co-event with Western The meeting was adjourned at killed recently in a car accident.
Star (see November '06 minutes) 7:20 p.m. So far, 29 folks have renewed
came to naught. He also Respectfully submitted, their club membership. Letters
reported that star shaped Jim Dewsnap, Secretary will be sent to those who have
dangles have been ordered for Minutes of the Board not renewed by February 28.
the 25th Anniversary Dance. February 21, 2007 March 5th (a class night) will be
The Treasurer's report was the actual 25th Anniversary of
Board members present:
accepted. One of our CD's will the club and to celebrate the
Brundage, Casserly, Daniels,
mature in early event a club photo will be taken
Dewsnap, King.
February and there was and a cake will be ordered.
The meeting was called to order
some discussion Plans for the 25th Anniversary
at 6:40 p.m. by Administrator
regarding how to re- Dance & Celebration are on
Daryl Daniels.
invest the money. track. Volunteers who are not
The minutes for the January
The Anniversary Dance attending the dinner are
meeting were approved.
coordinator reported needed for the decoration
The Administrator reported
that he was been in committee. A $1000 budget for
that printing fees are increasing
contact with more than the Dance & Celebration was
to $0.50 a page and
70 former Western Star approved.
recommended that annual club
members. The dance is The Treasurer's report was
dues be raised to $40. This
shaping up to be a real accepted.
raise will be voted on by the
family reunion. The next Board meeting will be
club members at the Annual
Casserly and Young March 12.
Meeting in September.
unveiled a model of The meeting was adjourned at
In other business, the Board
their plan for 7:15 p.m.
approved a $50 donation to the
decorations for the Respectfully submitted,
organ fund at
Anniversary Dance. Jim Dewsnap, Secretary
St. Agnes Church in memory of
The date for the Spring
Freddie Papapietro. Also, a
Yard Sale was set for
 PACE, Linda Kendall caller. Friday 7:30 pm A2, Saturday
April 13- 11 am & 2:30 pm C2, Sunday 11 am C3A, 2:30 pm C3.
15 Diablo Light Opera Co. 1948 Oak Park Boulevard, Pleasant
Hill
Foggy City Dancers Spring Dance. MS/Class Level
April 14
Plus/Plus/A* $8/$10 Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 678
7-10 pm
Portola Drive, San Francisco
April 18
7:30-9:30 C l u b N ig h t Ga r y Y o un g c al l e r . EVRC
pm
El Camino Reelers Walk & Dodge Into Spring. St. Andrews
April 21
Methodist Church, 4111 Alma Street, Palo Alto
Capital City Squares Stumptown Stomp—A 25th Anniversary
April 27-
Celebration. Anne Uebelacker & Mike Jacobs callers.
29
MS/Plus/A/C1* Veteran’s Hall, Guerneville
May 5 O l é ! C in c o de M a y o Y a r d S a l e Ha r t f or d S t r ee t
10 am-3 (near 18th Street)
Donate your stuff. Buy some wonderful things. Lend a
pm
hand.
PACE, Barry Clasper caller. Friday 7:30 pm A2, Saturday
11 am & 2:30 pm C1 7:30 pm C4, Sunday 11 am C3A, 2:30 pm
May 4-6
C3. Diablo Light Opera Co. 1948 Oak Park Boulevard,
Pleasant Hill
May 16
7:30-9:30 C l u b N ig h t Ro n M a s ke r c al l e r . EVRC
pm
May 21
2 0 0 7 R ed M a in s t r e a m C l a ss C o m p le t i o n
7:30-9:30
pm C e l e b r at i o n . EVRC
MMaayy 2255-- IIAAGGSSDDCC CCoonnvveennttiioonn RReedd RRoocckkss && PPuurrppllee MMoouunnttaaiinnss..
2277 MMSS--CC44.. DDeennvveerr,, CCOO
W S D A n ge l I sl a n d P ic n i c – J u l y 4 , 2 00 7 Y o u d o n ’t w a n t
to miss it!
For the latest dance information, check www.bayareadancecalendar.org
National & International events can be found at www.iagsdc.com Click on
Events
Western Star Dancers
584 Castro Street #480
San Francisco, CA 94114
 Celebrating
25 Years of
Western Star Dancers

SEED ME—A Crossfire Reunion

FIRST CLASS MALE Michael had not yet been born when the first Western Star
We Get Letters
dancers took to the floor to trip The Light Fantastic. It was
necessary for us to appeal to the kindly (and now quite elderly)
Dear Brenda Line,
I LOVE the old photos and racy Dr. Stanley Seed to provide us with an image of Michael from
interviews of our members in those halcyon days.
the WSD Newsletter! Michael (left)
Bravo! Reading the and Dr. Seed
newsletter was finally met a
like picking up a quarter century
vintage copy of after their first
encounter.
Honcho and recog-
nizing the guys “I loved all my
in the centerfolds.
wards,” Dr.
— Paul Gonyea
Seed explained.
. “Even those evil
Gentle Dancer~
It warms my heart to read your
twins. But
thoughtful note. I have searched among Michael was
the archive issues of Honcho, but did not always my
discover any centerfolds that looked like favorite. I still
you; however, I did come across another call him My
old magazine from 1982 with you on the Little Tadpole.”
cover.
~B.L. AT RIGHT—
Michael (showing Construction
a lot of potential)
photographed in
Worker Steve
From the private files of Dr. Seed. Wallet-size
the early ‘80s. prints and enlargements are no longer available.

TONY TIME
When June is bustin’ out, some people
think of weddings, school graduations,
Daddy’s Day, or parades. Then there
are those who get excited because the
start of June means that it is Tony
time!
The Tony Award for The Best Un-Produced Off-Off-Way-
Off-Broadway Show should go to “Voices on the Floor”
by Dan Smith. Inspired casting included a pair of talking
floorboards. Although the performances of Board1 and
Board2 may have been considered wooden, audiences
certainly would have related to a pivotal scene where one
of the boards delivers the line: Oh, feel Ammon jumping in
the air. He comes back down, alighting on us like a kiss to
AT LEFT—Aspiring
the lips.
playwright Dan
Smith had drafted a
play for Club LaStar. Disclaimers, Corrections and Acknowledgements
See Although the “Tony Time” article above is 100% true, Dan Smith did not
TONY TIME article. actually conduct or write the interview with Brenda Line in the April issue.
The April Foolery article depicted Steve Scott as “Dewa Line.” Steve is not
now, nor has he ever been, a crack whore; however, he does like to dress up
as Carmen Miranda. “Dr. Seed” is based on a character created by Russ King
for Crossfire. Idea for Pre-Michael image was “conceived” by Daniel
Schweitzer.
 interview by dan smith
D: What's you're name?
M: Michael Sui [pronounced
“Sue”]. I was born in Silver
Springs, a suburb of D.C. That's
where my Mom grew up. I have
one brother, two years younger. I
was the first born on the Chinese
side of the family. My Dad's
Chinese and Mother is like
German-English. Our
Grandfather gave us Chinese
names, mine is Wei Gong, which
means bright.
D: Who was your first gay
“friend?”
M: . I remember as early as
kindergarten making a good
friend. I still don't know if he's
gay or straight, BUT,
BUT I do know
as kids we really bonded. We
both had SHE-RA Dolls but could
always tell them apart because he
had cut and colored his doll's
hair. (Michael laughs) I didn't
think anything about it at the
time but now I think, "Umm."
That was a good friendship, just
kind of Kinder from the
beginning.
D: Are there any interesting
stories about high school?
M: Freshman year I had a really
good English teacher and got
into writing. She took me under
her wing and encouraged me. It
was the first time I used a
computer to do design. We had a
really old one that was like DOS.
I used it to design the title page
of my autobiography. That's
when I got into Design which was
what I went to college for,
Graphic Design.
D: Where did you go to college?
I choose Saint Mary's because it
was far away from
home. The campus
was secluded, right on
the river. I learned to
sail and I joined the
crew team. I had never
done athletics but
when college came I
decided I could
reinvent myself and do
things that I really
wanted to do like
sports. So I joined the
Tartans and had
straight guy friends,
like for the first time. It
was that kind of
comradery; we even
shot a calendar of the
team. I loved that time
because I lived by
myself. I'd wake up at
4:30, drive to campus,
go out on the river for practice
and then the team would eat
breakfast together.
My house was by the water.
Sometimes, before sunset, I'd
take a kayak out, scoop crabs off
the fish traps, come home, steam
them for dinner and eat on the
dock. It felt kind of like a Walden
Pond, a Thoreau…in the country
by myself…lots of
solitude…and then
having these friends.
kind of like an
incubation time for me.
One of my best
friends from high
school went to
Carnegie Mellon. She
was studying Graphic
Design, which they
call Communication
Design now that you
have Internet, web
sites, Multi-Media…I
saw what she was
doing and I thought,
"Oh my God that is
what I want to do. I'm
in love with that." So I
transferred to
Carnegie Mellon and
got a BFA in
Communication
Design in May of
2006. Now I work
For Pottery Barn in
the Visual
"Oh, it's gay, you dress up. Isn't
Merchandising Department.
this fun, a very spirited group?"
D: How did you happen to come
Everybody was so warm and
to WSD?
friendly and it was just such a
M: I'm Daniel and Jeff's
nice time. It reminded me of the
roommate and Daniel said to me,
dance classes with my Mom, like
"We're starting our Mainstream
the Community Center thing, you
class come check it out." I said,
know? I'm sold on the dancing
"OK. When I was in elementary
thing.
school Mom and me took
D: Tell me about another square
Country Line Dancing. Everybody
dancing experience.
in the class was retired and in
M: I loved going out of town to
their 60's and then there was 10
see Crossfire because I got to
year old me. I picked it up and
take a little road trip with Daniel,
danced well.
Grey, Gary and Ammon. Then
D: So you weren’t totally
going into that house and seeing
unprepared for square dancing?
people that I recognized from
M: No. Also Mon, Dad, little
square dancing and then seeing
brother and I took a dance class
people that I completely didn't
and learned the kind of dances
recognize. I realized there's this
that everybody knows; but you
huge network of people, this
don't actually know them,
community that have been doing
somebody has to teach them to
this together since 83. It just felt
you. Mr. Kim taught the Hustle,
like Pride tapped into this whole
Disco…the Electric Slide and line
community. It put the club into
dances. I remember learning
context, the people into context
Achy Breaky Heart.
and I felt like it put my own self
D: OK, Daniel brought you to
into a context. It's a community
class. Tell me about the first night?
that keeps going on and on and
M: The first class I came to was
there are still people who have
during Halloween. People were
been there from the beginning
dressed up in Sumo outfits and
and there are new people and
Steve Scott was wearing a
some people appear in
country kind of frilly Fresca dress.
photographs and they're not
I thought, "This is FANTASTIC.
there anymore. But it felt really
This is so cool." I thought every
cool to be part of something.
week was going to be like that.
D: Thank you Michael. Is there
Luckily I didn't have a costume or
anything else you'd like to say?
I'd probably have worn it the
M: I'm excided for Plus.
next week. (Michael laughs) That
would have been awkward. I was,
 Meeting Minutes
The Board of Directors meeting minutes are published In order to keep club members informed of the affairs of the club.. Oral or
written comments may be directed to any board member. Members are welcome to attend board meetings.

March 12, 2007

Board members present: Brundage, Casserly, Daniels, Dewsnap, King. The meeting was called to order at 6:40 p.m. by
Administrator Daryl Daniels. The minutes of the February meeting were approved.
Regarding our 25th Anniversary Class Night Birthday Bash (March 5th), the Administrator stated: "Well done with the Birthday
Bash. The decorations were festive, the panels were most impressive, the cake was well selected. All of your efforts are appreciated."
Russ King submitted a complete Anniversary Week schedule, and reported that all preparations for the 25th Anniversary week celebrations
are on track.
The Treasurers report was accepted. The next Board meeting will be April 16. The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Dewsnap, Secretary
April 16, 2007
Members present: Brundage, Daniels, Dewsnap, King, Young. Administrator Daniels called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m. The
minutes of the March Board meeting were approved.
The Administrator praised the 'fantastic' anniversary celebration: "Bravo to all involved. It exceeded expectations!" Daniels
reported that he has met with the director of EVRC about conflicts and scheduling problems. Our lockers have been moved to a locked
room near the auditorium (from backstage). Various summer activities were discussed: picnics at Angel Island or Mt. Tamalpais and a
dancing tour of The City.
Daniels put out a call for storage space for club memorabilia. Both he and Russ King are storing things now but a good, more
permanent space with easy access is needed.
The Treasurer's report of was accepted. Payment to callers was discussed. In the future, we will pay $250 or half the proceeds
'up to $450.'
The next Board meeting will be May 14. The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Jim Dewsnap, Secretary
 PACE Clark Baker caller. Friday 7:30 pm A2, Saturday 11 am & 2:30 pm C2 7:30 C4, Sunday 11 am C3A, 2:30 pm C3. Diablo Light
June 8-10
Opera Co. 1948 Oak Park Boulevard, Pleasant Hill
June 9 Diablo Dancers15th
Dancers Anniversary Dance. Gina Darcy caller. MS/P/A $8/$10 Jewish Community Center, 2071 Tice Valley Boulevard,
7:30-10:30 pm Walnut Creek
June 17 Midnight Squares Press Right Into Summer. C.J. Smith & Rob French callers. A2-C2/C3A* $8/$10 Studio 204, 3425 Cesar Chavez, San
3-6 pm Francisco
June 20
7:30-9:30 pm
CLUB NIGHT Fen Tamanaha caller. EVRC
June 23
7:30-10:30 pm
Pride Dance – Bill Eyler caller. MS/P/A* $8/$10 Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 678 Portola Drive, San Francisco
July 4
9:20 am-4 or 5 pm
ANGEL ISLAND PICNIC Meet at The Ferry Building, in the back, by Gandhi. See next page for details.
July 18
7:30-9:30 pm
CLUB NIGHT Gary Young caller. EVRC
PACE,
PACE Betsy Gotta caller. Friday 7:30 pm A2, Saturday 11 am & 2:30 pm C1, Sunday 11 am C3A, 2:30 pm C3. Diablo Light Opera Co.
July 13-15
1948 Oak Park Boulevard, Pleasant Hill
F o r t h e l a t e s t d a n c e i n f o r m a t i o n , c h e c k w w w . b a y a re a d a n c e c a l e n d a r . o r g
National & International events can be found at www.iagsdc.com Click on Events
August 18—Circulate San Francisco
A different kind of Square Dance Adventure Watch f or Details
Western Star Dancers
584 Castro Street #480
San Francisco, CA 94114
Western Star Dancers, like most
square dance clubs, is a non-profit,
member-run organization. It’s that time of
year, when we get ready to elect a new
Board of Directors. The Board is a group of
members who’ve decided to take their turn
helping us all enjoy square dancing for
another year, and it wouldn’t happen
without them. The Board doesn’t do
everything, but it has responsibility for
making sure it gets all done, everything
from setting up before class to hiring our
callers, scheduling events, booking the
dance spaces, you name it.
Some may see serving on the
Board as an obligation. Some see it as a
duty. Some find it challenging and
empowering. Some may see it as a way to
express their creativity. Some may do it as
a community service. There are so many
reasons for being on the Board, and not all
of them are burdensome.
The Board consists of at least five
and up to seven members; every Club
member is eligible to run. Years of
experience are not a requirement; in fact,
we like include fresh perspectives, and we
especially encourage newer members who
have a little extra time and enthusiasm to
throw their hats in the ring. This time,
we’re looking for at least four to six
members willing to give it a try;
nominations are now open, and will close
in mid-August.
Three members of the current
Board—Administrator Daryl Daniels,
Treasurer Bob Brundage and Secretary Jim
Dewsnap—will be running for re-election, so
the new members will have plenty of
guidance and support (and positions will be
decided by the new board). And although
stepping down, Todd Young and Joe
Casserly will continue to help out with
decorations, and Joe will stay on as
Webmaster. So, you may ask, if I run for
the Board, what exactly would I be getting
myself into?
Probably the most important
consideration is if you will be able to attend
Western Star Dancers activities with
regularity throughout the coming year or
two. Someone from the Board needs to be
at EVRC before class starts to help open up,
and someone needs to get everything put
away at the end; ditto for Club Nights. This
responsibility rotates among the Board, and
you should be there often enough to do
your fair share. From time to time, the
Board needs to make immediate decisions
regarding some problems on the floor, or
with scheduling that cannot wait until the
next Board meeting, so regular attendance
is important. While you’re on the Board,
you should be here frequently enough to
form your own independent opinion about
whatever issues come up for discussion.
Nuts and bolts issues will come up too—
when there’s a Club activity, the Board
needs to figure out who will be in charge,
how much help will be needed, who might
be interested in volunteering, etc. We have
a smooth running organization, so new
board members will not be expected to
reinvent any wheels. Board meetings are
held once a month, on whatever day and
time works best for everyone. Pizza is
usually served.
This year, we’ve revived our
tradition of a formal Election Committee; it
consists of former WSD Board Member and
Administrator Steve Scott, outgoing Board
Member Joe Casserly, and Russ King. Any
of them, or Daryl, Bob, or Jim will be glad to
answer whatever additional questions you
might have. You can nominate yourself or
a friend, but please don’t nominate anyone
else without first getting their consent.
Thanks!
 Celebrating
25 Years of
Western Star Dancers

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
THE RED AND THE GOLD Merle & Jed Celebrate 50-Year Relationship
Red Rocks, Red Grads, The first day of July marked a half-century milestone for
Golden Anniversary Western Star member and benefactor Merle and his partner
Jed. The an-
It has been a busy season with Red niversary date
Rocks in Denver, yellow rocks for the was acknow-
Red Class graduates, the WSD Silver ledged by a
Anniversary, and a golden moment for presentation
a special WSD member. The Red from State
Class was Assemblyman
represented at Mark Leno.
the PICTURED--
convention by Merle, The
Caleb Dupree du Honorable Mr.
du Coeur and by Leno, Jed.
.
Steve Hug- Merle & Jed
gins (photo at Day included
left).
a photo slide
inns
show at The Cove, and 1957 music to set the 50-year tone
for drink specials at The Edge (featuring “Bloody Merles”).
WELCOME
In addition to WSD
graduates from the Construction
Red Mainstream Worker Steve
RED Class, the Plus Class
SPIRIT includes Rob (left)
from FCD, and Jamie
Babushka-headed trend-setter Donald (right) from ECR, who are refreshing their dancing
exemplifies the spirit that the Red Class skills. Both are welcome additions to our squares.
has infused into the WSD community.

HALF-SASHAYED by Natty Box “Dive-Through” Featuring Michael, Steve, Marilynn, and Ammon
an interview by dan smith
D: So, what's your name?
M: Officially it's Miriam Muller but I've been Mimi for years.
D: Mimi where were you born?
M: In New York and I grew up in Queens. My Father was an Orthopedist. Mother
started off as a school teacher and then worked in women's school organizations.
I remember that when the family got together an aunt would sit at the piano and
we would sing, dance and very often do a few squares. There was enough space
for a conservative square. It was before the days of coffee tables so the middle
was open. This is old style square dancing.
There was always square and folk dancing in the summer camps I went to in
the late 40's. Once when I was twelve or thirteen our camp went into town which
had square dancing; that was during a big Folk revival. It was interesting
because we were used to Allemande-Left being turn by the left hand but as far
as they were concerned Allemande-Left meant turn by the left hand turn your
partner by the right, turn your corner by the left and then you did whatever;
that was Allemande-Left. I also remember one summer evening at Jones Beach,
Burl Ives of all people was calling.
D: Can you tell me about Old Style square dancing?
M: It was more like singing calls then Caller Lab. Some common calls were
Circle Four Half Way, Dip and Dive Across, Swing and Allemande Left. The caller
would usually call the same set of calls to each of the couples who would then,
in turn, lead.
D: Did you do any dancing after growing out of camp?
M: Towards the end of my high school years and the first years of collage (early
50's) there was folk dancing in Manhattan at the Ethical Cultural Society on
Saturday mornings and I used to go to that. After dancing we'd go to
somebody's place to sing and folk dance and often even square dance. Since
we were experienced dancers by that time we were getting a little bit bored
doing the standards all the time. So, some of the people who were familiar with
a lot of the dances began varying the calls. We began to add styling to calls like
Grand Right and Left. People began playing with turning the lady under with
each Right.
It's interesting that when Russ talked me into Western Star the first time and I saw a lot of the styling it seemed like a continuation of
what groups like ours were inventing. It just seemed like such a logical extension of, "OK, we really know square dancing. It's time to start
playing with it. It's time to make it possible for the caller to challenge the dancers more."
D: Have you been dancing ever since that or was there a long time when you didn't dance?
M: When I moved out here I was busy and it took me quite a few years to find any dancing. There weren’t
listings. This was before the internet. I finally saw a notice for the Macedonian-Armenian Society and started
going, I brought the kids along; it was a family sort of thing. From there I began to hear about other folk
dance groups and did some of that for a while. I took an introductory Israeli folk dance class at Noe Valley
Ministry. One day in ‘86 or ‘87 I saw a notice for Scottish Country Dancing, and I got hooked. Russ King and
his friend were in the class and said, "Look it's our 25th Anniversary and we're offering half price to people
who come back for review and I said, "You're on."
D: Tell me an experience you had while square dancing.
M: We were with Western Star the first time it went to the Golden State Roundup. I think I had fewer crinolines
then anybody else in the room. I like skirts. You know when I started square dancing women wore skirts. You
didn't have the stiff crinolines so you used your hips to make your skirt move. One of these days I'll wear a
skirt and see if I can still do any of that. I remember the first time they had an introduction to contra dancing. You could spot the square
dancers, cold, because they were trying to be right on the lines and finish one figure before going into the next one. They were trying to be
very, very precise and contra dancing is not. You get roughly where you need to be and then you blend into the next figure.
At another Roundup I was very impressed by Western Star. The minute a caller called something unconventional we were the ones who
could handle it, traditional groups tended to fall apart, especially if it was an unusual gender or orientation thing.
One year for the first time the State Square Dance Association agreed to let the gay groups come to their state wide dance weekend. One
of the reasons that we went was because since we hadn't been allowed to go we thought we aught to show up. They are vary much
into…stick with your own gender, so much to that…and this was years ago but still…the women who were dancing as men had a big sign
that said 'Male' on their hats.
D: Any last thoughts?
M: . When I first took the class years ago there was a social for the new class. It was nice to get a chance to talk to people.
D: Russ has been talking about reviving that tradition. Thank you, Mimi.
M: You're welcome.
 Meeting
Minutes
The Board of Directors meeting
minutes are published In order to
keep club members informed of
the affairs of the club.. Oral or
written comments may be
directed to any board member.
Members are welcome to attend
board meetings.

May 14, 2007

All Board members were present.
Administrator Daryl Daniels called
the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m.
The minutes of the April Board
meeting were approved.

The Administrator gave a 'thank

you' for those who worked the
yard sale and reported that we had
taken in $191. He added that next
year we need to try to get more
club members, especially new club
members, involved in the sale.
Plans were finalized for the Red
Mainstream Class Completion
Party on May 21. Plans were
announced for the Angel Island
picnic (July 4), Circulate San
Francisco (August. 18), and the
annual pool party at Kip Mackey's
(September 1). We are still
looking for storage space for club
memorabilia. (Dan Smith is to
check with the SF Gay Historical
Society.)

The Treasurer's report was

accepted. Brundage will get
another CD with some of the
money we have in our checking
account.
The Dance Coordinator announced that he
has lined up callers for the 2008 Pride
Dance (Darren Gallina) and Leather & Lace
(Eric Henerlau). The future of Club Night
was discussed. No decision was reached.
King will continue to use 'sign up' sheets to
determine whether to hold Club Night on a
month by month basis. Ways to get more
members involved in Club activities were
discussed. We also want club members to
consider running for next year's Board.
The next Board meeting will be June 11 at
6:30 p.m.
June 11, 2007
Administrator Daniels called the meeting to
order at 6:33 p.m. with all Board members
present. Minutes of the May meeting were
approved. Pride Dance preparations were
firmed up and Angel Island reservations are
coming in. Drivers are needed for
Circulate San Francisco on August 18.
Russ King suggested that we set up an
election committee to seek out members
who would be willing to serve on the Board.
Russ was named head of the committee.
November Club Night, since it is so close
to Thanksgiving, will morph into an Orange
Class Welcome Potluck on a date yet to be
determined.
Class pricing was discussed. The issue was
tabled until the July Board meeting. Daniels
asked the Board to review the WSD Policy
Statements which haven't been revised
since 1991.
The treasurer's report was accepted. In
other business, the Castro Street Fair and
our application to the Peterson Fund were
discussed. The meeting was adjourned at
7:20 p.m. after scheduling the next Board
meeting for July 16.
August 4
August 10-12
August 11 5-9 pm
August 11 7:30-10-30 pm
August 15 7:30-9:30 pm
August 18
August 18 3-7 pm
September 1 1-8 pm
September 8 7-10 pm
September 14-16
September 15 7:30-10:30 pm
September 18 7:30-9:30 pm
September 22 7:30-11:30 pm
September 29 7:30-10:30 pm
Drive, San Francisco
F o r t h e l a t e s t d a n c e i n f o r m a t i o n , c h e c k w w w . b a y a re a d a n c e c a l e n d a r . o r g
National & International events can be found at www.iagsdc.com Click on Events
El Camino Reel ers Star Across Summer Details TBA. St. Andrews Methodist Church, 4111 Alma Street, Palo Alto
PACE Sandra Bryant caller. Friday 7:30 p m A2, S aturday 11 am & 2:30 pm C3, Sunday 11 am C2, 2:30 pm
C2. Diablo Light Opera Co. 1948 Oak Park Boulevard, Pleasant H ill
Crossfire: The Next Generation Release Party & SF Premier Rich Reel caller. 3505 19th Street,
Apartment 105, San Francisco
Midnight Squares Mid-Summer Madness Sandra Bryant caller. A2-C3, C3A* $8/$10 Ebenezer Lutheran
Church, 678 Portol a Drive, San Francisco
Club Night Neil Heather caller. EVRC
Circulate San Francisco Rich Reel caller. Meet at the Palace of Fine Arts at 10 am
Oaktown 8s Picnic & Promenade Local call ers MS/P/A $8/$10 Picnic Potluck Skyline Co mmunity Church,
12540 Skyline Boulev ard, Oakland.
Kip Mackey’s Pool Party. Potluck. RSVP: kipmackey@aol.com or 415.479.4759
Foggy Cit y Dancers Harvest Dance Andy S hore cal ler. MS/P/A* $8/$10 Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 678
Portola Drive, San Francisco
PACE Anne Uebelacker caller. Friday 7:30 pm A2, Sat urday 11 am & 2:30 pm C1 7:30 C4, Sund ay 11 am
C3A, 2:30 p m C3. Diablo Light Opera Co. 1948 Oak Park Boulevard, Pleasant Hill
Diablo Dancers Spin Chain & Exchange the Seasons Anne Uebelacker caller. MS /P/A $8/$10 Jewis h
Community Cent er, 2071 Tice Valley Boulevard, Walnut Creek
Club Night and Annual Membership Meeting Ron Masker caller. EVRC
Stanford Quads Challenging Plus Hoedown Jo hn Syblansky caller. APD Plus /A*/C* St. Andrews
Methodist Church, 4111 Alma Street, Palo Alto
Leather & Lace Michael Kellogg caller. MS/P/A* $8/$10 Ebenezer Lutheran Chruch, 678 Portola
Western Star Dancers
584 Castro Street #480
San Francisco, CA 94132

A superabundance of
Western Star Dancers photos online:
www.flickr.com/photos/daryldaniels
The Orange Mainstream Class of 2008 is squaring
up for an exciting year of instruction, dancing, and good
times.
One of our primary recruitment events is Sunday,
October 7, at the Castro Street Fair. Again this year,
our booth will be at the corner of 18th Street and
Hartford. Rich Reel will be calling several tips
throughout the afternoon. Come and join the fun, as
you support the club.
Thanks to the efforts of Grey Todd, we will host
our first Free Intro Night on Columbus Day, October 8
at Magnet (4211-18th Street between the parking lot
behind Walgreen’s and the shoe store) from 7:30-9:30
pm. Due to the holiday, Eureka Valley Rec Center is
dark, so Grey’s help permits us to have our first night in
a very public location.
Our second Free Intro Night will be back at
EVRC on Monday, October 15 from 7:30-9:30 pm. The
official start date for the Orange Class is October 22.
Rich Reel is again our caller/instructor this year, an
auspicious omen of good time ahead.
This year we are reviving the new students’
welcoming potluck. It will be held on Monday,
November 12, Veteran’s Day (another day EVRC is dark)
at Miriam Meuller’s home (321 Elsie Street). See
elsewhere in this issue for details. There will be no Club
Night in November because it would fall on the evening
before Thanksgiving, not a good time to attract a square
of dancers.
Angels will be needed to assist the new dancers.
If more than four squares of dancers show up, we will
have to get creative in making space in EVRC. That
would be a good problem to have!
 Celebrating
25 Years of
Western Star Dancers

ADVERTISEMENT
Ringing in the Orange Year
Red Year fondly remembered Scientific Breakthrough!
for spirited class and WSD Dr. Seed’s Secret Tonsorial Formula
Silver Anniversary
Easing into autumn, we prepare to Have you ever wished that you could have Michael Hair?
welcome the new Mainstream class as With Dr. Stanley Seed’s patented formula, you too can
we proudly watch the Plus Class have Michael Hair.
graduates transition into Angels.
Theirs was a special year full of festive CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENTS
events as WSD celebrated the Silver Tips from Eloise
Anniversary. With Michael Hair, you can get into
any twink bar or underground dance
To chronicle this unique era and those club. No waiting in lines, no snide
enthusiastic personalities that made it remarks from burly bouncers.
exciting, an electronic yearbook was
.
commissioned to cover all of the
events with an abundance of
photographs and video clips. At no
cost to the club, donations were made
by the Brenda Line Foundation so that
every Plus graduate would receive the
souvenir yearbook as a free gift and
memento of the anniversary year. Bouffant Bob Construction
With Michael Hair, anyone can Worker Steve
A special thank you to those who know the joyous sound of
worked on the yearbook: Editor Gary, Todd’s soap bubbles as they pop
and helpers Russ and Kathy. atop the pointy mane.

Michael Hair in a Bottle can change your life!

“There’s Something about Michael!”
Angel in the Vanguard
On August 21, Dani became the first of HALF-SASHAYED by Natty Box Featuring Rich and Tony
the first-time graduates from the Red
Class to spread her angel wings and
increase her floor time by helping out new
dancers at local clubs.

Dubious Achievement Award

Steve was invested into The Order of the
Two Left Feet, an annual recognition given
to that person who best exemplifies the
spirit of the left footprints. .
 by dan smith
D: What are your names? crying even though they were waiting in this line for 3 and 4 hours.
S: Susan Grieger. I was born in Detroit Michigan. I've never seen so many happy children.
C: I'm Carol Cook and I was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. C: It amazing how the kids were all so serene given how many of
D: Tell me about your early lives. them there were and how long they were waiting. That was really
S: Dad was in the arm Forces so we moved around a lot. I went to exciting. Then on the way home we saw a double rainbow.
three different kindergartens. My high school graduation was held S: That ceremony was followed on June 19th by a ceremony at our
in Heidelberg Castle and I started collage at The American Collage church with a hundred of our friends and relatives. My three sons
in Paris which is now The American University in Paris. Living in and their girlfriends were there. And unbeknownst to me, my sister
Paris as a young woman was wonderful. I transferred to the had her cell phone going throughout the service so that my Mother
University of Michigan after returning home. in Michigan, who was unable to come, was able to listen to it.
C: My parents were born in Pennsylvania. Her family were Sicilian, D: Tell me about your first experience with Western Star.
his German and English. I went to the same school through high S: That was on the Monday after Western Star's 25th Anniversary.
school. It is an agricultural area so a lot of kids drop out before We're sorry we missed that but you gave us star dangles anyway. We
graduation. I didn't feel at home in school until I got
to Millersville State Collage. I went to Graduate School
in Madison Wisconsin and have a double major in
German and Russian. A gay friend, Tom, and I were
really involved in folk dancing the whole time we were
in collage.
D: So after collage what happened to you?
S: After collage I married a Turkish man who was
abusive and I endured 25 years of marriage with him
but I had three wonderful sons from the marriage so I
don't regret that. There names are Deniz, Zeki and Nafi.
Zeki has an 11 year old son and he and his wife are
expecting another son in January; my first two
grandchildren.
C: I came to California 30 years ago and got married.
My husband and I were active in the Sierra Club and
we did folk dancing at Sierra Singles in Palo Alto. We
also went English Country Dancing. He has since died.
D: Tell us how your relationship developed.
S: We're Librarians in fact that's how we met back in 87.
C: I hired her to work for me. In collage most of my
friends were gay men. I really felt at home with them
but it hadn't occurred to me that I might also enjoy being lesbian wear them on our badges and get a lot of questions from people,
and being with gay women. When I finally came out to myself at 45 "Oh, what did you get the dangles for?"
I wondered, "Who should I tell first; this friend or that?" I picked D: For a dance we didn't go to. (Both women laugh)
Susan. C: Western Star is a very warm and friendly place. We didn't feel like
S: She told me just as I was deciding to file for divorce. I said, "Well a stranger even though we were strangers. We weren't even members
I'm really glad you told me this but that isn't the way I feel, I hope the first few months we came.
we can still be friends." S: One nice thing was it was really great to know the faces before
C: I said, "Of course we can, but if you ever change your mind be we went to the convention in Denver. We saw Crossfire there. We
sure to let me know first." thought, "Well we've met those people."
S: She recruited me! I called her the next day. C: We went to the Crossfire party here and have a Crossfire DVD set.
D: And how long have you been together? We showed it to a tenant, a young gay man, and he just loved it He
S: It was 14 years ago at the beginning of gay pride month. So said that it just looked like those were really great people. There are
that's one of our Anniversaries. just so many square dancing opportunities here. We have both El
C: Another Anniversary was on February 13 when we got married. Cameo Reelers and Western Star. Rich is our caller in both clubs.
That morning the radio said that people were lined up at City hall. I He's just such a great person and so is his partner, Tony.
said, "Susan they're still getting married. Do you want to get S: Looking back at our lives before we came out to ourselves; it was
married?" kind of sheltered and narrow and boring compared to the way it is
S: We took BART and got in the city about noon. The energy was now.
just wonderful. Everybody was so helpful and there were a lot of C: The gay life is much gayer. They don't call it gay for nothing.
children around including toddlers and babies and nobody was D: Thank you very very much.
S:C: Well thank you very much.
Meeting Minutes
The Board of Di recto rs meeti ng minut es are p ublis hed In o rder to keep club memb ers i nformed of t he affai rs of t he club.. O ral or w ritten
comments may be di rected to any board memb er. Members are welcome to attend board meeting s.
July 16, 2007
The meeting was called to order at 6:32 p.m. by
Administrator Daryl Daniels with all Board members
present. Daniels praised the club for the success of both
the Pride Dance and the Angel Island picnic and discussed
plans for the upcoming Circulate San Francisco (August 18).
We have tentative permission to use Magnet for our
Mainstream Class 'free intro night' on October 18
(Columbus Day) since EVRC will be closed.
October Club Night (because of a conflict with the
auditorium at EVRC) is still up in the air. Class pricing
was discussed. Mainstream class will remain $100 ($50 for
re-takers) and Plus class will be $70 ($35 for re-takers).
Daniels reported that representatives of Foggy City Dancers
and Midnight Squares have spoken to him about the
possibility of San Francisco submitting a bid for the 2013
IAGSDC Convention. It will be on the agenda for the
General Meeting in September.
The theme for the Leather and Lace dance will be Pirates
and Sailors. A potluck for new members has been
tentatively scheduled for Nov. 12 (in lieu of November Club
Night which falls on the night before Thanksgiving).
We have applied to the Petersen Fund again this year to
help defray expenses for our booth at the Castro Street Fair.
The Treasurers report was accepted. The meeting was
adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
August 13, 2007
The meeting was called to order by Administrator Daryl
Daniels at 6:42 p.m. with all members present. The minutes
of the July meeting were approved. Final plans for
Circulate San Francisco (8/28) were discussed.
Daniels reported that he will post an agenda for the
September Membership Meeting prior to the event so that
members have a chance to consider the two issues that will
be brought before them: (1) shall annual membership fees
be raised from $36 to $40, and (2) shall WSD participate in
the planning for submitting a bid for the 2013 IAGSDC
convention in San Francisco.
Plans for the Leather & Lace dance with a Pirates & Sailors
theme were discussed. Also discussed was the Castro
Street Fair booth and Orange Class recruiting. The
Treasurers report was accepted.
The Events Coordinator reported that the New Members
Pot Luck will be held at Miriam Mueller's home on
November 12 since the EVRC will be closed for Veterans
Day. The next Board meeting is scheduled for September 17.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:16 p.m.

October 5-7
October 7
October 8 7:30-9:30 PM
October 15 7:30-9:30 PM
October 17 7:30-9:30 PM
October 22 7:30-9:30 PM
October 27 7-10 PM
November 3 7-10 PM
November 9-11
November 12 7:00-9:30 PM
November 10
November 17
December 1
F o r t h e l a t e s t d a n c e i n f o r m a t i o n , c h e c k w w w . b a y a re a d a n c e c a l e n d a r . o r g
National & International events can be found at www.iagsdc.com Click on Events
PACE Ross Howell caller. Friday 7:30 pm A2, Saturday 11 am & 2:30 pm C2, 7:30 pm C4, Sunday 11 am C3A, 2:30 pm C3. Diablo Light Opera Co. 1948
Oak Park Boulevard, Pleasant Hill
Castro Street Fair – Join us at our booth at 18th Street & Hartford. Rich Reel calling
Orange Mainstream Free Intro Night at Magnet, 4211 18th Street. Bring your friends
Orange Mainstream Free Intro Night at EVRC
Club Night: Paul’s Dance Experience. EVRC
Official Orange Mainstream Class Start EVRC
Oaktown 8’s Pass the Pumpkin MS/P/A* $8/$10 Redwood Heights Elementary School, 4401 39th Avenue, Oakland
Foggy City Dancers 24th Anniversary Dance Mike DeSisto caller. MS/P/A* $8/$10 Location TBA
PACE Ett McAtee caller. Friday 7:30 pm A2, Saturday 11 am & 2:30 pm C1, 7:30 pm C4 Sunday 11 am C3A, 2:30 pm C3. Diablo Light Opera Co. 1948
Oak Park Boulevard, Pleasant Hill
Potluck Welcoming the new Orange Class. Mimi Meuller’s, 321 Elsie Street Members bring food. (in lieu of November Club Night)
El Camino Reelers Trade by Fall St. Andrew’s Methodist Church, 4111 Alma Street, Palo Alto
Prime 8’s & Capital City Squares Capital City Squares 26th Anniversary Dance Mike Kellogg caller. 2:30 5:30 pm A/C* 7-10 pm MS/P/New Afternoon $7
Evening $8 Central United Methodist Church, 5265 “H” Street, Sacramento
Diablo Dancers Relay the Reindeer Dave Mee caller. MS/P/A $8/$10 Jewish Community Center, 2071 Tice Valley Boulevard, Walnut Creek
Western Star Dancers
584 Castro Street #480
San Francisco, CA 94114

Movies! Photos! Calendar!

Everything you will ever need to know!
www.westernstardancers.org
 See an important notice about The Western
Western Star delivery in on Page 6
WSD By-
By-Laws and Policy Statements are now online: www.westernstardancers.org
 EYE ON THE PRIZE
For our end-of-year contest, you need to build a
composite dancer from head to toe. Win a prize
valued at approximately $25 by matching up the
photo bits on this page with the correct WSD
7 left 15 petit
dancers. For example, if Item-7 is an epaulette, E Dan M Grey
shoulder pants
and you think it belongs to Dancer E (Dan), your
answer would be 7-E. Some of the images are
from past WSD newsletters, and can be found in
the archived newsletter section on the WSD
website. Nearly all have been observed
frequently at classes or were obviously displayed 16 leather
at recent dances or special events. 8 right tatt F Dani
shorts N James
TO ENTER THE CONTEST:
Match up as many photo
items (body parts and
1 rhinestone
garments) with dancers as
cowboy
you can. The contestant with
hat 17 apron
the most correct answers will 9 left tatt G Daniel O Kevin
win. In the case of a tie, a
winner will be randomly
drawn from the high-score
contestants. Bring your
answer list (one entry per 2 blonde 18 panta-
tresses 10 T-shirt
contestant) to any Monday loons H Daryl P Marilynn
class on or before December
17 and give it to the
Archangel or Holiday Elf, or
e-mail your answer list (such
3 eyelashes 11 rhinestone 19 right
as 1-A, 2-B, 3-C, etc.) by that foot
date to: club badge I Davida Q Mimi
brendaline@2die4.com
Partial lists are OK. The
winner will be announced at
the WSD Holiday Party on
December 19. Contestants
4 right ear 20 left foot J Donald R Ron
need not be present to win. 12 rugby shirt
Only current WSD members
and students are eligible to
win the prize. Current Board
members and the Elf are
ineligible to win, but may 5 left earbob 13 bare
play the game. midriff C Ammon K Eloise S Todd

6 right shoulder 14 foundation

garment L Freeman T Willie
D Bob
A The B The Elf
Archangel

D: What's your name?
M: Mark Yee, I was born about 25
miles south of here. My brother Dave is
about three years older. We had a very
normal suburban existence; Roosevelt
Elementary, John F. Kennedy Junior and
Woodside High School, all in Redwood
City. Father was born in Santa Rosa and
Mother in San Francisco. Both sides of
my family where part of the Chinese
influx in the 1920's, 1930's. There was a
Chinese Exclusion Act at that time which
prevented any Chinese other then
merchants from coming over. However
the emigration records had burned up in
the 1906 earthquake so a Chinese with
legal status could claim to have a child
back in China who they wanted to bring
over. Those unrelated children were
called 'paper sons" and 'paper
daughters'. That is how my maternal
grandfather came over and I believe at
least one of my grandmothers. Many
Chinese that have roots in San Francisco
came over that way.
D: What's an interesting thing that happened in
school?
M: The high school band I was in
performed at a Giants doubleheader and
I got to see my name up on the
scoreboard at Candlestick Park. Also
while I was a member of the Cal
Marching Band at Berkeley we played at
the huge Olympic Stadium in LA. It
holds 60,000 people and we were
visitors so it was extremely hostile. I lost
my shako (the fuzzy hat) on the playing
field. I played tenor sax all those years.
Today I have soprano, alto, tenor and
baritone saxes.
D: Do you play any other instruments?
M: Oh sure. We had a piano at home
and gosh I started taking piano lessons
probably in kindergarten or first grade.
We hated music lessons and mom
stopped forcing us to take them after a
few years. I did enjoy saxophone
lessons and took them up through high
school. Piano lessons definitely gave me
a grounding in all things music. And it
made it easier to play other instruments.
Most of my outside interests revolve
around music. I am currently in three
and a half bands; Slippery People, Dark
by dan smith
Wave and the Gomer Hendrix Band. I
drum for Gomer. The half a band is
virtual (on the internet). The musicians
live in Nevada and California and are
laying down tracks for a parody rock
opera based on The Who's Tommy. The
subject is the politics of Burning Man. I
also drum for that recording endeavor.
We have not yet actually played
together and thus it's a half.
D: After you left Berkeley what did you do?
M: I probably had 20 different temp
jobs; everything from restaurant
delivery to data entry, on top of being a
Haight Street Hippy. That wasn't exactly
a job but it did occupy most of my time.
I'm currently a licensed Customs Broker
and have a job in Export Compliance.
D: Tell me something about living in
San Francisco.
M: When my brother graduated from
college and moved here to start
graduate school at UCSF, he invited me
to be his roommate. In 1993 we
experienced the Loma Prieta
earthquake. He was at home with his
cat and I was in the corner grocery
store. What they say about, well--a
grocery store being one of the scariest
places to be in a major earthquake--
breaking glass, things falling off the
shelf. I remember it was an enormous
din. It was hard to think there was so
much noise. I hid underneath the vegetable bins
and rode out the earthquake.
D: Tell me how you came to meet Marilynn.
M: We had mutual friends looking for
people to share ski season rent in
Tahoe. Luckily, because we were both
interested in learning to snowboard, we
met at a party and by the end of the
season we were a couple.
D: I understand you go to Burning Man
tell me about that.
M: I first attended in 1997. This year
was my 10th. Burning Man is far
removed from one's existence in the
analogue world, so different that it
deifies description. It's a Rorschach test;
it's what an individual makes of it. As a
musician I've made playing music part
of my main experience. My camp is Hair
of the Dog Lounge. We stage live music.
D: How did you find your way to Western Star?
M: Marilynn would go watch Joe and
Todd square dance or meet them when
the class was getting out and was
invited to join. She joined the year
before I did. I had pretty much the
same experience. I would pick up
Marilynn after class and every one was
so friendly and welcoming; particularly
Steve Scott who asked me, "So! When
are you joining the class?" So come
October a year ago I said, "Why not?"
D: You performed at the Club La Star.
Can you tell me about that and why you
choose the particular song you did?
M: Although I do play guitar it's usually
the last instrument I choose. The one
exception is on camping trips when I
bust out my trusty guitar and play
campfire songs. It was from that
repertoire that I chose Ghost Riders in
the Sky, one of my favorite songs to
sing. I can't remember when I first
learned some of these old songs but like
square dancing it just seems natural, I
don't feel like it's a struggle.
Now I've met many gay friends
through Marilynn, Todd and Joe. Of
course part of that is living in the
neighborhood. I really think of Western
Star Dancers as being my neighborhood
square dance club where square
dancing happens to be gay.
D: Thank you Mark.
M: Thank you Dan.

The Board of Di recto rs meeti ng minut es are p ublis hed In o rder to keep club memb ers i nformed of t he affai rs of t he club.. O ral or w ritten
comments may be di rected to any board memb er. Members are welcome to attend board meeting s.
Membership Meeting,
September 19, 2007
The Annual Membership Meeting was
called to order at 8 p.m. by Administrator
Daryl Daniels. In his "State of the Club"
report Daniels thanked the current Board
for leading the club through a successful
year which included the following:
The 25th Anniversary celebration
(with special thanks to Russ King).
The 2nd Annual Yard Sale.
The Pride Dance
The Angel Island Picnic.
The first Circulate San Francisco
with tips at the Palace of Fine Arts,
Fort Point, the Palace of the
Legion of Honor, Baker Beach, Sutro
Park, and the Golden Gate Park
North Windmill.
Daniels also mentioned the
passing of Freddie Papapietro. A
'Memorial Tip' to Freddie was danced
following the meeting. Two proposals were
presented to the membership: (1) shall
Western Star Dancers increase the annual
dues from $36 to $40, and (2) shall
Western Star Dancers join with Foggy City
and Midnight Squares in planning to
submit a bid to host the 2013 IAGSDC
convention in San Francisco. Both
proposals passed. The following members
Meeting Minutes
were elected to the 2007-2008 Board: Bob
Brundage, Daryl Daniels, Jim Dewsnap,
Paul Gonyea, and Kathy Tuccio.
Minutes of the Board,
September 17, 2007
The meeting was called to order at 6:42 by
Administrator Daryl Daniels with all
Board members present. Present also was
Kathie Tuccio, presumptive 2008 Board
member. Plans for the Annual Meeting
and Board election scheduled for 9/19 were
discussed, as were plans for the upcoming
Leather & Lace/Pirates & Sailors dance
(9/27). Daniels laid out plans for Orange
Class recruiting, with emphasis on our
booth at the Castro Street Fair (10/7). The
first Orange Class 'Free Night' will be held
at Magnet on 18th Street because EVRC
will be closed for Columbus Day (10/8).
Daniels announced that Michael Sui will
be the Orange Class Archangel. The
Dance Coordinator reported that he had
all 2008 caller contracts in hand. The
meeting was adjourned at 7:15.
Minutes of the Board, October
15, 2007
The meeting was called to order by
Administrator Daryl Daniels at 6:08 p.m.
with all Board members present. Also,
present was former Board member Russ
King. The minutes of the September
Board meeting were approved. Daniels
praised the club for the successful Leather
& Lace dance and for the Orange class
recruiting efforts. Due to the significant
costs for publishing the WSD Newsletter,
Daniels proposed that when members
renew their memberships for 2008 they
can opt to receive the newsletter online
rather than get a hard copy in the mail.
Every member who chooses the online
option will save the club about $27.00 a
year. The Board approved the proposal for
a one-year trial. The Board decided to do
away with the $450 wage cap for callers.
The Treasurer's report was approved.
Russ King outlined the duties for the
Dance Coordinator. In other business,
plans for the Orange Class Welcome
Potluck at Mimi Mueller's on November 12
were discussed. Kathy Tuccio will
coordinate the event. The Board will issue
an invitation to Arch Angel Michael Sui to
attend Board meetings. The meeting was
adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Dewsnap, Secretary
 PACE Caller Appreciation Saturday: 11:00 am - C1 2:30 pm - C1 Diablo Light Opera Co
December 8
1948 Oak Park Blvd. Pleasant Hill

December 19
7:30-9:30 pm
Holiday Party - Rich Reel caller. EVRC. Friends, families, partners welcome!
Midnight Squares, Western Star Dancers, Foggy City Dancers, Redwood Rainbows, Oaktown 8's
December 26
(and Others) GCA Caller Appreciation "Exchange The Boxes" Inter-Club Holiday Square Dance
7:00 - 9:30 pm
Social--MS, Plus, A2 & "High C" * tip--Pay As You Can EVRC
PACE Mike Jacobs caller. Friday 7:30 pm A2, Saturday 11 am & 2:30 pm C1, Sunday 11 am C3A,
January 11-13
2:30 pm C3. Diablo Light Opera Co. 1948 Oak Park Boulevard, Pleasant Hill

January 16
7:309-9:30 pm Club Night – Surprise Guest caller. EVRC
February 2 Capital City Squares, New Year's Ball MS/Plus/A1i*, Sacramento E-mail Capital City Squares for
7:30 - 10:00 p.m. details.

For the latest dance information, check www.bayareadancecalendar.org

National & International events can be found at www.iagsdc.com Click on Events

There will be no classes on December 24 and December 31

Orange Mainstream Class will resume on January 7
Western Star Dancers
584 Castro Street #
# 480
San Francisco, CA 94114

Happy Holidays!
May your New Year
be filled with
squares, stars, thars, &
ocean waves!