Don’t Stop! Don’t slow down!

February 2004
Newsletter of Western Star Dancers, a Contemporary American Square Dance Club primarily serving the San Francisco gay and lesbian community. International
Association of Gay Square Dance Clubs member. Address: PMB 480, 584 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA 94114-2588. Visit our site: www.westernstardancers.org
Your Board of Directors is delighted
2004 Dance to announce the 2004 dance schedule.
Western Star Dancers will host three dances,

Calendar
as well as our monthly Club Nights.
nd
The first dance will be the club’s 22
Anniversary Dance on Saturday, March 27.

Announced Dancing will be from 7:30 to 10:30 at the

San Francisco Friends Meeting (65-9
Street). Vic Ceder has been confirmed as the
th

caller.
Our annual Pride dance will be held on the Saturday before the parade, June 26. In conjunction with
the Folsom Street Fair will be our Leather & Lace dance on September 25. Details of these two dances are being
negotiated. The latest information on these, and all the dances in the Bay Area is available at
www.bayareadancecalendar.org.
Administrator Steve Scott announced that he has confirmation of callers for all
the Club Nights this year. Club Nights are held on the third Wednesday of each month
th
from 7:30 to 9:30 at the friendly Mission Playground (19 Street between Guerrero and
Valencia). The schedule is:
February 18 Fen Tamanaha August 18 Michael Levy
March 17 Peggy Shumway September 15 Peggy Shumway
April 21 Michael Levy October 20 Fen Tamanaha
May 19 Fen Tamanha November 17 Michael Levy
June 16 Peggy Shumway December 15 Peggy Shumway
July 21 Fen Tamanaha
Annual membership renewal forms have been sent to everyone up for renewal. If you did not receive a Form 2
Membership Renewal, please download copy from our web site (www.westernstardancers.org). Please return the forms by
February 29. The forms should be mailed to the address on the form, or they can be given to any board member. See
below for contact information.
The next Board of Directors’ meeting will be on February 21 at 1:30 p.m. at the abode of Jim Dewsnap. All
members are invited to attend.

Green Class
Update
The Green Mainstream
class is advancing quickly and
doing very well. Dancing is
enthusiastic and spirited. The five new
students are dancing very well, thanks to the
very able teaching of Rich Reel, and the
support of several fantastic Angels. Rich has
commented several times on the excellent
progress. The class zipped past Basic and
should finish Mainstream by April. We're
expecting all of them to be able to go on to
Plus without any hesitation.
What By Tomas Todd

Square Dancing
Means to Me
(Editor’s Note: As many of you know, Dan
Smith is involved in a project creating stained
glass windows with square dance themes.
Tomas Todd is Dan’s latest protégé, and is the
most recent addition to the Western Star
Dancers. A member of Foggy City Dancers,
Tomas has recently joined our club. Welcome,
Tomas! We’re happy top have you.) Tomas Todd working on his window

I
t was a sunny day in 1971 when my army buddy, Andy Isaacs and I decided to visit the Saigon Zoo. Just
outside the gate to the zoo, we could hear music coming from an open door on the second floor of a corner
building on the very busy street. Luckily for us there was a wooden stairway leading straight to the music. We
climbed up and looked inside and saw Vietnamese square dancing and having a great time. They approached us
and invited us to join. A pretty young girl named Giselle took Andy by the hand and he followed to join in the
dancing. I didn’t dance! Andy returned many times to dance with the square dancers and today still enjoys a
deep friendship with many of the people that he met there.
As for me, I was content spending most of my time with the other guys of the Stak House, home to
Company A, smoking from our bamboo water bongs, made by the POW’s. We were waiting to return to the
States, our home. Thirty-three years later, I found myself again waiting. Now the loss of many friends to AIDS
and me at home ill too, mostly alone, I was waiting! A local handyman once commented that he sometimes
worked for gay artist Dan Smith who recently started square dancing and seemed very excited about it all. I
phoned Dan who was only too glad to help. Finally came his call about new classes soon to begin.
The most difficult
time was that moment I
crossed the street in front of
my apartment and headed
to the Castro to begin my
first lesson. After those first
few steps, there was no
looking back. Just over a
year now, I have been
dancing and meeting
wonderful new friends.
Waiting, yes, but now for
the next time to dance!

Tomas’ finished window

February 7 Foggy City Dancers Valentine’s Dance Betsy Gotta caller. (MS, P, A) $7/8, Ebenezer Lutheran, 678 Portola
7-10 pm Drive, San Francisco
February 8 Midnight Squares Winter Dance Betsy Gotta caller. (C1, C1, C3A) $8/10. SF Friends School, 117 Diamond
2-5 pm Street, San Francisco
February 12 Happy Birthday Joe Iser
February 13-15 D.C. Lambda Squares (Washington) ACDC V, East Coast Gay A&C Weekend R. French, B. Gotta, G. Jedlicka,
E McAfee callers. Email acdc@dclambdasquares.org
February 14 International Bear Rendezvous Squares for Bears Andy Shore caller. (MS) Free Whitcomb Ballroom,
10-12 am Ramada Plaza, 1231 Market Street, San Francisco
February 18
7:30-9:30 pm
Club Night Fen Tamanaha caller. $3/Students free. Mission Playground
February 25 Happy Birthday Jake Romero III
February 25 Happy Birthday Nobu Yamaji
March 1 Happy Birthday Russ King
March 7 Happy Birthday Dan Smith
March 12-14 Puddlletown Dancers (Seattle) Rain Festival—Revenge of Geoduck M. DeSisto, A. Uebelacker Email
seattleorbus@hotmail.com
March 13 Diablo Dancers Flip the Flowers Eric Henerlau caller. (MS, P, A*) Jewish Community Center, 2071 Tice Valley
7:30-10:30 pm Boulevard, Walnut Creek
March 14
7:30-9:30 pm
Club Night Peggy Shumway caller. $3/Students free Mission Playground
March 21 Happy Birthday Tom Ophardt
March 25 Happy Birthday Ed Mah
March 26-28 Independence Squares (Lake Harmony, PA) Slide Thru’ the Woods. S. Bryant, T. Fellegy, N. Martellacci
callers. Email flyin_reg@independencesquares.org
March 26-28 Finest City Squares (San Diego) Pass the Sea IX P. Carnathan, M. Levy, C. Robertson, A. Uebelacker callers
Email santobear@att.net
March 27 Western Star Dancers 22nd Anniversary Dance Vic Ceder caller. (MS, P, A*) $8/10 San
7:30-10:30 pm Francisco Friends Meeting, 65-9th Street, San Francisco
March 27 Happy Birthday Alana Crary
April 1 Happy Birthday Creig Smith
April 1 Happy Birthday Dino Wright
April 2-4 Grand River Squares (Grand Rapids, MI) Ropin’ the River K. Burke, A Uebelacker callers. Email
grsquares@hotmail.com
April 3 El Camino Reelers Walk & Dodge into Spring (MS, P) Jeannette Staeuble (from Zurich, Switzerland) caller ST.
7:30-10:30 pm Andrew’s Methodist Church, 4111 Alma Street, Palo Alto
April 5-7 31st Annual Callerlab Convention, Reno Hilton, Reno, NV. Email info@callerlab.org
April 8-11 Magic Diamond Squares (Birmingham, AL) A Dixie Diamond Weekend R. Kirkland, P. Place callers. Email
mcdiamonds@aol.com
April 9 Happy Birthday Abbi Coursolle
April 15 Happy Birthday Matt Thomson
Spril 16 Happy Birthday Mark Scott Johnson
April 17 Foggy City Squares California Twirl into Spring Dance Caller TBA, (MS, P, A*) Location TBA
April 18 Midnight Squares Spring Dance Caller TBA (A2, C1, C2, C3A*) $8/10 San Francisco Friends School, 117
2-5 pm Diamond Street, San Francsico
April 21
7:30-9:30 pm
Club Night Michael Levy caller. $3/Students free. Mission Playground
April 25 Happy Birthday Mario Torrigino
April 30-May 2 Cathedral City Boys Club Peel Off in Palm Springs VIII A. Shore caller Email peeloff@earthlink.net
Western Star Dancers
PMB 480
584 Castro Street
San Francisco, CA 94114-2588
 Don’t Stop! Don’t Slow Down! April 2004
Newsletter of Western Star Dancers, a Contemporary American Square Dance Club primarily serving the San Francisco gay and lesbian community. International
Association of Gay Square Dance Clubs member. Address: PMB 480, 584 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA 94114-2588. Visit our site: www.westernstardancers.org

Special Marriage Issue

Congratulations to all club members
In committed relationships!
See inside to read about two such couples in the
WSD family

News from the Board of Directors

Thank you to all of you who joined in our 22nd Anniversary Dance. We had a
rousing night of lively dancing, and it is all because of you and your continuing
support over the past 22 years. Your Board of Directors is counting on at least that
many more years of Western Star Dancing.

The Green Mainstream Class of 2004 will celebrate class completion on Monday,
May 24, 2004. Please mark the date on your calendar, and come and welcome the
excellent new dancers into the club. The Class Completion Party will be held in
conjunction with class at Mission Playground from 7:30-9:30 PM. WSD tradition
calls for members to host a potluck for the new dancers, so please bring something
to share. The Board will also provide victuals.

All club members are now listed on-line at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WSD-

Members. Thanks to Joe Iser, we are now all electronically connected. The Yahoo
group will be used for sending official club announcements.

New club uniform shirts are in the making. The club no longer has a vest maker, so
adjustments in the club uniform are
called for. Members who have the Western Star Dancers
traditional vests are encouraged to sponsored a New
continue to wear them at dances and in
club photos. Dancers who do not have Caller Workshop on
WSD vests will be encouraged to buy the February 21, 2004.
new uniform shirts. The new short
sleeved white shirts will have the club Eight eager student
logo embroidered on the left breast. callers learned essential
Watch your mail in the coming weeks for
detailed information and an order form. considerations in
The board hopes to have the new shirts choreographing
in time for The Pride Dance.
squares from Peggy
Schumway and Rich
Reel. In the evening,
several club members
joined the new callers
and their friends for a
rollicking evening of
dancing.

22nd Anniversary Dance Photos

See Inside
 Tacks & Grey: A Vermont Civil Union
By Dan Smith
{Editor’s Note: Tacks Feliciano and Grey Todd are in the current Green Mainstream class. Dan Smith
interviewed them about tying the knot}
D: How did you two meet? license before I can marry you.” I had no idea. That’s how innocent or
T: We met at The Café four years ago. naive I was about it. I said, “Well, I don’t have it!” She said,
G: It’s the last time I ever went in “Technically I can’t marry you.” But, everybody was there and we were
there! The short version is that Fred, in our tuxedos so we had a ceremony. Two days later on a Monday, we
my best friend, and Tacks started got the license, went over to the JP’s home, and got married again.
going out together after we three had The Justice gave us a form and we filled it out (see below). Then, the
met at The Café. They had Justice of the Peace said, “Do you take this person to be joined to you
something going on for four or five in Civil Union?” I said yes and then she said the same to Tacks. She
months. I was just getting over a then pronounced, “By the power invested in me by the State of
three-year relationship. It was rough Vermont I now join you in Civil Union.” That’s the official language that
on me so I really wasn’t interested in Vermont requires.
pursuing anything. I had grown to D: Tell me the story of trying to get married here in San Francisco.
like Tacks through Fred and when T: It was frustrating. Grey started calling at one minute to eight in the
thing didn’t work out between them I asked Fred if it would cause any morning trying to get an appointment. The line was always busy.
problems for our friendship if I were to ask Tacks out. Fred said, Around nine, Grey decided to go to City Hall while I stayed home
“Absolutely not.” In fact, Fred was Best Man for both of us at the redialing.
wedding. G: We dialed every five seconds until 9:30. I finely said, “You keep
I didn’t want to get emotionally committed because I was in redialing, I’ll go see what’s going on.” There was a crowd of people in
therapy to deal with my previous breakup. I was pretty clear about that front of City Hall. They all had their cell phones trying to get through. I
with Tacks. Then, when it looked like Tacks was kind of getting more talked to one lesbian couple that had gotten through. By then it was
attached than I wanted him to be I harshly pushed him away. Twice. I about 10:30 and their appointment was in late March. It had gone
told him I was afraid I was going to hurt him. There’s a great e-mail from getting married now to getting married in six weeks from now,
that I’ll never live down. I wrote him enumerating all the ways in which and it was only an hour and a half into it. Before that day people had
we would never be able to be in a relationship. I’ve been proven wrong been lining up as you saw on TV, but I was in Chicago and didn’t get
in so many ways. back until that weekend so we said, “Well we’ll do it on Monday.” We
D: How long have you together? weren’t able to get through so we finally gave up around eleven.
T: Three years. That whole on and off thing was about a year. I’d been Eventually, they fixed the website and started taking appointments.
staying at his house since we started dating. However, it was six You got through but…
months before we decided that I’d move in T: Appointments were not available until April when Grey will be in
D: When did you know that the relationship was firm? Mexico.
G: Tacks moved-in in January of 2002. We moved to Mexico in May. D: How did the two of you come to square dancing?
We were in very close quarters there, basically each other’s only G: We used to square dance when I was a little kid at some of the barn
companions for about six months. We didn’t speak Spanish but Tacks dances. I thought it would be fun to have square dancing at our
speaks Tagalog, which has a lot of Spanish in it so he did pretty well. wedding in Vermont. Tacks didn’t even know what square dancing was.
Those six months were a sure test of our relationship because we We had someone come and teach us how, because no one at the
didn’t really make many friends nor have much to do. When we came wedding had any idea how to do it. Actually, they taught us how to do
back, it was pretty clear to me anyway that we could last over the long the Virginia Reel and we also did a contra dance. I enjoyed myself so
haul. much that when we got back I did a web search and found Foggy City
D: When did you decide to get married? but their Mainstream class had already began. Luckily, Western Star
G: It happened in sort of a backward fashion. My family is in Vermont was starting a beginning class. That’s how we got started.
and Tacks had never been to New England or seen the fall foliage, so I
said let’s go to Vermont. I guess I’d like to say it was unromantic
because it was. “Oh. By the way, while we’re in Vermont why don’t we
stop in at the Town Hall and get a marriage certificate.” But when we
told my family, particularly my Mother, that we were going to City Hall
to get a marriage certificate, she said, “No, no, no! I want a wedding!”
She wanted to make it more of an event then just stopping by the Town
Hall.
D: Any people from your family attend?
T: We wanted my Mother to be there but my Dad doesn’t know that I’m
gay. So, we were wondering how Mom would tell Dad. She couldn’t
find a way so she didn’t come. We also tried to get my sister a visa to
come here as a visitor from the Philippines but she was denied. So, my
only friend to come was Fred.
G: Also, we’ve decided that no matter where they make it legal we’ll go
there and get married. We already have an appointment to get married
in Massachusetts this October on the anniversary of our Civil Union in
Vermont. You know, one state at a time.
D: How did the Civil Union go?
G: We were married in the Mountain Campus of Middlebury College in
a big barn. It was the October 18. Ten minutes before the ceremony
the Justice of the Peace, who is my Mother’s friend, came up to us and
said, “Could I see a copy of the Marriage License? You have to have a
Kathy & Marie: A San Francisco Wedding
By Dan Smith
(Editor’s Note: Marie Mohr and Kathy Healy Started dancing with Western Star Dancers in
1987 and 1991, respectively. Both currently dance A2 with our sister club, Midnight
Squares. They had a conversation with Dan Smith about their relationship.)

D: How did you meet? metal, and you

K: Western Star Dancers had a social event at Angel Island. I can't break apart
wasn't square dancing at the time but I had two friends who were, a diamond.
Robert and Felix. They invited me to go on the Angel Island trip in Symbolically
July of 1991. I first saw Marie on the ferry. And they danced in the that's us. We
water when people could stand it. exchanged a set
M: I first noticed her as she was napping under a tree! I said I like of earrings. Mine
that woman. There was just something there even though we were larger
didn't even talk that day. I made a mental note to ask Robert and hearts with a
Felix about her. I thought, ‘If she starts square dancing maybe I'll smaller heart cut
ask her out.’ We ran in to each other a couple of times when we out within them.
were doing things with Felix and Robert. The smaller
M: Robert had a booth at the Pacifica Street Fair. Kathy went to hearts that were cut out of mine are the ones Marie wears. And
help him. I also helped. The three of us staffed the booth for the now, on Valentines Day 2004 we were married at City Hall!
day. K: The first weekend [of gay marriages in San Francisco], you just
D: Who was the teacher when you started square dancing? got on line and waited your turn. Friday night we talked about it
K: Ron Masker. We started class in the beginning of October and and went in on Saturday morning and got on line at 11:30. We
she was supposed to call me and never did. So, I called on the 15th were about four hours on line.
of November. M: It was wonderful. God, it was wonderful. We went over to the
M: Our first date. We had danced together a little bit at class, but City Hall. We didn't realize how long it was until we actually got on
there was a woman who was after her. The women “threw it. The line went almost all the way around City Hall.
daggers” at me. But, she never completed the class. K: Outside it was fantastic. It was like the Summer of Love without
D: How long did you date before you decided...? the drugs. Everybody was talking to everybody, people going by
M: Not long, just two dates. honking horns...
K: She’s a nurse and was going to be off for a week so we decided M: Kids running around, dogs running around.
to live together at her place for that week just to see how things K: People came around and gave out flowers, balloons, water, and
went. We could get to know each other better and whatever. I candy. They took pictures and gave them to the couples for free.
never did go home. As people got closer to the door, they began telephoning the
D: Did you ever think when you were getting together that you people who were going to be their witnesses. The four hours didn't
would end-up getting married? seem like four hours.
M: I did. I knew the minute I saw her. M: What amazed me was that the people on line were couples of
K: But not actually married because in our lifetime we never longevity. The guys in front of us were together for six years, the
thought that would be possible. Our first commitment was a guys in front of them for 27 years, the girls behind us were for 12
private ceremony just between the two of us. We climbed Glacier years, and the ones behind them were for 17.
Point and danced with the six other square dancers up there and K: The couples weren't doing it for a lark or because it was
then we went off on our own. something new to do. They were people who were really
M: It was a very strenuous hike up. That hike was symbolic of life’s committed to each other. The commitment was there long before
ups and downs. We went through many emotions on that hike: joy the possibility of the license.
& frustration; elation & exhaustion; uncertainty & trust, giving in & K: And the volunteers--so many people gave up their holiday
triumph. It is a very beautiful, peaceful place, surrounded by such weekend to make it possible for as many people to get married as
beauty and the possible. They gave you a form to fill out while you were still
symbolism, the outside. They were trying to get as much of the paper work done
staying power of before you got into City Hall so that they could speed up the
the hard granite process. They had it checked by two people before we got to the
and the staying County Clerks office. It told you how much to pay. Once you got
power of us. inside things moved smoothly and very quickly. There were eight to
That's how life ten people behind the counter taking the papers. They checked
has been, we go them and gave them to people at computers where it was typed up
through years into a neat form. You double checked the typed form and paid
and suddenly them $82 for that certificate. Then, you went up to the fourth floor
we'll be where they performed the service. Twelve people had been
somewhere and deputized to do the service. Six were on each side of the balcony
say, “Look at that performing services so twelve marriages were going on at the
town over there, same time but they were individual services. It was like a private
isn't that pretty. ceremony even though there were others going on at the same
K: We wear time. We took the paperwork down to the Assessor's Office and
platinum and turned it over to another group of volunteers and paid $13 for the
diamond rings. license. Then, they gave us the official license. Later, we all went
Platinum is the to Robert and Felix’s home for champagne. Then, we went out to
rarest precious dinner and celebrated our day.
 Birthdays
April 16 Mark Scott Johnson

April 30 Mario Torrigino

May 5 Fen Tamanaha

May 30 Gary Young

Ropin’ the River, Grand River Squares, Grand Rapids, MI. Callers: K. Burke, A. Uebelacker. Info: Robert Hazen (616)
April 2-4 356-2455 Email: grsquares@hotmail.com
April 3 El Camino Reelers Walk & Dodge into Spring. Jeannette Staeuble from Zurich, Switzerland calling. MS/P. $8/$10
7:30-10:30 PM St. Andrew’s Methodist Church, 4111 Alma Street, Palo Alto
April 5-7 31st Annual Callerlab Convention, Reno Hilton, Reno, NV. Info: Jerry Reed (321)639-0039 Email info@callerlab.org
Special Club Night with Howard Richman. Co-sponsored with Foggy City Dancers. MS/P/A* tip.
April 8
$5/$8. San Francisco Friends School, 117 Diam
7:30-9:30 PM
ond Street, San Francisco. See Back Page for Details
Dixie Diamond Weekend, Magic City Diamonds, Birmingham, AL. Callers: R. Kirkland, P. Place. Info: Frank McCrory
April 8-11
(205)595-4414 Email mcdiamonds@aol.com
April 17 Foggy City Dancers California Twirl into Spring. Saundra Bryant calling. MS/P/A* tip. $7/$8. Ebenezer Lutheran
7-10 PM Church, 678 Portola Drive, San Francisco
April 18 Midnight Squares, Spring Dance. Saundra Bryant calling. A2/C1/C2/C3A* tip. $8/$10. San Francisco Friends
2-5 PM School, 117 Diamond Street, San Francisco
April 21
7:30-9:30 Club Night! Fen Tamanaha calling. $3/Students Free Mission Playground
April 23-25 California State Square Dance Convention, Sacramento
Peel Off in Palm Springs VIII, Cathedral City Boys Club, Palm Springs, CA. Caller: A. Shore. Info: Gordon Macaw
April 30-May 2
(602)674-3239 Email: peeloff@earthlink.net
Pass the Ocean, Hon!, Chesapeake Squares, Rehoboth Beach, DE. Callers: B. Clasper, P. Diven, T. Fellegy, T.
April 30-May 2
Marriner. Info: Michael Deets (410)206-6857 Email passtheoceanhon@ hotmail.com
Beantown Teacup Chain Party, Boston Uncommons, Boston, MA. Caller: A. Uebelacker. Into: Eric Mulder (617)288-
May 14-16
8816. Email bostonuncommons@yahoo.com
May 19
7:30-9:30 PM Club Night! Michael Levy calling. $3/Students Free. Mission Playground
Capital City Squares, Stumptown Stomp, Guerneville, CA. Callers: Mike Kellogg, Bronc Wise. MS/P/A/C1* tip.
May 21-23
Info: George Fox (916)929-8697 Email CapitalCitySqrs@aol.com
May 24
7:30-9:30 PM Green Mainstream Class Completion Party Members please bring potluck
Scoot Across the Border—Mad Hatters’ Teacup Party, Triangle Squares, Toronto, ON. Callers: A. Uebelacker, J.
May 27 -30
Uebelacker. Info: Bob Nesbitt (416)698-3155 Email satb2004@hotmail.com
Moon Over Maryland (for men), Camp Ramblewood, Darlington, MD. Caller: H. Richman. Info: John Herriot
May 28-31
(877)429-6368 Email wehojohn@aol.com
June 5 Diablo Dancers, 12th Anniversary Dance. Anne Uebelacker calling. MS/P/A* tip. La Cheim School, 1700 Oak Park
7:30-10:30 PM Boulevard, Pleasant Hill. BART pickup available—see www.diablo-dancers.org for details
June 6 Midnight Squares A2, C1, C2 Graduation. Caller TBA. A2/C1/C2/C3A. Free/$8. San Francisco Friends School,
TBA 117 Diamond Street, San Francisco.

21st Annual International Association of Gay Square Dance Clubs (IAGSDC) Convention
Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, Phoenix, AZ
www.remaketheheatwave.com
PMB 480
584 Castro Street
San Francisco, CA 94114-2588
Newsletter of Western Star Dancers, a Contemporary American Square Dance Club primarily serving the San Francisco gay and lesbian community. International
Association of Gay Square Dance Clubs member. Address: 584 Castro Street #480, San Francisco, CA 94114-2588. Visit our site: www.westernstardancers.org

WSD Angel Island Picnic

A tradition is being revived
Long time members get a gleam in their eyes when reminded about the Western Star
Dancers’ Fourth of July Angel Island Picnics in days gone past. July Fourth was snatched by
the IAGSDC International Convention, and the Angel Island tradition faded away. There’s a
new tradition and a new date: August 21.
Western Star Dancers will sponsor a picnic on Angel Island on Saturday, August 21.
Mark your calendars. Invite your partners and friends, dancers and non-dancers. Pack up the
barbie. Prepare for a memorable adventure. Be ready to dance on one of the jewels of San
Francisco Bay.
Angel Island, now a state park, was once the center for immigration on the West
Coast. It has been called Ellis Island of the West. There is a tram that circles the island (5
miles), but some hiking may be required to reach our picnic area. Bring your bicycle; they are
welcome on the island.
Ferry service will be provided by the Blue & Gold Fleet, departing from Pier 41 at
9:45 a.m. Rich Reel will call a few tips throughout the day. Bring your own food and drink
(potluck, if you like), but there is a concession stand on the island, if you don’t want to carry
a lot of things. Barbecues and charcoal are permitted
on the island. Pets, alas, are not. The return ferry
leaves at 3:20 p.m.
Reservations will be required. In July, you will
receive a form to send in for booking reservations. Our
friends from the other Bay Area gay square dance clubs
will also be invited. The maximum number of
reservations is 80 due to logistics and space. Tickets
for the day’s adventure will cost only $20. Dangles will
be awarded!
Rich Reel, right, models the new WSD uniform shirt.
These, and other items with the WSD logo
embroidered at no extra charge, should be ordered
directly from www.embroideryjustforyou.com.
Order item number SP16 (S500T for 100% cotton).
Be sure to ask for the WSD logo.

Green Mainstream class

celebrates completion
The very talented Green Mainstream Class of
2004 celebrated class completion on May 24.
Pictured on the left are (standing) Tacks
Feliciano, Grey Todd, Instructor Rich Reel, Josh
Lacayo, Dave Murphy, Ammon Corl, Craig
Mahaffey, Daryl Daniels, and Archangel Joe Iser.
In front are Matt Thomson, the lovely Kevin
Larson, Lou Troga, and Cole, class mascot.
Congratulations for your achievement.

The t-shirt message man
An Interview by Dan Smith
D: How long have you been square dancing?
G: I started in November of 2002 with Western Stars ‘Yellow’
class. My partner, Steve, who dances, tried for several years to get
me to go but I refused. I wanted nothing to do with it. It didn’t
sound like something I would be interested in. But he helped me
out with a project at work and as payback I said I’d go to ‘Intro’
night at the El Camino Reelers. I had a really good time there, but
I had to go out of town so I couldn’t start with their class that fall.
Western Star had a class beginning in November, so I took
Western Star’s Yellow class.
D: Did you find it easy to dance right off the bat?
G: I can’t do any other kind of dancing at all but I can follow
directions OK. I started out pretty much like everybody else, just
going every week and I could remember it. I was doing pretty
well at it. I’d go down on Wednesdays to El Camino Reelers and
watch Steve dance; their class was a couple of weeks ahead of our
Yellow class so I just set and watched and picked up things.
I knew I wanted to be able to dance Plus at convention that
coming July. Western Star’s Mainstream class was ending just a
little bit after Foggy Cities Plus class was to begin so I studied and
studied, learning all the Mainstream Calls so that I could take
Foggy Cities Plus class. I got Betsy Gotta’s Mainstream and Plus
videotapes titled Gotta Dance and watched them. I watched on
line animations and studied the definitions. I went to all the club
nights that were available and that got me up to speed to take the
Plus class with Foggy City. I continued to take Mainstream at
Western Star. After awhile I also started dancing with El Camino
Reelers because I’d pretty much caught up with their Plus class. I
danced with Western Star Mondays, Foggy City Tuesdays and El
Camino Reelers Wednesdays, up through Convention in July. I
danced Plus at Convention but I only knew the girl role.
Switching genders is sometimes the most confusing thing,
that’s true even at higher levels. Even now it’s Right and Left
Through that gets me, but at first it was swinging. I took me a long
time to swing as a girl and then I had to learn it as a boy!
Gary Young
D: You’re unusual among all the dancers that I’ve met. You went
on to Plus while you were still taking Basic and Mainstream.
When did you start taking Advanced?
G: I stuck with doing Plus as a girl through Convention in July.
When I got back, Western Star started a Plus class. I figured I
could go ahead and angel that as a boy. I was hesitant at first
and only did one or two tips a week as a boy. Down at El
Camino Reelers that summer Andy Shore did some workshops
with Plus students and one of the workshops was Gender Swap
Night so if you normally dance girl you dance boy for that night
and vise-versa. I did that and after a couple of more weeks, I
could do both parts. Also during that summer El Camino Reelers
was doing their Advanced class at the same time as their Plus, so I
just watched them and looked at their call list to see what they
were going to call that week and studied the definitions. I’d see
and hear the teacher and do it in my head. Toward the end of
the summer, I’d stand toward the back and dance by myself while
they were dancing. Rich Reel saw me doing that and when I went
up to Peel Off in the Redwoods he invited me to come to the
Advanced workshops. With his encouragement, I started to do
some Advanced dancing. I went ahead and signed up for the
Advanced class with Midnight Squares in the fall because that’s
when my partner Steve was going to take Advanced.
D: How do you manage to learn so quickly?
G: It isn’t from just going to the different clubs and the different
club nights. I also go to a lot of fly-ins. Dancing three night
weekends really helps; it’s better then just going two hours a week
to one club. I was dancing three or four times a week. Now, I
dance five days a week and sometimes up to seven days a week.
Then I started the C1 class because I’d learned Advanced well
enough to take it. I didn’t know when the C1 class would be
offered again, so I thought, “I’d better do this now or else I might
have to wait a year before I can take it.” Midnight Squares C1
class is held in Redwood City because some students are from the
El Camino Reelers.
Twenty-four people signed up for the class and about half of
the class members are straight. I’ve danced with a few straight
people before but never so many. That was an interesting
experience. I finally got the opportunity to dance in a square
where 4 men danced the boy part and four women danced the
girl part. I’d been dancing for about a year before I’d seen that
happen.
D: Is there anything else you’d like to say about square dancing?
G: I haven’t had a passion for anything, this much, for the longest
time. I didn’t even think I’d like it. Once I tried it, I found out
that this is something I can do and it challenges me. I got the
mental thing going on, I got the social thing going on, and got
music going on. I really don’t know what I’d be doing if I wasn’t
doing square dancing. I do it so many times a week.
 Venus and Mars
By Matt Thompson

Choose to dance.

What is dancing? Who dances? Do I dance alone?

Do others dance with me? Is there a reason to
dance? Shall we dance? Would you like to dance?
Dance with me, please.

Who are those two guys across from me in the

square, my opposite or my mirror?

My partner’s handhold is warm and casual. We

chat lightly, waiting for remaining squares to form
completely. Raucous laughter occasionally bursts
forth from other squares, causing heads to turn with
curious smiles. Half of the square I have danced
with before. The other four are total strangers
although two seem vibrantly familiar. They have
become difficult to recognize with their clothes. I
step closer to others in the square, releasing my
partner’s grip, greeting the other dancers with a bit of chat or a hug. I glance at two dangling nametags
and say hello to their owners.

A Faerie dusting of electricity floats over the dance floor as the Caller publicly notes the last square is
complete. Leaping back to our respective partners, we find the reassuring handhold, sometimes relaxed,
sometimes firm, sometimes just barely touching, aware yet independent of the other’s presence. No time
left now for anxiety, we bow to our partners, bow to our corner, smile at everyone, and dance naked to the
first call of this tip. At once, we lose ourselves to mental and physical reverie yet dancing find ourselves and
each other. We dance our elemental dance. Clearly, we are having fun.

A stained glass window whimsically provides a view of woodland waters, two dancers meeting naked in a
‘Highland Fling’ Do-Si-Do. Their styling showing restraint or physical intimacy as the voyeur wishes. The two
dancers playfully engage, momentarily forming part of a fantasy Moonshine Tip dancing to the Caller.
Venus and Mars cast diamond points of
innuendo from above, the yin and yang of
our beings softly backlit by the moon,
sometimes cast in shadow, sometimes
prominently displayed.

Venus and Mars exchange dancers from

neighboring squares in a star tip spin of the
gears. The call is rooted in early original
American Square Dance choreography. The
dance is preserved through time as Callers
of Gay Square Dance move the dancers
through this wonderful flowing tip.
Albuquerque, New Mexico is credited as the
founding home of Moonshine Tips with Gay
Square Dancers. Bill Eyler preserves much
of the American Square Dance genre,
including the Venus & Mars call.
 By Daryl Daniels
Since becoming editor of this newsletter, I have resisted exercising my prerogative of editorializing. The Pride Edition seemed the ideal
time to end my silence. My inspirations were Tomas Todd and Dan Smith (and others) who are creating beautiful stained glass windows
with square dance themes and telling their stories. Here is one of my stories.

L
a za ru s r i s ing f r om t h e d ead i s a f am i l ia r sto r y ; J e su s h ea rd h i s f r i en d w a s s ic k, but w a ited u n t i l h e w as
th r ee da y s d ead be fo r e o r de r i ng La za ru s t o com e out o f t he tomb . I am La za ru s. I n a n y e ve nt, I wa s
n ea r l y d ead w h en t he an t iv i ra l c o c k t a i l sum m on ed m e f rom m y t om b . T he B ib l ica l sto r y e nds w it h J e su s
o rd e r in g L az a ru s u nt ie d a n d set f r ee . Wh atev e r b ec om e s o f t he r i s en La za ru s i s not r ev e a le d. C e rta i n l y,
his lif e was nev er g o ing to b e th e s am e a s it o n c e w a s . F o r m e , w o r k, money, and c ompet it ion no longer
i g n i t ed an y g r ea t emo t io n . I f e lt ad r i ft, a s d id t h e e a r l ie r L a za ru s.
A de a r f r i en d, a n oth er L a za ru s, o ft en m oa ne d t ha t h e no l o n ge r fe l t a n y p a s s i on . Som ew he r e i n h is
i l l n e s s, h e h a d lo st h is . W h e n c o n c e n t r a t ing s o m u c h e n e r g y a n d e m o t io n in b a t t l in g a n i n s id io u s v i ru s,
s u rv iva l i t sel f i s t h e p a ss i o n . W h e n s u rv iv a l b e c ome s a r e a s on a b l e p oss i b i l ity, finding an intere st that ignites
a f i r e w it h in b ec om e s a c om p e l l in g d r iv e. F e e l in g ad r if t an d w it hout p as s i on, I emb rac ed a c h i ld ho od
o bs e s s io n, b as eb a l l. B a se ba l l f i l le d a ne ed ; t he G ia nt s w e re a goo d t eam, an d I c ou l d f e e l e xc it em e nt .
B a se ba l l at m y a ge , a la s, i s la r ge l y se de nta r y . I w a s re ad y fo r som et h i ng e l s e.
W he n I t u r ne d 5 0 , I dec id ed I w a s t o o dam n fat . T h re e w o nd e rfu l f r ie nd s w ou l d t a l k a bout h ow m u c h
f u n t h e y had s qu a re dan c in g . E v e ry t im e I saw t h em, t he y w ou l d rav e a bout w ha t a w o nd e rfu l t im e t h e y w e r e
h a v in g . I sn o b b is h l y re s i st e d f o r a w h i l e , b u t j o i n e d t he W e ste r n Sta r D a n c e r s Y e l l ow Ma in s t r ea m C l a s s of
2003 . The first thing I not iced was t hat all t he hu gg ing was GOOD. I apprec ia ted the exerc ise. I was
d e ligh ted t hat alco ho l wa s n ’t i nv o lv ed . V er y so on, I r ea l i ze d t h at I h ad fou nd a new pa s s io n.
M y t w o f orme r bo yf r i en d s w e r e bot h da nc e rs, a nd v e r y se x y on e s, t o sa y t he le a st . I f el t l i k e a c ow
danc ing w ith them ( Thin or skinny a re NOT a d j ec t i v e s o ne w ou l d u se i n de scr i b i n g m e ev er i n m y lif e) .
Squ a re dancing has taught me how silly I w a s . B o d y s h a p e h a s n o t h in g t o d o w it h d a n c in g . M y b o d y sh a p e
b ot h er ed m e c on s id e ra b l y m o re t ha n it bot h er e d a n yo ne e l se , t ha t ’ s f or su re . D a n c in g ha s he l pe d m e bot h
i m p ro v e t he s h ap e o f m y b od y, an d f e e l b et t e r a bout how I l oo k . Wh i l e I hav e d anc ed w it h b od i e s o f e v e r y
sha pe and fo rm, I ’m sot su re t hat I am read y for a Moo n sh ine T ip .
T h e m o st w o nd e rfu l p a r t a bou t s q u a re dancing is the people. Square
d anc i n g at t r act s f o lk s f o r m an y d if f e re nt r ea so n s, but I h av e e nc ou n t e r ed on l y
k in d p eop le . T he peo p le I me et da nc in g d emo n st rat e in te gr it y, com pa s s io n,
d ed ic at io n, a nd a f fec t i o n . I es pe c ia l l y e njoy t h e w a y t h at e ne r g y a nd goo d
f e e lin gs se em s to bu ild in a go od squa re o r dur in g a liv e ly t ip. The bo nd in g th at
oc curs during da nc ing is d e lic iou s.
B e c o m in g new s l e t t e r e d it o r a n d W este r n St a r Da nc e rs bo a r d m em be r h a s
s to ke d m y e nt hus i a sm. I e nt e red th e p ost w it h som e t r ep id at ion , bu t f ee l
s at i s fact i on w it h m y me a ge r c on tr ibut i on s to th e c lu b, a nd z ea l to p rom ote W SD
a nd g a y s qua r e d an c in g . Th e po s it iv e f eedb ack I ’v e got te n f rom t he g r oup
c o nc e rn i n g t h e new s l e t t e r a nd f l i e r s h a s i n s p ir e d m e t o st r iv e f o r m o r e , b i g g e r ,
a nd bet t e r.
A ft e r a y ea r o f da nc i n g, I ’ ve l o st ove r f or ty poun d s. I nc ludi n g c la s s n ig ht s, da nc es , c lu b n i ght s, f l y -i ns ,
a nd c o nv ent io n in m y s c h edu l e kee p s m e act iv e an d i n spired. Ev en wh en I am tired and ach y, I ’ll go out o f
o n floo r, becau s e, to quot e o ne of m y favo rit e co rne r s, Dav e Mu rp hy, “it ’s so d amn much fun.”
Squ a re da ncing ha s p rov id ed me w ith a pa ssion th at w a s m i s s in g f o rm m y l i f e . T h i s p a s s io n , I b e l i e v e ,
w ill enable me to better enj o y l i f e . I ’v e a l r e a d y l iv ed longer than I was su pposed to—b etter living throu gh
ch em ist r y, as the o ld comm e rc ia ls s a id . I ’ve als o b ee n af fo rd ed a n op po rtu n it y to le a rn to liv e life . S qua r e
d anc i n g g iv e s m e sat i s fac t io n, c om f o rt , c on f ide nc e, j oy , an d c o nt en t m e nt .
A n d , t h a t is w h a t squ a re danc ing means t o me.
June 5 Diablo Dancers 12th Anniversary Dance. Caller Anne Uebelacker. M,P,A* La Cheim School, 1700 Oak
7:30-10:30 pm Park Boulevard, Pleasant Hill

June 6 Midnight Squares A1, C1, & C2 Graduation. Caller Anne Uebelacker. A2, C1, C2, C3A. Free/$8. San
1-5 pm Francisco Friends School, 117 Diamond Street, San Francisco

June 16
7:30-9:30 pm
CLUB NIGHT Caller Peggy Shumway. $3. Mission Playground

Academy of Advanced and Challenge Enthusiasts IV, Columbus Ohio. Multiple caller. Info: Lloyd Sparks
June 16-19
(888) 523-7586 Email Sparky@SparksEnterprises.com

June 19 Foggy City Dancers Pre-Pride Dance. Caller Seth Levine. M, P, A* $7/$8 Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 678
7-10 pm Portola Drive, San Francisco

53rd National Square Dance Convention, National Western Complex, Denver, CO. Multiple callers. Info:
June 23-26
Dan Pantano (303)722-6474 Email finance@53nsdc.com

June 26 Western Star Dancers Pride Dance Caller Rick Hampton. M, P, A* $8/$10 Friends
7:30-10:30 pm Meeting, 65-9th Street, San Francisco

16th GCA Caller School, Phoenix, AZ. Callers S. Bryant, A. Uebelacker, V. Ceder. Info: Nick Martellacci
June 28-30
(718)624-5665 Email Registration@GayCallers.org

21st Annual IAGSDC Convention. Sponsored by Desert Valley

July 1-5 Squares, Phoenix, AZ. Multiple Callers. Arizona Biltmore Resort &
Spa. Info: Gordon Macaw (602) 674-3239

July 12 7:30- FREE Introduction to Plus

July 19 9:30 pm Green Plus Class begins
Mission Playground

July 21
7:30-9:30 pm
CLUB NIGHT Caller Fen Tamanaha. $3. Mission Playground

Follow Your Neighbor IX—Christmas in July. Cadillac Squares, Detroit, MI. Callers J. Oldfield, H. Richman.
July 23-25
Info: Jay Steffka (313) 837-7966 Email johnandj@ameritech.net

14th Canadian National Square Dance Convention, Calgary, Alberta. Multiple Callers. Info: Charles &
July 29-31
Bev Moore (877)850-2004 Emailfestival2004@cadvision.com
W e ste r n S t a r D a nc e r s
584 Ca st ro St reet #480
San Franc isco, CA 94114
 Convention
Report
W Western Star Dancers made a most respectable
appearance at the 21st annual convention of the
International Association of Gay Square Dance Clubs
(IAGSDC) at the luxurious Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in
Phoenix, Arizona on the Fourth of July weekend. More than
20 Stars made the trip, and had the time of their lives. In
addition, Tom Tripp, a club member from long ago, was
awarded a 20-year medallion, signifying 20 years of IAGSDC
conventions. Tom joins WSD’s Michael Stokes and Freeman
Stamper in the exclusive 20-year club.
From the Trail In Dance on Thursday evening, until
the Closing Ceremonies on Sunday night, the Frank Lloyd
Wright influenced hotel throbbed with the vibrancy of more
than a thousand LGBT square dancers from Denmark, Japan,
Canada, and across the US. Six rooms churned with dancers
from 9 each morning until 10 every night, with breaks for
meals, including a sumptuous banquet and hearty brunch business meeting. A seventh room was often used for specialty tips. Extremely
popular were the Leather Tip, Bear Tip, Moonshine Tip, Munchkin Tip, Redwood Tip, and two Women’s Tips.
Steve Scott and Daryl Daniels were WSD’s delegates to the IAGSDC Delegate Meeting. Besides various financial reports, the
delegates voted on the location of the 2008 convention. Cleveland was chosen. ChiTown Squares (Chicago), DC Lambda Squares
(Washington), and Times Squares (New York) have bid for the 2009 convention. Contact your delegates with any guidance on choosing
among those outstanding candidates. Four new clubs joined the IAGSDC: Gateway Squares from St. Louis, MO, Sun Coast Squares from St.
Petersburg, FL, Spin Cycle Squares from Eugene, OR, and Seaway Rainbows from Cornwell, Ontario. The Petersen Fund reported robust
health. This fund provides loans to clubs to assist in recruitment efforts. All Join Hands Foundation also reported a successful year. The
Foundation publishes the IAGSDC newsletters and ships fold-out display units to clubs around the country (with one additional display in
Canada) to assist in promoting gay square dance.
No less an expert than Anne Uebelacker raved about the skill of our Mainstream dancers, offering special kudos to the instructor.
Instructor/Caller Rich Reel deserves to feel pride and satisfaction with his students performances.
Desert Squares of Phoenix, with an assist from the T Squares from Tucson, did a marvelous job in hosting this year’s convention.
Each conventioneer got a handy canvas tote bag and a folding cooler, two very useful items. The convention apparel was attractive.
Some people found the many pools and the water slide more of an attraction than the dancing. Pool parties punctuated each
evening, as conventioneers attempted to cool off in the 105o Phoenix heat. However, reports claim that some of those parties got pretty hot.
That might not be a comment on the weather.
Monday, after the convention, as people trickled to the airport and back to the real world, many were planning for next year in
Santa Clara when the El Camino Reelers host Star Thru the Silicon Galaxy (reduced registration
fees apply until August 15). Registration is available at www.silicongalaxy.org.
 Gary Young: A Good Man is Worth a Second Look
An interviewed by Dan Smith, the second of two parts
D: Tell me about your experience with Western Star.
G: It was my first club and I got to see a different way of learning. There
were several people in my class who really, really struggled. They’d been
through it several times, and it’s just harder for them to learn. Ron Master
was the teacher and he likes to sing so we always got lots of singing calls
with him. Steve (my partner) prefers to go to nights when it is all singing
calls.
D: So you were learning with students who were struggling at Western Star?
G: Yes, and I was learning at a faster pace. That was when I said, “Well,
OK, let me learn some stuff on my own. I looked at the square dance
animations on the Internet. I also went ahead and joined Foggy City for
their Plus class so I could continue at the speed I was learning. I kept
going to Western Star and got different experiences with the various calls
and dancers.
D: When I first met you at Western Star, I asked you why you where taking
the class when you were obviously doing so much better then the rest of
we students. You told me that one of the reasons was to learn how to be
patient.
G: That’s right and that’s one of the things I’m still learning. You can learn
all the calls, but it’s a team sport so you learn to dance with different
people. Some people do it so much better then me but they keep a smile
on their faces. It makes everything better when you smile. I don’t smile
enough.
D: But you actually smile more than you did when I first met you.
G: I’m trying too. When I first started dancing I was just worried about
myself, now that I’ve learned some steps I’m thinking, “I’ve got to be a
better angel then that!”
D: Now you dance at four other clubs. Have you noticed any difference
between how the various clubs approach things?
G: The clubs have different purposes. I really like dancing down at El
Camino Reelers because they get 5 or 6 squares every week. It’s Silicon
Valley and a lot of people work down there and people also drive from
Hayward, San Jose, and all over.
D: How about Foggy City. Tell me about your experience with them.
G: In February of last year, Foggy City invited people from Western Star’s
Mainstream class to come over to Foggy City’s Club Night and get
practice. They weren’t having much attendance sometimes only four
dancers showed up. Their Thursday night Club Nights helped me out a lot
because sometimes I was the only student dancing with three angels.
Their Club Night callers, like Peggy Shumway and Fen Tamanaha, went
ahead and taught me a whole bunch of calls. They gave me the floor time
and taught me. That helped tremendously. By the time a call was taught
in class, I’d already been through it and gotten some floor time. Having
several Club Nights helped.
D: Now tell me about Midnight Squares. What’s your experience with
them?
G: I started Advanced class at Midnight Squares. The class was team
taught; Peggy would teach one week and Fen would teach the next week.
That was different for me. Whenever I hear different callers explaining and
teaching different calls I sometimes hear two opinions on things and
THAT really helps me. Going to different dances, and hearing different
callers really helps you.
D: How did you find Advanced class?
G: First, its handholds are different then Mainstream and Plus. In
Advanced you don’t keep your hands up. You keep them down toward
your sides. That’s how Caller Lab defines it. I’ve heard about a lot of
people getting hurt with their hands up, and people locking their thumbs
and stuff like that. As long as I get enough pressure pushing against
people’s palms, I prefer hands down.
Midnight Square’s Advanced class was one thing, but when I
started their C1 class (Challenge) I really, really had to study ahead
because that was a big jump. For me Advanced was just an extension of
Plus. I’d learned the definitions very well at Mainstream and Plus so
Advanced came fine. Challenge has a lot more calls. They don’t call it
Challenge for nothing, so I was a little apprehensive about showing up.
Then again, I knew if I didn’t take it then I might have to wait another year.
I went ahead and jumped right in. I studied for several hours a week.
Also during the 45 minute CALTRAN trip to Challenge class in Redwood City, I
studied. I was prepared, but there are people there who’ve been dancing for
years and years and I’d been dancing for about one year. I was a little bit
nervous about looking silly, but after a few weeks I got my confidence and kept
up with class just fine.
D: I’ve noticed that most people who reach a new level don’t go back to angel
at lower levels. Why do you angel Basic and Mainstream classes?
G: I learn from example. Don Queen has always come down to the intro classes
and to the Basic/Mainstream/Plus classes as an angel, and I’ve learned a lot
from him. He always emphasizes learning definitions as opposed to just going
to class and learning it by feel. Mainstream and Plus are what the rest of the
levels are built upon. If you have your Runs and Slides and Stars down it makes
dancing easier. Another thing is that if I angel the Mainstream and Plus classes
and they have more then enough to make a square, I can do what I saw Don
Queen doing, which is dancing in the back by himself. I picked that up and
started doing that myself.
D: Have you ever considered being a caller yourself?
G: Yes, I would like to do that eventually. I went to a one-day caller workshop
that Rich Reel had at the Friends School and that was a lot of fun. I knew
nothing about calling. He taught sight resolution and just being on the
microphone. After that I went back to my classes with more appreciation for
callers. It also helped me to keep up with what the callers were doing. I
thought, ‘Now I see why they’re doing that.” I’m not planning to call for a while
but I plan to go to Callers School in 2005. My partner Steve had Andy Shore
do an intro to square dancing at the International Bear Rendezvous in February.
Lots of people showed up and several of those people are anxious to start
taking classes.
D: Tell me about the two concepts, bear and peel-off.
G: I’m a bear and bears are hairy guys for those who don’t know. When I went
down to El Camino Reelers I found that they were heavily populated with bears.
It seems that a lot of bears are in the Tech field. Also at fly-ins I notice lots of
bears. At Convention they had a bear tip with maybe 200 people?
D: Were all 200 bears?
G: No, there were also people who like bears; it goes with the territory. I’d
heard about Peel-offs from a couple of people who had been. Last year in May
at Palm Springs was the first I was able to attend. I studied ahead so that I’d
know all the Plus calls by then. So the first fly-in that I went to was a Peel-off.
I’d stayed at that Nudist resort before and had had a nice relaxing week there. I
remembered that and I liked dancing so it seemed like a nice combination to
me. I was worried about styling. I figured one wrong kick during Weave the
Ring could be damaging but that didn’t seem to be the case. The only problem
was the first year I tried to go bare foot on the dry grass and my feet got cut up.
Most people wear shoes and socks when they dance. Make sure to wear
sunscreen and a hat.
D: That’s right and also remember that a good man is worth a second look!
 Board of Directors Elections, Membership Meeting Slated
Elections for the Western Star Dancers Board of Directors and
General Membership Meeting will be held in conjunction with Club
Night on September 15, 2004. Members interested in serving on the
board are asked to contact any current board member to be included
on the ballot. Ballots will be mailed to all members on September 1.
Ballots can be mailed in or hand delivered if you are unable to
attend the meeting. You will be voting for seven board members.
Dance Coordinator Kip Mackey has announced his
retirement from the board, with the possibility that one other position
will also be vacated. Club By-Laws call for a seven member board;
however, the board has been operating with six members for most of
the previous year.
The membership meeting promises to be short and to the
point. Major business will be voting on minor revisions to the By-
Laws, as well as reports on the state of the club.

Castro Fair Booth Funding Set

W
estern Star Dancers application for financial support from the Petersen Fund for the Castro Street Fair was successful. The Petersen
Fund was established by the IAGSDC upon receipt of a sizable bequest. The funds are specifically designated to be used for
recruitment and gay square dance promotion. Our partners in this project—Diablo Dancers, Foggy City Dancers, Midnight Squares,
and El Camino Reelers have been informed and urged to prepare recruitment brochures. Kip Mackey received the donation of a folding
booth on behalf of WSD. The covered booth will be useful, not only for the street fair, but also other events. Additionally, arrangements have
been made with the IAGSDC to borrow their traveling display for our use during the fair.
We are currently organizing sign-ups, and we'll be asking for help from both our membership and our partner clubs for help during
the Fair itself. We have plenty of time to organize, but we want to request your support in advance. Contact Dan Smith (Dansmit@pacbell.net,
415-551-8134) or Joe Iser (jpiser@pol.net, 415-268-9449) to volunteer or otherwise support our efforts.

Angel Island Picnic Ready to Get Underway

Reservations are closed, but you can still join us on a
revival of the Western Star Dancers Angel island Picnic on August
21. You will have to purchase your own ticket at full price and run
the risk of the ferry being completely booked by tourists. If you
make alternate arrangements to reach the island to join us, you will
be asked for a $10 donation.
Potluck is planned and being organized. The club will
provide plates, cups, and plasticware. Those with reservations will
arrange to bring a variety of food to provide a scrumptious feast.
Those who will be booking their own passage to the island are
requested to bring picnic food to share. Everyone is encouraged to
bring their own beverages. The club will not provide drinks.
We will assemble at Pier 41 on Fisherman’s Wharf at 9::15
AM for a 9:45 AM departure. Blue & Gold Fleet has denied us
permission to dance on the ferry. After we reach our picnic site (Hill
1, near the landing at Ayala Cove) and get organized, Rich Reel, our
caller, will lead us in a couple tips. Later, after lunch, there will be
more dancing, but there will be plenty of time for hiking around the
island or enjoying the tram tours. WSD is not responsible for
booking tram tours or making arrangements for other activities on
the island. Our return ferry leaves Angel Island at 3:20 PM.
Angel Island has a café with an extensive, but pricey, take-
out menu. Food and drinks will be only a short walk from our
picnic site. Go to www.angelisland.com and www.angelisland.org for
island information, as well as the café menu.. Bikes are welcome on
the island. Dogs, skates, skateboard, and scooters are prohibited.
Only charcoal can be used in the barbecues at the picnic area. If
you chose to cook something, you must being your own charcoal.
Don’t forget to bring sunscreen!

Leather & Lace to Feature Silent Auction

B
ring your checkbooks along when you come to WSD’s Leather & Lace Dance on September 25 from 7:30-10:30 p.m. The dance will
be held at San Francisco Friends Meeting (65-9th Street, between Market and Mission). Dave Decot from Santa Clara will be the caller.
Bob Brundage is organizing a collection of fine items for you to browse and bid on during the evening. A list of items up for
auction will not be available before the night of the dance. If you have items or services you can donate to the auction, please contact Bob
(bernalbob@cs.com, 415-826-0879). The club Board of Directors endorsed the silent auction as a means to raise funds to increase amenities
for club members and better promote Western Star Dancers.
In addition, members are strongly urged to bring food to the dance to share. The dearth of food at our last dance was an
embarrassment. Your support is essential, and your generosity is greatly appreciated.

New Caller Workshop Held
R ich Reel conducted a New Caller Workshop sponsored by
Western Star Dancers on Saturday, July 17 at the San Francisco
Friends Meeting. Although the turnout was smaller than expected, a
very talented group of novice caller took advantage of the
opportunity to hone their skills. In the evening, dancers arrived, and
enjoyed dancing to the calling of the rookie callers. Despite the
meager turnout, Rich was pleased with the workshop. Future
workshops are being planned. Watch your email and snail mail for
announcements.
EDITOR’S NOTE: I received a clipping from my sister:
An 85-year-old woman wrote to a friend: “I am trying very hard not
to put off or hold back anything that would add laughter and luster
to the lives of my family and friends. And every morning when I
open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special. Every day, every
minute, every breath is truly a gift from Goid. Life may not be the
party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.
Don’t Stop! Don’t Slow Down!
 German Visitors
Enlivened
June Club Night

C
lub Nights are always interesting, but the
June Club Night was especially enjoyable
because we were graced with four gentlemen
square dancers from Germany. The men, pictured
on the right with caller Peggy Shumway, had heard
about our club, were in the city, and asked if they
could dance with us. The men, representing two
straight clubs (there are no gay clubs in Germany),
only danced the lead position, and evidently
enjoyed learning some of the gay styling we use.
Especially interesting were the square
dance passports they carried. Each time they
dance with a new club, they get a new stamp or
signature in their passport. Inspired by this, WSD
has instituted a special “Guest Star” dangle for
visitors from clubs outside Northern California.
Come to Club Night. You never know
who you might meet!
August 7 Star Across Summer, El Camino Reelers. Mike DeSisto caller. 5 pm Potluck, 6:30 Intro/Demo, 7:30 P, A, C-1*.
5-10:30 pm $8/$10. St. Andrew’s Methodist Church, 4111 Alma Street, Palo Alto
August 14 Shore Leave Andy’s Farewell Dance, El Camino Reelers. Andy Shore caller. Floor level-C1. $5. St. Andrew’s
7:30-10:30 pm Methodist Church, 4111 Alma Street, Palo Alto
August 18
7-9 pm CLUB NIGHT Michael Levy caller. $3. Mission Playground
August 21 A N G E L I S L A N D P I C N I C Rich Reel caller. Meet at Pier 41 If you do NOT have a reservation, you
9:15 am-4-ish pm must arrange your own ferry passage (Blue & Gold Fleet). Please bring lots of food!
Peel Off in the Redwoods II for men, Wildwood Retreat, Guerneville, CA. Bill Eyler caller. Phone (602)674-3239.
August 27-29
Email peeloff@earthlink.com URL www.gaystyle.com/peel-off
September 4 Special Event Kip Mackey’s Pool Party. Potluck, Bring your own intoxicants, Soft drinks provided. 1035
1-8 pm Las Gallinas Avenue, San Rafael. RSVP: kipmackey@aol.com or 415-479-4759
Great Chicago Crossfire XV—Chariots of Crossfire, ChiTown Squares, Chicago. S. Bryant, K. Jensen, J. Oldfield, & A.
September 3-6
Uebelacker callers. Phone (708) 757-3751 Email cjpease@cjpcorp.com URL www.iagsdc.org/chi-townsquares
September 11 Plus/Advanced Dance, Midnight Squares. Anne Uebelacker caller. Plus, A2, C1* $8. San Francisco Friends School,
7-10 pm 117 Diamond Street, San Francisco
September 15 CLUB NIGHT Peggy Schumway caller. $3. Mission Playground
7-9 pm Membership Meeting & Board of Director Elections
Women’s Gathering at Silver Falls, Salem, OR. K. Jensen, TBA callers. Phone (925) 923-4062 Email
September 17-19
gchesler@ecis.com URL www.squaredancewomen.org
Moon Over Mailbu (for men), Malibu, CA. TBA caller/ Phone (877) 683-4781 Email wehojohn@aol.com
September 17-19
URL www.GaySquareDance.org
September 18 Harvest Dance, Foggy City Dancers. Eric Henerlau caller. MS, Plus, A*. $7/8. Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 678
7-10 pm Portola Drive, San Francisco
September 25 Leather & Lace Dance with Silent Auction. Dave Decot caller. MS, Plus, A*. $8/10. San Francisco
7:30-10:30 pm Friends Meeting, 65-9th Street, San Francisco

Twins?
Ammon Corl and Steve Scott celebrate San Francisco Pride
near the gay square dance booth which did a booming
business in temporary tattoos. Ammon and Steve will also
be celebrating on August 29, when they both commemorate
their birthdays.
Western Star Dancers
584 Castro Street #480
San Francisco, CA 94114
Ammon Bob Dan
Corl Brundage Smith
YOUR NEW WSD BOARD OF DIRECTORS
our 2005 Western Star Dancers
Y Board of Directors
announced at the General
was
Membership Meeting held on September 15.
Grey Todd was awarded the seventh seat
on the board courtesy of a vigorous write-
in campaign. All of the other candidates
won unanimously (What a surprise!). Steve
Scott, Club Administrator, chaired the
meeting; about 20 members were in
attendance.
An acknowledgement that the club
by-laws call for quarterly general meetings
was the first issue. General Membership
Meetings have become annual affairs, and
Grey Steve
Todd Scott
there seems no compelling reason to hold
them more often. A proposal to amend the
by-laws has already been presented to the
board.
Steve happily announced that all
three dances WSD sponsored last year, and
the Angel Island Picnic, made a profit for
the club. He recalled each of the three
dances, churning up pleasant memories. In
the club financial report, as of September
10, the club had $2252.94 in a checking
account and $2058.96 in a CD, reserved for
a future fly-in or other special event.
Achievements Steve recognized
from the past year included a new club logo
Daryl Joe
Daniels Iser
and uniforms, a new club banner, an
outstanding newsletter, and the return of
the WSD Angel Island Picnic.
announced that Daryl Daniels will be
Steve
organizing the picnic again next year, and
hoped the revitalized tradition would
continue. A vigorous campaign is already
underway to recruit for the Blue
Mainstream class (see below).
There being no new business
before the club, the meeting was short.
After introducing the new board members
to the club, the meeting was adjourned, and
club night dancing resumed. Your club is
healthy, and in capable hands.
Happy Campers
On Angel Island
October 4
7:30-9:30
Green Plus Class Completion, Mission Playground
Zoom to the Beach in a Yellow Submarine, Shoreline Squares, Long Beach. D. Carroll-
October 8-10
Jones, M. Kellogg, M. Levy Callers. Call (714) 534-3124, rcalward@uci.edu
Chase the Chili, The Wilde Bunch, Albuquerque. B. Eyler, K. Jensen, J. Jestin Callers.
October 8-10
Call (505) 255-2150, wildebunch@aol.com
Load the Boat XIV—Voyage of the Minnow, Cleveland City Country Dancers, Cleveland.
October 8-10
V. Ceder, D. Hodge Callers. Contact Jim036@aol.com
October 9 Spin Chain & Exchange the Seasons, Diablo Dancers. Dick Henschel Caller. MS, P, A*.
7:30-10:30 Jewish Community Center, 2071 Tice Valley Boulevard, Walnut Creek
October 18
7:30-9:30
Free Introductory Mainstream Class, Mission Playground
October 20
7:30-9:30
Club Night, Fen Tamanaha Caller, Mission Playground
Peel the Pumpkin—Times Squares Goes Broadway, Times Squares, NYC. B. Gotta, T.
October 22-24
Miller, C. Phillips Callers. Call (718) 624-5665, mail@timessquares.org
October 25
7:30-9:30
Blue Mainstream Class Begins, Mission Playground
Scares & Squares IX, Rosetown Ramblers, Portland, OR. D. Carroll-Jones, A. Shore
October 29-31
Callers. Call (503) 777-6442, rickh@agora.rdrop.com
November 6 Anniversary Dance, Foggy City Dancers. Mike DiSisto Caller. MS, P, A*. $7/$8 Ebenezer
7-10 Lutheran Church, 678 Portola Drive, San Francisco
Harpers Perry Hoedown X, DC Lambda Squares, Harpers Ferry, WV. D. Carroll-Jones, E.
November 12-14
McAtee, T. Miller Callers. Call (202) 986-7083, hfh@dclambdasquares.org
Trade by Fall, El Camino Reelers. Steve Minkin Caller. St. Andrew’s Methodist Church,
November 13
4111 Alma Street, Palo Alto
November 17
7:30-9:30
Club Night, Michael Levy Caller, Mission Playground
Afternoon of Dancing & Anniversary Dance, Prime 8’s/Capital City Squares. B. Eyler
November 20 Caller. A1/A2/C* afternoon, MS/P/A* evening. Location TBA. Contact Capital City
Squares
Weave the Rain, Squares Across the Border, Vancouver, BC. T. Crawford, A. Uebelacker
November 26-28
Callers. Call (604) 254-8994, jsm@telus.net
December 4 Relay the Reindeer, Diablo Dancers. Jet Roberts Caller. MS, P, A*. Jewish Community
7:30-10:30 Center, 2071 Tice Valley Boulevard, Walnut Creek
WESTERN STAR DANCERS
584 CASTRO STREET #480
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114
 BOARD APPROVES BYLAW TWEAKS
The Western Star Dancers Board of
Directors approved three amendments to
the club bylaws. The changes redefine
certain issues to better reflect the reality of
our present operations.
The changes will not take effect
until such time as ballots can be mailed, and a
Membership Meeting with a vote can be
scheduled, probably next spring.
The bylaws were last amended in
1998. Contact Daryl Daniels if you wish a
copy of them.
The three amendments are:
1. Article 4: General Meetings, Section A currently
reads:
A general meeting open to all members
shall be held at least once every four (4)
months with the cycle beginning in
January of each calendar year.
It is proposed that this section be amended to read: financial status. The Treasurer will issue a
A general meeting open to all members financial report to the Board of Directors
shall be held at least annually in September. at each Board of Directors meeting. The
Treasurer shall be appointed from among
2. Article V Board of Directors Section D Subsection any of the members of the Board.
b currently reads:
Treasurer. In addition to maintaining the 3. Article VII Finances Section A currently reads:
financial records of the Club, the Treasurer A checking account shall be maintained.
must be one of the co-signatories of the Two signatures shall be required on all
Club's bank accounts and is authorized to checks. These two people shall not be co-
release information as tot the Club's residents (whenever possible).
financial status. The Treasurer may be
appointed from among any of the members It is proposed that this section be amended to read:
of the Club. A checking account shall be maintained.
The Treasurer is responsible for the
It is proposed that this subsection be amended to read: maintenance of the club accounts. A
Treasurer. In addition to maintaining the second Board member will also have check
financial records of the Club, the Treasurer writing privileges, but two signatures will
must be one of the two signatories of the not be required on checks. These two
Club's bank accounts and is authorized to people shall not be co-residents (whenever
release information as to the Club's possible).
 Do you come to Club Night?
What would it take to get you to come?
How can we attract more dancers to Club Night?

Interviews by Dan Smith

Grey Todd: Sure. The only one I’ve Steve Scott: I see Club Night as continuing
missed is last Month’s, actually. I my active participation in this club. I
have mixed feelings about them. I feel like if I did not regularly attend I
want to support them and I want would not be fully supporting the club. I
them go. Unfortunately I’m going to see it as a place to workshop some
miss this month’s too. things that we maybe have just learned.
Also I see it as a place to party and
Matt Thomson: I don’t go to Club Nights. socialize with my friends.
Well I come rarely. Western Star’s Club
Dan Smith: I know that for myself, being a
Night is on Wednesday, which is in poor person…Well, whose go lots of money
conflict with El Camino Reelers. sometimes…I have everything I want in life,
right. I’m not complaining about not being
David Murphy: I wish more people rich. I have everything and all the time in
the world. But there are some times I can’t
would go. I think in class it
come to Club Night because I haven’t got
should be mentioned that there’s
three dollars. Perhaps we should put
Club Night and students could go ‘Donation’ on the money jar.
to solidify their dancing.
Russ King: Ah yes, the eternal Club Night problem.. As
you may remember from that Interview I gave you,
Ammon Corl: Club night is tricky for me
it's nothing new. I think the present location doesn't
to make during the work week. I usually help, but that will eventually improve, and there's
work late and when I do get off of nothing to be done about it in the meantime. One thing
work I often just feel like getting off the top of my head--in those various [email]
back home, eating dinner, and catching reminders we get, find a way to mention the featured
club-night caller that month. If I'm toying with the
some face time with Joel before he
idea of going but I don't know who the caller is (I may
goes to bed. It would be much easier
have misplaced my newsletter, etc), that info sometimes
to make club nights if they were on a could make a difference.
weekend.
 An Editorial by Daryl Daniels

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the Western
Star Dancers or the Board of Directors.

S ince taking up square dancing a short two years ago, some my greatest joys and some of my
testiest frustrations are because of Club Night. As soon as I could, I was attending Club Night.
I immediately saw it as a good place to get floor time and more dancing. I’m grateful to the
Club Night callers who would preview calls before they were taught in class. I felt more confident
on class nights because I’d rehearsed the calls. On the other hand, there was the night we were
locked out due to some miscommunication, and the night with only five dancers.
Western Star Dancers by no means is the only club that has difficulty getting a full square on
Club Night. Diablo Dancers merged their Club Night with their class night. El Camino Reelers just
have class nights. Foggy City Dancers and Midnight Squares both have two Club Nights scheduled
a month, but attendance is spotty. Clearly, in our case, Club Night attendance has lagged since
leaving Eureka Valley Rec, which can be attributed to being away from 18th & Castro, i.e., the center
of the universe, and being in a neighborhood with little parking.
Club Nights were instituted as an opportunity for club members to get together for dancing,
workshopping calls, sharing a bit of pot luck, and socializing with old friends. How different to hear
someone say they only showed up to fill out the square. Club Nights have lost their attraction for
many members. People don’t attend for reasons ranging from work to dancing with other clubs to
personal time. The competition for time is fierce in the 21st Century. Life goes on, conditions
change, commitments develop. Club Night may not be your highest priority.
The objective for the Board of Directors is not to coerce or persuade members to come to Club
Night, but to find how to best provide the social activities to support club members. Perhaps the
club would better be served by something like one of these options:
Sponsoring joint club nights with other clubs
More scheduled weekend dances and cancel Club Nights
Hosting more social activities (picnics, etc.)
Hiring different callers
Merging Club Nights with class nights, as other clubs have done

Traditionally, members have been asked to pay $3 admission for Club Night. The purpose
was to raise enough money to pay the caller, akin to passing the hat at the end of the dance to pay
the musicians. Club Nights are not intended to make money. No one should absent themselves
because their cash flow dried up. The $3 is a donation. The Board has decided to do away with Club
Night sign in sheets since they serve little purpose, except emphasizing who doesn’t have cash.
Ultimately, the issue is not what to do about Club Night, but what activities can get more
club members involved. Western Star Dancers is a club with excitement and vibrancy. Keeping it
so is the challenge.
Your opinions and comments are welcome.
 Redesigned Badges Available Soon
New, white badges are being crafted based on the club’s new
colorful logo. Shortly after the debut of the club banner, Tony Attard asked
for a badge of the same design. With slight modifications, the designed is
making its translation, as shown on the left. The badge will have rhinestones
on the tips of the star, just as our present badge has.
Administrator Steve Scott, an enthusiastic supporter of the new
white badges, pointed out that they will set us apart from the other two
groups in the city who have black badges.
The Blue Mainstream class will receive the new badges. Club
members will have the option of buying their own.

Test yourself and see if you can find the 35 square dance terms hidden in the puzzle. The words may run horizontal,
vertical, diagonal forward or backward. Circle those you find.

A B C D W R O N G W A Y G R A N D E F G
H B E N D T H E L I N E I J K I L M N O
L P Q P R S T U V W X G Y T R A D E B Y
E Z C A A C E G I K M N O Q S H U S L U
F C A S T O F F W C Y I W E L C Y C E R
T B L S D F H J L N L H E P R S U O E H
A W I T H A R X A C F O A H K E M O H T
L V F H S D O P A S O J V A C I E T W N
L G O R J L N P R C V U E E W D B B S I
E D R U B O X T H E G N A T R A F A I A
M H N I P R O M E N A D E A K L P C R H
A L I J L N P R A T V X Z L A B E K R C
N A A K N P L A R E G H P U H G E A E N
D E T A K E P A S R Q Z O C H D L O F I
E D W A F T T D O S I D O R I T O P M P
A D I T B S C D Z O O M E I F G F H I S
J N R K L R U N M U N P Q C S T F V W X
Z A L C B D I V E T H R U D F G H J K L
R L T I U I O P Q T A G T H E L I N E Z
X E V R Y E L L O W R O C K C V B N M A
S E F C G H J K F L U T T E R W H E E L
K L Q L W E R T U R N T H R U Q W O P G
H W G E P O T E H T N A F A E I O U X N
BEND THE LINE FLUTTERWHEEL TAG THE LINE
BOX THE GNAT FOLD THAR
CALIFORNIA TWIRL HINGE TRADE BY
CAST OFF LADIES CHAIN TURN THRU
CENTERS OUT LEFT ALLEMANDE VEER LEFT
CIRCLE PASS THRU WEAVE
CIRCULATE PEEL OFF WHEEL AND DEAL
CLOVER LEAF PROMENADE WRONG WAY GRAND
DIVE THRU RECYCLE YELLOW ROCK
DO PASO RUN ZOOM
DO SI DO SCOOT BACK
FAN THE TOP SPIN CHAIN THRU
FERRIS WHEEL STAR
December 4 Relay the Reindeer Diablo Dancers. Jet Roberts Caller. MS, P, A* Jewish Community
7:30-10:30 Center, 2071 Tice Valley Boulevard, Walnut Creek
December 10-12 PACE Caller Appreciation. Saturday C2. Oak Park Center, 1700 Oak Park Boulevard.
TBA Pleasant Hill
December 15 Club Night & Holiday Party with White Elephant Gift Exchange
7:30-9:30 Rich Reel Caller, Mission Playground
January 7-9 PACE Mike Jacobs Caller. Saturday C1. Oak Park Center, 1700 Oak Park Boulevard.
TBA Pleasant Hill
Promenade Down Peacetree IV Hotlanta Squares, Atlanta, GA. Callers: D. Carroll-Jones,
January 14-16
G. Monday, J. R. St. Jean. Info: 770-934-6388, ehlieb@bellsouth.net
Swing Thru Arizona Desert Valley Squares, Phoenix, AZ. Callers: B. Eyler, A. Shore.
January 14-16
Info: 602-331-8839, Gordon@SwingThruAZ.com
January 15 Swap Around the Clock El Camino Reelers. St. Andrews Methodist Church, 4111 Alma
TBA Street, Palo Alto
January 19
7:30-9:30
Club Night! Ron Masker Caller. Mission Playground
January 22 New Year’s Ball Capital City Squares. MS, P, A*. Email Capital City Squares for
7:30-10 details.