General Meeting called to order at 9:04 AM
Please turn off your cell phones
CALL TO ORDER President, Joyce (Mike) Welton
ROLL CALL Secretary, Lorri McIntosh
Absent Roger and Linda Putzler, Goodwill Ambassador; Rikki Lobato, Goodwill Ambassador
INVOCATION Immediate Past President, Pat (Cheri) Cox
FLAG SALUTE 1st Vice President, Dave (Patty) Cooper
MINUTES Secretary, Lorri McIntosh
Motion Marilyn Schmit motioned to approve the minutes, Zola Jones second the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
PRESIDENT – Joyce (Mike) Welton
In keeping with my theme this year, I’ve been doing some research on ways to help with promotion. I suggest that you view “If you don’t build it, they won’t come!” Keynote address by Nancy Raiha from 2024 Washington State Festival. It’s on YouTube and well worth the time. There’s lots of tips for recruitment and retention.
Squaredancetech.com is an excellent resource for videos and artwork, many of them free. The recent posting of two videos where callers sing about dancers not dancing what they call, and dancers sing about callers not calling what they dance is truly hilarious and were created by Ray Owens, the square dance tech. Also check out your local radio station. They may consider airing a short ad (1 minute) at no charge as a public service which could air a few times a day. Make it fun.
Caller Shaun McKinney requested the opportunity to talk to the OFSRDC Board before he had to go call. Shaun thanked the Board for the scholarship he received in 2025.
1ST VICE PRESIDENT – Dave (Patti) Cooper
No report.
2026 MID-WINTER - Karyn (Matthew) Buchheit
A lot of fun was had by everyone. There were 707 registrants, a decrease from last year. 51 youth registered for this year. We do not have financial information at this time.
Joyce Welton: I noticed you had a New Dancer Hall, how was that received. Karyn Buchheit: we did not have the numbers like in previous years. When a caller sits for 20 minutes with no dancers, it’s not fair to the callers or anyone else. Joyce: it would be nice if we had some place for new dancers. Karyn: that is an unknown due to the new list from CALLERLAB. Vicki Pounds: I couldn’t find the schedule for the New Dancers Hall on the web page. Karyn: it was sent to the webpage and Facebook. It was on both the Midwinter and OFSRDC Facebook pages. Callers also shared it on Facebook. Vicki: please put it on the webpage. Betty Chipps: during Terry’s time in the New Dancers Hall, there were only a couple angels. Joyce: information on the New Dancers Hall was included in a list at the front desk.
2027 MID-WINTER FESTIVAL - Brooke Davison
Things are progressing, promo dance on Saturday, have sold about 85 ribbons for next year. Committee meetings will begin in May.
OREGON FEDERATION NEWS - Tim (Kathy) Roberts
Good reports are coming in on classes. We hope that we will continue on to graduation. We have about 820 subscribers.
2ND VICE PRESIDENT – Julia Buchheit
Please make sure your clubs have started updating their information on the OFN. Please make sure your clubs are not going through the entire update just to update a dance or add a flyer. Have already received updated info from one club 5 times. We had approx. one third of clubs that did not update information in the Federation.
SECRETARY - Lorri McIntosh
Make sure and have clubs update their information asap, election ballots will be going out after February 2nd to whoever is listed on the Federation website.
TREASURER – Lane Clem
If you received an email requesting money, I did not send it.
Thank you for entrusting me with the duties of Treasurer. In the Treasurer’s report, please look at Line 101.20 comparison of last year’s balances as of December compared to this year. Last year, the balance was roughly $46,000. This year it is overdrawn by $4,500. On the other hand, if you look at Line 102.00 that account was overdrawn last year and has a balance this year. Hopefully it will be cleaned up. Our savings is $5,000 less than last year. We had a lot of expenses. Marilyn had to take funds out of reserves to cover our expenses. Next page, loss comparison – we had about $1,000 more income but about $4,000 more expenses than this time last year. The final report is a comparison to the budget. If you drop down to total income, we budgeted $15,000 income – we had $11,000. I’m not concerned about the discrepancies since it all flows through the year.
MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN – Susan Harrel
No Report.
INSURANCE CHAIRMAN – Vicki Pounds
Doing a survey for those who did electronic reporting last year is going to occur soon. I want to see how things went for those clubs that did electronic reporting.
The 2026 enrollment has been completed.
| Jan 2024 | |
| Total club membership: | 1,614 |
| Total members: | 1,298 |
| Jan 2025 | |
| Total club membership: | 1,598 |
| Total members: | 1,282 |
| Before 2026 enrollment | |
| Total club membership: | 1,801 |
| Total members: | 1,457 |
| Jan 2026 | |
| Total club membership: | 1,524 |
| Total members: | 1,253 |
| As of this report: | |
| Total club membership: | 1,579 |
| Total members: | 1,284 |
I will have copies of the membership by individual club at the January meeting.
There have been 0 accident reports.
I will be preparing to set up next year's enrollment open to all clubs. The P&P's will be changed to reflect the new process. One item for discussion is the new role the Insurance Committee consisting of the council delegates will be.
PAST PRESIDENT – Patrick (Cherie) Cox
Nominations:
No nominations from the floor. Nominations are open until February 1st.
No nominations from the floor. Nominations are open until February 1st.
No nominations from the floor. Nominations are open until February 1st.
Dave Cooper reported that Frances Ramey was on the nomination committee and was not contacted about any meeting.
Randall Award: Lane and Marie Clem and Rick Hawes were nominated. Rick Hawes received the award. We received votes that did not identify which councils voted. Cherie Cox: she would have liked to send reminders out but did not know who to send them to. Doris Koozer: a reminder would have given her heads up to vote on the Randall Award because she did not vote.
PARLIAMENTARIAN - Tim (Kathy) Roberts
No report.
EDUCATION/PUBLICITY - Kathy (Tim) Roberts
Thank you to the 23 people who attended yesterday‘s education seminar on what to do in the event of a medical emergency during a square dance. The seminar was led by Lorri McIntosh. She did a wonderful job, shared lots of information and helped us know what to do in the event that somebody was injured. Thank you, Lorri. Lorri will be teaching the seminar again at the National Convention in June.
I’ve started asking for all of the flyers for this year‘s festivals. I posted my request on Facebook a month ago and have only received two flyers. Thank you to those festivals. Delegates, please go back to your clubs that are hosting 2-to-3-day festivals and ask them to send me their flyer. I would like to start advertising your events.
I would like to encourage everyone again to use our free publicity tools that are available to you. I asked Tim to go through the OFN and see how many clubs were using the free advertising the OFN provides. Only about 60% of the clubs are taking advantage of the advertising. Fewer than 60% use Facebook. The OFN has 820 subscribers. Facebook has over 1,200 people worldwide. Please don’t pass up these free opportunities to advertise your club events and lessons. Clubs, in order to succeed you need to advertise. Please remember if you or any of your clubs need help creating flyers are posting, please contact me. I am here to help.
I continue to monitor the Federation Facebook page. Sharing post from other square dance pages, monitor activity, offer assistance when needed, and remove spammers.
Tami Helms: TVC requested every club to send a participant to the education seminar.
HISTORIAN - Marilyn (Ron) Schmit
I took two banker boxes of paperwork to a shredding event and got rid of a bunch of Federation paperwork that was old enough to be done with. As I go through more past records that I have here, that paperwork will also go to a shredding event in the future. I still need to go through a couple of containers in my garage for banners and flags to turn over to Dave Cooper for the collection at the Beachcomber Cove. Hopefully before the Federation meeting occurs.
LICENSING – Brooke Davison
BMI and ASCAP fees are paid. Sent invoices and payment confirmations to Lane via email. Requested reimbursement from Federation, received today. Event Reports for 2025 were also submitted to BMI & ASCAP. Sent memo to Mid Winter Festival Chairwoman for reimbursement of their portion of the music licensing fees. Should receive that check at the Federation meeting Sunday morning.
Was asked a few interesting questions recently about the nuances of the caller and cuer licenses. Submitted variation of those questions with my interpretation/answer to OFN for distribution to subscribers. This went out last week. Tim Roberts: good article. Lane Clem: that was a good article. Question, there was nothing addressed about classes and using prerecorded cues so the cuer could be on the floor. Brooke Davison: this falls under the same as recording over music unless you have a mechanical license, pre-recording your voice with cues or calls is not covered with BMI/ASCAP, not without a mechanical license. Tami Helms: does not agree, if you are using it yourself for classes it should be OK. Discussion about whether pre-recording is legal or not without a mechanical license. Patrick Cox: please look into that if the caller/cuer is in the room and using it as a teaching aid – they are using their own music that they have bought and paid for. Brooke: we are not talking about the physical location of the caller and cuer. I encourage callers and cuers to go to their licensing board if they have or check with a lawyer. Tim Keck: I’ve had a lot of experience with recording voice over music. If the music or the voice is on separate tracks, neither have been mixed there is no violation.
YOUTH - Karyn Buchheit
24 youth ribbons were given out this year. Youth receiving the ribbons were lower income families, kids who are on their own. We are encouraging the youth to apply for the OFSRDC scholarship and the USDA Youth scholarships.
ORDTA - Tami Helms (Tim Keck)
August 21 & 22, 2026, ORDTA round dance weekend is happening. We have booked the Emerald Empire dance hall and are working on advertising & flyers. We are hoping to get volunteers to head some committees for this event at our meeting this weekend. Rounds will be Phases 2-5 with workshops and teaches.
Our in-person meeting in October was well attended with a workshop on Dance Wizard. Tami & Tim presented the 4 Count Hustle.
ROUND DANCE SCREENING - Tami Helms (Tim Keck)
January
Blue Mountains Council chose Dark Waltz, Phase II Waltz
February
Central Oregon Council chose Magnolia Tree, Phase II Two-Step
March OROM will be a Classic round selected by ORDTA members.
CALLER LIAISON - Terry Halley (Betty Chipps)
As your Caller Liaison for the State I think it is my job to keep you informed as to what is happening with Square Dancing from the Caller’s point of view. I am, therefore, keeping tabs on the progression of the CallerLab’s new Proposal which is supposed to go into effect on: September 1, 2026.
In my previous article, I outlined that CallerLab has taken Basic 1 + Basic 2 and ‘select’ Mainstream moves with a couple other moves and created a new list: they call it the “Mainstream List.,” a list of 50 calls i.e. the Beginners 50 if you will.
For the second 50, CallerLab has taken Mainstream moves that were not placed in the first 50, along with PLUS moves AND at least seven (7) Advanced (A-I) moves to make the second 50 Moves List which they call the “PLUS List.”
As a Caller, I have one or two issues with the first 50 “Mainstream List” Additionally I have a few MAJOR issues with the second 50 or “PLUS List”. I am including a copy of each List with my Report.
The calls that have been moved have changed the plus dancers more than the mainstream dancers. The changes start September 1 and will be gradually worked into as a process. The Plus dancer is the one most effected by the changes. Betty Chipps: the 50/50 in changes in calls is to benefit the dancers, the problem is the caller and clubs are going to need to adapt for the changes.
WEBMASTER - Tim (Kathy) Roberts
No report.
STATE FAIR - Marilyn (Ron) Schmit
The letter informing the State Fair that the Federation would like to dance in August at the fair, will go out before the Federation meeting in April. We will then wait until June/July timeframe for a reply and possible schedule. Will keep you informed as time goes by.
USDA - Marilyn (Ron) Schmit
Deadline for USDA Scholarship to the end of March. There are 3 available. $2500, $1500, and $1000. Works for trade schools. Lorri McIntosh: We need to know who is going to the National Square Dance Convention so that Joyce can appoint delegates. We need a full set of delegates. There are 12 Oregonians currently attending.
BACKGROUND CHECK - Tim (Kathy) Roberts.
We are now caught up through Mid-Winter 2027.
Since the motion was made in September, we have made decisions about the dance in Roseburg on March 22nd. The dance will be sponsored by the Beachcombers, Buckeroos, Charlie Browns, and Star Promenaders Square Dance Clubs. There will be round dancing and square dancing. We have our callers but still need cuers. The information is on Facebook and in the OFN.
We are no longer requesting money from the Federation. We only want your support. I withdraw my motion.
Question for the committee: Should we hold a Summer Festival in 2026 and if not, what are some options to holding a Summer Festival in 2026?
Committee Appointed by President Joyce Welton: September 14, 2025
Committee: Chair Dave Cooper (Elected Officer), Robert Swee (Delegate), and Kathy Roberts (Appointed Officer)
Committee Chair Dave Cooper contacted each person on the committee individually to discuss whether or not we should hold a summer festival in 2026. During the conversation, we also discussed options for our summer OFSRDC meeting.
All committee members agreed that due to the number of Oregon festivals that are already scheduled to be held during 2026 that we should not hold a Summer Festival in 2026.
OFSRDC Club/Council Festivals that were scheduled at the time of this report.
Why do we hold Summer Festivals?
◦ Traditionally poorly attended regardless of the topic
◦ Realistically, the Federation has money. This should be a minor consideration as profits are not guaranteed nor consistent
Previous Summer Festival Data
Year Profit Attendance ◦ 2017 Not Reported 443 ◦ 2018 $613.86 Not reported ◦ 2019 $1,890.18 304 ◦ 2020 No Summer Festival ◦ 2021 No Summer Festival ◦ 2022 $101.74 170 ◦ 2023 No Summer Festival ◦ 2024 $320.00 228 ◦ 2025 $854.64 225
Why do we need a meeting during the summer? Federation responsibilities during Summer Festival:
Payment due in September when you pick up the State Directories
Options for our OFSRDC summer meeting if we do not hold a summer festival
Committee Recommendations
Motion: Brooke moved to accept the committee report, Robert Swee seconded the report. All those in favor of having no summer festival and having a zoom meeting for summer, passed unanimously.
The summer OFSRDC will be a Zoom meeting on Sunday, June 7, at 9:00 am.
Lorri McIntosh postponed the discussion to the next meeting. RECESS
After seeing the committee report, Laura Irvan: the dancers do not attend because there are so many options to attend. Betty Chipps: the PAC clubs felt that rotating through the meeting was enough and do not want to host a festival. Dave Cooper: if we don’t have a summer festival, maybe we need to have funds from each club. Robert Swee: festivals are not easy to put on, the numbers are small and it’s a lot of work for the numbers and funds. Lorri McIntosh: this is a positive activity for the council, club or entity that host the festival as for profits. Cece Glidewell: eliminating the summer festival is not a good idea. Kathy Roberts: some of the revenue came from River City Dancers’ clothing sale. Joyce Welton: take this back to your clubs and council and see if anyone wants to sponsor a summer festival. Michael Kious: there are a lot of small festivals, maybe the Federation could back the small festival and receive a donation from the small festival. Doris Koozer: this could be simplified for summer festival trying to maintain a round dance hall is not easy. Dedicating halls for individual dances makes it difficult. Because it’s a big hall it looks bad when we have so few dancing in each hall. Joyce Welton: California and Washington have gone to just one festival, maybe that is something to look at in Oregon. If we have one festival and support Washington state festival. We will discuss this at the next Federation meeting. Tami Helms: it’s hard for a council to host a summer festival if they have little time. Bill Coen: ran a summer festival- when we did it we asked PAC who did not have funds to put it on. The Federation provides the seed money for our summer festival.
BLUE MOUNTAINS COUNCIL - David (Sally) Stutzman
Nothing to report
CENTRAL OREGON COUNCIL – Robert Swee
Central Oregon Council held a very successful Council dance on 10/31/2025 with 50 dancers attending. Craig Abercrombie was caller and cuer.
High Desert Dancers
High Desert Dancers held a community dance on December 6th. There were 30 guests from the Central Oregon area that attended. Their fall lessons class had 17 participants. High Desert Dancers has set up for attending dancers the ability to use Zelle for paying their admission donation. Research was done looking at a few cashless payment methods and Zelle became the initial choice as there is no fee to use Zelle.
Red Rocks
Red Rocks will be starting their new dancers’ lessons on February 15th. Debbie Klug will be the instructor. Red Rocks had their annual food drive and were able to donate 367 pounds of food in addition to $193.00.
Sagebrush Shufflers
Sagebrush Shufflers held a dance on New Year’s Eve. They had a good turnout to dance to caller Scott Zinser and cuer Tom Klug. A toast was held at 9:00 as the ball in New York was dropped. Lessons will start on January 11, 2026, with Kippen Parret as the instructor.
EMERALD EMPIRE AREA - Zola Jones
I had a very special time, as always, at Mid-Winter Festival; enjoyed seeing you and all the rest of my square dance family 'special' friends. I did better than I thought I would; re. my problems with knees, hips, and back, although the really 'cold' weather did affect the rheumo. arthritis in my hands.
On Friday, January 16, 2026 our Single Trees club held a special meeting where they voted in favor of joining with our Whirl-A-Ways club to form a New Club in our Area, and on Saturday, January 17; at their regular business Meeting, Whirl-A-Ways also voted in favor of joining with Single Trees! A Committee will be formed with members from both clubs ASAP, to start the process of forming the new club. We will have more information on the progress at the next Federation Meeting.
Again, this year; the special fun weekend, "Life's a Dance Festival" will be on August 14 to 16, at the Emerald Square Dance Center, (as before), in Springfield. Our area Cascade Callers & Cuers club is sponsoring the event this year, and flyers with schedule and registration information are on the Federation Website and Facebook.
All of our clubs are dancing, except Misty Valley Cloggers. Clubs have been having "New Dancer Dances", and getting the new dancers ready to come to Mid-Winter Festival. Roger and Linda Putzler plan to graduate their class January 27, at the Emerald Square Dance Center.
Our next Area Council meeting is Monday, January 19, where the candidates will be announced for our council election at our March 16, 2026, meeting. Our council officers serve a 2-year term.
Square Dance Jamboree in March- I have flyers to give for your new dancers
So, you and yours stay safe and well, and I'll see you in April at K.Falls
INTERSTATE HIGHLANDERS - Cece (Sarge) Glidewell
The Klamath Country Squares will start Spring 2026 lessons on March 3, 2026, for rounds and March 5 for Squares at the Knights of Columbus building. This 13-week session will end May 28. There may be some dancing at the Glidewell’s over summer break. The club will be back at the Knights of Columbus in the Fall for another session introducing the new mainstream list published by Callerlab.
The Interstate Highlanders Council is hosting the April 2026 OFSRDC meeting. The KC Squares will host the dinner dance on April 18, 2026, as this is also the club’s 51st birthday dance. The featured caller and cuer are Lawrence Johnstone and MaryAnn Callahan. The Federation meeting is Sunday, April 19, 2026. The entire event will be held at the Knights of Columbus building at 1910 Greensprings Dr.
Schedule of Events Saturday, April 18, 2026 Time: Officer and Delegate Meetings (if required) 3:30-4:30pm Dinner TBD 5:00-6:00pm Pre-Rounds w/Mary Ann Callahan 6:15-6:45pm Introductions and Ceremony 6:45-7:00pm SSD/MS/Plus Dance w/ Lawrence Johnstone 7:00-9:30pm Adults $10.00 per person Youth $5.00 per person Sunday, April 19 2026 OFSRDC Meeting 9:00am-12:00pm
Next meeting is in Klamath Falls the third weekend in April, the club will be 50 something.
Potato Festival is cancelled for 2026.
MID-WILLAMETTE AREA COUNCIL - Brooke Davison
Mid-Willamette had a successful new dancer season with almost 20 Ambassadors Badge handed out to new dancers who have attended all or all but 1 new dancers’ dances in our area. Clubs that had lessons have either graduated their classes or will be graduating them soon. Some clubs are planning winter lessons too, including Plus lessons.
PORTLAND AREA COUNCIL - Betty Chipps (Terry Halley)
PAC Report: PAC’s next business meeting is February 16 at the Oak Grove Community Club, 7:30pm.
PAC is seeking nominee(s) for President, as Jeff Knapp announced he will not seek re-election in 2026. Please let us know of anyone interested in being the next PAC President - there is plenty of help and plenty of time to train, nomination deadline is February 16, 2026, voting is March 16. and newly-elected officers assume responsibilities in June.
Evergreen Council, Vancouver, WA - News
Evergreen Council will host the TVC Tri-Council dance on Saturday MAY 30, 2026 …
Where and who will be the Caller & Cuer - to be advised.
Oregon Federation of Square and Round Dance Clubs (OFSRDC) - News and Events
Mark your calendars …The Oregon Federation Dance and Meetings on September 19 & 20, 2026 will be co-hosted by Bachelor & Bachelorettes - theme: Harvest Moon - caller: Randy Dibble and Tami Helms cues. IMPORTANT: ***No RV Parking.***
News, Events & PAC Club Reports:
On January 30, 2026 PAC will host a 5th Friday dance (door $7) at Oak Grove Community Center featuring Julie Stiers at 7:00pm with Pre-Rounds. Scott Zinser calls 7:15pm PLUS and MS at 8:00-9:30pm. Won’t you please join us?
PAC Clubs News and Advertising Updates:
Bachelor ‘n Bachelorettes (BnBs), Abernethy Grange, Oregon City
Advertising Update: BnBs is currently not promoting our own lessons. We only do lessons in the fall. This past fall we advertised our lessons on facebook, email to previous students, and we did a direct mailer. None of those brought in any students. We did however bring in 11 to our first night by the sandwich board at the end of our road and by word of mouth. Unfortunately, none of them stayed to complete the lessons. I am not sure how we will approach promoting them this year.
In the meantime, however, we do a lot to promote square dancing with posts on Facebook, posting flyers in halls and by a bi-monthly email sent to about 75 dancers.
We regularly promote local club’s dances, festivals, lessons, and some extra events. We also promote many events that are out of our local area like state, national and regional festivals, cruises, and the like.
Chaps and Petticoats (C&P), dances (each 1st/3rd Fridays) and Lessons given (each Sunday) at Maplewood Grange in Aurora. We advertise via flyers in the Oregon Federation News (OFN), on the Federation Facebook page and post on other local business websites.
Outside our hall, dances, lessons and contact information is posted on a stationary signboard. Additionally, once a year in August we perform square dance on stage, Scott Zinser gives an audience teach and we hand out mini-flyers & business cards at the Canby Fair - unfortunately, this exposure has brought no students - we receive ‘oohs & aahs’ but are considered only live entertainment. We also post our lessons in the Willamette area local newspapers. We regularly promote other club dances, as well, via our poster board and word-of-moutn.
Results from Targeted Mail advertising (occurred via postcards (circulated over two months, different times) brought one student to the Chaps - he was a retread, attended three lessons nights & after a vacation break never returned. We find people seem to shy from long-term commitments. The good news is we retained two students through other advertising.
We find word-of-month conversations have been the most fruitful.
Country Cut-Ups, Boring Barn, dance 1st, 4th & 5th SAT. and give Lessons on Thursdays.
Outside signage is also posted and does bring in additional students. A most effective resource has been postings among home-school programs. This club also has an outside floor - an attraction for angel dancers in the summer.
Cut-Ups BINGO nights are 2nd & 4th Friday’s and are the best exposure in the community.
Happy Hoppers at Washington Grange in Vancouver, WA offer 8-week Lessons each Monday. with Caller Craig Abercrombie. Square.& Round dances are 1st SAT PLUS and 3rd SAT: is MS
See website for specific information.
Head to Center, Milwaukie Grange: Thursdays 7:00-8:30pm - a PLUS taped calls club, Callers: Rick Hawes and Rob Page. Phone first to confirm status: 503-808-7361
On 2nd Saturdays, monthly $5 dances may be scheduled at the Oak Grove Community. Club in Oak Grove from 4:00-6:00 pm to a live Caller - call first for information.
River City Dancers (RCD), Milwaukie Community Club Darrell Kalmbach, club caller.
Lessons offered Sundays. Dances are held each 2nd & 4th SAT, 7:00 pm Plus w/Rounds, 7:30-9:30pm MS w/Rounds with Tami Helms. RCD did not have a fall class because of no students. We had a banner posted outside the hall for 4 weeks prior to starting. We did a bulk mailing for 3 consecutive weeks before starting lessons . It was done with B & Bs and though they had 9 students the first night, they had zero the 2nd week. People are reluctant to make a 12-16 week commitment.
Rosetown Ramblers, dances SSD at Oak Grove Community Club, Oak Grove on 2nd Saturdays. Lessons are held at All Saints Episcopal Church, 4033 SE Woodstock Blvd (& 40th), Portland on Wednesdays.
See website for specific information.
ROGUE SIS-Q – Blake Smith
Charlie Brown Squares
New SSD classes have started as well as Mainstream and Plus classes and workshops. We have some fun dances planned over the next few months. Be sure to get your ribbons for our Annual Boatnik Festival Memorial Weekend (May 22-24). This year will feature the talents of Hunter Keller and MaryAnn Callahan.
Star Promenaders
The club has been preparing for their 67th birthday dance on February 28th. Tim and Bev (Oren) Pepper will be calling and cueing. Be sure to get your ribbons - as well as your lodging- for the 53rd Annual Diamond Lake Festival July 22-25th. The talented Ray Brendzy and Randy (Marie) Preskitt will be featured this year.
Circle n Square
Things have been quiet for the club as Dean is recovering from knee surgery. Hopefully they will be able to get a class started soon.
Kountry Rhythm Rockin’ Outlaws
Country Fever Weekend is October 2-4th at the Buckeroo Barn in Roseburg. Adam Christman, Jim Steele and Dave Cooper will be calling and cueing the weekend.
SOUTH COAST COUNCIL – Cherie (Patrick) Cox
Beachcombers:
1. New dancers’ lessons started January 4th. There were 22 new dancers in attendance along with 18 Angels for a total of 5 squares. The next date for new dancer lessons was January 7th with additional 6 new dancers and a total of 3 squares. Lessons are currently on-going.
2. The Beachcombers will be participating in a New Dancer Hoedown on March 22nd along with the Buckeroos, Charlie Browns and Star Promenaders Square Dance Clubs. The dance will be held at the Buckeroo Barn in Roseburg from 2p.m.-5p.m. with lunch served from 1p.m.-2p.m.
3. Dave Cooper will start a newer dance class at the high school on January 30th. To date, there are 23 dancers signed up.
4. The Beachcombers continue with dances on the 4th Saturday of the month at 2pm. All are welcome!
Saints-N-Aints:
The Saints-N-Aints recently completed their new dancer lessons, three enthusiastic dancers graduated.
We are planning to have Plus workshops until summer.
Sherm Welch, our caller for over 40 years has retired. We will be holding a dance to commemorate his time calling for our club at our Birthday Dance on April 4th. Roger Putzler will be calling the dance.
Coquille is finishing their lessons in a couple weeks. This is the first class of lessons in 4-5 years.
TUALATIN VALLEY COUNCIL – Laura Irvan
Many clubs are holding new dancer lessons including Oak Hills, Eager Beavers (plus lessons), Valley Squares, and Sunset Promenaders.
TVC will have a dance on January 31st, 7:00 at the Aloha Grange –
Caller: Mike Kious,
Cuer: Lane Clem, Valley Squares hosting
We looked into the bottle collection to help our clubs with the funds collected from the bottles.
UMPQUA AREA COUNCIL – Doris (Neil) Koozer
The Buckeroos will be graduating almost a full square of dancers on January 18. Classes were held on Sunday afternoons and were reasonably well attended. Workshops will follow Midwinter. New dancers have been encouraged to attend the regular Saturday night dances starting in November, this has helped them to integrate into the group.
The Buckeroos are also experimenting with Saturday afternoon dances, rather than evening dances during these winter months. Several dancers from Medford were able to join us for the New Year’s celebration on January 3rd. They appreciated the fact that they would not be getting home at midnight.
The Buckeroos’ 74th and the Timber 8’s 39th Birthday Dance on March 28 will mark the end of the afternoon dances. Instead, they will be dancing in the afternoon at the Spring Fair held at the Do. Co. Fairgrounds, and our dance will be held at 7 PM at the Barn.
The Buckeroos have added some line dancing to the square dance venue. Lessons are given at 2 pm for the first half hour of the dance. Dancers learn a line dance to a round dance song. The first dance was All Shook Up; the second dance will be Kokomo. This is followed by prerounds until 3 pm when the square dancing starts. During the dance these songs will be played, and round and line dancers will dance at the same time.
The Dancing Friends have started a new 2-step class on Thursday nights with Neil and Doris Koozer. On February 3rd they will start a Bolero Class with Rod and Carolyn Skinner. Graduated at least 12 new Jive dancers and started a new 2-step class.
The Plus dancers have been maintaining their skills by dancing for an hour after the Sunday square dance classes, and the Timber 8’s and the Buckeroo’s have combined several of the holiday dances, so the Timber 8’s are not very active at this time.
Buckeroo’s are working on their 52nd Buckeroo Round-Up with The Peppers, Tim and Bev Oren, as their featured caller and cuer and are looking forward to seeing many of you there June 12-14. Phil Ramey will be calling a Trails End Dance on Thursday the 11th.
Four clubs are joining together to put on a New Dancer Dance at the Buckeroo Barn on Sunday, March 22nd. The callers will be Don Marshall for the Buckeroos, Chuck Simpkins for the Charlie Browns, Phil Ramey for the Star Promenaders, and Dave Cooper for the Beachcombers. A sandwich bar lunch will be provided by the Buckeroos and the Beachcombers.
Rikki Lobato
Thank you to everyone who helped plan and put on Midwinter. Although I am writing this prior to attending, I am positive we've all had a great time!
Things have been very quiet for me. My round dance classes have been on hiatus since my dad passed away on Dec 17th, and the plan is to start up again on February 2nd. I had several events I was attending in Nov & Dec, but I had to cancel going due my dad's health at the time.
As it stands, I've not attended any festivals since Royal Romp. I did cue my club's birthday dance at the beginning of December with Andy Allemao. Other than Midwinter and my local club's events I will not be going anywhere until Mid-March. From March on, I am B-U-S-Y!! Lots of events and festivals I am cueing and/or attending - so my next report will hopefully be full of news on how I've shared events with others regarding the wonderful events happening in Oregon. Please email me with any flyers or information you would like me to share on my travels. I will be traveling from Santa Maria, CA all the way to Bremerton and Spokane, WA this year - plus will be attending my 1st ROUNDALAB and National Convention this summer. Lots to look forward to and I am excited to share information about Oregon festivals while I am traveling.
Roger & Linda Putzler
It’s been a busy few weeks since the last State Meeting.
September took us to Portland for the Rosetown Ramblers dancing 5 squares. Beaverton was next for the 4 squares at Eager Beavers. Down to Corvallis Squares and 4 squares dancing. Oh yeah, we taught 4 Mainstream and 4 Plus lessons.
October took us all over the state. Coos Bay, Saints & Aints, 2 squares, Red Rocks in Redmond had 4 squares, Whirl-A-Ways in Springfield dancing 3 squares, and 4 more Mainstream and 4 more Plus lessons.
November took us to Grants Pass and the Charlie Browns dancing 2 squares. Did a Plus dance for the Buccaneers in Spring field. 2 squares at Corvallis. Spent the weekend in Bend calling 2 squares of Plus dance and 4 squares of Mainstream along with and afternoon workshop. I had the pleasure of MCing the first new dancer dance or the season for Mid-Willamette Area held at Corvallis Squares with 9 squares dancing. Called the Umpqua Area Council dance in Roseburg with 3 squares dancing. 4 Mainstream and Plus lessons.
December brought another Buccaneer Plus dance in Springfield. Lebanon Square Circlers held a new dances’ dance with 6 squares dancing. Sunset Promenaders in Hillsboro were dancing 2 squares. Christmas dance in Aurora with squares with the Chaps & Petticoats. Springfield finished the year with a Whirl-A-Ways and a New Year’s Eve dance in Springfield. 3 more mainstream and Plus lessons.
January took us back to Roseburg to the Buckeroos and 5 squares of dancers. This was a Saturday afternoon dance. Visited Single Trees New Dancer dance in Springfield with Mark Wheeler calling to 2 squares. 2 squares at Whirl-A-Ways dance and 3 more lessons finish off this report.
Marilyn Schmit: ReVuN’Q Round Dance club is on hiatus. 50th birthday party the in June.
Zola Jones: Education seminar was good help. We had a lady fall and they did what they were supposed to.
Betty Chipps: January 30 is the PAC 5th Friday dance.
ADJOURN: Motion: Brooke moved, Patrick second to adjourn the meeting
NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING
Sunday, April 19, 2026, 9:00 AM
Interstate-Highlanders
Knights of Columbus building at 1910 Greensprings Dr.
Klamath Falls
MOTION TO ADJOURN
Meeting adjourned at 11:21 AM.