Volume 31 Number 7 July 2012 June’s dance was spectacular. Ross Howell made his last visit to the Trailblazers a memorable one. Dancers were treated to unusual formations involving common calls. Ross’s calling was so hot our turntable broke twice, and John Martin had to come to the rescue with his equipment. Everyone was sad to hear that Ross will no longer be doing long “red eye” flights to Trailblazer dances. Ross is not retiring. Instead, he is limiting his engagements to large festivals and venues closer to home. The Trailblazers have been blessed to have had Ross as a caller for many years and will really miss him. We’ll still see him at AACE, Kirkwood, and other events. Thank you, Ross, for the many years of great dancing. I have frequently raved about the great job Karl Springer is doing as our webmaster. We have a first class website with many links to other websites. Another great website, Where’s the Dance, is the creation of Robert Ameeti and Debby Stopp, Trailblazer members. If you haven’t seen this website yet, go to www.wheresthedance.com. You will be amazed at the wealth of information they have put together. You can find all dances on a particular calendar date, plus you have the ability to screen dances by dance level and distance from your home. Club and caller information can easily be found and even maps to the dances are available. This monumental effort by Robert and Debby is a valuable resource for anyone visiting the Southern California area or for anyone from here who is going to another city or region of the United States, even to other countries. You can download the website to your smart phone and have all the information you need wherever you may be. We are really happy to report that John Marshall (Trailblazer) had a successful hip replacement surgery and is on the road to recovery. John & Barbara do so much for the Trailblazers, booking callers and arranging THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE by John & Carolyn Melstrom John &Carolyn Melstrom (continued page 2) [President’s Message] Welcome Our Newest Trailblazer July 2012 Trailblazer Contents — Page 2 Richard Simonelli
Transcript
Volume 31 Number 7 July 2012
June’s dance was spectacular. Ross Howell made his last visit to the Trailblazers a memorable one. Dancers were treated to unusual formations involving common calls. Ross’s calling was so hot our turntable broke twice, and John Martin had to come to the rescue with his equipment. Everyone was sad to hear that Ross will no longer be doing long “red eye”
flights to Trailblazer dances. Ross is not retiring. Instead, he is limiting his engagements to large festivals and venues closer to home. The Trailblazers have been blessed to have had Ross as a caller for many years and will really miss him. We’ll still see him at AACE, Kirkwood, and other events. Thank you, Ross, for the many years of great dancing. I have frequently raved about the great job Karl Springer is doing as our webmaster. We have a first class website with many links to other websites. Another great website, Where’s the Dance, is the creation of Robert Ameeti and Debby Stopp, Trailblazer members. If you haven’t seen this website yet, go to www.wheresthedance.com. You will be amazed at the wealth of information they have put together. You can find all dances on a particular calendar date, plus you have the ability to screen dances by dance level and distance from your home. Club and caller information can easily be found and even maps to the dances are available. This monumental effort by Robert and Debby is a valuable resource for anyone visiting the Southern California area or for anyone from here who is going to another city or region of the United States, even to other countries. You can download the website to your smart phone and have all the information you need wherever you may be. We are really happy to report that John Marshall (Trailblazer) had a successful hip replacement surgery and is on the road to recovery. John & Barbara do so much for the Trailblazers, booking callers and arranging
THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE by John & Carolyn Melstrom
John &Carolyn Melstrom
(continued page 2) [President’s Message]
Welcome Our Newest Trailblazer
July 2012 Trailblazer Contents — Page 2
Richard Simonelli
Page 2 July 2012
President ..................................... John & Carolyn Melstrom 1st Vice President ...................... John Marshall 2nd Vice President .................... Bruce & Nancy Rosenblum 3rd Vice President ..................... Barbara Marshall Secretary ..................................... Bruce Crabtree Treasurer ..................................... Sam Mehlman A Square D Rep .......................... Jerry Blackmar
2012—2013 Trailblazers
Board Members
Page Advanced & Challenge Dances ................................. 7 Board Members, Trailblazers, 2012-2013 ......................... 2 Caller’s Bio, Tim Ploch .............................. 3 Caller Quotes, Ross Howell, June 2012 ............................................. 3 Dance Location Change, August 4 ............. 2 Dances, Trailblazers, Upcoming, 2012 & 2103 ........................ 1 New Trailblazers Member ........................... 1 Richard Simonelli President’s Message .................................. 1 Scoop And Rambles ................................... 4 (Tommy Editor Updates) Swing Along The Trail 59th Golden State Round Up Videos .... 5 Note from Deanna Kugler .................... 6 Caller John Marshall Update ............... 9 Karl Springer ......................................... 6 The Scoobie Doo Tale, Sequel 2 ........... 5 Trailblazers Birthdays — July ................ 5 Trailblazers Anniversaries — July ......... 5 Wedding Bells, Ross Howell & Marine Ramsby ....... 5 Trailblazer Statement of Policy ................... 8 Trailblazers Dance Schedules and Locations ............................................... 8 Weave Your Heart In San Francisco ....................................... 9
July 2012 Trailblazer Contents
August 4 Dance Location Change Trailblazers A2 and C1 dances will be held at Mel’s Place, Westminster. Dance times will remain the same.
for their housing and transportation to and from dances. On top of these tasks, Barbara manages refreshments at the dances. Although not yet up to dancing, it was great to see John at the last dance. Our July dance features Tim Ploch, from Houston, Texas. We look forward to his return to the Trailblazers. The dance is sure to be a big hit. Be sure to put it on your calendar.
See you on the dance floor.
[President’s Message] (continued from page 1)
John Marshall with his recuperating gear
Page 3 July 2012
Tim Ploch learned to square dance while he was a student at Rice University. He graduated from his square dance class in December 1973, and by the summer of 1975 he was dancing at the highest
levels of that time. Although calling informally before 1975, he graduated from callers school in 1975 and has been calling continuously since that time. He called full time until he graduated from law school and got his first job as an attorney in the summer of 1982. During his early calling years, Tim taught his then future wife, Donna Law, to square dance and she is the rock-solid center of his world. Until the convention closed, Tim was an original and permanent staff member for the American Advanced and Challenge Convention, and he is also an original permanent staff member for the Texas Advanced and Challenge Convention along with Lee Kopman and Darryl Lipscomb. Tim has called many conventions, festivals and weekends, and calls all levels from Mainstream through C3B.
A dancer once described his calling as being like peppermint ice cream – smooth with sweet little chunks. Tim always tries to focus on the flow of the material while keeping the dancers entertained. He has recorded a number of records on Bogan records, including past favorites such as Jingle Bell Rock, I Hear the South Calling Me, and The Gambler. Tim has written several calls, including Cut and Flip the Hourglass, Relocate the Hourglass, and Run Wild. Tim likes to play bridge and other games.
Tim Ploch Trailblazers July 2012 Caller
Thanks Karl Springer for you efforts in compiling this updated Tim Ploch bio.
Caller Quotes, Ross Howell, June 2012 You have Triple waves. Don’t work with the other
square. It’s not fair. Your left hand is on the other arm! Right, Wrong, Right, Wrong
(for a Right and Left Grand) I’m not going to watch you guys any more. Boys, Step and Fold. I’m sorry –
Centers, Step and Fold. This is really cool . . .
What am I going to do with this? Girls J-Walk, Girls Run, Girls J-Walk, Girls Run.
. . .. Good job boys. Oh, I thought that was my fault. You’re going to hate yourself for that. She’s not a boy. It’s in my head … That’s why I’m retiring. You have a 5 and 3 . . .
Oh, I’ve got some material for that. Anybody know what time it was
when I lost control?
OK, that will never happen again. I knew it, damn it (as Ross is looking at his
glasses). The prescription ran out on my glasses. Oh, you’re OK. I knew that. I was going to take
the blame anyway. Oh, your prescription ran out. Oh crap, don’t do that. Everybody Slip, Slide, Slip and Slide …
in that order. There are only three Heads in each square. I guess I picked the wrong weekend to quit
drinking. That didn’t work for some. Oh, you think I’m done? Call me when you’re ready. Boy, Run around the girl. Oh, that ain’t her! I’m sure I wouldn’t have gotten that. Oh, that’s different! Center five, uh, Center four. I hate telling the girls they went too far. Stay there John, I’ll bring ‘em to you. I said, “Turn the star one less than normal” . . .
I didn’t say . . . “The one less than normal, turn the star”.
Page 4 July 2012
Scoop and Rambles with Tommy Editor MONTHLY TRAILBLAZER. The trial period for publishing TRAILBLAZER on a monthly basis is over. Monthly publishing appears to be feasible so now you will be receiving an electronic TRAILBLAZER edition every month. Thanks for your patience during this transition period while blazing a new trail to set the TRAILBLAZER on a slightly different path and to John Melstrom for his invaluable guidance. The concept of publishing TRAILBLAZER two weeks after the monthly dance does NOT presently seem to be accomplishable. Reason: Not all relevant information is available within two weeks. BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY LISTINGS. A big thanks to all who responded to the request for birthday and anniversary information. The list was 99.9% completed by the June issue so the list publication started at that time. Apologies in advance if any of your information was incorrectly recorded. But please do let us know when you spot an error. These monthly listings in Swing Along The Trail will be an appropriate and a useful getting-to-know-you-better addition to your newsletters. TRAILBLAZER FORMAT CHANGES. Ever noticed while reading an electronic TRAILBLAZER how you are sometimes overworking your mouse’s scroll wheel or constantly pushing the scroll bars up and down and back and forth or expanding and contracting your screen. Your days of endless scrolling and screen-fitting maneuvers are coming to a gentle, but bit-by-bit end — it will not be a screeching halt — your editors are still making an effort to move up the electronic publishing presentation learning curve. Starting with this edition, a different newsletter format will selectively be introduced so that a TRAILBLAZER article can be read starting at the top and moving continually through the article without going to a once-removed computer screen and then having to come back to the screen upon which you previously were and picking up where you left off. These upcoming and latest changes will ultimately and HOPEFULLY bring the TRAILBLAZER to your computers, iphones, tablets and electronic reading devices in an easy-to-read format and provide a more enjoyable TRAILBLAZER reading experience – anyplace, anytime, anywhere. Thanks for your continued understanding as these new modifications are worked through. TRAILBLAZERS DANCE SCHEDULE FLYERS. The Trailblazers A-2 & C-1 Schedule and C-2 & C-3A Schedule flyers will NO longer be included in the monthly newsletters. If you would like to view, download and/or print out a copy, please go to either: www.trailblazers-socal.org/flyers/2012_A2_C1_Rev2011_12_15.pdf (A-2 & C-1 Schedule)
or www.trailblazers-socal.org/flyers/2012_C2_C3A_Rev2011_12_15.pdf (C2 & C3A Schedule)
A copy of the Trailblazers dance schedule flyers or the Trailblazers website locations for our schedule of top-notch Advanced and Challenge calling staff would be a helpful bit of information to share with other Advanced and Challenge Square Dancers. TRAILBLAZERS MEMBERS HAPPENINGS AND NEWS. Do you have some personal news or an event you would like to share with our TRAILBLAZER readers? Know about something that would interest other Trailblazers? Please pass it along to us, ‘cause we would just love to spread the word. TRAILBLAZER ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION FAILURES. If you do not receive the TRAILBLAZER or have difficulties downloading the TRAILBLAZER, please drop us an email. A Special Thanks. Your contributions, input, comments and suggestions have been, and will continue to be, greatly appreciated. Thanks, Hal &Rod ([email protected])
Page 5 July 2012
Wedding Bells
Ross Howell & Marine Ramsby
exchanged vows during a nuptial ceremony on June 7, 2012.
Congratulations.
59th Golden State Round Up Videos can be found at: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA6B921378180DC2C
David Heffron calling C1 is featured in one video. In the video featuring Darryl Lipscomb’s C1 tip Trailblazers Bruce & Nancy Rosenblum and David & Heidi Heffron are shown. Check out the youth hall videos and see others you might recognize. Thanks Karl Springer
Trailblazers July Birthdays Intentional
Data Removed -- BLANK
Trailblazers July Anniversaries Larry & Lena Wayne — July 6
Bob & Lori Guss — July 14
In his President’s Message of April 2012, John Melstrom suggested: “Be sure to ask Ett [McAtee] about the new call – Scoobie Doo.” And then further stated: “Much as I would like to, I will never forget it!” After explaining the Scoobie Doo call at Trailblazers April C3A dance, Ett requested The Scoobie Doo Tale be published in the newsletter and if possible without John’s prior knowledge. Later after John recovered from the shock of reading The Scoobie Doo Tale, he emailed Ett.
The Scoobie Doo Tale, Sequel 2
Ett in her usual and always fun-loving manner responded adding further comments which are shown in brackets . . . "In John Melstrom's defense, he wrote this to me after he was surprised to see the Scoobie Doo Story in the newsletter:” 'To clarify what the senorita had said, I looked her directly in the eyes and said,
"Screw You?". Notice the question mark. ‘It was meant as a question, but I'm sure she did not hear it as a question she probably just didn't get it, John!. ‘Then I got all apologetic really? and tried to clarify what I had asked. She probably thought I was some loco Americano and so what else is new??. The more I thought about what had transpired, the funnier it seemed. I decided I had better confess everything when I got to our dance room. By then I was rolling on the floor in laughter as were we, John!.’ ‘It was a great trip. Blanche usually lets me go on these trips because I provide the entertainment. I will never be able to look at a green cocktail or Scoobie Doo cartoon again without having flashbacks of Cancun.’
John is applying for the position of Mexican Square Dance Events Comedian.
SWING ALONG THE TRAIL (continued next page)
Page 6 July 2012
SWING ALONG THE TRAIL (continued from page 5)
Karl Springer, Trailblazers Webmaster, recently had a gall stone removal procedure. Please keep him in your prayers and send him positive thoughts wishing for him a speedy recovery.
Deanna Kugler. An email from Deanna sent on July 4 . . . Hello Friends, I'm sorry I've been so negligent about keeping people informed, but things have turned out so well that I'm anxious to let you know now.
Legend: Dean is my twin brother Jack was our older brother who was "taking care" of him. Bodfish is east of Bakersfield up the Kern River to Lake Isabella.
It was early April that Jack had a stroke, fell and couldn't get up (and died 11 days later). Their next door neighbor called me and I drove to Bodfish and got the paramedics. Both were taken to the ER in Lake Isabella and Dean was also considered terminal. Turns out Jack was keeping him out of the kitchen because he would overeat. His weight was down to 135 lbs. He improved with ER care and they put him into a Board and Care in Bakersfield. I visited him there a few times and he remembered me but seemed senile and was always in his wheelchair or his bed. While he was there I tried to get him on Medi-Cal. But I felt he was not being taken care of well enough there and on May 21st I drove to Bakersfield and picked him up and brought him here to my house. That's when I stopped square dancing, After he was here I continued to try to get Medi-Cal and worked on getting his Anthem Blue Cross Senior Secure transferred to here. Not as easy as it sounds!!! My plan was to have him put into a Board and Care as soon as possible. There was a lot of trying going on. I rented a wheelchair but as time went on he was able to walk in the house touching something. The wheelchair was a necessity at all the places we had to go like Social Security, DMV, Department of Public Social Services, doctors offices – All of them more than once. He is so much better by all the stipulation here that I discarded the plan to put him in a Facility. He has always been a very verbal person and we now talk like there's nothing wrong. He used to read the dictionary like most people read a novel. His vision is bad though; his left eye is blind from a cataract or cornea opacity and he doesn't have the right glasses for his right eye. However........his Anthem Blue Cross is effective as of July 1st (finally) and we have an appointment with his doctor tomorrow. I will ask him to refer Dean to an ophthalmologist. I did go to a drug store and had him try on lots of reading glasses and he chose one that he wears all the time. Much better. So much so that I got him a large print crossword puzzle which he can do with a magnifying glass. I was blown away by what he did. He did the New York Times Sunday crossword in ink. Unfortunately his body doesn't work well at all if you know what I mean. I have to tell him how to do things over and over. But I am comfortable with my decision to keep him here until I am not able to care for him myself. I wonder how long that will be? Fondly, Deanna
[Deanna, As stated before . . . The Trailblazers family continues to wish you speedy and satisfactory results in your endeavors for your brother. We truly understand you are doing what must be done, BUT nonetheless we continue to miss you and send you a big hug.] SWING ALONG THE TRAIL (continued page 9)
Advanced & Challenge Dances
August 3, 2012 C3B Friday Evening, 8pm to 10:30pm. Caller: David Heffron The Heffron Residence 11129 Canyon Meadows Dr Whittier, CA 90601
August 4, 2012, 7:30 to 10:00 pm A2. Premier Squares. Riverside, CA Caller: Rick Gittleman www.premiersquares.com August 5-9, 2012 C3A (C3B Star Tips). McCloud Square Dance Country, McCloud, CA. Caller: Vic Ceder www.mcclouddancecountry.com
August 17-19, 2012. C2 thru C4. PACE, Caller: Ross Howell. Check website for dance level & location. www.pacesocal.org August 17-19, 2012 A2. Cayucos Capers, Cayucos, CA. Callers: Joe Saltel & Jet Roberts Info: 707-277-7536; [email protected] August 31-September 2, 2012 A2. Labor Day Jamboree 2012, Oxnard CA Associated Square Dancers Callers: K.O. Jeans, Matt Worley, Charlie Robertson Info: [email protected] November 23-25, 2012 C1 thru C4. PACE, Oxnard, CA. Callers: Barry Clasper, Ben Rubright, C.J. Smith, Rob French, (Special Guest) ww.pacesocal.org
C1 Class, Thursdays, 7:30–9:30 pm Angels are always welcome Instructor: Rod Shuping Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Senior Complex 5056 Van Nuys Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA www.trailblazers-socal.org July 7, 2012, 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm A2. Premier Squares. Riverside, CA Caller: Mike Haworth www.premiersquares.com July 14, 2012 C3A Workshop. Phantom Squares Manhattan Beach, CA, Caller: Vic Ceder www.phantom-squares.com July 15, 2012 C1 & C2. Phantom Squares Canoga Park, CA. Caller: Vic Ceder www.phantom-squares.com July 15, 2012 A1 & A2. Day of Advanced Dancing Garden Grove, CA. Caller: Ken Rittuci www.trailblazers-socal.org/flyers/DayofAFLYER2012A.pdf July 20-22, 2012 C2 thru C4. PACE, Caller: Clark Baker Check website for dance level & location www.pacesocal.org July 28, 2012 A1, A2 & C1. Funsters Foothill Frolic Covina, CA. Caller: Jet Roberts Info: Vic Ambrosini: 909-994-9820 or [email protected]
Page 7 July 2012
Information for other regularly occurring Square Dances: click “Directory” button after “A & C Classes/Workshops/ Dances,” on Trailblazers website, www.trailblazers-socal.org
TRAILBLAZER STATEMENT OF POLICY: TRAILBLAZER is published by Trailblazers Square Dance Club for the purpose of providing a means for dissemination square dance information to the Advanced and Challenge Community. The Editor and Publisher reserve the right to exercise their discretion in the acceptance, rejection or editing of any proffered information, listings or advertising based upon their determination of the best interest of square dancing. The opinions which may be expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Editor, Publisher or Trailblazers. Your views are encouraged. Any article herein may be reprinted with credits to TRAILBLAZER and the author. PUBLISHING DATA: In 2012 TRAILBLAZER will be published monthly. MAILING ADDRESS: Address all correspondence to: Trailblazer Editors, 5740 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92115-3720 STAFF: Editors/Publishers: Hal Anker & Rod Anderson [(619) 849-8791] E-mail: [email protected] Photographer: David Moorhouse Webmaster: Karl Springer, E-mail: [email protected] DANCE, CLASS & WORKSHOP LISTINGS: No charge for listings. Regular dances will not be listed under special events. Call schedules will not be included in regular dance listings. However, if a schedule of callers is sent, we will include a listing on our website. ADVERTISING: Advertising must be camera ready copy, black ink on white paper. Full page originals cannot be reduced to a half-page. ADVERTISING RATES: Full Page (8 x 10) = $30 Half Page (8 x 5) = $20 Qtr. Page (3.75 x 5) = $10 Bus. Card (3 x 2) = $ 6.50 ADVERTISING REMITTANCE: Make all checks for advertising or listings payable to TRAILBLAZER. Payment must accompany all orders for advertisements and listings.
Robert Morris relaxes while Barbara Marshall keeps the “goodie” table stocked.
Ken & Lee Marks
Thanks for stopping by and joining us in our squares
Page 9 July 2012
Caller John Marshall. It was really wonderful seeing Caller John Marshall at the recent International Square Dance Convention, Dance Up A Storm, held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada,
on June 29 through July 2. He was really looking fit and well and calling with his usual exuberating style. John is looking forward to being with the Trailblazers this August. Being and talking with John and sensing his happy, grateful attitude was indeed refreshing. John mentioned he still has some pain issues which are controlled with medications and, if all goes as planned, he will have another back surgery in approximately 11 months. John is so thankful for the continuing support from his extended Square Dance family from around the world.
SWING ALONG THE TRAIL (continued from page 6)
Caller Richard Tuck, of San Francisco, sends this email: Please alert the Trailblazers community about a timely reminder for the upcoming International Square Dance Convention, Weave Your Heart in San Francisco, being held on July 4 through 7, 2013. This is timely since there will be a price increase as of the end of July. There is no real "flyer," but there is a PDF registration form at the website. We'd prefer people to use the on-line sign up if convenient. Otherwise, download the form and mail it along with your check. Register today and SAVE at www.sanfrancisco2013.org!!! Payments for registrations postmarked by July 31, 2012 will be accepted at the $200 rate. A payment plan is available: $50 postmarked this month and $50 over the next 3 months. The 13 featured callers are: Lynette Bellini, Saundra Bryant, Deborah Carroll-Jones, Vic Ceder, Barry Clasper, Rob French, Eric Henerlau, Michael Kellogg, Harlan Kerr, Jet Roberts, CJ Smith, Anne Uebelacker and Dave Wilson. Seven full-time halls covering: Mainstream, Plus, Advanced, C1, C2, C3A, C3B/C4. Additional Features: Price includes 2 meals. All dance programs on one level of the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, 55 4th Street, San Francisco. Flooring will be an interlocking plastic dance flooring.
