December 2014 www.happy-hoppers.com

HAPPY HOPPERS NEWSLETTER

Merry Christmas and Happy New year to all our

Happy Hopper friends. The holiday season is on us

and our family is pleased to be busy with prepara-

tions for Christmas and New Years. We hope this

holiday season is filled with happiness and great

memories for all of you.

One of the best parts of this season is the joy of giv-

ing and to that end the Hoppers have in the past col-

lected donations of unwrapped toys during the De-

cember dances for the Childrens Center. We hope to

continue this and ask that you bring unwrapped toys

to the dances December 6th and 20th.

The Happy Hoppers New Years Eve dance is in the

final stages of preparation and we have a few things

left to get accomplished. We would like to encour-

age you all to look in the kitchen during the dance

and lesson nights for the sign up sheets to make

cookies and help during the set up and clean up for

the New Years Eve dance.

This is the time of year we all want to catch up on

news of friends and families. Just before Thanksgiv-

ing our caller Jim Hattrick had a serious health issue

and was in the hospital. We have all expressed con-

cern and a desire to help in what ways we can. Some

have asked what they can do and others have asked

what the club is doing. I would like to provide an

update on what the club is doing. Since a "Benefit"

dance was already in process for December 21st, the

Hoppers having a second Benefit dance at this time

would not seem to be either necessary or especially

productive. Jim was in the hospital on the 13th and

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

this benefit was set up by the 15th. This is an incredi-

ble example of what kind of community the local

square dancers are. I would encourage all of you to

support the Benefit dances being held for Jim and

Judy Hattrick December 14th at the Hazel Dell

Grange and December 21st at the Milwaukie Com-

munity Center. The Sunday dance December 14th

from 2:30 to 4:30 is a student level dance (originally

set up by Jim) being held at the Hazel Dell Grange,

the callers are Craig Abercrombie and Adam Christ-

man. The Sunday December 21st dance is a main-

stream dance MC'd by Daryl Clendenin and support-

ed by a list of callers and Cuers that has been grow-

ing since it was planned.

The Happy Hopper board met at a special meeting

and in response to a request from a number of Hop-

pers agreed that the club would make a donation to

Jim and Judy. The donation was delivered Tuesday

Morning November 25th to the hospital. It was one

of the most pleasant duties I have performed as the

President. We decided we wanted to also do a benefit

for Jim and we have decided to use the scheduled

January 17th dance as a benefit for Jim and Judy. It

was also requested and agreed that we have the An-

niversary dance set up as a benefit Dance for Jim and

Judy. We will be bringing in guest callers and cuers

to cover the dances while Jim is recovering.

We wish you all the best this holiday season has to

offer.

Jim and Brenda Martinez

WELL DESERVED RECOGNITION by Jean Tolstrup

Well, the suspense is over! Two Hopper members who have generously devoted many years of their time,

energy, and talents were named the 2014 recipients of the Evergreen Council Bob Kendall Award at the

November 29th Evergreen Council dance. Each year the award is given to recognize an individual or couple

who have done an outstanding job of promoting square and round dancing and who exemplify the true spirit

of this great activity: fun, fellowship and friendship.

Congratulations, Randy and Jackie Amundson! And, thank you, for all the support and help you have giv-

en and continue to give our club and square dancing in general. Whenever there is a need to fulfill in our club,

you are there. Whenever a new dancer needs assistance, you are there. Whenever a club member needs a spe-

cial boost due to illness or injury, and you learn about it, you are there.

A special thank you goes to you, Randy, as well as all of the wonderful board members on the Clark County

Square Dancer Center board. Without the efforts and time donated by these generous people, our wonderful

square dance center would cease to exist. So thank you, Randy, for the many years you have selflessly given

of your time and leadership abilities to keep this center available for square dancing.

When the 2013 recipients, Mike and Linda McBride, announced Randy’s and Jackie’s name, the heart-felt

burst of applause and cheering by the many dancers present gave credibility to their selection. It was especial-

ly nice to see the delighted reactions of Randy’s and Jackie’s family members who had been secretly invited

to attend the presentation.

How nice to be able to honor two such giving people!

A wonderful time was had by

all at the Evergreen Council

Dance. Dave and Sharon

Boggs calling and cueing.

Photos by Walt Eby

Kitchen and Door Hosts Needed

Kitchen and door hosts are needed at the Hopper dances. There are no

hosts signed up for any of the upcoming dances beginning with Janu-

ary 17th. Being a host at the dance is fun, it’s easy, you get to meet all

the dancers, you will have time to dance and you get into the dance for

half price, what a deal! Sign up sheets to host are in the kitchen at the

dances and at lessons. You can also call Bev Poland (360) 835-2345.

Thanks!!

Regular Dance

Bring Finger Food

Bring Unwrapped Toy

Hosting: Chases and Polands

Regular Dance

Bring Finger Food

Hosting: Ojas and Israel

Christmas Dance

All Singing Calls

Bring Christmas Goodies

Bring Unwrapped Toy

Hosting: Warnes and Amundsons

Hopper Benefit Dance

for Jim Hattrick

Bring Finger Food

Hosting: ?

PLUS and a LITTLE MORE

Tuesday nights at the Hazel Dell Grange will be postponed for the time being.

UPCOMING DANCES & EVENTS

Dec 1 New Set of Hopper Lessons Begin CCSDC

Dec 6 Happy Hopper Dance CCSDC

Bring Finger Food

Bring Unwrapped Christmas Toy

Caller: Richard Lane Cuer: Debbie Combs

Dec 14 New Dancer B-51 Benefit Dance for Jim Hattrick Hazel Dell Grange

Caller/Cuer: Craig Abercrombie

and Adam Christman 2:30-4:30

Dec 20 Happy Hopper Dance CCSDC

Bring Christmas Goodies

Bring Unwrapped Christmas Toy

Caller: Craig Abercrombie

Dec 21 Benefit Dance for Jim Hattrick Milwaukie

Several Area Callers and Cuers Community Center

1:00-5:00 42nd & Jackson

Dec 31 New Year’s Eve Dance CCSDC

Craig Abercrombie and Adam Christman

7:30 Buffet, 8:30 Dancing

Jan 3 Happy Hopper Dance CCSDC

Bring Finger Food

Jan 5 New Set of Hopper Lessons Begin CCSDC

Jan 17 Happy Hopper Dance CCSDC

Benefit for Jim Hattrick

Bring Finger Food

Jan 23-25 Mid Winter Festival Albany, OR

“Dance, Dance, Dance”

A Night in Venice

New Year’s Eve Dance

Come to one of the best Happy Hopper Club dances we have during

the year. Celebrate the New Year in style with your dancing friends.

Great dance music and calling by Craig Abercrombie

and Adam Christman.

Tickets are $15.00 per person until 12/25/14, and then

the price goes up to $20.00 per person. Tickets are avail-

able through the flyer, or from Randy, Melody, Jean and

Rex.

Buffet is from 7:30 to 8:30 PM, followed by Round and

Square Dancing.

Our theme is “A Night in Venice”, so expect a delicious

Italian buffet, beautiful decorations for the hall, and a

toast to the New Year at midnight.

Bring your cameras to capture the moment, or take ad-

vantage of our photo shoot setting. All attire is welcome

for this evening of fun.

Just the Facts:

The dance committee is grateful to those of you who have signed up to help in the

kitchen or at the door, and to those who have offered to bring some food items. We

still need some help from our Hopper members to help us make the evening run

smoothly and have a full table of goodies. Please check out the sign up sheets to

see how you can help. Thank you.

Fay Kahn

SQUARE DANCE DRESS CODES by Liza Halpenny

The following definitions describe the types of square dance attire that have developed over the years to be

the norm.

Adapted from Callerlab position paper, Dec. 1999

TRADITIONAL: This is the standard for Dances and required at most Festivals

For all Clean comfortable clothing and safe footwear

For Women Square dance skirts or dresses or prairie skirts

For Men Long sleeved dress or long sleeved western shirts

PROPER: If an event is advertised as Proper, Traditional is also appropriate.

For all Dress slacks and dress jeans for men and women.

For Men Short sleeved dress shirts are permitted.

CASUAL: For special conditions caused by weather, travel or timing. If an event is advertised

as casual, Proper or Traditional is also appropriate.

For all Clean, comfortable clothing, including shorts, tee shirts, “golf shirts”, etc.

“Traditional” and “Proper” attire are still the norm at Hopper and other square dance events. However, in re-

cent years standards have relaxed somewhat to be more inclusive and welcoming. The dress code might bet-

ter be described now as “Square dance attire admired, but not required.” Wearing traditional square dance

attire is definitely part of the fun for many dancers, and it sets apart square dance from other dance forms.

But if kerchiefs and petticoats are not for you, don’t worry. It is more important that you are out on the dance

floor having fun with your friends.

DRESSING WITH CONSIDERATION FOR OTHERS

Many people's arms become moist when they dance. Wearing long sleeves is encouraged to show considera-

tion to fellow dancers. And the wholesome nature of square dance suggests outfits that are “family friendly”

and not too revealing. You can never go wrong with “clean and tidy.”

HAPPY HOPPERS CLUB OUTFIT

Though it is not used much any more, and it is not mandatory, there is an official Happy Hoppers club outfit.

The look is Royal Blue and White. For women the outfit is a white skirt of your choice and a royal blue

blouse of your choice with a royal blue petticoat. Men may wear black or navy blue slacks with either a royal

blue shirt with a white tie or white shirt with a royal blue tie. A further option is a white shirt with a royal blue

yoke.

Examples of when the club outfit might be worn would be at official club visitations, or at our anniversary

dance, or when representing the club at a function such as Mid-Winter Festival Grand Parade.

Changes to the OFN and Footnotes Publications by Marc Kahn

The Happy Hoppers are geographically located such that we are part of both the Oregon and Washington state

square dance federations. We are active in both worlds. A few months ago, I volunteered to be the liaison

between our club and the monthly publications for each of the federations: "Oregon Federation News" (OFN)

and "Footnotes".

These are troubling times for the publishers of hard-copy periodicals, who rely on subscriptions and advertis-

ing to pay the bills. Newspapers and magazines are finding that their previous business models are no longer

viable in our modern on-line world.

Recently, at about the same time, both the OFN and Footnotes realized that, with dwindling circulation num-

bers and subscription revenue, something has to change. Independently, the federation leaderships got togeth-

er and came up with drastically different solutions to their common problem.

The Washington state group has decided to promote a change to the dues structure for all members in order to

finance the continued publication of the hard-copy Footnotes magazine. Every member of every club in the

federation (including us Hoppers) will be asked in December to vote on an increase in the dues per person of

$8.00 per year. In return for that increase, each household will receive a copy of the Footnotes magazine eve-

ry month. Last month, every Hopper should have received a copy of Footnotes where this proposed change

was explained on page 1.

The Oregon state group has decided to abandon the publication of OFN in a hard-copy format, replacing it

with an on-line version. The upcoming January edition will be the final edition to be physically printed. Sub-

scribers and advertisers who have pre-paid for the OFN will be reimbursed for the unused portions of their

payments. The online version has already started with a trial/demonstration November issue followed by a

more robust December issue. You can have a look at those issues and all future issues at the OFN web page:

http://www.squaredance.gen.or.us/ofn/ .