Happy Hopper Newsletter September 2015 Page 1

www.happy-hoppers.com September 2015

HAPPY HOPPERS NEWSLETTER

Vice - PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

Volume 57 Number 1

W e are headed into the new Square

Dance lessons season with lots of

fun and camaraderie. The club is continuing

Jim Hattrick's beginning lessons format that

enables us to greet new dancers each month.

Dancers will self-evaluate when they feel

comfortable to advance to the next level.

Meanwhile, club members will make new

friends, so new dancers will be keen to join

the club.

L essons begin September 21 and the

first Monday of each month through

April 2016. Plus lesson - 6:30

Basic (beginner) lesson - 7:30

Mainstream lesson - 9:00

W e are depending on experienced

club members to serve as angels

to help new dancers learn the lessons and

feel welcome as our new friends. If you are

dancing as an angel, you don't have to pay.

You will fill in squares as needed, and will

step out of your square if a paying dancer ar-

rives.

W e also want to thank you club

members for helping with the

door and the kitchen. Sign-ups are for one

month. We can access the online sign-up

sheet to view open slots.

http://www.happy-hoppers.com/doc/

SdLessonsSignup-2015-2016.pdf

S ee you soon for the most fun you'll

have all week!

Square Dance Lessons by Tom and Liza Halpenny

Happy Hopper Newsletter September 2015 Page 2

On Sunday, August 2nd Don and Joanne were gracious

enough to open their farm to the Happy Hoppers for their annual

picnic. The weather turned out to be cooler than expected with

even a few cooling drops of rain, which actually felt very good

and refreshing. The club provided hamburgers, hot dogs and

drinks. Chefs Randy and Don expertly handled the grills. The

rest of the members provided salads and deserts. We all ate till

we couldn’t eat anymore.

We all had a great time visiting with people we hadn’t

seen for awhile and catching up with what everyone had been

doing for the last couple of months. It was good to see Victor

and Phil after their surgeries.

We then gathered around while Randy conducted the

short meeting. The main topic was the good news that Jim is

feeling better and may be returning to calling as early as October

or even the end of September. Scheduled callers for dances and

lessons have been notified and will be happy to relinquish the

calling back to Jim. Also mentioned was the lesson schedule for

this coming season.

Annual Happy Hopper Picnic

By Raeleen DeGrandpre

Don Oja and Randy

Amundson serve as back-

yard culinary chefs as they

expertly prepare hot dogs

and hamburgers for fellow

Happy Hopper members

and their guests.

Happy Hopper members listen as President Randy Amundson presents Club business.

Happy Hopper Newsletter September 2015 Page 3

Square Dance Convention Comes to Helena

An excerpt of an August 14, 2015 article written by AL KNAUDER, Reporter for Helena’s

Independent Record

Round’m Up and Head‘m Out - Helena or Bust

the Red Lion Colonial Hotel. (Editor’s note: by Satur-

day night, an additional 43 registrations had been re-

ceived for a total of 588 registrations).

The convention continues through Saturday, and

the public is invited to watch, said David Hinds, with

the Great Falls Dudes and Dolls square dance club.

His club, along with Helena’s Last Chance Squares,

is hosting the convention.

J ackie Amundson, who came with her husband,

Randy Amundson, from Vancouver, Washington,

for the convention, explains the women’s skirts: petti-

coat length and prairie skirt length…petticoats come in

colors to match any dress, she said and added that these

ensembles will cost from $69.00 to $200.00.

Dancers are out on the floor in the longer prairie

skirts, too, said Amundson, 74, who makes most of her

own skirts.

“I probably have 50”, she said, and added, “at last.”

But for the convention, she brought only six of

them.

Making your own allows you to express yourself

through your sewing, she said.

“I like the ones that are unique, different.”

J ackie and Randy have been married 54 years, and

square dancing since 1962. “My husband was in

the army at Fort Carson (located near Colorado

Springs, Colorado)”, she said and explained how a

woman at the clothing store where she worked invited

her and Randy to go square dancing.

“We were homesick and a long way from home

and it was cheap entertainment,” Amundson said.

“And we met wonderful people.”

The caller gets the couples moving, and following

along is easier than it looks.

“It isn’t hard,” Amundson said. “You have to

listen.”

D ozens of couples, everyone in motion at once on the dance floor, respond to the

man at the front of the room who is calling their moves.

Many are dressed for the occasion: men in pearl snap Western shirts complement

women in the full, knee-high or floor-length skirts as they join hands, change

partners and allemande left and allemande right - moves with which they’re all

quite familiar.

This is square dancing, and by late Thursday morning 545 registrations had been re-

ceived for the 14th USA West Square, Round and Contra dance convention being held at

Happy Hopper Newsletter September 2015 Page 4

Photo of those caravanning to Helena - From Left

to Right, are: Jolene Cummins, Ron & Emily Chase.

Jacking & Randy Amundson, Jean Tolstrup, with hus-

band Rex kneeling in front, Lesley & Richard Lane

and Ed Cummins with a glimpse of Doug Davis at far

right.

Happy Hopper members who attended the 2015 USA

West in Helena, Montana include:

Randy & Jackie Amundson, Ron & Emily Chase,

Bob & Shirley Hoisington, Kimberly Israel, Gil

Shoemaker, Dale & Nancy Smith, Rex & Jean Tol-

strup, Gary Wells, and Danny & Carol Williamson.

This three story barn was originally built to house

500 head of cows to protect them from the freezing

winters. This was the site of an amazing dinner.

Barnyard Chefs wearing cowboy hats and boots

prepare the main course using pitchforks to hold

the steaks that were served for dinner.

Happy Hopper members take time out to take a tour of the city. Pictured above are from left to right: Bob &

Shirley Hoisington, Rex & Jean Tolstrup, Ron & Emily Chase, Tour Guide and Jackie & Randy Amundson.

‹

Happy Hopper Newsletter September 2015 Page 5

Square dance lessons begin Monday, September 21. Let your friends, neighbors

and family know about our lessons and encourage them to come. Think what fun

we would have if everyone brought a new couple to square dance lessons. Hosts for September 21 and September 28 lessons are:

Check-in at door: Don & Joanne Oja Kitchen Host: Carol & Danny Williamson

The second session of square dance lessons begin Monday, Oct 5. Once again,

let your friends, neighbors and family know about our lessons. Think what fun

we would have if everyone brought a new couple to square dance lessons.

Hosts for October 5, 12, 19, and 26 are:

Check-in at door: Matt & Lise Driggers Kitchen Host: Raeleen DeGrandpre

Recognizing our Members

Beginning with this issue, we will highlight a member with unique talents. Many of our

members are very talented and gifted. If you know of anyone you would like highlighted in

your newsletter, please send me an article to include at Tolstrup573@Pacifier.com.

F ay Kahn is an accom-

plished artist who paints in

many mediums, including water

colors and oil paints. Some of her

work will be on display at Art on the

Boulevard from September 4th

through October 31st. The art will

feature unique watercolor styles of

Fay Kahn and two other artists.

There will be an opening reception

Friday, September 4th from 5 to 9 P.M.

The gallery is located at: 210 W. Ever-

green Boulevard (Suite300) at the cor-

ner of Evergreen and Columbia in

Vancouver, Washington in the Vancou-

ver Marketplace Building. Gallery

hours are 10 AM to 5 PM Tuesday

through Saturday.

Fay

Kahn

Happy Hopper Newsletter September 2015 Page 6

Back To School Dance

Bring Finger Food & School Supplies

Richard Lane and maybe Jim Hattrick calling

Hosts: Lew & Bev Poland and Rex & Jean Tolstrup

Regular Dance

Bring Finger Food & School Supplies

Craig Abercrombie and/or Jim Hattrick calling

Lonnie Sykes cueing—Hosts needed

Regular Dance Bring Finger Food

Darrell Kalmbach and maybe Jim Hattrick calling

Dorothy Lowder cueing

Happy Hoppers Hosting Opportunities

Door Hosts and Kitchen Hosts are needed for several upcoming dances. Please see the signup

sheet in the kitchen at the September 5th dance. The Happy Hoppers need two couples to sign

up for the September 19th dance, the October 3rd dance and the October 17th dance. The sooner

you sign up, your opportunity to fill the time slot you most covet will be greatly enhanced.

Bring apple deserts

Craig Abercrombie and/or Jim Hattrick calling

Lonnie Sykes cueing

Happy Hopper Newsletter September 2015 Page 7

Clark County Square Dance Center

10713 NE 117th

Ave., Vancouver, Wash.

Happy Hopper Newsletter September 2015 Page 8

September Birthdays 1 Mary Goodnight

4 Don Oja

6 John Kaleta

10 Kathryn Randall

25 Judy Hattrick

26 Jim Hattrick

30 Michael Cain

September Anniversaries

17 Tom & Liza Halpenny

23 Hogen & Jan Bays

CELEBRATIONS

Welcome 2015—2016 Happy Hopper Officers and Board Members!

Presidents: Randy & Jackie Amundson

Vice Presidents: Tom & Liza Halpenny

Secretary: David Whalen

Treasurer: Melody & Darrell Mitchell

PAC Delegate Gil Shoemaker

Evergreen Council Delegates:

Matt & Lise Driggers

Visitations: Danny & Carol Williamson

Newsletter: Rex & Jean Tolstrup

Club Reporter: Marc & Fay Kahn

Kitchen: Lew & Bev Poland

Caller/Cuer: Jim Hattrick

Happy Hopper Newsletter September 2015 Page 9

UPCOMING DANCES & EVENTS

Sep 4 - 6 Mt. Hood Square & Round Dance Festival Mt. Hood Village

Plus weekend dance with easy & Inter. Rounds Welches, OR

Dan Preedy calling—Tami Helms cueing

Sep 5 Happy Hoppers Back To School Dance CCSDC

Richard Lane and Jim Hattrick Calling

Bring finger food and school supplies

Sep 9 Happy Hoppers board meeting at Matt & Lise Driggers home at 7:00 P.M.

Sep 11 - 13 Wallowa Mountain Rendezvous Wallowa Lake, OR

Bill Reid & ?Roger Putzler calling—Neva Reid Cueing

For more information, call (541) 296-1570

Sep 19 Happy Hoppers Regular Dance CCSDC

Jim Hattrick calling & Lonnie Sykes cueing

Bring finger food and school supplies

Sep 21 Happy Hoppers Lesson start CCSDC

Plus lessons begin at 6:30 Basic lessons begin at 7:30

Mainstream lessons begin at 9:30

Oct 3 Happy Hoppers Regular Dance CCSDC

Darrel Kalmbach & Jim Hattrick calling / Dorothy Lowder cueing

Oct 5 Happy Hoppers Lessons—Session 2 begin CCSDC

Oct 14 Happy Hopper board meeting TBA

Oct 16 - 17 Seaside Sashay in Seaside, Oregon Convention Center

Daryl Clendenin & Chuck Garner calling

Debbie Taylor cueing

Oct. 17 Happy Hoppers Johnny Appleseed Dance CCSDC

Jim Hattrick calling / Lonnie Sykes cueing

Nov. 2 Happy Hoppers Lessons—Session 3 begin CCSDC

Nov. 6 - 8 Royal Romp plus dance CCSDC

Jerry Story & Tony Oxendine calling / Tami Helms cueing

Nov 7 Happy Hoppers dark for Royal Romp

Newsletter Editor: Rex Tolstrup - Send submissions by mid-month to tolstrup573@pacifier.comn