We still need your help! It is especially important for us to fill the positions at the hospitality table. If you can’t help out on Saturday, we can also use your help in the communications room on Friday.

Clubs visiting at the March dance included Pelham Partners who raided with 9 dancers and Heel & Toe who sent 12 members even though this was not a raid or retrieval for them. There were also guests from Monadnock Squares, Queen City Promenaders and Litchfield Swingers. Border City supported the dance with 27 members – not a very good turn out, but those who came certainly had a great night. Thanks to the following members who helped with the setup: Cheryl Palucchi, Bill and Sue Leuci, Amy Bollenbach, Jim McClaron, Dave Raymond, Margery Shank, Wayne and Priscilla Griffin, Penny Guild, and Chris and Norma Howard. Also thanks to those who helped provide an excellent food table, and to those who stayed after to help with clean up.

Our next dance, on April 14^th will be a Plus level dance with Connecticut caller Randy Page and cuer Barbara Nutting. Since Randy doesn’t call very often in this area, you won’t want to miss this dance. The theme is "Spring Fling", and Ricky and Irene Galante will be our hosts. Since the Infant Jesus church hall will not be available, we will be holding this dance at the Mill-A-Round dance center in Manchester. Setup for the dance will be at 7:00 PM, just before the dance.

Chris and Norma Howard
Club Chairpersons

The energy is still high and the Litchfield dance on March 2 was no exception. The Litchfield Swingers held their dance at the Mill-a-Round in Manchester with Patty Greene calling and Marilyn Rivenburg Cueing. The theme was "Fun Badge Night". Fun badges are earned by participating in dances that exhibit the unusual and out of the ordinary such as dancing in the dark, dancing half sashayed (the lady dancing the man’s part and man dancing the lady’s part). We should be proud of our class, they were the only class who actually did it, all of the other clubs chickened out. In attendance from Border City Squares were Amy Bollenbach, Katherine Bollenbach, Susan & Bill Leuci, Jim McClarin, Jim Hawkins, Cheryl Palucchi, Chris Howard, and Viv & Bill Thompson. It was a great time for all that attended.

Another class had to be cancelled on Monday, March 5, because of some more of that white fluff. Enough is enough I say. Bill & I are ready for Spring and anxious to get the Motor Home out for some fun dancing at the Camp and Dance Weekends

On March 10 the class attended the Border City Squares dance at Infant Jesus. Patty Greene again was calling. Bill & I were unable to attend but our class gave a great showing. Amy Bollenbach, Katherine Bollenbach, Susan & Bill Lueci, Diane Troyer, Harli Thoene and Jim Hawkins attended. Keep up the good work class.

GRADUATION

We have a couple of events coming up, on Monday, April 23rd, 8 members of the September class will graduate and become official Border City Squares members. This will be a fun night with a surprise here and there. Don’t forget friends and relatives are welcomed to come and watch the events unfold. This year we are asking that all who attend the graduation ceremony bring finger food for the food table. Graduation activities will start promptly at 7:00. Also this year we are going to have our amateur calling as part of the nights activities.

Challenge to September Class Graduates - New England Square and Round Dance Convention April 26^th through April 29^th

Our September class will be able to celebrate their accomplishment of having completed the Mainstream Program by attending the 43^rd New England Square and Round Dance Convention.

The Challenge - If they dance at the Trail-In dance on Thursday the 26^th, then dance at the convention on Friday and Saturday, dance at the Trail-Out on Sunday and then support their January class compatriots on Monday April 30^th before the annual meeting, they will be eligible for the DIE HARD Badge. Viv and I will provide these badges to any class member who fulfills this challenge.

Our January Class

Our January class is having a great time and Monday, March 19 instead of having a class workshop we had a Class Dance. There were decorations, door prizes, pot of gold and a food table for all to enjoy throughout the evening. Dress was optional, but some chose to wear square dance attire. Attendance as a whole was rather disappointing from both the September and January classes. This dance was planned to give the January class an opportunity to dance and enjoy the activities and atmosphere of a regular club dance.

In spite of the attendance everyone had a great time. Jerry also introduced the class to a form of round dance with "White Silver Sands" and a Country Line dance called "Amos Moses". Bill & I want to thank everyone for all the finger foods and a personal thank you to Cheryl Palucchi for helping with the decorations.

Viv and Bill Thompson
Class Chairpersons

Caller Patty Greene treated us to a non-stop, fun-filled evening of singing calls at our March 10^th club dance. Although the overall attendance was down, Border City members did their part, saturating the squares with club dancers (27-30 dancers). Enthusiastic Border City class members took full advantage of the occasion by dancing up a storm. Pelham Partners raided the dance with 9 dancers, while Heel-n-Toe surprised us with 12 of their own. Two highlights of this dance were dancing in 6 couple squares and dancing with our eager class members!

The Pelham Partners Plus level dance on March 17th featured our own caller, Jerry Maurice along with Bernie Porter cueing. With 5 clubs attending for banners, there were about 12 squares. Jerry called to 9 squares for the first tip and most tips had 6 squares. Jerry's "French" St. Patrick's dances were a lot of fun. It was interesting to note that the number of dancers each club came with: Londonderry Apple Squares-14,

Riverside Squares-14 dancers, Firesiders-15, Turkey Town Trotters-19 and us with 16. Hopefully these clubs will attend our dances with at least as many dancers. Our 16 supporters were: Roberta Blais, Hal Kelley, Bob Baker, Cheryl Pecor, Wayne & Priscilla Griffin, Chris Howard, Margery Shank, Bill & Vivian Thompson, Skip & Penny Guild, Debbie Coit, Tammy Dorris, Bruce Williams, and Sonya Fredriksson.

"Kick ‘em in the pant" Pulaski had us screamin’ hallelujah on Friday, March 23rd. Jim’s used his usual good humor and his awesome calling to keep this dance lively. The challenge on this evening was finding a partner to dance the lady’s part. Hal, Chris, and I had to fight over Roberta! We’ve got a shortage of women this dancing season? Can you believe it? That’s a switch. The crew on hand for Border City on this evening were Tammy Dorris, Steve Wurtzler, Priscilla & Wayne Griffin, Hal Kelley, Jonas Green, Chris Howard, Roberta Blais, and Penny & Skip Guild.

Are you ready for another thrilling night of square-dancing? National caller, Randy Page will be doing the honors at our next club dance on April 14th. But don’t forget, this dance is at the Mill-A-Round, NOT at Infant Jesus church! We already have 3 retrieving clubs (Firesiders, Concord Coach, & Wolf Rockers) and 1 raiding club (Heel & Toe). So bring plenty of food, because I have a sneaky suspicion that this is gonna be a packed house!

On Friday, March 24^th, it seems like a long ride but it is only 50 miles to the Square Riggers. That's closer than some other clubs we exchange banners with. We are thankful to the 10 dancers who retreived our banner which the Square Riggers raiding in November with 10 of their dancers. Jim Pulaski and Phil Gatchell gave the following dancers a great time - Roberta Blais, Hal Kelley, Wayne and Priscilla Griffin, Chris Howard, Skip & Penny Guild, Tammy Dorris, Jonas Green, and Steve Wurtzler.

Are you ready for another thrilling night of square dancing? National caller, Randy Page will be doing the honors at our next club dance on April 14^th. But don’t forget, this dance is at the Mill-A-Round, NOT at Infant Jesus church! We know four clubs plan to come. The Firesiders, Concord Coach, and Wolf Rockers plan to retrieve their banners and the Heel & Toe are raiding ours. Also bring plenty of food, because we have a sneaky suspicion that this is gonna be a packed house!