Six couples from NS decided to attend the Charlotte Twirlers 25th Annual Square Dance Jamboree Charlottetown PEI on the weekend of Aug 3/4.

             This dance was listed in the NS Calendar of Events May edition. When they arrived at the dance on Friday evening, they found out no dance was scheduled for that evening. The club members there were apologetic but nothing could be done as they were just putting up the decorations for the dance the next day.

             Determined to dance, the six couples regrouped and made a second plan. Wilma and Laurie Illsley were staying in their camper in her aunt's yard a few blocks away. Also Jean and Don Killam's camper was there. Wilma invited the dancers back to her aunt Kate's to dance in the driveway. Using tapes in the car radio, several tips were enjoyed by all. Aunt Kate enjoyed watching the festivities and was quite taken by the antics of 'Father Time' being able to participate with such enthusiasm in all the dances. Wilma and Jean, as good hostesses, provided the dancers with refreshments to end the evening.

             It is not like Alex to make a mistake in the Calendar and we have forgiven him for this one. [Editor's note: I've checked both the May issue and the June/July/August issue of the Calendar and only see Sat Aug 4 listed, but I do have egg on my face when I read the details about some Friday activities that should have been deleted. I love you all and thank you for your forgiveness.]

             Submitted by: Frances Dalziel, Leslie Smith, Jean and Don Killam, Wilma and Laurie Illsley, Clara and Harold Redden, Reta and Paul Blades, Dianne and Wayne Burns.

             On June 23rd Danseurs Acadiens celebrated 35 yrs of dancing at Clare District High School. One hundred and ten people sat down to a pot luck supper and a B.B.Q. hip of beef. After the supper was over there was still plenty of beef left over.
            At 7:30 pm Doug & Audrey Hill, Treasurer of the Square & Round Dance Federation of Nova Scotia, presented a 35 yr certificate to Lester Comeau, Club President. A certificate for having danced with the club for 35yrs was presented to Doris and Adolph Comeau and Cecile Saulnier.
            The Warden of the Municipality presented them with a 35yrs certificate, and Mel Comeau presented them with a certificate on behalf of the Province of N.S. The three callers the club had during those years were in attendance, Garnet Banks, Cecil Comeau, and Warren Marshall. They were each presented with a book containing the names of all the dancers that graduated and danced with them. Warren Marshall was presented with a 15yr certificate of calling from Danseurs Acadiens.
             The following are past presidents of the club who took the stage, Stanley Saulnier first President, Adolph Comeau, Antoine Deveau, Hubert Boudreau, Henry Hicks, Cecile Saulnier, Bill MacDonald, Mel Comeau, Lester Comeau, and Roger Comeau.
             Dancers present from the first graduation class of 1966 were Adolph and Doris Comeau, Victor Comeau, Flora LeBlanc, Cecile Saulnier, Stanley and Muriel Saulnier. After the award ceremony, 17 squares danced to the calling of Jack MacArthur. A good time was had by all.

Submitted by Roger & Irene Comeau, Valley Reps.

Square Dancing will add ten years to your life, a surprising new study shows. Dr. Arron Blackburn states, "It's clear that Square dancing is the perfect exercise. It combines all the positive aspects of intense physical activity with none of the negative elements."

The study was based on their physical examinations which indicated that both female and male square dancers could expect to live well into their 80's.

The square dance movements raise the heart rate like any good aerobic exercise should. All the quick changes of direction loosen and tone up the muscles - but not so severely as to cause injury. In square dancing, when you're not moving, you're clapping hands or tapping feet, which all contributes to long term fitness.

The above is an excerpt printed from Callerlab Press Release, reprinted from the USDA News, reprinted from Dancin'News of Central Florida.

1. MAYFLOWER AWARD - An award of excellence in recognition of 20 years or more of outstanding contribution at the local, and/or regional, and/or provincial level. Nominations may be presented by a club or five or more square/round dance couples from anywhere in the province. Nominations must include the credentials of the candidate, which will be read at the presentation of the award. Deadline for submission is January of the year in which the award is to be presented. The number of awards is limited to two per year, but it will not be mandatory to present two per year. The Award Committee will present the names of the two candidates to the Executive for its approval.

2. Callers/cuers to be recognized at retirement for services of 10 years or more. Active callers/cuers to be recognized for 20 years of service and every 5 years thereafter.

1. CLUBS - Certificates of 20 years of continuous dancing and every 5 years thereafter.
2. DANCER - Individual recognition of 20 years of continuous dancing.

AWARDS COMMITTEE - should consist of three couples with at least two from the Federation Executive. Its mandate is to recommend to the Executive the names of those eligible to receive awards. Certificates will be presented to all award winners. The Mayflower Award will be a framed certificate.

             Metro Squares dancers entered the Halifax, Dartmouth and Eastern Passage parades on August 5, 6, and 11 with Callers Pat Alguire, Dottie Welch, and Kerry Fletcher.

             We had approximately two squares of dancers for each parade. The support of the Callers and the Club members was marvellous. All the Parades have been great advertisment for the square dance activity, and the camaraderie that has been built between the dancers and callers has been enhanced by the cooperation of all.

             We would like to give special thanks to Harold and Clara Redden for the wonderful addition of the canopy to the trailer. It was a blessing to have shelter from the sun and it added to the decor of the trailer. Thank you so much Harold and Clara.

             To commemorate our participation in the Eastern Passage Days Parade on the August 11th we were given a plaque from the Eastern Passage Cowbay Summer Carnival 2001 Parade 2001 for the “Best Commercial Float Year of the Costume" We were very surprised and pleased to have won this award.

Submitted by Metro Vice-Chair Junior & Pauline Arsenault

• A new system of awards was approved at the AGM. There are two categories, one for Service and the other for Longevity. The criteria and arrangements are printed on page 2 and are posted on our Website. Please note the deadline for 2002 Mayflower nominations is 31 January 2002.

• In order to encourage more widespread use of the Federation Parade Trailer, the members approved a transportation subsidy for Trailer users. The new arrangement is:

  "Transportation costs of the trailer for all users will be re-embursed at 30 cents per kilometre for all distances over 100km, one way. The present rules call for the user to store the trailer until the next user comes for it. If the trailer is returned by the same user, then a separate claim would be submitted for each trip, with the 100km deduction applying each way."

• In order to confirm that the Federation is a "not-for-profit" organization, the members approved a new paragraph to the Federation By-laws. PURPOSE:

  "g) to operate as a not-for-profit organization without purpose of gain for its members, and any profits or other accretion to the organization shall be used in promoting its objectives."

• The Federation Board of Directors for 2001-2002 was approved by the members at the AGM. These are listed below.

• The Draft Budget for the next year was discussed and the members approved Federation participation in the next 50+EXPO, provided that it does not conflict with the National Convention in Saint John, NB. As well, members were pleased to approve a start-up loan to the Organizing Committee for FESTIVAL 2003 to be held in Truro.

• Each Board member and Club in NS was issued an updated copy of the Federation Handbook. Dancers are encouraged to consult this document for important information about the activity. Readers attention should be directed particularly to the DRESS CODE and HISTORY articles.

• It was agreed to encourage Nova Scotia dancers attending Convention 2002 in Saint John to wear their NS Tartan costume (those who have one) at the Friday, 19 July dance.

• Since Callerlab has removed the term "Basic" for the first level of square dancing, and now calls it "Mainstream 1 to 53", there is a need to examine the dance levels and their titles for use in NS. The Federation Vice Presidents, Dick & Flora Conley, have volunteered to chair a meeting of interested dancers & callers to review the subject of dance levels, and make recommendations for both Federation FESTIVALS and club special dances. Their recommendations will be presented to the Board and then brought to the next Federation AGM. Anyone interested in participating or contributing to the discussion is asked to contact the Conleys.

• It was decided to hold the next Federation AGM in the Central Region on Saturday, 5 October, 2002. The location and time of the meeting will be determined later.