Mayflower Award Citation for Ralph and Barbara MacDonald, July 2013

     The Mayflower Award is an award of excellence in recognition of 20 years or more of outstanding contribution in Nova Scotia to square and round dancing, and all other dance categories recognized by the Federation, at the local, regional, or provincial level.

     Ralph and Barb MacDonald began square dancing in Sherbrooke in the late 1970s with the St. Mary’s Belles and Beaus.  Cecil Smith called for this club which danced for five seasons.  In 1986 the MacDonalds joined the Mapleleaf Whirlaways when the club was started by Jack MacArthur in Antigonish.  They have danced with it continuously since then.

     Their interest in calling came from their over-twenty-year involvement in teaching 4-H members in Antigonish, Guysborough, Pictou and Inverness Counties to square dance and participate in provincial competitions.  Ralph and Barb attended Callers School with Gloria Roth during the summer of 1998 working with Tom Miller in the “More Experienced” group.  They are recorded as new attendees in the April 1999 ANSSRDT Minutes.  Ralph first called at a Maritime Convention in 2001.  Since then they have been loyal attendees and active members of both caller organizations and are currently the Square Dance Workshop Coordinators for ANSSRDT.  They have attended all five Alguire Memorial Callers Schools constantly working to improve their calling and leadership abilities.  Ralph (with Barb’s support) is presently the club caller for the Mapleleaf Whirlaways, Highland Squares, and Bluenose RV Squares.

     Since their first AGM in 1987 Barb and Ralph have been active participants in the Square and Round Dance Federation of Nova Scotia.  By 1989 they were the representatives for Mapleleaf Whirlaways.  At the 1992 AGM they were the acting Secretary and Highland Region Representatives and were elected as Secretary-Treasurer.  During 1994 and 1995 they were the Federation President, followed by a year as Past President, and then four years as Publicity Committee Chaircouple.

     At the Vancouver National Convention in July 2000 they were elected as Nova Scotia’s Representatives to the National Society and soon became the CSRDS Treasurer.  Their term ended at the Montreal National Convention in July 2006.  Not resting on their laurels, they accepted the Vice Presidency of the SRDFNS in October of 2006 and became President again in October of 2009 holding the office until October of 2012.

     During the last year they have chaired the committee organizing the SRDFNS Festival 2013 in Stellarton.  This event has been a joint effort of ANSSRDT and the Highland Region.  It is symbolic of their years of effort on behalf of square and round dancing in Nova Scotia, that this event has involved willing workers from all of the organizations of which Ralph and Barb are members.   

     In October 2012, the members of the Bluenose RV Squares nominated Ralph and Barb MacDonald for the Mayflower Award and it is with great pleasure that we present them with the Square and Round Dance Federation of Nova Scotia Mayflower Award of Excellence.