Greetings and by the time this Newsletter is read we’ll be welcoming the "Autumn". Those of you who have begun dancing this year will have experienced some very warm weather. Our first Saturday night dance and first meeting for the year really mean that we’re back in the swing of things again and our weekly schedule and dance times are back to “normal”. If you have not yet started for the year we’d love to see you again real soon.

Obviously most members are happy to enjoy the dancing and social side of our club without becoming involved in the administration and governance. Our February meeting was productive despite the low attendance but if you feel that you want to be part of making the plans for the club please come along to any club meeting. The next is in April (21^st) – see the calendar for details. Those who are regulars at the meetings are also regular attendees at dance sessions and make decisions that they believe are in the best interest of our club and members. Don’t think of the meetings as being a group of people outside or separate from our membership. Everyone who has an opinion on club matters is welcome and invited to attend. If you have suggestions as to how you feel things should happen, then that is the place to express it.

There were a couple of things in our Christmas newsletter that have been forgotten or confused so I will go over them this time. I must admit it seems a long while ago, or at least a lot has happened since then and I have forgotten about some of those topics and I was the one who wrote it.

MEMBERSHIP: If you were a member last year you will need to renew your membership for 2012. You should have received a printed form with the details you gave when joining. You need to check and confirm that these details are current and correct (especially phone and email etc.) and return the form with your payment of

$ 14.00 per person.

If you wish to join the club for the first time you will complete a blank application form and return it with $ 21.00 per person consisting of the $ 14.00 yearly membership fee and a $ 7.00 once only joining fee which includes the cost of a badge. You need to specify exactly how you want your name displayed on your badge e.g. “Nev” ,“Nev McLachlan” or “Neville McLachlan”.

The $ 14.00 yearly fee includes a personal accident insurance policy to cover all dance events and related activities. The fee also includes incentives and subsidies to club events, a complimentary dance admission to a Saturday night in the month of your birthday, free admission to Tuesday nights provided that you also attend Saturday nights and other benefits that come up from time to time.

Being a member of YOUR club should also have intrinsic benefits to both the club and to each member personally. We form a supportive group giving loyalty and cohesion to the group and hopefully generating some pride and sense of belonging.

There are several optional extras you can chose with your membership. “The Bugle” is a Queensland Newsletter that is supplied to us in electronic format. This will be relayed free to all financial members who have email access or you can choose to have a traditional hard copy for

$ 4.00 for the whole year – between 10 and 12 editions. The “Australian Square Dance Review” is a printed Newsletter that gives information about clubs and events all around Australia. I am a strong advocate for supporting this publication in order to ensure that square dancing has some National communication. It will only succeed if enough individual dancers purchase copies. It is relatively inexpensive at $ 12.00 for 10 issues and we as a club are entitled to submit news and advertising.

WEEKLY PROGRAM: The focus of club activities is our Saturday night dance and although not all members attend, this session is how our club began and was once the only time that members got together. We now offer a lot more but Saturdays should be looked on as a time when all members can come along to ‘A SQUARE DANCE” and not just a lesson or workshop or specialised session. It’s a social outing. Traditionally the Saturday night dance, not just square dance, was the weekly or monthly social outing. These days there are a lot more choices and flexibility in the way people allocate their time but we would still like to see our members come along to Saturday nights to join with members from all of our difference groups – mainstream, plus, advanced and rounds.

The FIRST Saturday of the month usually takes the format of Rounds 7.00 pm – 7.30 pm, Mainstream 7.30 pm – 10.00 pm with a supper and information break about 9.00 pm. Supper is BYO but tea and coffee is available free all night and we like everyone to sit down and relax together and maybe share feelings and even refreshments with their friends.

The THIRD Saturday of the month has a different format with dancing from 4.30 pm till 6.30 pm (easy Mainstream with 1 Plus bracket). We supply light refreshments and round dancing begins at 7.00 pm with mainstream from 7.30 – 9.45. Announcements are made during both sessions. Everyone is encouraged to stay for supper or at least a wind down at the end of the night session. The cost is the same no matter how many or how much of the sessions you choose to attend. Stay for the whole 5 hours or just come and go when you choose. This flexible format is to encourage more members to attend Saturday sessions at times that are more suitable to each individual.

When there is a FIFTH Saturday in the month we usually hold a theme night and details are given separately for each. We have a 5^th Saturday dance in March and it will be a “G for Gold” theme. Karl and Jan Hawkless will be celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary this year and as a club we always acknowledge these member milestones and Karl and Jan will be honoured on this night. Come along to pay tribute and also dress to theme and bring a special supper plate for sharing (maybe something Gold or starting with G???)

Our SUNDAY program consists of Advanced Rounds from 2.00 pm on Sundays corresponding to the Saturday night dances and Advanced Squares from 4.30 pm. weekly. At the moment we only have enough for 1 square at this level – understandable as it takes quite a while to learn the 60 or so moves in this list as well as being very accomplished at Mainstream and Plus.

On MONDAYS NIGHT we start Rounds at 5.45 pm. Bev teaches the rounds in modules so that new intakes can occur each time a new rhythm is commenced. We are half way through the modules on Two Step and Jive and Foxtrot and Waltz will commene on Monday 23^rd April. We dance the Plus Program from 7.30 – 9.30 with supper at the end and ask for donations for the supper table please.

TUESDAY NIGHT is our main teaching night with a basic session beginning at 6.00 pm. We will be taking beginners from the first Tuesday in March 6^th and incorporating them in with our present basic group. Those who started learning last year will continue at the 6.00 pm starting time and gradually be extended further into the next session as you learn more. At present we have a combined session from 7.00 pm – 7.45 pm followed by a little supper for those who finish there and then we continue with mainstream for those who have completed or nearly completed the mainstream list. We then finish at 9.00 pm with a final supper. If you’re not sure where you fit in talk to our callers.

WEDNESDAY is our day time programme of workshops. We start with a Round Dance session at 8.30 am mainly just to dance and practise what we have been learning on Monday nights – no teaching.

Basic Square Dance workshop starts at 9.35 am. We workshop any moves that are requested or needed and encourage any of our Tuesday night learners to come along for the extra practice. 11.30 am – 1.00 pm is the Mainstream Workshop. This is designed to help dancers better understand the mainstream moves and to analyse them for those who want a little bit extra challenge. Plus is Workshopped from 1.00 pm until 2.30 pm and at the moment we are combining this with a Plus Class that is about half way done. With 2 callers it is easier to work 2 groups in the one session.

With just the normal breaks between brackets it is a continuous program. We don’t stop for a lunch break because some dancers only come part way through or leave at various times so it would be disruptive to some to have a big break. You need to fit in your lunch break if required at the most suitable time for you. Don’t take your break during the session that is the most valuable to you.

FROM YOUR MEETING:

Most items discussed refer to coming events and details will be explained below. We also hear reports from Reps of each of the weekday sessions – Monday is Mandy, Tuesday is Cath and Wednesday is Joan K. These reps are your liaison with the committee. Talk to them. We also hear reports from the Square Dance Centre, The Buderim War Memorial Community Assn. (BWMCA), Rounds, Clogging, Publicity Officer, and Ball Committee.

The BWMCA has produced booklets to commemorate Buderim’ s 150 year celebrations in 2012. WE have some at the Centre if you didn’t get one in your letterbox (Buderim residents). Our Ball this year will be listed as an official Buderim 150 event to gain publicity and promotion.

Year Pins will be purchased this year as a trial. A small badge with “2012” will be given as members join and renew and will be stuck onto your club badge to signify that you are a current member. If continued the pin can be removed and another attached for each current year.

Suncoasters prides itself in providing hosts to greet members and visitors at the door on Saturday nights. The host’s responsibilities include making everyone welcome, providing a first contact and supplying any relevant information. We have a roster to ensure no nights are without hosts and to ensure that the task is shared between many. The roster also includes assistants for looking after the kitchen to prepare refreshments and keep them stocked throughout the night and to clean up after supper.

We would like every member to have a least one turn at each task. It can be very rewarding particularly as a way to get to know other members and also to learn how our club operates.

Please add you name to the roster. Paula will be co-ordinating the roster, and may be asking you if you have or are willing to volunteer. Thanks to Paula for stepping in and taking this on after the sudden resignation of Peter Nevin.

COURTESY: Please remember that square dancing is a team activity. We need to be courteous and co-operate in order to accomplish an amount of success and to ensure that we ourselves and other participants all have an enjoyable time and are not made to feel uncomfortable or unwanted. Sometimes the things we say are taken in the wrong way. We could be thinking we are offering assistance or advice and this can be taken as a hurtful and spiteful comment by the receiver. A lot of it is in our body language, attitudes and tone that we use. Before giving advice it’s always advisable to check how much experience that the other person has in comparison to yourself. They may have just had an off day or an off moment.

Also, leaving early because you feel you are not needed could be misconstrued by others, feeling that you don’t want to dance with them.

Forming squares – it is courteous to fill the nearest vacancy not cross the hall to dance with “friends”. Walking through a square is frowned upon, go around. Fill a square so the dance can continue rather than everyone having to wait, the callers having to beg or the remainder of the square having to sit down. If you want to dance with your friends in a Square Up – walk on the floor together.

NEV & BEV’S TRAVELS: We have been running Suncoasters for nearly 42 years and while we don’t want to retire just yet, we want to be able to see a lot more of our fabulous country and go to other events that require an extended absence from the coast. We have several trips planned for this year and will continue our programs here with guest callers as much as possible. We’re very fortunate to have gained the services of Gary Petersen for our Tuesday and Wednesday programs and many Saturday nights. Gary has proved very popular with our dancers and has become very successful and competent in his field. Please support any guest callers as it really shows your support for the club and it ensures that is looks successful in the eyes of our guests. We feel much more confident now than in years past that Suncoasters will operate strongly in our absence.

COMING EVENTS:

MARCH 7^TH – WEDNESDAY – Introduction to Clogging will be held in the Small Hall commencing at 11.00 am First session free.

MARCH 10^TH – SATURDAY – “Helping Hands” – Working bee 2.00 pm to brush up the outside of the hall and clean screens and windows in preparation for the Social lunch. We have lots of cobwebs and dust to get down. Bring suitable tools if you can.

MARCH 11^TH – SUNDAY- Free Social lunch. All details are supplied on the flyers and it is essential we have numbers for catering. Bring along family and friends, even if non-dancers to display the friendliness of square dancers. RSVP can be by phone or email or by adding your name to the list at the Centre.

MARCH 17^TH – 3^RD SATURDAY_ Our first third Saturday for the year. See times above and on front cover. Afternoon and evening sessions.

MARCH 18^TH SUNDAY – The annual Buderim Stamp Fair is booked into the Centre from 9.00 am – 4.00 pm. You will be asked if you can supply some muffins, cakes or slices that we can sell. This event will help our roof restoration funds. We also need some help about 3.30- pm to clean up.

MARCH 24^TH – SATURDAY – The Square Dancing Society of Queensland Inc. Annual dance will be held at Wavell Heights (yes on Election Day). If interested in travelling by subsidised bus the cost to members will be approx. $ 10.00. Add you name to the list at the Centre.

31^ST MARCH – SATURDAY This will be our 5^th Saturday dance and the theme is “G as in Gold”. Details have been given above. Please try to make it along, come to theme or bring some yummy supper. Let’s make it a big night.

7^TH APRIL - SATURDAY - Yes it is Easter Saturday and our dance will be as normal – no festival or week-end event.

21^st APRIL – COMBINED COMMITTEE MEETING starting at 2.00 pm - followed by 3RD Saturday dance format.

25^TH APRIL- WEDNESDAY – ANZAC Day – no dancing.

7^TH MAY- MONDAY - Labour Day holiday but dancing as usual.

13^TH MAY – SUNDAY Mother’s Day – no dancing

19^th MAY – SATURDAY – SUNCOASTERS 42^ND BIRTHDAY. The programme is still to be fully filled in but basically we will have the normal 3^rd Saturday session from 4.30 until 6.30 followed by happy hour and preparation for the evening which will be in the form of a cabaret. We’ll set up tables and chairs, some refreshments and entertainment will be provided along with square, rounds and other dancing. Members should supply further refreshments, especially drinks. More details will be released later.

LOOKING AHEAD

MONDAY JUNE 4^TH – WEDNESDAY JUNE 6^TH NO DANCING as all Callers will be in Tasmania for a National conference, preceding the National Square Dance Convention 7^th – 11^th June.

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES: These were listed in the Christmas Newsletter (till March). Hopefully we will have received all Renewal Forms and will be able to display a new list in the May Newsletter. Best wishes to all who celebrate in April and May.

Heard a little whisper that congratulations are to go to Bob and Laine on their recent marriage.