Club History

Ottawa Promenaders

Printable History  I 

March 28, 2009

Ottawa Promenaders 2008-2009

The Ottawa Promenaders Square Dance Club hosts dances on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month from September through May and sponsors special dances once a month during thesummer. We are a mainstream club, but include one plus tip each evening.

This season has seen several changes: (1) a new dance location at Washburn Towers in their Civic Center, 506 S. Main, Ottawa, KS, (2) a new dance time from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., (3) a new way to serve refreshments called "grazing" where dancers help themselves to treats all evening long, rather than have a long break for refreshments, giving everyone more time to dance, (4) the addition of a historian, who keeps a club scrapbook, and (5) a pair of dolls dressed in our red, white and blue travel outfit.

The Club participates in the Kansas Square Dance Association's traveling banner program. We average two travel dances per month, except summer months. The purpose of the traveling banner is to help promote the wonderful world of square dancing and to create a feeling of fellowship and goodwill between clubs.

September 2

Potluck for Prospective Dancers at 6:30 p.m. at the 1st United Methodist Church, 4th & Hickory

September 20

Kickoff New Season

October 4

Autumn Leaves

October 18

Harvest Celebration

November 1

Annual Pig Roast

November 15

Give Thanks/Veterans' Day

December 6

Reason for the Season

December 20

Christmas Dance

January 3

Let It Snow

January 17

Chili & Dessert

February 7

No Dance/NEKSDCA Festival at Croco Hall

February 21

Valentine Dance

March 7

Donna's Favorites

March 21

Shamrocks & Spuds

April 4

Dancing in the Rain

April 18

Poor Boys

May 2

Nifty 50's (Costumes Welcomed)

May 16

Pie & Ice Cream

June 20

Perry/Crady Special

July 18

God Bless America Special with Vic Perry

August 14

National Caller Dance with Marshall Flippo

Rounds by Vernon Nelson

 58 Years Of Dancing

An interest in square dancing began to grow in Ottawa around 1949, and the "Promenaders Club" was organized in 1950 with Pat Beedles serving as their first caller. Dances were first held at Eugene Field Elementary School, the Nelson Hotel and the VFW Hall. In the early years, instead of electing officers, four names were drawn each session to plan functions and to handle finances. Funds were provided by donations made at each dance.

In 1954 the first officers were elected, a new constitution and by-laws were adopted, and T. J. Miller became the caller for the group. Square dance lessons were started at this time. T. J. Miller called for the club until 1958, with dances held in the Memorial Auditorium basement and the National Guard Armory. During this time the club members joined the Four Corners Square Dance Association composed of all clubs called by Miller. This association consisted of Ottawa, Garnett, Osawatomie, DeSoto, Olathe and Leavenworth. Local dancers traveled to the Osawatomie Civic Center once a month to dance to area and national callers sponsored by the association.

From 1958 to 1965 Emery Wilson was the club caller. Emery taught the lessons the first year; Richard and Dorothy Hewitt taught lessons 1959-61, and Bill and Jerry Abbott taught lessons 1961-64. Sal Fanara called one session of the 1964-65 year, because of Emery's work hours. The Blue Moon building (currently the Eagles Hall) and the Armory were used for the club dances, and the Knights of Columbus Hall was used for lessons.

Bob Kuhn called for the Ottawa Promenaders from 1965-70, and the dances were held at Lincoln School. In 1970 Jim Booton became the club caller. Lincoln and Eisenhower Schools were used for club dances along with the Farm Bureau Hall and the Ottawa University Union for lessons. Jim Booton retired in 1985. Their new caller became Vic Perry. Celebration Hall was used for lessons and dances until 1999. The Ottawa Promenaders then moved to the new Ottawa Middle School. Lessons were taught at the First United Methodist Church and is where our caller, Vic, still teaches lessons today.

The Four Corners Square Dance Association was in existence only during the years that R. J. Miller was the club caller. Since that time the club has been associated with the Heart of America Square Dance Association and the Kansas Square Dance Association (KSDA). The club, currently, is only affiliated with the KSDA.

Line dancing, led by Judy Haas (Broers), was added between square dance tips as an unofficial part of the program in 2001. In 2003 Judy became our line dance cuer/instructor, and she is still serving in that capacity today, assisted by her husband Gene Broers as of 2007.

Ottawa Promenaders
2008-2009

Governing Board

President:

Gene and Judy Broers

1st Vice Presidents:

Bruce Groninger
Connie Jacobs

2nd Vice Presidents:

Shirley Meloche
Mike and Becky Raley
Betty Randel

Recording Secretary:

Jack and Jo Ann Price

Treasurer:

Richard and Mitzi Neal

Past President:

Bob and Kay Wilburn

Past 1st Vice-President:

Steve and Rene Reese

 

Appointed Positions

Corresponding Secretary:

Jim and Betty Driver

Courtesy Chairman:

Jim and Betty Driver

Publicity:

Jack and Jo Ann Price

NEKSDA Delegate:

Bob and Kay Wilburn

Travel Chairman:

Shelly Gibson

Historian:

Bev Roy

Webmaster:

Steve Reese

Photographers:

Judy Broers
Vernon Nelson
Bob Rainbolt
Steve Reese

 

Caller & Line Dance Cuer

Caller:

Vic Perry

Caller's Taw:

Donna Perry

Line Dance Cuer:

Judy Broers

Cuer's Choice:

Gene Broers

 

Ottawa Promenaders Presidents

1950-54

Committees

1954-55

Richard & Dorothy Hewitt

1955-56

Warren & Betty Kasper
Harold & Marge Leitnaker

1956-57

Gene Broers

 

Reid & Vivian Harder

1957-58

Art & Carol Keller

1957-58

Haydn & Lola Shaw

1959-60

Bill & Jerry Abbott

1960-61

LeRoy & Marilyn Teter

1961-62

Gene & Beverly Mavity

1962-63

Eldon & Eileen Finch

1963-64

Dale & Bernice Smith

1964-65

Haydn & Lola Shaw

1965-66

Richard & Mitzie Neal

1966-67

Duane & Cheryl Hall

1967-68

Jim & Ginny Lancaster

1968-69

Gene & Georgia Ward

1969-70

Harold & Dottie Hay

1970-71

Art & Peggy Miller

1971-72

Terry & Carolyn Silvius

1972-73

Galen & Peg Wichman

1973-74

Don & Frances Jones

1974-75

Richard & Dorothy Hewitt

1975-76

Charles & Sue Gillette

1976-77

Doug & Jean Higbie

1977-78

Albert & Veda Beatty

1978-79

Max & Betty Randel

1979-80

David & Norma Bird

1980-81

Bud & Carolyn Elder

1981-82

Harold & Judy Pennington

1982-83

Raymond & Sally Dunn

1983-84

Max & Betty Randel

1984-85

Richard & Mitzie Neal

1985-86

David & Norma Bird

1986-87

Charles & Vera Neal

1987-88

Harry & Shelly Gibson

1988-89

Orville & Jo Flager

1989-90

David & Mary Lee McElfresh

1990-91

Earl & Marilyn Zimmerman

1991-92

Larry & Debbie Hanson

1992-93

Larry & Debbie Hanson

1993-94

Dean & Mary Royse

1994-95

Terry & Jean Thompson

1995-96

Dean & Mary Royse

1996-97

Ken & Lexie Jones

1997-98

Max & Betty Randel

1998-99

Jim & Sandy Moore

1999-00

Charles & Vera Neal

2000-01

Ken & Lexie Jones

2001-02

Dean & Mary Royse

2002-03

Ernie & Clara Richardson

2003-04

Charles & Vera Neal

2004-05

Loren & Helen Cantrell

2005-06

Terry Larsen & Shelly Gibson

2006-07

Bruce Groninger & Connie Jacobs

2007-08

Bob & Kay Wilburn

2008-09

Gene & Judy Broers

 

Callers & Instructors

1950-54

Pat & Irene Beedles

1954-58

T. J. & Tressa Miller

1958-65

Emery & Crystal Wilson

1959-61

Richard & Dorothy Hewitt (Lessons Only)

1961-64

Bill & Jerry Abbott (Lessons Only)

1964

Sal & Barbara Fanara (Caller-1 Session)

1965-70

Bob & Mary Alice Kuhn

1970-85

Jim & Dorothy Booton

1985-Present

Vic & Donna Perry

 

3/28/09

 

 

 

 

 

 
Ottawa Promenaders