Friday, December 13, 2013

Second Thursday American Style

We are offering something special for the new year at the Plus level. The second Thursday of each month, Krista Ferguson will come and cue American Style rounds for us. Between each square dance tip, there will be two rounds. One will be phase II and the other phase III.

So if you like to chacha or rumba, foxtrot or waltse, come visit us at Burnaby Lake Pavilion.

We hit the ground running on January 9th which is also our startup.
In February it falls on the 13th, which is also our Valentines dance. Brent will be singing love songs...
In March, Krista comes out on the 13th as well. This will be our St Patricks dance.
And the last one for this season will be April 10th.

It's going to be fun.

See you on the dance floor,
Chuck

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Status of Charles Rummel Hall

From City of Burnaby today ...

Charles Rummel Centre will be partially re-opened on Dec 16, 2013. At this time, only the main hall and the regular washrooms will be accessible. All the other areas including kitchen, small community room and the adjacent disabled washrooms, the hallway between the parking lot and the disabled washrooms will still be closed.
The doors to these areas will be locked and a signage will be posted on the door reminding the users not to access.

Most probably when your group return to Charles Rummel Centre next year in January, the centre will be fully opened to users.

Sorry for the inconvenience.


Albert

Saturday, December 07, 2013

AGM - President's address

Chuckwagon 8's Annual General Meeting

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

At Bonsor

Good evening Ladies and Gents and welcome!

The present Executive has been an excellent group to work with. Conscientious and reliable they have made this year a good one for the Club. Kudos need to be extended to:

Chuck Sheehan & Daphne Green as Vice President couple. Phone, e-mail, send a dog team with info needed and an answer came back on any question.

Debra & Paul Colvin, Secretary couple. It was a pleasure watching Debra's flying fingers. No matter who spoke the speaker had a hard time keeping up to her and the excellent minutes that resulted.

Don & Dianne Allan, as Treasurer couple are indeed a treasure for the Club.

Barry & Carol Scott as A2 Co-ordinators were humorous, friendly, and thoughtful. Of course Barry's initials of B.S. may have added to their announcement skills.

Plus Co-ordinators Susan and Doug Hopkins are to be commended and you may recall that Doug did an excellent job of running the Club's Bowling and Pizza Night.

The Knee's, Dave and Jenny were the other half of Plus Co-ordinators. Amongst other things this was the couple that arranged an excellent Chuckwagon turnout to a Surrey Square Wheeler visitation. It turned out to a banner evening with 23 of us showing up.

Bert & Marilyn Koll as Social Convenors have opened their home for meetings and Club decorations. Napoleon stated an army moves on its stomach and they have seen to it that our square dance stomachs are well taken care of.

Darlene Maxwell as Fraser Valley Rep did the 'write' thing by stepping up to the Club Chatter plate when Marguerite Jordan experienced health issues. She attended a Fraser Valley meeting and gave an excellent report.

Our Past President couple, Bob and Barb Brisebois from Burnaby are a definite 'Ad' addition. Their work shows up in the Valley Circle extolling Club activities and is well above the B level their name and location suggests.

We continue to be well served by the talents of Ray, Brent and Alison. All of them create challenges both mental and physical. Now I am not suggesting we are mentally challenged, it just seems so at times and they do an excellent job of correcting occasional dance moves at the same time denying any error on their part.

As to the Club itself, we're doing okay. Financially we are in the black. Fun wise in 2013 we have enjoyed several special dances, a piper, Larry Gillott, who piped in Robbie Burns night, our Bowling / Pizza soiree, a financially successful Pub NIght, and another form of club enjoyment with the Golf tournament organized by George and Katie Bruschinsky. These are just a few highlights.

Behind the scenes there are those who keep the Chuckwagon wheels turning. At the A2 level the Powers, Jack and Yvonne have volunteered for kitchen duty as well as covering for the Scott's. They replaced Ginette Grenier who did the kitchen for three years. My wife Elaine, beyond her official duties, the Newey's, Bernice and Andrew, the Gillott's, Diane and Larry continue to offer their considerable talents for special events. And all one has to do is attend Brent's excellent special Plus nights to enjoy the contributions both goodie and decoration wise that Dave and Jenny Knee, Susan and Doug Hopkins and the Chuck Sheehan / Daphne Green team do. The list could go on. If you are one of the unsung like those who contribute to our Pub night success doesn't mean you are not appreciated. The Club benefits.

On December 7 of this year the Chuckwagon's would have done its twenty-second Toys for Toddlers charitable dance. Money and toys raised by this dance through those attending and a $500 Club contribution have in the past gone to the needy in Burnaby. Even though Toddlers are mentioned, teen needs are met as well. I just received a letter from Burnaby explaining continued support would be most appreciated. Unfortunately this year as you know, hall problems forced cancellation of this dance. However, beyond the Club's gift a continuing benefactor gave another $500 for purchases and some of us who had already bought toys will have them taken to the Burnaby Christmas Bureau, so all is not lost. We are still able to put something back into the community.

I would be remiss not to mention that to some members, numbers are of concern, particularly at the Plus level. How can the Club continue to exist with financial and membership drain? This is a matter that the Executive must address. At the moment money is not an issue. I am looking forward to dealing with another talented group of individuals to come up with solutions to this and other questions.

Barry Bentley

Train dance pictures and update

We took pictures at the Train Dance. A bit late putting them up (sorry Marilyn) but better late than never.

On the Charles Rummel side there is little news yet. Our Burnaby contact indicates the hall is scheduled for reopening on Dec 16th still. We expect an update from the repair crew some time next week.

Watch this space for other exciting news from the Plus group!

See you on the dance floor

Chuck