International Association of Gay
Square Dance Clubs
P.O. Box 9176
Denver, CO 80209-0176
(303) 722-5276

The main page at www.iagsdc.org has been updated to reflect the new networking services we have incorporated:

Twitter: Start following IAGSDC® - the board will be sending out announcements through this channel. If you have something about an event or IAGSDC® related item that you'd like us to send out, go the home page, scroll to the bottom, and submit your Tweet to our Twitter channel.

Dish!: Our new discussion board is now live. Start a new thread, or add to the ongoing discussion.

YouTube: the IAGSDC® YouTube channel serves as a way to bring IAGSDC® and Square Dance related videos together in one place. Would you like to suggest a video to add to the list? Scroll to the bottom of the IAGSDC® home page and submit your suggestions! Please take this information back to your club nights and let other dancers know it's time to check out the new services at IAGSDC®.

The new bulletin board will be another communication tool for IAGSDC® members. It provides separate forums for discussions about many areas of interest, including:

• IAGSDC® announcements
• IAGSDC® general discussion
• Conventions past and future
• Clubs administration, retention, building
• Sharing Accommodation and Travel for SD events
• MSWD dance programs
• Callers and Calling
• HTQ

Anyone with a profile on the IAGSDC® main site (http://www.iagsdc.org) will be able to post to the forums.

• Bill Eyler - The Wilde Bunch
• Linda Harry - Desert Valley Squares
• Jim Rosevar - South Florida Mustangs
• Freeman Stamper - Western Star Dancers

Presented by John McKinstry at DCDC - April 2009

Good evening;
First, I need to again thank Scott Philips for this remarkable honor. Also, thanks to all of you. We do it for all of us. While being given this award was very sweet, it is even sweeter to be able to pass it on to a very deserving person. One of the things I do know is that I was very stunned that night and for weeks after.

This is very heady stuff. I realize the company I keep with this award. Could I have all past recipients stand for a moment I stood on these people's shoulders to continue their work for GLBT square dancing. It is what we do and we should never forget that we are here to dance and have fun at this our annual "Family Reunion".

Family is a very important word to me as you know and I am grateful that one of my "Chosen" families has given me this honor. This was a difficult and an easy decision. I had pretty much made up my mind by the time I reached the airport on my way home last year. However, there was a list and it had to be dealt with properly. As I have heard other recipients say, the same name kept coming to the top of my list.

So here goes:
The Golden Boot is an annual award given out by the preceding year's recipient. It is an award, which is given for outstanding service to the GLBT community at the local and or international level. Our past recipients have come from all spectrums of our Square Dance Community, Men, Women, Callers, Clubs and Organizations. The variety of the past recipients is only matched by the value of what they have contributed to GLBT Square Dancing. This year's recipient is no different in that regard.

This person has:
Served in many positions on the executive board and continues today to attend delegates meetings. It was primarily because of him that I became involved as a club delegate to the IAGSDC®. He has danced (on a regular or semi regular basis) with at least two clubs in the organization and I know has always been there to lend a hand when asked. His first convention was in 1988 in Arizona and I believe that this is his 18th convention. He has been a fun badge Tour host too many times to count. Like many others before him, his exterior demeanor belies a caring person underneath.

There is more but it would mean the end to what little surprise there is left so suffice to say that it is more than a great honor that I present this award to the 2009 Golden Boot recipient.

Unfortunately Ms. Tami Whynot is not in the room tonight but she also in her own way contributes an enormous amount to our cause.

Besides the plaque I have followed in the footsteps of AJH and Scott Philips and have had a Crystal Desk Plaque engraved for you.

There are a couple of stories that demonstrate Bob's ability to have fun and bring other people into his world.

The elevator ride in Philadelphia with nothing but an apron on and the same evening doing a ladies in men sashay with the apron up. I understand it was done for Ett's benefit.

The fun badge tour at Make Magic, when Tami, in her red suit and hat, exclaimed that the script was a piece of crap, only to find out that the authors of said script were sitting right in front of her. She just threw the script at them and said well you read it, hiked up her skirt and, sat down next to the bus driver and said "how about those NY rangers eh!".

New York, Vancouver 1990, Miami, and Albuquerque all had huge HQT contests (up to 40 contestants)-Juanna-being a "real girl" used to flash her boobs rather than the turn and flip-also-I remember Virginia Hamm's first appearance in Arizona-her turn and flip revealed a leather jock strap-next year she was given the most improved Drag Queen award for more lady like attire. Then there is the legacy of great names (which is seemingly returning with Iona Doublewide) and unexpected incidents:

This is the second electronic edition of the IAGSDC® Newsletter. A limited number will be printed and mailed to those who do not have an email address on file with the IAGDSC®.

Please feel free to email any feedback to:IAGSDC Newsletter. Suggestions for content and/or if you would like to write an article for future issues, please submit them by email in text format. Thank-you

Brian Smith
IAGSDC® Newsletter Editor
iagsdcnewsletter@telus.net