January – 
        March 2012



From our President
HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

It's a new year, with many great opportunities for us to dance as a group or as singles or couples. Dancing is what we do best (besides eating).

January is the NCSDA Anniversary Dance featuring many of our top callers. March gives us an opportunity to dance at the annual St. Patrick’s Day Hoedown while also enjoying a delicious Corn beef & Cabbage Dinner. If you have never had the opportunity to dance to a live band, in April, The Ghost Riders are holding their 40th Anniversary Dance. May is a great opportunity to dance at the Golden State Round Up. It's three days of great fun with lots of fellow dancers. These are just a few of our opportunities to dance outside of club night. 

For those of us who started dancing in September, hoedowns held on Friday nights are usually danced at the beginner/mainstream level and Saturday night hoedowns are usually danced at the plus level. 

As a club, I hope everyone is looking forward to a wonderful year of dancing and taking part in some of our annual events such as attending the Wing Ding in Sonora in March, the Golden State Roundup in San Ramon in May, the "Cowboy Poetry" weekend during the summer, and our annual campout and street dance at Sugar Barge in September.
These are just a few of the events we have planned for the year. If you have any suggestions for activities that you think our club would like to do together please let us know. Please remember this is your club and you have a voice in what we do.

Caller’s Corner
Well the big parties are over, who thought we would make it to 2012?  If you’re reading this, you did.   We have been somewhat disconnected at times with the holidays, now we can settle down and get to it.  We have been working on our “Basic and Mainstream Calls”, and as a group we are doing well.  Practice makes perfect, so we practice…..!   It’s time to get serious about some “Plus Dancing”.   “Plus Dancing” is just another group of “calls” that puts what you already know into small predefined groups and gives them a name so you can do them as one call or command ie: (swing thru) several trades together and so on.  We have already addressed some and there are more calls to come.  “Attendance” will get you there.  In addition to some new calls coming, it is my suggestion that you try to attend as many dance events this coming year as you can, you get to be a better dancer when you work at it and get to dance to other callers as well as meeting some real nice folks out there - tell them I sent you.  One dance to put on your list for sure is the “Callers Association, St. Patrick’s Day Hoedown”, always a fun event.  Should be a Sunday early in March, a fun level with lots of callers there.  

The Golden State Round Up in May is our local association’s big event for the year and it’s close to home in San Ramon.

Enough for now … see you on the dance floor.

Special Dates to Remember
Jan 6 – Happy Birthday Kathy
Jan 10 – Happy Birthday Bryon
Jan 15 – Happy Birthday Pete
Jan 29 – Happy Birthday Tom
Feb 8 – Happy Birthday Ann
Feb 14 – Valentine’s Day
Feb 23 – Happy Anniversary Gary & June
Mar 12 – Happy Birthday Judy
Mar 14 – Happy Anniversary Jack & Catherine
Mar 16 – Happy Birthday Leslie
Mar 22 – Happy Birthday Catherine

Local Events Calendar
January:
4 – Club workshop*, 7-9:30pm                         
* Club dues should be paid for the next two months.
8 – NCSDA Anniversary, Concord, 2-5pm
8 – New Callers, Sunnyvale, 2:30-4:30pm
11 – Club workshop, 7-9:30pm
14 – Martinez Swingers, 7:30-10:30pm
18 – Club workshop, 7-9:30pm
20-22 – Winter Festival, King City
25 – Club party night, 7-9:30pm
February:
1 – Club workshop, 7-9:30pm
4 – High Energy Youth, Pacheco, 8-11pm
4 – Rancho Squares, Dublin, 8-11pm
8 – Club workshop, 7-9:30pm
11 – Clutch Busters, Martinez, 7:30-10:30pm
15 – Club workshop, 7-9:30pm
18 – Boots & Belles, Napa, 7-10pm
22 – Club workshop, 7-9:30pm
24 – Martinez Swingers, 7:30-10:30pm
26 – Pioneer Squares, SF, 10am-3pm
29 – Club party night, 7-9:30pm
March:
3 – Redwood Rainbows, Sebastopol,7:30-10:30pm
7 – Club workshop, 7-9:30pm
* Club dues should be paid for the next two months.
10 – New Callers, Sunnyvale, 2:30-4:30pm
10 – Sunnyvale Singles, San Jose, 7:30-10:30pm
10 – Diablo Dancers, WC, 7:30-10:30pm
10 – Twin City Steppers, TBA
11 – St. Patrick’s Dance, Richmond, 2-5pm
14 – Club workshop, 7-9:30pm
21 – Club workshop, 7-9:30pm
24 – Clutch Busters, Martinez, 8-10:30pm
25 – Swinging 21ers, Fremont, 2-5pm
28 – Club party night, 7-9:30pm
31 – NCSDA Stampede, TBA, 7:30-11pm

For detailed information about non-club events, check our club bulletin board or go to www.ncsda.com.   Information on other events happening in the northern California area can also be found on this website.

Positive Energy Tip
Energy is the one thing that at times we all feel we need more of. What most people find is that when they are doing what they love that the energy comes naturally. When you have a passion for what you are doing you will find energy is something that you have lots of. 

As Tony Robbins once said, "The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body.  The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results." 

Live Ten Years Longer
Square dancing will add ten years to your life, a study showed.  Dr. Arron Blackbum states, “It’s clear that square dancing is the perfect exercise.  It combines all the positive aspects of intense physical activity with none of the negative elements.”

The study was based on their physical examinations which indicated that both female and male square dancers could expect to live well into their 80s.

The square dance movements raise the heart rate like any good aerobic exercise should.  All the quick changes of direction loosen and tone up the muscles – but not so severely as to cause injury.  In square dancing, when you’re not moving you’re clapping hands or tapping feet, which all contributes to long term fitness.

Hugging
Hugging is healthy; it helps the body’s immune system, it keeps you healthier, it reduces stress, it cures depression, it induces sleep, it’s invigorating, it’s rejuvenating, it has no unpleasant side effects.

Hugging is practically perfect; it is organic, naturally sweet, no pesticides, no artificial ingredients, no preservatives and 100% wholesome, there are no movable parts, no batteries to wear out, no periodic checkups, low energy consumption, high energy yield, inflation-proof, non-fattening, no monthly payments, no insurance requirements, theft-proof, non-taxable, non polluting and, of course, fully returnable!

Funnies
An old man was a witness in a burglary case:
The defense lawyer asked Richard, “Did you see my client commit this burglary?”
“Yes,” said Richard, “I saw him plainly take the goods.”
The lawyer asks Richard again, “Richard, this happened at night.  Are you sure you saw my client commit this crime?”
“Yes” says Richard, “I saw him do it.”
Then the lawyer asks Richard, “Richard listen, you are 80 years old and your eye sight probably is bad.  Just how far can you see at night?”
Richard says, “I can see the moon, how far is that?”

Actual comments made by teachers on report cards:
- Since my last report, your child has hit rock bottom and has started to dig.
- Your child has delusions of adequacy.
- Your child is depriving a village of an idiot.
- Your son sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them.
- This child has been working with glue too much.
- When your daughter’s IQ reaches 50, she should sell.
- The gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn’t here.
- If this student were any more stupid, he’d have to be watered twice a week.
- The wheel is turning but the hamster is gone.

What’s the difference between a Yankee zoo and a Texas zoo?
On the cage, a Yankee zoo will have the name of the animal and then the scientific name in Latin.  Whereas, a Texas zoo will have the name of the animal and the recipe!

Smart Ass Questions & Answers
#6 - It was mealtime during an airline flight.
“Would you like dinner?” the flight attendant asked John, seated in front.
“What are my choices?” John asked.
“Yes or no,” she replied.

#5 - A flight attendant was stationed at the departure gate to check tickets. As a man approached, she extended her hand for the ticket and he opened his trench coat and flashed her.  Without missing a beat, she said, “Sir, I need to see your ticket, not your stub.”

#4 - A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store but she couldn't find one big enough for her family.  She asked a stock boy, “Do these turkeys get any bigger?”
The stock boy replied, “No ma'am, they're dead.”

#3 - The police officer got out of his car as the kid who was stopped for speeding rolled down his window.  “I've been waiting for you all day,” the officer said.
The kid replied, “Yeah, well I got here as fast as I could.”
When the cop finally stopped laughing, he sent the kid on his way without a ticket.

#2 - A truck driver was driving along the freeway and noticed a sign that read: Low Bridge Ahead.  Before he knows it, the bridge is right in front of him and his truck gets wedged under it.  Cars are backed up for miles.  Finally a police car comes up.  The cop gets out of his car and walks to the truck driver, puts his hands on his hips and says, “Got stuck, huh?”
The truck driver says, “No, I was delivering this bridge and I ran out of gas.”

#1 - A college teacher reminds her class of tomorrow's final exam.  “Now class, I won't tolerate any excuses for you not being here tomorrow.  I might consider a nuclear attack or a serious personal injury, illness, or a death in your immediate family, but that's it, no other excuses whatsoever!”
A smart-ass student in the back of the room raised his hand and asked, “What would you say if tomorrow I said I was suffering from complete and utter sexual exhaustion?”
The entire class is reduced to laughter and snickering.  When silence was restored, the teacher smiled knowingly at the student, shook her head and sweetly said, “Well, I guess you'd have to write the exam with your other hand.”

BONUS - A woman is standing nude looking in the bedroom mirror. She is not happy with what she sees and says to her husband, “I feel horrible.  I look old, fat and ugly.  I really need you to pay me a compliment.”
The husband replies, “Your eyesight's damn near perfect.”

Member Recipes
Share your favorite recipes with club members. Email them to delta.squares@yahoo.com

Promote Delta Squares
In addition to our car magnets, flyers and club cards, be sure to visit our website at www.deltasquares.com.  You can friend us on Facebook at “Delta Squares.”  Tell your friends about our club and all its’ activities … bring them to the last-Wednesday party night!  For those who still like to use the phone, our number is 925-217-2255.  And, our email is delta.squares@yahoo.com. 

Advertising
Children’s Paw Prints – Susan has a pottery business, where she takes impressions of babies’ foot and handprints in ceramic clay. Call her for any of your baby shower gifts or keepsakes of your own family: (925) 229-4247 or find her Facebook page at “Children's Paw Prints.”
Fred’s Fast Plumbing – Call Fred for all your plumbing needs: 925- 219-2709.
Photos by Jackie Lee – Call Jack for all your photography needs: 925-325-6306; and visit www.photosbyjackielee.com.

For Sale
Adorable, hand-made doll clothes for all 18" dolls (American Girl doll size). Each outfit is unique. We have a large selection from sleepwear to formal dresses. Outfits range from $8-18. Individual pieces also available. Call 925-755-6049.

Sony DVD/CD/Video CD Player, DVP-S550D, with remote, $35. Call 925-755-6049

Editor’s Note:  This newsletter communicates our members’ ideas and thoughts.  If you have suggestions, recipes, sewing tips, places to buy square dance apparel, thoughts on club activities, jokes, items for sale or items you want to buy, dancing tips, or tips of any kind, please forward them to: delta.squares@yahoo.com, so we can share them with our club members.

… and a big splash for 2012 – Happy New Year square dancers, this is a great year to be one too (12), get it??? LOL  

                     Happy Dancing!