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WESTERN STAR DANCERS

IAGSDC CONVENTIONPROGRAM LURBS

1_984-_$_ea!!_1_e 264 words )

S i n ce March , L9 8 2 , Wes t e rn S t a r D an ce r s h as g r o w n f ro m i t s f i v e fo u n d i n g

m e m b e r s t o b o t h a c l u b a n d c l a s s o f o v e r 1 5 0 s q u a re d . an ce r s . We a r e an o n -co mp e t i t l v e c l u b w h i ch s eek s t o ( 1 ) p r o m o t e s q u a r e d a n c i n g a s an a t i o n a l ac t i v i t y , ( 2 ) p r o v i d e a n i d e n t i t y f o r M a i n s t r e a m d a n c e r s , a n d( 3 ) p r o v i d e a n d p r o m o t e o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r Ma i n s t r eam c a l l i n g an di n s t ru c t i o n .

A l t h o u g h WSD s f o r d a n c i n g , i t i s o u r c o n s t a n t o b j ec t i v e t o a c h i e v e ah a r m o n i o u s b a l a n c e b e t w een s a t i s f ac t o ry d an ce e x p e r i e n c e s a n d t h eg e n e r a l s o c i a l n e e d s o f i t s memb er s . O u r s t a t ed p o l i c i e s a r e t o :( 1 ) p romote fe l lowsh ip wi th in the group by square dance and o thera c t i v i t i e s , ( 2 ) p u r s u e a s p i r i t o f e o o p e r a t i o n , s u p p o r t , a n d p o s i t i v ee n c o u r a g e m e n t , ( 3 ) e n h a n c e t h e l i f e s t y l e o f o u r m e m b e r s a n d t h e i rf r i en d s , an d (4 ) e n c o u r a g e t h e s h a r i n g o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s a n d d u t i e s b ya l I m e m b e r s .

We t each t h e 6 B Mai n s t r eam ca l 1 s a s c u r r e n t l y d e f i n e d b y C a 1 l e r 1 a b . O u rgradua tes are a t the Mains t ream program, and knowing the Mains t reamcal l s enab les us to comfor tab ly dance no on ly a t ou r own c lub bu t a l soa t o t h e r c l u b s a n d s q u a r e d a n c e g a t h e r i n g s a c r o s s t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .

Th e mo n t h l y n ew s l e t t e r , TH E WESTERN TA R, i s an i n t eg ra l p a r t o f WSD ' sco mmu n i ca t i o n w i t h i t s memb er s . I n ad d i t i o n t o a r t i c l e s o f g e n e r a li n t e r e s t , i t a n n o u n c e s s p e c i a l a c t i v i t i e s s u c h a s m o n t h l y d an cesfea tu r ing t ips th rough the P lus program, a luncheon group formed top r o v i d e a s o c i a l ac t i , v i t y fo r t h o s e w h o w o rk l n t h e F i n an c i a l D i s t r i c ti n S a n F r a n c i s c o , a n d p o t - I u c k d i n n e r s a n d p a r t i e s j u s t fo r f u n .

We s t e r n S t a r D an ce r s i s a f o u n d i n g m e m b e r o f t h e N a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n o fG ay S q u a r e D a n c e C l u b s .

1_98_5-_De_n-v_er 18 4 words )

S i n ce March , L9 8 2 , Wes t e rn S t a r D a n c e r s h a s g r o w n f ro m i t s f i v e f o u n d i n gmemb er s t o a n o n - p r o f i t j . n c o r p o r a t e d c l u b a n d c l a s s o f o v e r 1 5 0 s q u a r ed an ce r s . A t t h o u g h WSD i s p r i m a r i l y a M a i n s t r e a m C l u b , w o f f e r aco mp l e t e d a n c i n g p ack ag e f r o m B a s i c t h ru PIu s , i n c l u d i n g c o n t i n u o u sy e a r - r o u n d i n s t r u c t io n i n B a s i c , Ma i n s t r eam an d P Iu s , a w eek l y We d n e s d a y

c l u b N rg h t d ev o t ed t o I ' l a i n s t r eam d an c i n g , t w i ce mo n t h l y F r i d ay n i g h t sdevo ted to fu l l P lus danc ing , and weekend Hoedowns abou t every s ixw eek s . Ou r p o l i c y o f b u i l d i n g b r i d g e s b e t w e e n t h e g a y a n d s t r a i g h tcommuni ty has been l a rge ly success fu l ; we have regu la r ly a t t ended manys t r a i q h t d a n c e s a s w e l l a s r e g i o n a l an d S t a t e co n v en t i o n s w h e re w e h av ee s t a b l i s h e d a g r o w i n g r e p u t a t i o n fo r q u a l i t y d a n c i n g a n d f r i e n d l i n e s s /

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an d w e h av e a t t r a c t ed a v a r i e t y o f l o ca1 ca l l e r s w h o n o w ca l l fo r WSD o na r e g u l a r b a s i s . I t i s o u r h o p e t h a t t h i s t y p e o f r a p p o r t w e a r eb u i l d i n g i n Sa n F r a n c i s c o w i l l p a v e t h e w a y f o r o u r f e l l o w c l u k r s i n t h eA s s o c i a t i o n .

Wes te rn S ta r Dancers is p roud to be one o f the found ing members of thef n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t r o n o f G a y S q u a r e D a n c e C l u b s .

1 9 8 6 , San F ra r- r c i g co ( 5 1 8 w r : r d s

T h e We s t e r n S t a r D a n c e r s e x t e n dhometown, San Franc i . sco . We knowb e an ex c i t i n g o n e .

t o y o u a h ea r t f e l t w e l co me t o o u ry o u r s t ay i n o u r c i t y b y t h e Bay w i l l

Gay square danc ing in San Franc i sco began abou t November 1980 . Fromth i s beg inn ing our f ive found ing members began what became known as theWes t e rn S t a r D an ce r s . F o u n d e d i n M a r c h L 9 8 2 i n a d u s t y r e h e a r s a l h a l l ,comple te wi th bar re and mi r ro rs , a t the ACT thea te r in downtownSan F ran c i s co , WSD h as ev o l v ed i n t o a n o n - p r o f j - t i n c o r p o r a t e d c l u b o fo v e r 1 " 2 5 memb er s .

Al though square danc ing i s the name o f the game, our emphas i s onf r i e n d l i n e s s an d g e t t i n g t o k n o w e a c h o t h e r t h r o u g h o u r a c t i v e s o c i a lc a l e n d a r h a s p l a y e d a l a rg e p a r t i n o u r s u c c e s s . A n n u a1 ev en t s i n c l u d eo u r Fo u r t h o f J u Iy fe r ry b o a t c ru i s e t o A n g e l I s l an d i n San F ran c i s coBay for a p icn ic on the beach fo l lowed by square danc ing in theabandoned Army barracks . Sep tember f inds us a t ou r re t rea t a t theBerke ley Mus ic Camp surrounded by tower ing Redwoods in the l i t t l e towno f Cazad e ro . O u r a m a t e u r t a l en t s h o w, " C 1 u b La S t a r " i n t h e f a l lh i g h l i g h t s o u r m o r e g i f t e d m e m b e r s w h o en t e r t a i n u s w i t h mi me , s o n g ,i m p e r s o n a t i o n s a n d d a n c e ro u t i n e s t o n ame a f ew. We ce l eb ra t e G ayFreedom Day Week by hos t j -ng a Parade-Eve hoedown which i s a lways wel l

a t t e n d e d b y t h e l o ca l c l u b s a s w e l l a s man y o u t -o f - t o w n v i s i t o r s .O u r b y l aw s d e f i n e u s a s a Ma i n s t r eam Cl u b ; h o w ev e r, w e o f f e r a co mp l e t ed a n c e p a c k a g e f ro m Bas i c t h ro u g h P l u s . Th i s amb i t i o u s s ch ed u l e i n c l u d e sb o t h Mai n s t r eam an d P l u s c l a s s e s each y e a r , We d n e s d a y n l g h t " C l u b N i g h t "d e v o t e d t o Ma i n s t r eam d a n c i n g a n d t w i c e a m o n t h F r i d a y f u l I P Iu s n i g h t s .We a l so sponsor Sa tu rday n igh t hoedowns fo r one and a l l abou t s ix t imesa y e a r.

Our po l i cy of bu i ld ing br idges be tween the gay and s t ra igh t square danceco mmu n i t i e s i n t h e Bay A rea co n t i n u es t o b e s u c c e s s fu l . We i n d i v i d u a l l ya n d r e g u l a r l y a t t e n d m a n y s t r a i g h t d an ces i n t h e Bay A rea as w e l l a sr e g i o n a l an d s t a t e co n v en t i o n s . We h av e e s t a b l j - s he d a l o c a I r e p u t a t i o no f q u a l i t y d a n c i n g , e n t h u s i a s m a n d c a m a r a d e r i e . As a re s u l t w e h a v ea t t r a c t e d man y o f t h e f i n e s t l o c a l c a l l e r s w h o n o w ca l l r eg u l a r l y fo rWes te rn S ta r. We are proud tha t many of them are inc luded in th l sy e a r ' s c o n v e n t i o n . A d d i t i o n a l l y, o u r o w n Bo b Be l l v i I l e h a s b eenaccep t ed i n t h e Sq u a re D an ce CaI l e r s r A s s o c i a t i o n , N o r t h e rn C a l i f o r n i a .We h o p e t h a t o v e r a p e r i o d o f t i m e w e w i l l b e i n s t ru men t a l i n b r i d g i n g

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a n t i - g a y b a r r i e r s i n t h e s g u a r e d a n c e w o r l d a n d e s t a b l i s h a r a p p o r t t h a tw i l l p av e t h e w a y f o r o u r f e l l o w memb er c l u b s o f t h e IA G SD C.

Wes t e rn S t a r D an ce r s i s o n e o f t h e fo u n d i n g memb er s o f IA G SD C. O u rmembers a re proud to have con t r ibu ted to the e ffo r t s o f the Star Thrut h e G o l d en G a t e ' 8 6 Co mmi t t ee t o s p o n s o r y o u r co n v en t i o n . I t i s o n e o ft h e e x a m p l e s o f t h e s p i r i t o f f e l l o w s h i p w h i ch ex i s t s w i t h a l l o f t h eBay Area member c lubs . Dur ing your s tay here in San Franc i sco we hopet h a t y o u w i l l ad o p t o u r mo t t o : "D o n ' t S t o p , D o n ' t S l o w D o w n !" Th an k sfo r j o i n i n g u s a n d a g a i n , a b i g W E L C O M E !

L"297, P-qr!1an4

( P i c t u r e o n l y )

L9__88-_Phq_e_nrx 134 words )

Wes t e rn S t a r D an ce r s , San F ran c i s co , CA i s o n e o f t h e f o u n d i n g m e m b e r sof the IAGSDC and i s p roud to be a par t o f CROSSTRAILS N THE DESERT.

Wes t e rn S t a r c e l e b r a t e d t h e s i x t h an n i v e r s a ry o f i t s f o u n d i n g i n M a r c ho f t h i s y e a r. Tru l y a mi l e s t o n e fo r G ay S q u a r e D a n c i n g i nSan F ran c i s co . F ro m j u s t a f e w memb er s i n o u r s t a r t i n g y ea r o f L 9 8 2 w ehave grown to over L00 dues pay ing members .

We h av e b e e n p r i m a r i l y a ma i n s t r eam c l u b , a l t h o u g h o u r d a n c e i n s t r u c t i o nr an f ro m Bas i c t h ro u g h P l u s , b u t w e r e c e n t l y h a v e r e d i r e c t e d o u re n e rg r i e s t o b e c o m i n g a P l u s l ev e l c l u b . Th e ch an g e h a s r ece i v ed anen t h u s i a s t i c r e s p o n s e f r o m c l u b memb er s .

Wes te rn Star regu la r ly a t t ends many s t ra igh t dances and reg iona l and

s t a t e c o n v e n t i o n s c o n t i n u i n g o u r p o l i c y o f b u i l d i n g b r i d g e s b e t w e e n t h eGa y a n d S t r a i g h t Co mmu n i t i e s .

1 9 8 9 , N e w Yo r k ( I 2 2 w o r d s )

Wes te rn Star Dancers * San Franc i sco , CA - One o f the found ing memberso f t h e IA G SD C, Wes t e rn S t a r c e l e b r a t e d i t s s e v e n t h a n n i v e r s a r y j -n March .We have grown in to one o f the l a rges t gay square dance c lubs in thew es t . We o ff e r b o t h Mai n s t r eam an d P l u s c l a s s e s each y e a r , i n a d d i t i o nto our week ly c lub n igh t and an occas iona l Sa tu rday n ig rh t hoedown fo ro n e an d a I I . Wes t e rn S t a r D an ce r s co n t i n u es i t s p o l i cy o f o u t r e a c h a n dcommunica t i -on be tween the gay and s t ra igh t communi t i es . Our members

r e g u l a r l y a t t e n d s t r a i g h t d a n c e s a s w e l l a s r e g i o n a l a n d s t a t eco n v en t i o n s , w h e re w e a r e k n o w n fo r q u a l j - t y d a n c i n g a n d f r i e n d l i n e s s .We a l s o h a ve e n l i s t e d t h e s u p p o r t o f a v a r i e t y o f l o c a l c a l l e r s .Vi s i t i n g d a n c e r s a r e w e l c o m e a t an y o f o u r a c t i v i t i e s .

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L9_9Q_.Vatc-eU_Vef ( 180 words )

N o w co n d u c t i n g o u r 1 4 t h M ai n s t r e a m c l a s s , WSD o r m e d i n M a r c h , L9 8 2 , t ob e g i n t h e Ca l l e r l ab fo rma t i n t h e San Fran c i s co g a y co mmu n i t y. We a r eco mmi t t ed t o p r o v i . d i n g f i r s t -q u a l i t y i n s t ru c t i o n , s t r o n g l y emp h as i z i n gt h e D BD / A PD c o n c e p t s . O u r c a l e n d a r h a s a n a c t i v e s o c i a l s t r u c t u r e t oi m p l e m e n t r e g u l a r d a n c i n g , w eek en d w o rk s h o p s , h o e d o w n s , a n d s p ec i a lev en t s . We l o v e t o h av e fu n , b u t w e d o t a k e o u r d a n c i n g s e r i o u s l y.Wes te rn S ta r i s p roud to be one o f the found ing members of the IAGSDC nL 9 8 2 an d h a s c o n t r i b u t e d n o t o n l y t w o p r e s i d e n t s , t w o v i ce -p re s i d en t s ,t w o s ec re t a r i e s ( o n e s e rv i n g t w o t e r m s ) , a n d a G a y C a l l e r s A s s o c i a t i o np r e s i d e n t b u t a l s o t h e i n i t i a l d r a f t o f t h e cu r r en t A s s o c i a t i o n By -Law s .The two foundresses of EI Camino Ree le rs and two Golden Boo t Awardr e c i p i e n t s a r e W SDg r a d s . A q u a r t e r l y p u b l i c a t i o n o f s u b s t an t i v e i s s u esi s o u r b r a i n c h i l d , an d t h e co n cep t s eem6 t o b e en t h u s i a s t i c a l l y s w eep i n gt h e A s s o c i a t i o n . Wh i l e n o t WSD p u b l i c a t i o n s , TH E TRAV ET G U ID E an dBRA D LEY ELL h av e p u b l i s h e r s w h o ca l l WSD h o me . Say h e l l o w h e n y o u s e eo u r r h i n e s t o n e - a c c e n t e d b l a c k s t a r b a d g e s . We ' r e r i g h t f r i e n d l y f o l k s .

1_9__9_1-_Uian-r ( 225 words )

Wes te rn Star Dancers began in l ' l a rch i ts 10 th year o f p rov id ing the funa n d f r i e n d s h l p w h i c h s q u a r e d a n c i n g o f f e r s . I n F e b r u a r y, t h e C l u bco mmen ced t s 1 ,6 t h Bas i c / Ma i n s t r eam c l a s s , b u t t i mes h a v e c h a n g e d s i n c ei t s v e ry f i r s t c l a s s w h i c h b e g a n i n a t h e a t e r r e h e a r s a l s t u d i o w i t hi n s t ru c t i o n t h e e q u i v a l e n t o f mi l i t a ry b o o t camp ca l i s t h en i c s . Th eCl u b ' s w eek l y s ch ed u l e i s c u r r e n t l y s t r u c t u r e d a r o u n d c y c l i n gBas i c / Ma i n s t r eam/ P l u s c l a s s e s t w o n rg h t s a w eek . D u r rn g p e r i o d s w h e n w ea re b e t w e e n c l a s s e s , t h e r e i s Ma i n s t r eam/ P l u s d an c i n g . Wes t e rn S t a r i sco mmi t t ed t o a s t ro n g Bas i c / Ma i n s t r eam i n s t ru c t i o n p r o g r a m w h i c hemp h as i ze s t h e D BD / A PD co n cep t s . T h j - s s c h e d u l e i s e n h a n c e d w i t h ana c t i v e w e e k e n d h o e d o w n a n d s o c i a l p r o g r a m . T h e C l u b i s c u r r e n t l y

e n j o y i n g a s u r q e o f s t u d e n t s w h o a r e c rea t i v e an d e a g e r t o b e i nv o l v e di n t h e l i fe o f t h e C I u b .

Yo u w i l l w an t t o mark y o u r c a l e n d a r s fo r March 1 3 -1 5 , t 9 9 2 , t o a t t en do u r 1 0 t h A n n i v e r s a r y FIy - In b a s h fea t u r i n g Pau l Marcu m a n d M i k e D eS i s t o .Wa t ch fo r r eg i s t r a t i o n i n fo rma t i o n l a t e r t h i s y e a r f o r a f u l I w e e k e n d o fd an c i n g mad n es s . O u r r e g u l a r s o c i a l y e a r c o n t a i n s s u ch fea t u r e s a s apo t luck d inner to welcome new s tuden t s and our annua l re t rea t to be he ldi n Sep t emb er a t a c a n r p h i g h a t o p a m o u n t a i n n e a r t h e Ru s s i an R i v e rreso r t a rea . And i f eve . ry th ingr goes as p lanned , CIub LaStar, ou rc a b a r e t - s t y l e " t a l e n t " s h o w, w i I I r e a p p e a r i n A u g u s t .

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