T H E S H A G R A GT h e O ff ic ia l F is h w r a p p e r o f th e B e a c h S h a g g e r s o f B ir m in g h a m

July,August 2005

THE PREZ SEZ

I’ve had a busy couple of months, and itappears there’s no let up in the nearfuture. We’ve had our GeneralMembership Meeting and as usual, there

were very few of the members present. We did,however, have enough for a quorum and thus, a“legal” meeting. Pat Compton won the “Moneyfor Nothing” prize of $50…..see, if you werethere you could have been in the running…..Inorder to win, you have to have a ticket, and to geta ticket, you have to be there! Simple, huh?

John Harper proposed, and it was resoundinglyapproved, that Barbara Batson be granted anHonorary Membership. Barbara is one of ourfounding members…. she was voted into theBSOB Hall of Fame the 2nd year that we had thehonor, and continued to work very hard up untilher health dictated that she take it easy. She wasthe kind of member that every club hopesfor….she made a difference in the way we feltabout our music, dance and most importantly, thefriendships that we gain from being a member ofsuch a fine group. I can’t think of a moredeserving recipient. Barbara has recentlyundergone a kidney transplant and is on the roadto recovery …Please keep her in your prayers...

Now, it’s time to talk partying…I’m getting tooold for this!!!!…. July 7th, Wanda Pratt, ElaineMiller, Sharon Clark (all members of BSOB) andI packed Wanda’s new Lexus (and I do meanpacked) and headed out to New Bern, NC for theACSC Summer Workshop…We stopped inGreensboro, NC to break up the 13-hour trip abit….and to dance with their club (wethought)…..we didn’t count on it being their

lesson night……too bad, they missed out ondancing with some mighty fine shaggers...theirloss!

We arrived in New Bern and were really pleasedwith the hotel and the party that was alreadygetting underway….The deck parties wereexcellent each afternoon with Friday featuringthe Holiday Band and then the Ricky GodfreyBand on Saturday!….Wow, it wasfantastic….Sitting there on the veranda, lookingout over the yachts moored just steps away,sipping Coors light out of a can…and sweatingto the oldies! Billy Waldrep knocked our socksoff on Friday night, as usual, and we danced withsome great dancers…I attended the mandatorymeeting on Saturday and found that most of theshag clubs are experiencing the same thing thatwe are….the shrinking membership roster…….Here’s a challenge…let me know what yourthoughts are on how we should go aboutincreasing our membership………those with thebest ideas will reap the rewards of a crowdeddance floor on Tuesday night!!! Sounds like fun,huh?

On July 16th, we trekked over to Rome, GA forthe Seven Hills Shaggers’ July Blowout….whata great party!….Of course, Buddy Hayes hostedan afternoon “Soiree in the Sun” which became a“Strangler in the Rain” (of the frogvariety)….and since we were drenched fromhead to toe, some of us ended up in the pool withour clothes on…Now I wonder, whoever couldthat have been???? Billy Waldrep and BuddyHayes kept us dancing Saturday night, and forthose of you who couldn’t make the trip…..don’t

miss this one next year…..you never know whatyou may miss! I think Rumor #96 may havebeen a direct result of this party!

July 23rd, I left for Columbus, GA, to party withthe Bi-City Boppers, at 3:00 PM Saturdayafternoon, along with a bus load of Magic CityBoppers, and a few shaggers sprinkledthroughout…We, needless to say, had a boppinggood time!…..The bus was beautiful, at leastwhen we started out, and I can assure you, the airconditioner worked!……We danced all night tothe fantastic music of Buddy Hayes, and rodehome in almost total silence…except for theoccasional “I’m freezing my hiney off….doessomeone have an extra shirt I canborrow?”…Forty-five minutes from home wefigured out that all we had to do was ask thedriver to turn the temperatureup…..duh!…Thanks y’all for inviting me to goalong……I had a great time!

The weekend of August 5th and 6th, I’ll be off toGreenville, SC for the “Meet Me In The Middle”party which, by all accounts, will be a great time. A number of us are heading over there to thissold out party, to let them know that weAlabamians know how to have a good time!

And as if that wasn’t enough, on August 17th I’mheading up to Chattanooga for their ShagTracks….Our very own Larry Huff will beshowing his stuff and keeping us on the dancefloor.

Now their pool party is a hoot, it always hasbeen. The FFDS (Former First Dude, Sir!)enjoyed this pool party so much that in August,2003, he insisted on going even though he had atemperature of 104 the morning that we left…Hesat there, under an umbrella, and received hishugs and kisses, and swapped war stories with allhis friends…No one knew that this would be hislast party, and that a month later he would begone….you surely couldn’t have guessed that bythe fun time he had…..he really made the mostof it…I’m so glad he talked me into going!

Some of us are heading over to North MyrtleBeach for Fall SOS (September 16 – 24) …..Istill have plenty raffle tickets for FunMonday….They are $10.00 each, but there willbe drawings for $7,500., $2,000, $1,000, $500 &$250……so you have more than one chance towin……See me for your ticket….

Don’t forget, Shag-A-Rama tickets are on saleand will increase from $45 to $50 after August31st. That will be here before you know it….soget your tickets now and avoid the rush!

Please remember to drive safely, drinkresponsibly, and boogie your butt off!…..aj

IMPORTANT DATES

SOS FALL MIGRATIONSeptember 16-25, 2005

ALABAMA SHAG-A-RAMAOctober 5-9, 2005

B.S.O.B. NEW YEARS EVE PARTYDecember 31, 2005

SOS MID-WINTERJanuary12-15, 2006

ACSC/SOS WORKSHOPFebruary 24-26, 2006

SOS SPRING SAFARIApril 21-30, 2006

WE SUPPORT SPUD’SCLUB EVERY WEEK. Its how we pay the rent!!

2005 DJ SCHEDULEAUGUST 2 Larry Huff

9 Glenn Walls16 Cliff Capps23 Carl Simonetti30 Larry Huff

SEPTEMBER 6 Glenn Walls

13 Cliff Capps20 Carl Simonetti27 Larry Huff

2005 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Office Shagger PhonePresident A.J. Porter 979-1779VP Social Rod Penuel 663-3275VP Membership Cliff Capps 991-0781Secretary Susan Green 956-2295Treasurer Jim Fallon 995-2084Attendance Glenn Walls 854-2827Communications John Harper 879-1531Dance Leon Cooper 256-547-1161Music Gary Pratt 426-3297Parties Becky Golden 871-7244Publicity Tom Hampton 856-0041Ways & Means Bob Dobbs 995-1447Shag-A-Rama Lynne Wilson 427-0168

DANCE LESSONSEVERY TUESDAY

NIGHT7:00 SHARP

SPUD’S CLUBVolunteer to teach your favorite step.

Leon Cooper 256-547-1161

SHAG-A-RAMACOMMITTEE

Please volunteer to help one of these Shag-A-Rama committee members with theirwork. YOU WILL BE BLESSED (Whenyou die you will go straight to Ducks)!!

Chairperson Lynne Wilson

Registration Dennis and JudyLarkins

Dance Workshops John Harper

Free Pours John Harper

Hospitality Room Claire Goodhew

Deejay Scheduling Gary Pratt

Gift Baskets Joanie Henley

Pre-Registration Vicki and JimmyFallon

Ballroom Decorations Beth Stanard

Stage Decorations Judy Bryant

Clean-up Judy and Larry Huff

Vendors Wanda Pratt

Half the Cat Susan Green

Equipment Trailer ??????????????????

BEACH SHAGGER BIRTHDAYS

AUGUST

Jerry Ogelsby 8

Vicki Fallon 6

Pat Compton 17

Barney Tubbs 18

Dee Demarco 20

Phyllis Jenny 23

Vicki Caldwell 26

Sharon Clark 28

SEPTEMBER

Susan Bradley 5

Joanie Henley 5

Susan Heape 7

Charlotte Ray 11

Jim Johnson 12

Kim Jenny 24

Bob Dobbs 25

Carl Simonetti 26

Larry Crane 28

Sandy Dobbs 29

NEWS FROMNORTHERN VIRGINIAEditor’s Note: The Northern Virginia Shag Club is aclub with its head and its heart in the right place, asevidenced by the following from their June “ShagRag”.

The Northern Virginia Shag Club heldits annual shag-a-thon for Capital Hospice inMarch. The club donated $14,504 to theorganization which provides care for terminallyill persons and their families. This brings the

total amount to $119,186 that the NorthernVirginia Club has contributed to Capital Hospiceover the past seven years.

TALKING TO GRANDMASubmitted by Vicki Fallon

One evening a grandson was talking to hisgrandmother about current events.

The Grandma replied, "Well, let me think aminute, I was born before: television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contactlenses, Frisbees and the pill.

Man had not invented pantyhose, airconditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers. We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs,computers, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings.

We listened to the Big Bands, Jack Benny, andthe President's speeches on our radios. And I don't ever remember any kid blowing hisbrains out listening to Tommy Dorsey.

If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan ' on it,it was junk. Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instantcoffee were unheard of.

We had 5 &10-cent stores where you couldactually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Ice-cream cones, phone calls, rides on astreetcar, and a Pepsi were all a nickel.

And if you didn't want to splurge, you couldspend your nickel on enough stamps to mail 1letter and 2 postcards.

You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600but who could afford one? Too bad, becausegas was 11 cents a gallon. “

Good lord, Grandma must have been age!!!!!!

A CHALLENGE TO ALL SHAGGERS

Anonymous. Submitted by Linda Wagner

Of this earth there are many dances;and the dancers of these dances revel inthem and take them into themselves. Butthose of us who are shaggers know there isonly one dance that can have the whole ofus, our being; that can sooth us withsimplicity, yet fire our hearts with meaning. In the groove, we tread lightly; more softlythan our hearts are beating - when we arereally in it for a dance - or for only aninstant when our partner is with us and weare floating together in the slot and in thesame feeling. It is then that we are one withShag till we are dreaming it, this healingdream; that we would sleep forever, thisdance, if we could.

The Shag was born of the sea; not ofwaves crashing on a shore, but of deep,smooth currents; and came ashore throughcrystal sands, was purified, anchored andsettled in the sand - waiting. And then themusic came; and young men, who wantedmore, who needed more, were at the beachand heard the music and stomped in the sandwhere the dance was and stirred it; and thesilicon in the sand eased their steps till theywere sliding in the music and theirmovements became smooth, like the deepcurrent; and watching eyes of young girlsquickened; and they gave the young mentheir hands .and followed them and TheShag became live; and we all are in it now,as it is within us.

We know that The Shag is so muchmore than a dance. If you are true to it, andthe way it makes you feel, then it must be apathway of your life in the Family ofShaggers. For you will age, as I am aging;and you will disappear and become just amemory in some other shagger's mind. Yet

your dance must survive you and live on forall generations. The future of Shag is up toyou.

So cherish The Shag. Keep it pure.Resist the infiltration of other dances. Letother dances take from us; do not take fromthem. Always practice your craft. When youdance, let your countenance show yourpleasure, your joy, for others are watching.Dance with them if they show interest. Taketime to instruct. The smallest act on yourpart could plant a seed, to grow in them andblossom into a love for Shag. Do not be soabsorbed with your own pleasure in TheDance that you, forget your higher causeshould always be The Shags survival -because there are just too few of us for it tohave a long life without your mostdetermined efforts. Take it with you whenyou travel - to the corners of the earth.Indoctrinate your children, your siblings.,your friends. Speak of it to everyone youmeet. Seek out converts. . Praise; testify;cajole; beg, if you must.

All who inhabit this world aredancers through life - in a way. But therecord playing for us is a 45, and it is damnshort. Like our water and air, The Shagshould be given a chance for pure survival.So do what you can. Just don't let the deejaypack up. Don't let the band stop playing. Justgive us one more dance; one more Shag; onemore SHAG, FOREVER. . .. . ....

Don’t be irreplaceable. If you can’t bereplaced, you can’t be promoted.

If you always tell the truth, you don’thave to remember anything.

Duct tape is like “the Force”. It has alight side and a dark side and it holds theuniverse together.

BEACH SHAGGERS OF BIRMINGHAMREVENUES AND EXPENSES (CASH BASIS)

PERIOD ENDING JUNE 30, 2005

Description Current Month YTDBeginning Cash Balance $6,765.94 $5,585.14

REVENUES:Membership Dues 30.00 2,900.00Party Refund 2,060.00 2,169.00Party Door Charge 0.00 760.00Split the Kitty 106.00 642.50Sales of Demo Tapes & Other Novelty Items 1,766.50 2,584.00Association of Carolina Shag Club Dividend 0.00 300.00SOS Memberships 60.00 210.00Shag A Rama Receipts 45.00 1,225.00

Total Revenues $4,067.50 $10,790.50

EXPENSES:D/J Expense 340.00 2,295.00Postage 0.00 12.04Office Supplies 0.00 289.81Phone / Web Site 29.90 89.70Bereavement 0.00 92.95Parties Food, Decorations, & Rental 525.23 2,179.85Club Advertisement 0.00 200.00Tapes & Other Novelties 0.00 541.93SOS Memberships 0.00 150.00ACSC Dues / Travel Expenses 0.00 438.05

Shag A Rama Expenses 493.90 641.90

Total Expenses $1,389.03 $6,931.23

Increase (Decrease) In Cash $2,678.47 $3,859.27

Ending Cash Balance $9,444.41 $9,444.41

FOR THE BEST IN BEACH AND SHAGRADIO MUSIC, GO TO

WWW.BEACHSHAG.COM.

Shag–A–Rama 2005

October 5th - 9th, 2005 Panama City Beach, Florida

FREE Shag Dance Workshops

Annette Johnson Dwight Langley

(from Raleigh, NC)

Tentative Schedule Wed. Early Bird Party at the "Hangout Thurs. Kickoff Party at the "Hangout" Fri. Dance outside at "Hangout", inside BallroomSat. Dance outside at "Hangout", inside BallroomSun. Gospel Hour at the "Hangout" YOUR’RE ALL invited for FUN, SUN, & MUSIC

Dee Jays Eddie Richardson Farrell Watts Billy Waldrep Cliff Capps Larry Huff

Buddy Hayes

Fun & Friendship

Smoke Free Ballroom Hospitality Rooms

Free Pours Great Music

Beautiful Weather Big Outside Hangout Floor

Hotel Reservations

Howard Johnson West - $75 per night Howard Johnson East - $70 per night

The Boardwalk Beach Resort 9450 South Thomas Drive

Panama City Beach, Florida 1-800-224-GULF

Contact Information

Lynne Wilson 205-427-0168

shagarama2005@hotmail.com More Party Details at

www.beachshaggers.com

Dancing in the Ballroom at Boardwalk Beach Resort

Friday 7 PM till 12 AM Saturday 7 PM till 1 AM

"The World's Most Beautiful Beaches"

Dancing at the "Hangout" Outside Beach Pavilion

Daily......... 11 AM till 1 AM Sunday.......9 AM till 11 AM

TICKETS - $45 until Aug. 31, $50 after Sept. 1, 2005 and at the door. You must be 21 or older to attend. Tickets will be held at the door.

Name _________________________________________________ No. of Tickets Needed _________ Address _______________________________________________________________________________ City, St, Zip ____________________________________________________________________________ Club Affiliation ________________________________________ Email ____________________________

Vicki Fallon 205-995-2084 vfallon1174@charter.net Make checks payable to Beach Shaggers of Birmingham - Send to Vicki Fallon, 1174 Berwick Road, Birmingham, AL. 35242

Tickets are non-refundable, but are transferable.

DEEJAY THROWDOWN GOODTIMES

Pictures by Cecil B. de Pratt

Billy Boy ACSC and His Workshop Horses...pardon, New Bern, N.C.Fillies*

* or What Happens When the Girls Go Out of Town Alone.

Red Hot August NightsNAMI (National Alliance for Mentally Ill) - Cullman presents. . .

TROPICAL BEACH PARTY DANCE - LIVE MUSICBenefit Dance for NAMI and Patients of Cullman Area Mental Health Center

Famous Live Band “Panama Jack and the Hangouts” • Mojo - WZYP doing a Bo Bice ImpersonationGranny Madge - Bo Bice’s Granny to autograph Bo Bice memorabilia

Tickets: $10.00 (Cullman Civic Center)Tax Deductible to: NAMI - Cullman

Tropical DressFree Refreshments and Snacks - Door Prizes

DANCE EXHIBITIONSBallroom • Beach Shaggers • Boppers

Country • Cajun • Swing • Latin

ART EXHIBITS BY LOCAL ARTISTSIncluding DOT GRAF Collection

SILENT AUCTIONMany original pieces of artwork

Many handmade itemsBo Bice memorabilia

Put on your dancing shoesor come to see dancers perform!!!

For more information call Lin Maurizi (256)737.0034

2nd Annual

Sound system provided by Baker Music Center

CULLMAN CIVIC CENTERSaturday, August 13, 2005 • 6:00 - 11:00 PM