SPA CITY BOP AND SWING DANCE CLUB HISTORY

(updated January 19, 2009)

For several years there was talk of forming a dance club in Hot Springs, Arkansas, but no one really stepped up at first to make it happen. The interest in a dance club continued in the Spa City and eventually, a Steering Committee was appointed to serve in organizing the Club. Don Downs stepped in as the Steering Committee Advisor and brought his “been there, done that” experience of Club organization. Bill Ferguson took on the responsibility of teaching others at weekly dance lessons at the Austin Hotel lessons.

Original Steering Committee:

Don Downs – Advisor

John Slater – Chairman

Naomi McCarta – Director

Rhonda Yates – Director

Bill James – Director

Emma Jean Wilson – Director

Thanks…to the 30 original chartered members who had a vision of bringing to the Hot Springs area a fine Dance Club, we are now able to make new friends and re-kindle old ones through our shared passion for dancing. The optimism of this group brought to the Hot Springs area a social dance group that has grown to be one of the finest dance families in the area. Spa City is sister to the long standing ‘Little Rock Bop Club’ and many Spa City Members have dual membership and members from both enjoy events sponsored by the two clubs.

Below are the Original 30 Chartered Members

All they wanted to do was dance … dance…dance!

John & Cathy Slater, Mac & Naomi McCarta, Don Downs, Chuck & Patty Cunning, Jim & Virginia Stanton, Ruth Puckett, Phil Dickson, Larry & Marilyn Kauffman, Doris Mayberry, Mike & Lora Matula, Bob & Gail Fowler, Bill Ferguson, George Ransom, Valerie Haines Brassell, Juanita Studdard, Bill & Mary James, Lamar & Joyce Watkins, Rhonda Yates, Carroll & Emma Jean Wilson, Lyn Parker

The Club had the Inaugural Dance on Friday July 12th of 2002 with over 100 people attending with an interest in the new dance club that had emerged on Hot Springs.

Our 1^st dance home was at the Austin Hotel in downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas. When the Austin was unable to accommodate the Club’s dance nights, we went to the Elks Lodge and Showmen’s Association. As the Club grew, it had its growing pains and quickly outgrew its first dance home. After looking at possible dance homes, a move was made to ‘Boot Scooters’. This new dance home offered a large, quality dance floor, an unobstructed view of the dancers with plenty of seating and sufficient parking for our group. In March of 2007 our Club made a big move to our current dance home, the VFW Club located at 2231 East Grand Avenue.

The Club’s 1^st DJ was Buzzy Reppo. Buzzy brought with him 20 plus years of experience in the music industry and was an asset to the Club’s beginning. Buzzy moved on to other adventures and DJ Billy Gaines settled in as the Club’s DJ in March of 2003. DJ Blaine was our next DJ, and offered our dancers a wide variety of music from our favorite music makers. We met for social dancing twice a month on the 2^nd and 4^th Saturdays and any month with a 5^th Saturday and from 6 to 9:30 PM. We are proud to now have Scotty Mack as our Club DJ. The Club now meets on the 2^nd and 4th Fridays and any month there is a 5th Friday. Occasionally the Club has special events theme dances decorated accordingly. Members bring finger foods for sharing and these evenings together make for a memorable experience of dancing and fellowship.

Club Members elected and seated its first Board of Directors starting January 2003.

The names are as follows:

Elected Officers:

President – Annette Grinnis

Vice President – Cherry Smith

Treasurer – Doris Mayberry then replaced by Bob Paskvich

Secretary – Estelle Miller then replaced by Brenda Davis

Parliamentarian – Stan Keaton

The Board Appointed Officers:

Activities – Bill Ferguson then replaced by Lea Ashcraft

Admissions – Evelyn Keaton

Membership – Naomi McCarta

Newsletter – Cheri Cook / Jeff Lindsey

Telephone/E-mail – Linda Sluppick

Nominating Committee: Carroll Wilson, Aggie McKinzie, Lamar Watkins

July 12th of 2003 the Spa City Bop and Swing Dance Club celebrated its First Anniversary. The Club has made full circle and continues in its growth.

2004 – 2005

Elected Officers:

President – Annette Grinnis

Vice President – Barbara Barentine

Treasurer – Bob Paskvich then replaced by Don Evans

Secretary – Estelle Miller then replaced by Debbie Prince

Parliamentarian – Bobby Harter

Board Appointed Officers:

Activities – Brenda Ferguson

Admissions/Historian – Virginia Stanton

Membership /E-mail – Naomi McCarta

Newsletter – Jeff Lindsey

Telephone – Linda Sluppick then replaced by Sheila Weston

Nominating Committee: Virginia Stanton, Bob Fowler, Carroll Wilson

2006

Elected Officers:

President – Debbie Prince

Vice President – Brenda Ferguson

Treasurer – Barbara Barentine

Secretary – Beth Terauchi

Parliamentarian – Bobby Harter

Board Appointed Officers:

Activities – Carol O’Brien then replaced by Pat Smith

Admissions/Historian – Virginia Stanton

Membership /E-mail – Carol Williams

Newsletter – Jeff Lindsey then replaced by Linda Sluppick

Telephone – Sheila Weston

Web Master – Ernie Weidenberger

Nominating Committee: Don Downs, Beth Terauchi

2007

Elected Officers:

President – Brenda Ferguson

Vice President – Glendora Bright

Treasurer – Barbara Barentine

Secretary – Beth Terauchi

Parliamentarian – Bobby Harter

Board Appointed Officers:

Activities – Pat Smith

Admissions/Historian – Virginia Stanton

Membership /E-mail – Carol Williams

Newsletter – Linda Sluppick

Telephone – Sheila Weston

Web Master – Ernie Weidenberger

2008

Elected Officers:

President – Brenda Ferguson

Vice President – John Wainscott

Treasurer – Glendora Bright

Secretary – Beth Terauchi

Parliamentarian – Joe Coulter

Board Appointed Officers:

Activities – Pat Smith

Admissions/Historian – Virginia Stanton

Membership /E-mail – Carol Williams

Newsletter – Linda Sluppick

Public Relations – Sandi Harmening

Telephone – Sheila Weston

Web Master – Ernie Weidenberger

Nominating Committee: Ginger Johnson

2009

Elected Officers:

President – Brenda Ferguson

Vice President – Jim Stanton

Treasurer – Glendora Bright

Secretary – Pat Davis

Parliamentarian – John Wainscott

Board Appointed Officers:

Activities – Pat Smith

Admissions/Historian – Virginia Stanton

Membership /E-mail – Carol Williams

Newsletter – Linda Sluppick

Public Relations – Sandi Harmening

Telephone – Emma Jean Wilson

Web Master – Ernie Weidenberger

Nominating Committee:

Sandy Gallimore & Diane White

2010

Elected Officers:

President – Brenda Ferguson

Vice-President -

Treasurer – Jan Galloway

Secretary – Lisa Wood

Parliamentarian – Gary Dickinson

Board Appointed Officers:

Activities – Pat Smith

Admissions/Historian – Virginia Stanton

Membership/E-mail – Lisa Wood

Newsletter – open

Telephone – Pat Davis

Web Master – Ernie Weidenberger

Nominating Committee:

Bobby Harter

2011

Elected Officers:

President – Mike Thomas

Vice-President - Gary Dickinson

Treasurer – Brenda Ferguson

Secretary – Carol Williams

Parliamentarian – Yuji Terauchi

Board Appointed Officers:

Activities – Pat Smith

Admissions/Historian – Virginia Stanton

Membership/E-mail – Beth Terauchi

Newsletter – Katie O’Byrn

Web Master – Ginger Johnson

Nominating Committee:

Katie O’Byrn

Our Club offers free dance lessons every Dance Friday at 6:15 until 7:00 when our regular dance starts and is located at the VFW Club located at 2231 East Grand in Hot Springs, AR. We teach the East & West Coast Swing, Waltz’s, Cha Cha’s and for fun and something different we throw in some other Latin and a line dance on occasion.  Dance instruction is now offered through various members of the Club, some of which have been dance instructors in the past.  Other members are gracious and helpful with new members that are unfamiliar with our dance style. This attitude and outreach gives our Dance Club that family atmosphere.  You quickly come to know the membership, making you feel at home and comfortable. o

The Spa City Bop And Swing Dance Club would not be here without our members. This is your club and we encourage each and every one of you to get involved. Participate…if you have an interest in helping, or if you have suggestions, please feel free to contact any of the officers listed on the website and in your newsletter.  During the years our dance club has been in operation, we have had many terrific dance parties for your dancing enjoyment. 

 If you love the oldies music and bop & swing dancing, then the Spa City Bop And Swing Dance Club is the place to be. The music and the dancing are wonderful activities and many friendships are being formed in every dance. We are doing what we love… DANCING!

All we want to do is…Dance…Dance…Dance!