President's Message:

by Dorothy Evans

In typical Clutch Buster style, we've got a busy, fun-packed March ahead of us. But first, let's take a quick look back at February.

Judging from the smiles on our new dancers' faces, our welcoming potluck was a big success. Thanks to Bob and Liz for a lively party, and to all of you for the delicious feast we shared. It was a great evening.

At our March general meeting, the final presentation of our new constitution was given and the document was voted on and accepted by the club. As you will see in Don S.'s article further on in this newspaper, each contributor added their own expertise in getting this huge project completed. Many thanks to chairman, Don S. for gathering the numerous suggestions and turning them into a workable document, and to all the participants, Martha, Jack G., Avis, John W. and Wynell, for their many, many hours of work.

Looking forward, we have two hoedowns quickly approaching. Although both dances do not start until 8:00 p.m., would all members please arrive early to help get the hall ready. Please remember, also, to bring a wrapped door prize. The work and food assignments are listed in the February Record. At this time, I would like to give a big CB thank you to Diana who assumed the refreshments chair when Kim had to step down due to health problems. Our best wishes to both ladies.

Our new dancer hoedown is Friday, March 11. Remembering back to my first hoedown about six years ago, I was hesitant (a fancy word for scared) about attending. Many of you new dancers may feel the same way. But once I was there, I had so much fun and learned so much, that my confidence level really soared. So, I hope all of you go to the dance, don't worry about making a mistake and just have fun. A party immediately after the hoedown (called an after-party) will be held at the Erwin's house, which is a wonderful way to end the evening. Thanks, Bob and Martha, for hosting this party.

Our Plus level hoedown is Saturday, March 19, starting with rounds at 8:00. It should be a fun evening, and hopefully, a profitable one.

Nestled between the two hoedowns is the world famous CB car rally, hosted by Don and Lois. So much work goes into these rallies, and I know Don and Lois know how much the club appreciates their efforts.

Lastly, it's time to start spring cleaning, and setting aside all those long-forgotten treasures to donate to the club garage sale in April.

Yellow rocks,

Dorothy

Birthdays

Joe Gerhards ----- 3/9

Tom Roberts-----3/9

Ted Turgeon ----- 3/11

Note: Birthday and Anniversary listings run from newsletter date to newsletter date not 1st of month to 1st of month.

Wedding

Joe Gerhards & Alfreda Young---3/19/05

Anniversaries

Tracy & Lisa Woodard---3/16/82

Kathy O'Toole & Herb Yonge 3/23/03

CB Car Rally XVI

March 13, 2005

by Road Masters Don & Lois Lollich

This year's rally will start from the same parking lot at the corner of Willow Pass (it is really Sun Valley Blvd.) and Contra Costa Blvd. by the Bank of Agriculture & Commerce Bldg., the same place we have started the last several rallies. Be there by 12:30 pm, and the first car out by 1:00 pm.

The route this year is about 70 miles and three hours of driving. Over the past 15 years we have used nearly every road in the area, so the roads this year will probably look familiar. Take your time and have a nice drive. The route is some urban, some open country, and some very narrow, crooked and steep.

NOTE: The dinner time has been changed to 5:00 (instead of 5:30). Take your time and be sure to check out some of the views along the way.

Dinner will be at a restaurant a few miles from the start, and will be served at 5:00. The dinner choices are: Half pound prime rib with au jus, creamed horseradish and garlic mashed potatoes at $25.00; Lemon herb chicken with rice pilaf at $22.00; and Roasted salmon with rice pilaf at $25.00 All entrees include bread, butter, mixed green salad with ranch style dressing, coffee, iced tea or soda, tax and gratuity. A full bar is available, and wine by the glass or bottle. The corkage is $10.00 if you want to bring your own wine.

We will have a sign-up sheet starting Feb. 10, and we will need a final count and money by no later than March 10. Make checks payable to Donald Lollich. We would like to collect a $1.00 per person registration fee the day of the rally or before.

Halloween Contest

by Bob Phelan

Guess the theme contest and clues:

Clue 1: It's brewing pretty Nicely - January

Clue 2: Basic black is popular - February

Clue 3: You will wish you were from Atlantis - March

If you're ready for a guess, contact -

Dorothy Evans , Elizabeth Phelan or Bob Phelan.

We expect a little more success rate at guessing this year!

Spooky.... guessing.......

There will be a pumpkin carving contest this year.

Spring Camp Out

Another great Clutch Buster event is getting closer and it's time to sign up. The fall camp out will be May 20 22 at Lake of the Springs. Our hosts Terry and Lynn Leonard have reserved three on site trailers but they must have reservation confirmation from CBers by our May 5th general meeting or relinquish the sites. There will be a sign up sheet starting next week and they need to know who will be coming in their own rigs to reserve campsite spaces.

This event is always a lot of fun so if you have attended the last couple of outings or have missed them for one reason or another, be sure and sign up for this year.

The more people who go the more work Terry and Lynn have to put into the games and that makes it more fun for the rest of us.

It's Hoedown Time

This Friday, March 11, is our first hoedown of the year. This new dancer hoedown will be held at our regular dance location, the Oak Park Center . Our own, one and only, Gary Kendall will be calling this gala new dancer event and it promises to be an exciting evening.

One week later, on Saturday, March 19 we will all be flying around our squares to the calling of Jet Roberts with round dance cuing by George Gardner. Jet is from the Sacramento area, is a nationally renowned caller, and puts on a great night of square dancing.

CBers are asked to bring a door prize to each hoedown, something new and wrapped. The theme for both hoedowns will be St. Patrick's Day. Bring something that you might like to receive as a door prize. Food and work assignments are shown at the end of this paper for both hoedowns.

Hoedown Note:

Come to the After Party

The Erwin's will be hosting an after party following the new dancer hoedown on March 11th. Make sure to urge our new dancers to attend this event of camaraderie and friendship. 

New Dancer Class
by Martha Erwin

Some of you checked the Yes on the "Angels for Potluck" list where I asked if you would be willing to be an Angel for the March 11 hoedown - just a call & invite them to the hoedown, a personal invitation from their Potluck Angel. Two other occasions have come up since then and it might encourage our new dancers to get out if they are given a personal invitation. The Friday night, New Dancer, St. Patrick's Hoedown on March 18, with the Diablo Singles & Doubles. And March 31, for the mini-hoedown with the Diablo Singles & Doubles during our regular Thursday night workshop time.

All the information is in the newsleter I gave each of them, but it's that personal interest and contact that gets the best results. If you would rather not do this let me know and I will.

Thanks.

That's March 11, 18, and, 31.

Our new beginner class is coming along nicely with 7 singles and 3 couples enjoying the occasional frustrations, we all know so well, of learning to square dance. To get better aquainted with our new dancing friends here is a short bio on them.

Laurie & Bob Barnes

Laurie & Bob have been married 36 years and both are retired. Laurie was an office manager and an "IT Nerd". They have three children, a son in Phoenix , a son in Concord and a daughter in Walnut Creek . Two grandchildren ages 14 and 6 months keep them busy. Laurie likes gardening, hiking and being a grand parent. Bob likes card and computer games. They both like to camp.

Pat Bennett

Pat lives in Concord and has been single for the past 10 years. Previously she danced with the Concord Stompers. She saw our ad in the C.C. Times and decided to return to Square Dancing. Last November she retired as Executive Secretary for Sodexho Co., formerly Marriott's Health Care Division. Pat has two married sons, living in Pittsburg and Lincoln, CA., and four grandsons.

Pat is a member of Beta Sigma Phi, an international social and cultural organization, and president of her Concord chapter. She also enjoys sewing. Camping? She has never tried it.

Maria Bito

Maria was a medical records supervisor and is retired. She has two daughters, likes to play racquet ball, swim, shop and go to music concerts.

Maria was raised in the Philippines and attended a Catholic Convent school where the German nuns taught her to speak good English. She recently went to Carmel to go hiking in Pt. Lobos and also to see the Monarch butterflies, but, unfortunately, there weren't many butterflies to see.

After living for 21 years in Antioch , Maria recently bought a house in Martinez and her daughter has helped her install low maintenance landscaping.

Tami Cardinale

Tami is just now starting a new occupation as a Realtor. Tami loves children and previously owned a preschool. She is not into camping, loves trips but likes a clean room at the end of the day preferring to be pampered as on a cruise. Her mother often accompanies Tami to square dancing, just to observe.

Sandy Ebenstein

Sandy has been a social worker with Contra Costa County social services since 1988, and has finally made the decision! She will retire the end of March. Prior to working for the county she worked at Peralta College as a teacher of Business Ed, Vocational Ed and Placement. She was the last faculty member to leave when the facility closed. Sandy has 3 children who were born back East and have moved back to their roots, at least for the time being. At the moment she is Kiddies-less and Kitties-less.

Sandy enjoys bridge, piano, swimming and all kinds of dance; contra, swing, and now square dancing. She ushers at the Willows Theater and Concord Pavillion. She likes to go camping in an RV with a bed!

Karen Kuppe

Karen works in social services for Contra Costa County . She was born in a suburb of Detroit , Michigan . In her early twenties she packed her belongings into her car and, alone, headed for California , with only the knowledge that she had a friend with whom she could temporarily bunk at journey's end. She doesn't regret having made that solo trip across the country. Karen just bought a town house in Benicia and is finding all kinds of structural surprises and consequently the loopholes built into our disclosure laws. She is becoming quite experienced on how to hire contractors.

Karen likes to dance and travel. Her travels have taken her to visit the lands where her family has its roots, Russia and the Scandinavian countries.

Jack and Jean O'Hara

Jack is from Chicago and was in the Navy. Jean is from Kansas and was in the Army. After their stint in the service, they migrated to California where they met while working at Treasure Island , fell in love and got married. Jack had four children from a previous marriage and Jean stayed at home to raise the two still at home, soon realizing this marriage included a whole menagerie of dogs and cats and other pets, a whole lot more than she thought she was bargaining for. They now have several grandkids and great grandkids. After Jack retired from civil service, he got a job with an airplane company where he worked in quality assurance. Jack is both a pitcher and catcher for a Pleasant Hill senior softball team. He is a member of the Walnut Creek Model Railroad Club and makes model circus figures. His handiwork is on display at Larkey Park . Jack and Jean founded a support group for families of murder victims that Jean manages. Jean also visits criminals in prison. They don't camp but aren't averse to trying it. They are enjoying square dancing.

John Nunes

John has worked in the real estate field in Concord for 27 years. He has a son and three daughters living in California , and a Grand dog named Maggie, the light of his life! John makes jewelry and is a potter. He will go camping in an RV or a tent!

Kerry Stone

Kerry is an Account Technician, with the BETA Healthcare Group. She loves music and dancing, and took classes in Jazz dancing at DVC, and also Salsa and ballroom dancing. Kerry is a Raider fan and has camped occasionally in years past.

Whereas she found her other dance experiences became rather competitive, she loves the square dance group. Everybody is warm, friendly, inviting, encouraging. The club dancers give supportive help when mis-steps are made which makes it feel like everyone is having fun.

Tom and Sue Sandow

Tom and Sue have been married for 38 years and like most of us, their relationship has had its ups and downs. Especially since Tom is a SCUBA diver and Sue has tried her hand at sky diving. An adventuresome couple! They also have a 125 gallon fresh-water fish tank and a large tent.

Their three children live locally and they are the proud grandparents to seven grandchildren. Before retirement, Sue was involved in in-home day care and Tom was a computer analyst.

Tom and Sue first took a beginner's square dance class in a CBer class taught by Elmer Radcliffe, our club's first caller. They stopped square dancing 18 years ago after dancing with the Guys and Dolls and are very happy to be back dancing and look forward to participating in the social activities as well as dancing with our club.

Mini Hoedown

Thursday March 31 is the day we will dance with the Diablo Singles and Doubles in Pacheco at their 5th Thursday of the month hoedown. Cost will be $3.00 per person for this multi club event. Calls will include our new dancers on a red light, green light basis. New dancers will have to shell out their own $3.00 for this event but the night will not be counted as one of their paid nights with our club.

Club Web Site

by Bob Phelan

Remember to visit the CB Web Site built and maintained by Bob Phelan.

http://free.hostdepartment.com/B/Bobliz/CBWEB.html.

The news letter is posted on this site, but with personal information (phone numbers, e-mail addresses etc) deleted.

NCSDA Directive

To maintain NCSDA insurance at events hosted or attended by our club as a club function, it is a requirement of the insurance policy that the event must have at least one square dance tip.

Future Dance Events

Mark your calendar for these events:

Gary Kendall Hoedown

Circles & Squares in Santa Ross—Plus

March 12

Golden Doors

NCASA new dancer hoedown April 24

Oak Park Center

Golden State Round Up

Memorial Day Weekend, May 27, 28 and 29

At the Pleasanton Hilton.

The Nationals

In Portland Oregon June 22 through the 25th

CB Constitution

by Don Snodgrass

Last Thursdaynight the club accepted the revised Constitution as presented to them. I just want to express my thanks to those who participated in the Committee.

Martha Erwin kicked it off last fall with a comment that some of the standing committee job descriptions needed updating to more accurately reflect the way the club actually works. At the first meeting, it was agreed that as long as we were working on the Constitution, we need to go through it thoroughly and make it a more current document.

I have lost track of the number of meetings we had and the times we wentback to revisit any certain items, but I believe we have come up with a good viable document that should last the club for a long time.

I want to express my Thanks to the committee members.

Martha - who started it all and contributed with strong suggestions and comments all the way through the process.

Jack Giolitti - who often provided the 'voice of reason' when things got a little too theoretical.

Avis and John Walker - active participants in all discussions and provided unique view points at times.

Dorothy Evans - kept us focused on the target and made surethe logic was correct.

Wynell, my wife - who kept us supplied with coffee and snacks, even a banana, and chipped in whenever she felt something was out of line.

All of the above committee members were contributors to the discussions in many ways not enumerated above and all participated actively in the discussions. What was produced was basically a consensus document.

And thanks to the club for supporting this effort. It was an interesting and rewarding experience. Thanks to All.

News From the Alley

By Avis Walker

Our bowling/lunch bunch started out February 1st with two of our ex-CBers joining us. Marlene Sewell and Sally Merchant braved the traffic and rain and showed up in time to sing "Happy Birthday" to Pat Pardee and Bob Erwin (on their actual birthdays).

It was a NO TAP Tuesday and Marlene did really well for herself with 6 strikes in a row and high first game of 232, followed by John Walker who picked up a 7-3-10 split and had a 223 game, followed by Avis Walker with a 203. In the second game Sally Merchant had a turn at the strikes and rolled a very nice 215 while Marlene and Allen Wesdorf tied at 177.

On an adjacent lane Avis Walker took high score with a 234. In the third game John Walker started to hit his stride and rolled a 191 followed by Allen with a 176. Avis rolled her 3rd over 200 game for the day and took high game with a 210 and high series with a 647.

When the recap came in the next week Avis won women's first place for $9.00 with a handicapped series of 800. Sally and Marlene stayed to join us for lunch and we met the Lollichs and Snodgrasses at Serendipity Restaurant. It is a great place to go to lunch. It is located right across East Street from Mt. Diablo Hospital . It is run by the County Department of Education as a ROP class to train students and adults for careers in the food industry. They are only open Tues, Wed. and Thurs from 11:30 to 1:30.

On Feb. 8th Wynell and Don Snodgrass were back bowling with us and the lineup pitted the Mrs. Walker and Snodgrass against the Mr. Walker and Snodgrass again. No one did too well in the first game except Milan Gregovich who took high game with a 156. John and Don ended up ahead by 32 pins. Everyone did a little better in the second game and Allen Wesdorf took high game with a 152 with Avis and John tied at 151. Wynell bowled a very nice 125 and helped us gain on the guys a little bit. In the third game Avis had much better luck and took high game with a 172 followed by Rachel Ireland with a 163. John and Milan tied at 147 and Wynell and Don tied.

The Mrs. ended up beating the Misters by 5 pins. The guys claimed it was because Don was still weakened from his Pacemaker replacement surgery and John from non-practice on Monday because none of his buddies were available to play on that Monday. But I know it was because Wynell bowled three games over her105 average. I'm sure glad she's on my team.

Feb. 15th found us minus Milan and Mary Gregovich as Milan had to go to Tahoe to give his snow blower a workout. Bob Erwin had company from out of town but Ken Wygal had returned to us after his RVing trip to Quartz Site where he camped with 700,000 other RVs. Although it was out in the middle of the desert he said he only went outside without his coat once and they never got to eat outside as it was too cold. But what a sight with 700,000 RVs all in the same place!!

In our first game Avis took high game with 4 strikes in a row and a 186 followed by Tom Lococo with a 165. Don Orton and Pat Pardee tied at 120 but Wynell beat then both with a 121. Don Snodgrass took the 2nd game with a 151 after picking up the 5-7 split. Avis followed him with a 149 and Janet and Tom Lococo tied at 144. Allen Wesdorf came to the fore and took the third game with a 174 followed by Janet Lococo and Pat Pardee who tied at 161 and Don Orton with a 158. Wynell and Don tied at 128.

John Walker was not having a very good day and the Walker/Snodgrass gals managed to beat the Walker/Snodgrass guys by 49 pins for the day. Good going teammate!! Tom and Flo Roberts came on down to cheer us on and joined us for lunch to celebrate their wedding anniversary among good friends.

On Feb. 22nd, the last Tues. of February, we added a little bit of extra fun. Every year folks bring some of their extra citrus crops to share and every year someone comes up with an extra large or strangely shaped offering. I had found a rather large lemon on our tree that had what I though looked like a ski jump protrusion on one side so I took it on down and dubbed it the Bob Hope lemon. Anyone who cleaned the gutter that day got temporary possession of the lemon until they could pass it on. In the course of the day Milan Gregovich, John Walker, Wynell Snodgrass, Mary Gregovich, Avis Walker, Don Snodgrass, Allen Wesdorf and Pat Pardee took turns holding that lemon. (I won't say how many times each.) However, when it was Pat's turn for possession she didn't think Bob Hope was appropriate so she turned the lemon over, added a face, and called it a horse's patootie.

While all these high jinks was going on we still managed to bowl three games with pretty good scores. Avis Walker took 1st game with a 176, Pat Pardee took the 2nd game with a 182 while Ken Wygal picked up the 6-7 split and had a three-way tie with John Walker and Wynell Snodgrass. Milan took the 3rd game with a 176 while John Walker and Bob Erwin tied at 152. Wynell again had a very good day with 3 over 100 games for a 116 average for the day. We all retired to Carrow's for lunch with some of our non-bowling friends. Hope you join us some Tues. There may be a horse's patootie waiting for you.

Retirement

from Bonnie Zehrung

I worked forty-five years for someone else
So that I could retire.
I dreamed of sleeping late
And sitting by the fire.

I dreamed of long vacations,
Enjoying stage and song.
But, let me set you straight on that concept,
It is simply wrong.

I did junk my safety glasses
And the work boots that cramped my toes.

But, the rest of it had a mind of it's own
And this is how it goes.

My wife had been thinking of retirement
And had plans of her own.
She had spent much time with the kids
But, now they are grown and gone.

We sold our cattle and horses
So we wouldn't have that chore.
I poured concrete over my alarm clock
But, I still wake up at four.

I get my eyes checked on Monday.
Ann gets hers checked the next day.
I go for a colon check on Wednesday
And pass my wife going the other way.

I have a dental appointment on Thursday.
Ann goes for a test on her heart.
Friday we go get prescriptions filled
And browse a while at Walmart.

Saturdays we just stay home
And try to get the paper work right.
We can't take any overnight trips
'Cause we can't see to drive at night.

Restroom confusion keeps us out of church on Sunday
And we really do hate that.
There's nothing wrong with the restrooms,
We just can't remember where they're at

We don't need to plan next week,
Just make sure we can drive.
And not forget where the hospitals and clinics are.
We'll need them to survive.

So, don't build your castles too high, my friend,
While strolling through the clover.
This is a typical week in retirement
And on Monday we start all over!

Author Unknown

2005 - C.B FALL COFFEE SCHEDULE

by Kathy O'Toole

MAR:

3. Lollich

10. Lorentzen

17. Kratz

24. Evans

31. Beutel

APR:

7. Leonard

MAR:

5. open

12. Evans

2005 - C.B FALL SODA SCHEDULE

by Jack Strickler

MAR:

3. Woodard

10. Snodgrass

17. Gregovich

24. O'Toole

31. Leonard

APR:

7. Moon

14. Gerhard

21. Beutel

Contributors to the Record

Thank you to the following people who contributed their time and effort to the creation of this newsletter.

Editing Chris Kratz

Articles Dorothy Evans

Don & Lois Lollich

Bob Phelan

Martha Erwin

Don Snodgrass

Avis Walker

Kathy O'Toole

Jack Strickler

Bonnie Zehrung

CLUTCH BUSTER HOEDOWN

New Dancer Level Refreshment Schedule

Date—March 11 Time—8:00 p.m.

Oak Park Center

Caller: Gary Kendall

If you are unable to do your assignment, please arrange your own substitute or food exchanges.

Those with an * work and bring food assignments..

WORK SCHEDULE

7:45-8:30------Set Up Coffee------------------O'Toole*

8:30-9:00------Set Up Food/Supplies---------Hamblin

9:15-9:45------Replenish Food/Supplies-----Phelan

9:45-10:15-----Replenish Food/Supplies-----Lollich

10:15-10:45----Replenish/Clean Up----------Leonard

10:30-11:00----Clean & Pack Up-------------Hamblin/O'Toole

FOOD ASSIGNMENTS

Sandwiches:

1. Snodgrass

Veggie Plate & Dip:

1 Lorentzen --- 2. Giolitti

Large Fruit Platter:

1. O'Toole --- 2. Evans

Finger Foods—No Chips:

1 Zehrung, 2. Beutel, 3. Phela, 4. Kratz

5. Hamblin, 6. Williamson, 7. Turgeon, 8. Walker

9. Strickler, 10. Woodard, 11. Erwin 12. Young

Desserts:

1. Gerhards, 2. Moon, 3. Gregovich

4. Pedersen, 5. Birsa

Please allow our guests to go first between 9:00 and 9:30 p.m.

CLUTCH BUSTER HOEDOWN

Plus Level Refreshment Schedule

Date—March 19 Time—8:00 p.m.

Oak Park Center

Caller: Jet Roberts—Cuer: George Gardner

If you are unable to do your assignment, please arrange your own substitute or food exchanges.

Those with an * work and bring food assignments..

WORK SCHEDULE

7:45-8:30 ------ Set Up Coffee ------------ O'Toole*

8:30-9:00 ------ Set Up Food/Supplies ---- Hamblin

9:15-9:45 ------ Replenish Food/Supplies -- Kratz*

9:45-10:15 ----- Replenish Food/Supplies -- Birsa*

10:15-10:45 ---- Replenish/Clean Up ------- Giolitti*

10:30-11:00 ---- Clean & Pack Up --------- Hamblin/O'Toole

FOOD ASSIGNMENTS

Sandwiches:

1. Erwin 2. Lollich 3. Walker

Large Veggie Plate & Dip:

1. Zehrung 2. Phelan

Large Fruit Platter:

1. Kratz 2. Strickler

Finger Foods—No Chips:

1. Birsa 2. Gregovich 3. Leonard 4. Lorentzen 5. Hamblin

6. Pedersen 7. Moon 8. Evans 9. Hackbarth 10. Carlson

11. Woodard 12. Gerhards 13. Young

Desserts:

1. O'Toole 2. Giolitti 3. Beutel 4. Turgeon 5. Williamson

6. Snodgrass

Please allow our guests to go first between 9:00 and 9:30 p.m.