The Federation’s purpose is to promote square and round dancing through a variety of activities and provide a forum for coordination among its affiliated clubs.

The Federation’s Executive Board meets with club presidents or representatives a minimum of 6 times a year to keep clubs informed and help coordinate activities.

Western NY Federation of Square and Round Dancers Inc (WNYF) is a not-for-profit 501 c 3 organization that maintains the following online presence for the benefit of our member clubs and dancers:

Our WNYF website: https://www.squaredancingrochester.org

Our WNYF Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/315003042261167

Our WNYF Quarterly Online News: The Promenader https://www.squaredancingrochester.org/promenader.html

The Promenader content is updated quarterly, on the first day of March, June, September, and December

The Promenader includes the following information for our WNYF Clubs:

• Club Dance Schedules along with Ads and Flyers.
• WNYF Club Presidents & Contacts.
• Caller and Cuer contact information.
• Club News, Articles and Photos.

Membership in the WNYF enables our clubs to purchase USDA dancer liability insurance—required by most dance venues.

WNYF organizes the annual Dance-O-Rama (DOR) Festival, traditionally the first Saturday in May

This is the largest Square Dance event in western New York. During the DOR program, recent class graduates of the WNYF square dance clubs are recognized. The Daphne-Norma Leadership Award, the highest honor given by WNYF is given to an individual dancer or couple who has demonstrated leadership for an extended period of time, furthering the cause of square and round dancing. Last year we had over 175 dancers attend DOR.

Some Promotional Activities that have been sponsored by WNYF:

• Annual Grants to help member clubs with New Dancer Recruitment, Promotion and Retention.
• Safety guidelines for member clubs—especially during COVID and post-COVID return to dancing.
• Virtual Square Dances and Round Dances via Zoom during COVID.
• Free Outside Summer Dances to help clubs dance safely as they returned to the dance floor post COVID.
• Provide Western Square Dance Demos and assist with Community Square Dance Events.
• Ordered “Learn to Square Dance” Lawn Signs and made them available to all WNYF clubs.
• Ordered Square Dance Polo Shirts and made available to all WNYF clubs.
• Co-Sponsor Annual New Year’s Eve Afternoon Dances.
• Promotions Task Force to promote square dancing. The position of Promotions Coordinator is currently vacant.

As Co-Presidents of the Federation, we are very thankful and proud of all the dancers who volunteer their time to the Federation and in turn assist our clubs and our communities.

Western NY Federation of Square and Round Dancers—Volunteers

Executive Board:	Co-Presidents: Debbie & Jeff Blood
	Vice President: Anne Granger
	Co-Treasures: Donna & Rick LaDonna
	Secretary: Linda English
	Promotions Coordinator: vacant
Insurance:	Carol Ann Stahl
Contracts:	Sharon Meyer
WNYF website:	Sidney Marshall
	Jim Gotta
	Carl Webster
Promenader:	Editor: Peter Emmel
	Assistant: Donna LaDonna
	Dance Schedules: Bonnie Allen
	Club/Class: Sharon Meyer
	Club News: Leon Smith
	Proof Readers: Peter Emmel, Jim Gotta, Sidney Marshall, Sharon Meyer, Susan Thomas, Carl Webster
WNYF Facebook:	Debbie Blood
	Jim Gotta
DOR Committee	Co-Chairs: Debbie & Jeff Blood
	Linda English Anne Granger Lorraine & Gary Granath Donna & Rick LaDonna Sharon Meyer Don Naulin Mary Jo & David Webster

Recently we heard a comment from a former club president who had moved out of the Rochester Area. She mentioned the important role our Federation plays in helping the square dance clubs in Western NY.

The square dance clubs in their new location are struggling and there is no organization like the Federation to assist them.

What makes this work is the participation of volunteers from every club devoting a small part of their time and attention to the wider dancing community. Whether a Federation volunteer’s role is behind the scenes or in a leadership role, it takes all of us to make the Federation and our clubs successful in keeping square dancing available in western New York.

Hopefully sharing this insight of the Federation and the role it plays in relationship to our clubs, will encourage others to volunteer to be actively involved in the Federation and the programs it sponsors. Most Federation meetings are virtual and not in-person, so you are able to attend from the comfort of your home.

If you are interested in learning more about volunteer positions available, please contact us directly at: dfbjvbhome@aol.com

Hope to see you on the dance floor!

Debbie & Jeff Blood

At their Ugly Sweater Dance on December 2, 2023, the Copy Cats had four squares dancing with Mike Callahan calling and Jim Gotta cueing. Liz & Tom Chrzanowski were given their 80-year dangles. Mary Jo & David Webster and Jim Gotta were honored with the nationally recognized Circle of Service Award for their significant contributions to square and round dancing for many years.

Submitted by Jeff and Debbie Blood

During singing calls at the Copy Cats class on Dec 5, Ron shared the microphone with recent (2023) Copy Cats class graduate Nay Jacobson. We hope to hear more from Nay in the future. According to Ron, “She’s a natural!”

Submitted by Jeff and Debbie Blood

The Copy Cat’s annual Holiday Dinner drew a great turnout. We enjoyed dancing with seven squares of dancers, with Mike Callahan calling and Lisa Treichler cueing. We welcomed class dancers and guests from seven WNYF clubs.

Submitted by Jeff and Debbie Blood

Everyone enjoyed the 2023 New Year’s afternoon dance co-sponsored by The WNYF and the Copy Cats. Thank you to Jim Gotta for calling and cueing. We had six squares dancing, from nine WNYF member clubs. What a fun way to welcome 2024 and say good bye to 2023!

Submitted by Jeff and Debbie Blood

The weather was terrible, but the dancing was great! The hall decorations looked wonderful and there were so many yummy treats. We had two squares dancing, and fell one couple short of the third square. Special thanks to Brenda for all the delicious treats she provided and to Don & Lynn for coordinating the extra help for the dance.

Submitted by Jeff and Debbie Blood

Despite the very snowy weather there were five squares of dancers at the Copy Cats Winter Wonderland Class-Club Dance on December 20. The Copy Kittenss did a fantastic job with the dance, the decorations and the refreshments. We all enjoyed Ron Brown’s and Lisa Treichler’s calling and cueing.

Submitted by Jeff and Debbie Blood

Copy Cats had a fun Mardi Gras Dance on Saturday night, February 3. Sharing a few pictures of everyone enjoying dancing to the Hip Boot Boys (Ron Brown & Greg Marling) and Chuck Meyer cueing.

Submitted by Jeff and Debbie Blood