Warmest greetings to all ABA Members

In this, my first message to you as President, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank my predecessor, Jim Laux for the dedicated leadership he has given as President of the American Bop Association these past two years. I find it difficult to put into words what he has meant to the ABA. Jim’s leadership was outstanding from the beginning; his energy and enthusiasm have really benefited our organization, and has been a great friend to all. Aside from his term as President, Jim also serves as Bylaw Chairman and Hall of Fame Chairman. We need people like Jim, and we hope he will continue to be a force in the ABA for many years to come. Thanks Jim!

Thanks also are in order to Myra Griemel. She stepped up to take my previous duties as Hall of Fame Chairman, Oops… Chairperson. I am grateful to turn over these responsibilities to such a competent person – I know she will do a great job!

Thank you for selecting me to lead the ABA as President. It is my privilege and honor to serve this Association and to continue to support our mission. One of the things I am doing as your new President is putting together an “Expertise” List based on what I already know about the talents, knowledge and experience of some of our Directors. For example, Butch Berrey – Jacksonville, Florida, knows the ins and outs of hotel negotiation. Jo Reynolds – Memphis, Tennessee, knows music Licensing (BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC). Paul Hennessey – Cincinnati, Ohio knows the membership process inside and out. Mary Lou Poremba – Chicago, Illinois, knows Bylaws and Editing. I will be calling all of the Directors just to chat so we can get to know each other. I will be looking for whatever suggestions, advice and knowledge you can share to help the American Bop Association move forward, grow and improve.

As a national organization, we need to provide the framework for our Member Clubs to communicate, assist, and educate each other. Using our Newsletter (example below), Web Site, and Announcements made at our Member Clubs, we need to educate our club members about what the American Bop Association stands for: the preservation of our dance styles and the music we all love. Through the ABA, dance clubs around the country are connected; exposing members to new cities, variations on dance moves, new music, and new friendships. We gain strength in our numbers, and by working together, we can and will accomplish anything we set out to do.

The ABA’s annual cruise was a huge success this January. It was attended by 331 dancers representing 31 clubs. We held 5 workshops that week and dances every night. All were well attended and a lot of fun! Our workshop was excellent with Bill Breithhaupt and Gail Planer, Tony and Myra Griemel, Jim and Virginia Stanton, Bill Smith and Rosina Moehlenkamp, and I got to dance with the most beautiful woman on the ship, my wife Charlotte Chaney. The music was great, supplied by our own DJs Larry Wheelis, Bud Waters, Ruth Gilbert, Linda Huebner, Paul Hennessey and Joann Johnson. Next year, a West Coast workshop will be added due to popular demand. We had so much fun on the cruise that 174 people signed up for next year before they got off the ship.

Congratulations are in order for Jim and Virginia Stanton of the Little Rock Bop Club for winning the onboard ship dance contest. In fact, all six finalist couples were from the ABA. Jerry and Linda Koppel of Chicago’s Windy City Jitterbug Club; Dave Saxton and Wendy Sellers of Flint, Michigan’s Great Lakes Swing Dance Club; Kirk Mee and Diane Seay representing South Side Imperial Dance Club of St. Louis; Charles Murray and Maria Cooper from Nashville’s Music City Bop Club; and Darrell Lyvere and Deborah White of the Great Lakes Swing Dance Club also were finalists. The competition was spirited and fun: congratulations and thanks to all the competitors for providing us with inspiration and entertainment.

I also want to take the opportunity to ask each of our clubs to select nominees to the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame Members are chosen by their peers for their consistent, dedicated contributions to the preservation of the Bop, Jitterbug, Shag, and Swing (both East and West Coast) styles of Dancing through their service to their local clubs and to our national associations. No greater honor can be given to our Member Dancers than to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Receiving the recognition of your own club is such an exciting honor. I ask every club to take a look at the contributions of its members. Look for the person or persons who have contributed year in and year out to your club. Send your nominations to Myra Griemel, Hall of Fame Chairperson. (2268 Grant Drive, Arnold, MO 63010) I remember several years ago when Charlotte and I were chosen by our club to be nominees – these were the people who knew us best – they made us feel like winners from the start; it truly was – and is – an honor to be nominated, no matter what the outcome.

The American Bop Association has two Conventions this year; one in St. Louis and one in Cincinnati. These are great parties and I encourage you to consider attending them when planning your dance trips. These Conventions have supported the ABA for years and we need to demonstrate our gratitude by supporting them.

So bring your Party Attitudes, your Biggest Smiles, and your Best Dancing Shoes and Join in the fun!

Gary Chaney

American Bop Association President