Sweet Home Chicago
July 4th weekend, 2005
by Crazy Sue, President – Chicago’s Windy City Jitterbug Club
I would like to express my gratitude to the ABA Clubs for the fantastic job in promoting our prospective conventions. After all, if we don’t get the word out we will not succeed.
The kick-off dance on Thursday night had 350 dancers in attendance while Friday night showed us at close to capacity.
Our convention, “Sweet Home Chicago” held over the July 4th weekend, was a rousing success with 500 people from all over the ABA gracing our dance floor.
Many of our guests enjoyed traveling downtown to “The Taste of Chicago” to mingle and dine with the local folk. There was plenty to do and see in our “Windy City”! Granted it was HOT, but, that's what July is like here Chicago. The pool was open and there was ample opportunity to cool off during the off time from dancing. The Hospitality Suite offered refreshments every afternoon as well.
Speaking of the dance floor, it was rockin’ with the great sounds of our local and guest DJ’s.
Every year we start to get nervous when we are within a month of our event. I guess that’s just normal for the people who work so hard helping put it together.
Somehow it always turns out better that the year before. By Sunday morning, 200 dancers with tired feet joined us at the “Farewell Breakfast.” Having one last cup of coffee and bidding a safe trip to all the friends they made over the weekend or had not seen in the past year.
Reflecting back on our event, I feel that the true success can be counted by watching the faces of the dancers as they greet you in the Lobby, the Hospitality Suite, and the Dance Floor. That to me is the true measurement of how successful we were. Our dear friends who returned to see us again as well as the new friendships that have evolved over the dance floor. Our common denominator has always been our dancing and it has served us well and it is the ABA that has given us the opportunity to establish these relationships over the years.