This is the debut of our new newsletter format under Jim Watson’s editorship. I am really impressed with the product and I think you will agree that Jim has done a great job of taking on this important assignment. 
Mary Lou Poremba has also provided able assistance to Jim in editing member submissions. I am especially pleased to see the number of article submissions by our ABA Directors. This is what the ABA is supposed to be all about – sharing information about club activities and providing great ideas that every one of our clubs can benefit from.
We had some problems getting out the February newsletter and I know most of you probably didn’t receive it, so I’ll repeat some of the comments I had written for that newsletter.
First of all, thanks to Rich Kopels for his two years of leadership as ABA President. His direction was valuable and I am sure he will continue to be a major contributor to the work of the ABA.
We had a great turnout for our annual meeting in Nashville in January. As usual, Nashville delivered a small snowstorm for our meeting, right on schedule. Thanks to the Music City Bop Club for once again being wonderful hosts for our meeting.
An exciting thing that came out of our January meeting was a plan presented by Gary Chaney for an ABA sponsored dance cruise for January 28 – February 4, 2006. Thanks to Gary for putting this together. Not only can this be an excellent fund-raising activity for the ABA, but it is also an opportunity for a great winter get-together among our ABA friends. We’ve talked for years about the idea of having an annual ABA dance event not tied to a specific club and this dance cruise could very well turn out to be our annual ABA dance. As Gary reports in this newsletter, 80 people have already signed up. I think I about have Lennie persuaded to go. Although she and I are not big cruise fans, this opportunity to spend a week with so many of our great dance friends (I predict over 200) looks too good to pass up. Please promote the cruise in your clubs and let Gary know if you have questions or need to know how to get more info packets.
Thanks to Ron Cherry for agreeing to assume my previous duties as ByLaws Chairman. Should you have thoughts on bylaws or standing rule changes or additions, please communicate them to Ron. Thanks also to Jack Frost for taking over the ABA website. Jack is making some changes and it is a work in progress, so let Jack and me know your thoughts for what you’d like to see on the website.
We’ve had four or five great ABA parties already this year and you’ll find write-ups on most of them in this newsletter. Every month will bring more great parties. Support them and those of you who are handling registrations for your events need to be on the lookout to identify additional dance clubs that might be prospective new members of the ABA.
Finally, we are about to see from the Hall of Fame committee the nominees to be voted on for 2005 induction into the ABA Hall of Fame. Let me close by congratulating last year’s Hall of Fame inductees: Sherry Lawson of South Side Imperial Dance Club in St. Louis, Wayne Maxey of the Memphis Bop Club, and Jim and Virginia Stanton of the Little Rock Bop Club.
Best Regards,
Jim Laux
President – American Bop Association