MARS Ballroom Dance Club Newsletter – March 2010
http://sites.google.com/site/marsballroomdanceclub/Officers and Board of Directors
President Marcellus Graham 882-2186
Vice President/Training Dir. Bill Baker 544-6686
Treasurer John Weir 544-3814
Secretary Vacant
Publicity Director Jerry Maxwell 544-1954
Facility/Band Coordinator Al Rhods 830-5326
Decorations Director Cindy Williams 971-3049
Spring Dance is May 1, 2010
The MARS Ballroom Dance Club’s Spring dinner dance will be held at the UAH University Center Exhibit Hall on Saturday, May 1. The Edd Jones Band will provide music, and attire will be semiformal. The dance will begin with a social at 6:00 pm, followed by a buffet dinner from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, and dancing from 7:30 to 10:30 pm.
Due to the smaller size of the Exhibit Hall, this dance will be limited to 136 attendees. Tickets will be available on a "first come" basis at $40.00 per person, with a $10.00 discount for 2010 paid-up MARS Dance Club members. Tickets will go on sell March 29. You can contact any of the ticket sellers listed on the attached flyer to determine if tickets are still available.
Please refer to the "Important Notices" section of this newsletter and the attached flyer for more information about this dance.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
MARS 2010 Valentine’s Dance
The 2010 Valentine’s dinner dance was held at the VBC South Hall 2, on Saturday, February 6 with approximately 200 dancers in attendance. The Edd Jones Band provided music, and everyone appeared to have an enjoyable time. The food issues we experienced at the Christmas dance were resolved as the VBC served a delicious buffet dinner.
Thank you for your support of our dances.
Dance Lessons
Waltz in March
Rumba in April
West Coast Swing in May
MARS dance lessons are held at the Southern Elegance Dance Studio, on L&N Drive just south of Drake Avenue, east end of the building on the second floor on Monday nights. The price for each evening of lessons is $5 per person for non-members and free to MARS Ballroom Dance Club members who have paid their 2010 dues.
This year we are changing the format somewhat. We are having two sessions instead of three and using the extra time in each session for more practice of the steps and patterns to music. Only Beginners should arrive at 7:00 and remain until 7:50 pm. All others should arrive at 8:00. The schedule is as follows: First-Time Beginners at 7:00 pm, and Intermediates from 8:00 to 8:50 pm. Beginners may remain for the Intermediate session if they like, with no additional charge. Please arrive on time.
Rick Jones, certified by the National Dance Council and owner-manager of the Southern Elegance Dance Studio in Huntsville, will be teaching. Dress is casual, and leather-soled shoes are suggested for ease of dancing. Backless shoes are not recommended.
If you are not already a member of the MARS Ballroom Dance Club and are eligible for membership, application forms can be found on our website (at the top of page 1), mailed or e-mailed to you, and will be available at dance classes. If you wish to join send completed applications, as well as a check for $10 made out to MARS Ballroom Dance Club, to Marcellus Graham, 904 Weatherly Road, Huntsville, AL 35803.
Monthly Board Meetings
The MARS BDC Board of Directors meets the first Wednesday of each month at 11:15 a.m. The Board of Directors consists of all Officers, Committee Chairpersons and the past President. This is a lunch/business meeting and all members are welcome to attend. If you plan to attend please notify Marcellus Graham for location and to assure adequate seating arrangements are made.
Membership & Dues
Membership in the MARS BDC is open to the following:
a. Active and retired NASA employees and adult family members residing in their household;
b. Active and retired NASA contractor employees (both onsite and offsite) and adult family members residing in their household; and
c. Other Government employees and military personnel stationed at Marshall and adult family members residing in their household.
If you need an application form, please contact any of the board members listed above in this newsletter.
Annual dues for the MARS Ballroom Dance Club are based on the calendar year (Jan.-Dec.) and are $10 per person or family unit. By paying your dues you can save enough on one dance to cover your dues. Remember, you must pay your 2010 dues to get your discount and to get free dance lessons. Ticket sellers will verify that your dues are current when you buy tickets for 2010 dances. A 2010 Membership Renewal Form is included with this newsletter and is also available on our website.
Important Notices
The Club is still lacking a secretary for 2010. Unlike the President, Vice President, and Treasurer, the Secretary is not required to be a NASA employee (active or retired), but a member of the club in good standing. The major duties of the Secretary are to attend the monthly board meetings and publish (email) minutes, assist the president with club records, and help with decorations for each dance. The Secretary may also be asked to occasionally serve as a dance host for one of our dinner dances. Please contact any board member if you are interested and willing to help. Thanks.
Upcoming MARS Dances
May 1 – Spring Dinner Dance. UAH University Center Exhibit Hall, Social at 6:00 p.m., Dinner from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Dancing 7:30-10:30 p.m. Semiformal attire. Music by the Edd Jones Band.
Luau Dance and Christmas Dance. TBD
Enclosures: Directions to UAH University Center
Spring Dance Flyer
Membership Renewal Form
MARS Ballroom Dance Club
Presents the
2010 Spring Dinner Dance
May 1, 2010
UAH University Ctr. Exhibit Hall
Social at 6:00
Buffet Dinner at 6:30
Dancing from 7:30 to 10:30
Music by the Edd Jones Band
Tickets for this semi-formal event can be purchased for $40 each ($10 discount per ticket for members) on a "first come" basis from the following sellers :
Jerry Maxwell (544-1954)
Marcellus Graham (882-2186)
Bill Baker (544-6686)
Cindy Williams (544-2794)
John Weir (544-3814)
Al Rhods (830-5326
NOTE: If you have seating preferences, such as people you wish to sit with or table location, please indicate to the ticket seller at time of purchase. The Dance Host will make every effort to fulfill your request. However, sometimes it is not possible to accommodate every request. Also, because this dance is limited seating and we are trying to completely fill every table, we may have to split some parties (but not couples). Thanks for your cooperation.
Buffet Menu
London broil flank steak w/sherry mushroom demiglaze sauce
Chicken breast piccata w/white wine and lemon caper sauce
Potatoes au gratin
Balsamic roasted vegetable medley
Asparagus w/lemon zest
Tossed salad with choice of ranch or light Italian vinaigrette dressing
Rolls
Preset deserts of either peanut butter chocolate pie or strawberries gran marnier
Tea, coffee, & water
MARS BALLROOM DANCE CLUB
2010 MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FORM
FOR 2010 (Jan. 1 –Dec. 31)
1.
Name: ______________________________2. Select one of the following and provide org. code or contractor information as required:
[ ] Retired NASA Employee: (Includes spouse, adult family member)
[ ] Current NASA Employee:
Current Org. Code ______________
[ ] Retired NASA Contractor: (Includes spouse, adult family member)
[ ] Current NASA Contractor:
Contractor or Contract Name ______________
[ ] Stationed at MSFC:
Name of Government or Military Org. ______________
3. If any of the following information has changed within the last year, please provide updates in the spaces below. If you haven’t provided your current email address, please do so in order to save the club postage costs.
Address ___________________________________
Telephone Number ___________________________________
Email Address ___________________________________
Other _____________________________________
4. Please enclose 2010 dues ($10) with this completed form and mail to:
Marcellus Graham
904 Weatherly Road
Huntsville, AL 35803
(Please do not mail cash.)
Thank you for your support of the MARS Ballroom Dance Club. We look forward to having a great year of dance in 2010.