NVSC History - 1999

IS THIS A GREAT CLUB, OR WHAT?

GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY (Little Richard)

• Vesta Jones, President
• Joan McKinney, Vice President
• Dennis Gehley, Treasurer
• Kathryn Quattrone, Secretary
• Members-at-large:
• Betty Abshire
• Heather Jennings
• Janis Grimes
• Craig Jennings
• H.K. Lee
• Committee Chairpersons:
• Social, Betty Abshire
• Dance, Janis Grimes
• Music, Craig Jennings
• Charity/Fund Raising, Heather Jennings
• PR/Promotions, Joan McKinney
• Web Site, Vesta Jones
• Newsletter Liaison, Kathryn Quattrone, Valerie Swiger
• Membership, H.K. Lee
• Alternative Dance Sites, Dennis Gehley
• Club Shirts, Dennis Gehley
• Communication, Kathryn Quattrone

On January 9th, the NVSC sponsored Charlie Womble and Jackie McGee workshops in beginner, intermediate and advance shag.  The cost to members was $10 per workshop, $15 for nonmembers.  There was a dance that evening at Ft. Myer Community Center, with Judy Collins of Myrtle Beach as Deejay.

Craig Jennings reported the Top Ten Rhythm ‘n Beach Music tunes as of January 23, 1999

• Uhh! – Joe Louis Walker
• Bluebook – John Fogerty
• Stay – Temptations
• It’s Gonna Rain – Coastline Bank
• Gold in a Silver Mine   - Johnnie Taylor
• Baby Don’t Go – D. Yokum’s Crow
• Crush – Jennifer Paige
• Park My Car – George Baze
• In The Mood for Love – Bobby Jonz
• Cutie – Rue Davis

SNAP YOUR FINGERS (Spencer Bohren)

Brainchild of Heather Jennings, The First Annual SHAG-A-THON was held on February 6th from 12:00 noon until 5:00 p.m. at Macy’s Court, Springfield Mall.  Club members recruited sponsors to pledge a certain amount for every dance they danced.  Needless to say, members danced and danced and danced.  Dennis and Nancy Gehley, Charlie Price, Larry Jones and Craig Jennings provided the music, donating their time.  There were prizes for participants and refreshments and snacks galore.  It was a huge success.  Proceeds went to Hospice of Northern Virginia.  Heather Jennings planned and coordinated the event.  Over 60 members and guests turned out.  Between $8,000 and $9,000 was raised for Hospice! 

AIN’T GOT NO HOME (The Band)

The NVSC Board began to look for an alternative dance location due to road and interchange construction predicted to take place around Blackie’s of Springfield.  It was also rumored that Blackie’s would be demolished.  They gave the membership the choice to move or stay.  The membership opted to move to Nick’s Restaurant and Nightclub in Alexandria (thanks, Charlie Price, for suggesting Nick’s); and officially, on Wednesday, February 17, 1999, Nick’s became new home to the NVSC.  The cover charge at Nick’s increased from $2 to $3.

On February 14th, the NVSC celebrated its 5th anniversary with a combined dance party with the DC Hand Dance Association.  Denny Martin and Eddy Farmer shared deejay time with Craig Jennings.  About 30-35 members attended.  Betty Abshire brought in a huge anniversary cake.

March 20th.  Shag Workshop with Larry and Shirley Jones presenting beginner, intermediate and advanced shag lessons.  Dance that night at the Springfield VFW.  Dennis and Nancy Gehley were deejays.  Both events were well-attended and solid successes.

NVSC won FIRST PLACE again in the “Marching Troop” Parade at April Spring SOS with the theme: NVSC Salutes the OD Clubs.  Joan McKinney’s idea for the parade was a winner.  Val Swiger’s ability to pull it all together and actually bring it to fruition just confirmed her incredible management abilities.  The Pirates, Bob Lutz and Jim Harley were so colorful that they attracted a television crew.  And Andrea Crews’ duck costumes for Roy Camp and Bonnie Mahoney to represent “Ducks” were ingenious, clever and funny, i.e., orange tights, yellow webbed feet and duck bills, not to mention white duck bodies with feathers, wings and duck butts.  Ahhh, those SOS Moments!

Saturday, April 10th, ‘No Frills Dance’ at the Springfield VFW kicked off a monthly Saturday night dance.  Fee was $8 for members and $10 for non-members.  Craig Jennings and Larry Jones were the deejays.

KEEP ON SITTIN’ ON IT (Band of Oz)

April 19th, 1999, thanks to the efforts of Treasurer Dennis Gehley, the IRS accepted NVSC as a non-profit social club exempted from paying Federal income taxes.

A few NVSC members danced onstage at the Fairfax County Fair, June 12th, for the fun of it, but also to ‘showcase shag’ to the general public and let more people know about the dance, the music, the club.

Saturday, June 26, NVSC hosted another ‘No Frills’ dance with Jerry Canada as deejay at the Springfield VFW.

LET THE BOOGIE WOOGIE ROLL (Roadrunners)

Fourth Annual Capital Shag Classic 1999   The 4th Annual Capital Shag Classic was held the weekend of July 23, 24 & 25.  New location was the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, First and Washington Streets, Alexandria.  Weekend tickets were $55.  Room rate was $69.  Heather Jennings was coordinator.  Larry Edwards was out-of-town guest deejay and Craig Jennings, Larry Jones, and Charlie Price, were local deejays.  Brad Kinard and Jennifer Beaver presented the dance instruction workshops.  Ads in the Capital Shag Classic Program sold at $30 full page, $20 half page and $10 quarter page.  The new location played a role in the level of excitement and overall success of the Classic that year.

HOUND DOG ROLL (Jude Taylor & His Burning Flames)

When the Capital Shag Classic was over, President Vesta Jones wrote:  “The success of our shag club is a result of the combination of all of our skills and energies… builders, floor sweepers, deejays, database folk, decorators, party coordinators, workers, lifters, movers, storage space volunteers, partiers, bartenders, writers, parade participants and costumers, travelers, dance instructors and competitors, workshop planners, 50/50 raffle sellers, flier makers and printers, greeters, smilers, dancers, ticket sellers, friend-makers, photographers, filmers, web siters, editors, planners, and doers… the whole club gives generously of their time and talents where and when they can.”

But understand that the Northern Virginia Shag Club is not just another dance and party club.  Club members continued t