The 1983 South Florida Mustangs Inaugural Fly-In Story
Dates: 11-20 Feb 1983
Host hotel: Parliament House
Dance venue: Crossfire Lounge
Attendees
- MILE HIGH SQUARES [1]
Betty Weiland
Bob Southerland*
Craig McCarthy*
Dave Robertson
Doug Jarrett
Karl Jaeckel
Mike Hart
Wayne Jakino
- PUDDLETOWN SQUARES [2]
Art Smith*
Jim Goeres*
Tom Dickson
- SOUTH FLORIDA MUSTANGS [3]
Bob Montrose
Bruce Upson
Chris Phillips
Dean Hofmann*
Doug Thompson
Howard Janowitz
Jim Carlton
Jim McMahon
Jim Rosevear
Ken Di Genova*
Myron Shalm
Peter Amodio
Robert Creighton
Winston Hall
- WESTERN STAR DANCERS [4]
Brian Porcher
Dennis Ficken
Hank Rickard
Larry Brown
Mark Nilson
Paul Zimmermann
Roger Perry
Ron Douglass*
Russ King
Scott Carey*
Thom Lesniak
- GUESTS [5]
* club representatives at the Monday, Feb 14 evening meeting [6]
History
Post-Event Press Release
February 27th, 1983
Miami, Hollywood Florida
On the weekend of February 12th/13th, the South Florida Mustangs hosted the First Annual Gay Square Dance Fly-In. The guest clubs were the MIle HIgh Squares, Denver COlroado; the Western Star Dancers from San Francisco, California; and the Puddletown Squares, Seattle, Washington.
This event was held at the CROSSFIRE; a new Country and Western Bar and Dance Hall in Hollywood, Florida.
After a brunch on Sunday each Club put on their costumes and danced several exhibition dances.
On Monday evening while the beginning groups were practicing, representatives of each club met and organized the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LESBIAN/GAY SQUARE DANCE CLUBS.
The group spent the following week in central Florida touring the Kennedy Space Center, Epcot, and Disney Magic Kingdom. More square dancing took place at the Parliament House in Orlando, Fla.
Anyone needing information and / or assistance in organizing a square dance group in your community should contact the following people.[7]
Remembrances
HOWDY from Danceland!
We're back! Florida was a great time! Eight of our square dancers flew to Miami between February 11 and February 20. We had a great weekend of square dancing at Crossfire, a new country/western dance bar in Hollywood, Florida.
There was a great cross section of dancers from around the country. There were 10 representatives from the Western Stars, San Francisco, 3 from Puddletown Squares, Seattle, 8 Mile High Squares, Denver, and a large number of South Florida Mustangs, Miami.
Friday the day of our arrival was spent getting settled in with. our hosts. That night 4 of us square danced and 2-stepped the night away at Crossfire. Late that night we wisked away to get another Denver dancer.
Saturday found 8 Denver dancers in South Florida with a barbeque hosted by my Mom (Mickey} and Val, my old next door neighbor from Miami, and Rob & Duffy in Mom's building. It was nice to sit around the pool in short sleeves and shorts and playing bridge and talking square dance. Thanks guys, it was a great time! saturday afternoon the Western Stars arrived. That night was spent on workshops and dancing till closing at Crossfire.
Sunday we all attended a brunch hosted by the South Florida Mustangs. Thanks, Robert, for the use of your nice home. Sunday evening was another night of workshops and dance. There were three squares on the floor at a time dancing everything from basic 50 to Plus 1 & 2. We bid farewell to 1 Mile High Square; Mike, thanks for your support. While at Crossfire that weekend, representatives from each Square Dance Club got together to discuss the formation of a National Gay Square Dance Association. After a weekend round of talk, we're pulling it together! We hope to have the organization together before Reno this year. Great Work guys. We can do it!
Monday seemed to be a day of rest for most of us. We bid farewell to 3 more Denver dancers. Thanks for the support Wayne, Betty and Dave. Monday night was a do nothing night, most were resting their feet.
Tuesday, and might I add the first day of sunshine since we arrived, we all headed for the Conch. Republic (Key West}. We shopped around Key West that afternoon and had cocktails at the Monster on the veranda. At Malory Square we met up with the rest of the group for the "Ritual of Sunset." That evening we all headed to A&B Seafood House for a seafood orgy! After dinner we went back to the Monster for drinking, dancing, and fun! You should try 2-stepping to disco!! Thanks Karl and Doug for the floor to sleep on - we were in no condition to drive back to Miami that night.
The next morning we had a quiet breakfast as it was storming outside. We headed back to Miami as tornado watches went into effect, Maybe one of them would have wisked us back to Kansas and we could have saved on return airfare.
Thursday was my last day as I saw the remaining Denver dancers off to Cape Canaveral, Disney World, and Epcot Center. They stayed at the Parliament House for 3 fun days in Orlando. They all returned this past weekend tired and worn out like the rest of us. I woul dlike to say my thanks to all - Thanks Chris and Art the use of your bar. All the luck with your new business and keep up the good work. Thanks, Kenny, Doug, Dean, Bobby, JIm M., and all the South Florida Mustangs for being such good hosts and running us all over town. Thanks Western Stars for coming and giving us the support we needed to form our national organization. Thanks Puddletown Squares for your support and friendship. Keep up the good work Art. The Mile High Squares and the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association along with the state of Colorado hope to see all of you for the Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo, June 3, 4, & 5.
Last, but surely not least, thanks Wayne, Betty, Karl, Doug, Bob, Dave and Mike for representing Mile High Squares. We're looking forward to the 2nd annual Square Dance Fly-in where ever it may be. Rich, next time we're not leaving you at home!!!
— Craig McCarthy[8]
Photos
Group photo at Crossfire Lounge
Mile High Squares
Puddletown Squares
South Florida Mustangs
Western Star Dancers
