News

May and June Happenings and Annual Meeting Notice

In this Post:

A quick list of stuff happening in May/June. Tell us what you think (surveys!). Queer Country Social: May 20, and Dirty Water Saloon update.

Spring Stomp: a Hoedown in P-town was amazing!
Thank you all for making it such a great success (success = happy, smiling, sweaty, exhausted people). In the “Tell us what you think” section below, I have a survey to this year’s Stomp attendees and one for previous Stomp attendees too.

End of Year Annual Board Meeting, Saturday, June 17 (before the dance)
5:30-6:30 pm, 1st UU Church of JP.
GFP Members (those that bought a membership for the 2016/17 season) come talk about the year, elect a new board member, and strategize about the new year.

While we think of the end of the 2016-17 year as the June 17th Queer Country Social dance, our Dirty Water Saloon dances continues through July and August on Tuesday nights in air-conditioned loveliness.

Busy May/June!

We’ve got a bunch of stuff going on, here’s a “quick” list:

  • Tuesdays – Dirty Water Saloon. (see full info below)
    7-10 pm, Bella Luna Restaurant and Milky Way Lounge.
  • Saturday, May 20 – Queer Country Social. (see full info below)
    6:30-11 pm. 1st UU Church of JP.
  • Memorial Day Weekend – IAGLCWDC annual convention.
    A bunch of us are going to Miami to partake of the annual convention in conjunction with Out Games. It should be a blast and we’ll post pics when we can. We’ll also be on the lookout for fun line dances and new dance moves to bring back to you.
  • Sunday, June 4 – Boston AIDS Walk.
    Julie Kaufmann is walking again this year (as she has done since almost the beginning of this fundraiser) and she will be collecting at the May 20th dance. Trivia! Did you know it was at this walk in 1988 that Gays for Patsy was coined and formed? Go figure.
  • Sunday, June 4 – Queer Country “Sweet Tea” Social and Workshop: Pride Edition.
    3-7 pm. 1st UU Church of JP.
    Come at 3 for a hour-long workshop on Salsa with Elvi and Beth! Then dance from 4-7 to music by Ruth Ewing. Invite your friends! We’ll have informal two step lessons in the hall for anyone who is new.
  • Saturday, June 10 – Boston Pride Parade.
    Gather 11 pm, March 12 noon,
    We are marching this year! Kendra and I will have more information after this Sunday.
  • Saturday, June 17 – Annual Meeting before the dance.
    5:30-6:30 pm • 1st UU church of JP
    Members come elect a new board member (Bucky is stepping down), and talk about the year ahead. Let me know if you’d like to be our new board member.
  • Saturday, June 17 – Final Queer Country Social of the 2016-17 year.
    Join us for the last dance before we take a break for the summer. Art Sullivan will be teaching, Bob will be DJing. More details to come.
  • 2017-18 Queer Country Social and Stomp Calendar set.
    I’m hoping to get the dates into the calendar on the site this week. We’ll turn 30 in June 2018, so we’ll be having a special dance to celebrate. More details soon.

Tell us what you think!

Our last season of Queer Country Socials didn’t do well for the first time in my presidency. I’d like your opinions. Ever want to tell me off? Now’s your chance. You can be anonymous.

  • General GFP Survey. (about 3 mins.) survey on instructors, format, partner and line dances, and music. If you’ve not attended dances, I want to hear why.
  • Spring Stomp: A Hoedown in P-town surveys. One for those who attended last month’s Stomp and a survey for people who didn’t come this year but have attended one in the past. Your chance to tell me what you think. Don’t miss out!
    • Survey for 2017 Attendees (about 10 mins) A bit more in-depth than the general GFP survey, but I want to get your feedback, thoughts, and gather some quotes that I can use for next year. Fill out what you can. I definitely want to know about the instructors and your thoughts on line dances.
    • Survey for Past Attendees (about 5 mins) Attended previous Stomps, let me know why you didn’t go this year.

May 20 Queer Country Social: Stomp Review and Renegades Performance

7-11 pm • • $12 suggested sliding-scale donation ($8 for GFP members)
First UU Church of JP • 6 Eliot Street, Jamaica Plain (Boston), MA
gaysforpatsy.org/queer-country-social
6:30-8 pm Lessons with Bob • 8-11 pm Social Dancing with DJ Art Sullivan
Lessons: 6:30 pm – Beginner Two Step with Bob Sweeney
7:00-8:00 pm – Stomp Review with Bob Sweeney. We’ll look over our videos from Stomp and try to recreate moves and line dances taught during Stomp. Think of it as a peer review.
Social Dancing: 8-11 pm with DJ Art Sullivan
Come dance the night away with DJ Art Sullivan while he plays a selection of music that you can two step, west coast swing, east coast swing, line dance galore, waltz and more.
Bring Extra $$ or a check to give to Julie for the Boston

Dirty Water Saloon: Two Step and Line Dance Review

Tuesdays, 7-10 pm • $10 suggested sliding-scale donation.
Bella Luna Restaurant and Milky Way Lounge, 284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain, MA
gaysforpatsy.org/dirty-water-saloon
We are working on Two Step this month and reviews of line dances.
Tonight:
7:00-7:45 pm: Alan Gaskell is teaching a two step move (he may be a few minutes late)
7:45: pm-8:15 pm: Kendra is teaching a line dance of some sort that will be fun
8:15-10:00 pm Bob is DJing the social dance portion

That’s it for now,
Bob “da prez” Sweeney
Gays for Patsy.

You are my Joy

I just read a Harvard Crimson article (linked below) on how joy adds to a healthy and happy life.
 
One thing that struck me was,
“Loneliness kills… It’s as powerful as smoking or alcoholism.”
 
Speaking for myself, you all bring joy into my life through dance.  Ironically, I mentioned this on Saturday. I joined Gays for Patsy about 10 years ago at a low point — I just broke up and was looking for something to fill that hole in my heart. Okay, honestly, I came looking for a boyfriend. What I got was a community and a bunch of stellar friends.
 
This winter was rough, it seemed more so with the political climate and so much fear, anger, and agitation. The one thing that got me through was the dances.
 
Thank you for being my joy.
Thank you for being my friend
Thank you for stepping on my feet.
 
Get out and dance and smile and meet folks and all that stuff there.
 
Bob “da prez” Sweeney
 
http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/04/over-nearly-80-years-harvard-study-has-been-showing-how-to-live-a-healthy-and-happy-life/

Tango, Swing, and Stomp! Opportunities for Dancing yer butt off!

Hello Y’all

A quick, rushed message about dancing this weekend and Stomp deadlines that you’ll have to check the website for more info.

Pardon for any missing info, like I said: rushed.

Dance Saturday, April 15: Learn Tango at GFP’s Queer Country Social

Saturday, April 15 • 6:30-11 pm, 6 Eliot Street, Jamaica Plain (Boston)
gaysforpasty.org/queer-country-social/

  • Get your friends to come to our basic two step at 6:30 with Beth
  • Get your ass to the Tango Lesson at 7 with Patrick and Beth
  • Get your boots on the floor for “Burlesque” line dance at 7:30 with Beth

But mostly, get you and anyone you can think of to the dance. I’ll (Bob) will be DJing and it should be a fun night.

Dirty Water Saloon: West Coast with Alan Gaskell!

Tuesdays, April 18 and 25 at Bella Luna Restaurant in JP
gaysforpasty.org/dirty-water-saloon/
Alan Gaskel returns to teach new West Coast Swing moves at 7 pm. Jim will teach “Power Surge” at 7:45 and Bucky (April 18) and Bob (April 25) will DJ.

Spring Stomp: A Hoedown in P-town is just a couple weeks away!

April 28-30. Provincetown, MA (Sage Inn and Lounge and Provincetown Town Hall)
gaysforpasty.org/stomp/

Don’t miss out on our 25th Anniversary Hoedown!

Get your Weekend Pass for only $75 before it goes up to $100! Order online or buy at the above September 15 dance or at Dirty Water Saloon on Tuesdays at Bella Luna in JP. Online purchasing closes a week from Tuesday and prices at the door go up significantly across the board.

Our 25th line up includes:

  • 3.5 dances:
    • Friday opening dance (8-12 pm) (Beginner two step and line dance lesson by Bob Sweeney)
    • NEW! Saturday workshop practice dance (1-3 pm) (Beginner two step and line dance lesson by Art Sullivan)
    • Saturday main fundraising dance with performance by the Rengaydes (7-12 pm)
    • NEW! Sunday “sweet tea” dance (10 am–2 pm)
  • Two  workshop tracks that you can pick and choose including:
    • beginner and intermediate west coast with Simone and Alan
    • beginner and intermediate two step with Simone or Alan
    • the hustle (Simone) or night club two step (Alan)
    • two advanced line dances (Kendra and Beth)
    • two intermediate line dance (Art Sullivan)

Added for the 25th based on feedback from last year:

  • Private lessons: sprinkled throughout Saturday you can sign up to have a 1/2 private lesson with Simone or Alan for only $50 each.
  • Sunday brunch: 8-10 am at Sage Inn for only $12 –MUST ORDER BY APRIL 15! 

Get your Sunday Brunch tickets NOW! Today!  If you want to partake of Sage’s “enhanced continental breakfast” for only $12 on Sunday, April 30 from 8-10 am at Sage Inn and Lounge YOU MUST ORDER BY 11 pm Saturday, April 15 so we can get the numbers to Sage. This is a hard deadline and no one can be added after Saturday.

I will have tickets at tomorrows dance and a sign up for brunch if you don’t want to order online and an iPad on hand in case you want to use a card.

Happy Dancing,
Bob “da prez” Sweeney
Gays for Patsy.