29th CALLERLAB Convention 
Milestone Award
Presented by Mike Jacobs
Officially, tradition dictates that we leave the name of the Milestone winner to the end of the presentation. Unofficially, many try to guess the identity of the winner from all kinds of clues including the connection of the presenters. My connection and in fact CALLERLAB’S connection is our total respect for the man. All of us would like to have an individual touch our lives in ways that inspire, a person we truly admire, and a person that makes us feel better about ourselves because we call him friend. Many of his square dance accomplishments are of public record; there are many more from behind the scenes. The sum total of these actions help to earn him this award. He has undertaken many intricate, involved, “unsung” jobs for CALLERLAB and has always pursued them with a professionalism and competence rarely matched in this organization. More than this, he is fair. He hears all sides, he looks at all possibilities, he does his research and then makes his decisions. His commitment of his time and resources to square dancing have been unselfish and unmatched.
Most Milestone Presentations list an extensive biography showing their qualifications including longevity in the activity, superior accomplishments, unselfish dedication and the respect of their peers. Our winner tonight has all of that. However, I would like to tell you of his personal side, a set of actions consistent with his behavior within square dancing.
1. He volunteers once a week to teach grade school children.
2. He has donated much of his land to be managed as a preserve for public use.
3. He has helped to create a skateboard park for his community’s children.
4. He has supported, in many ways, individuals who have needed a helping hand. He has done this behind the scenes, without their knowledge, because it was the right thing to do.
5. He has constructed a website for another of his hobbies to service their organization, even creating a section for children who may be doing a report for school.
6. He has hosted benefit concerts for the local chamber orchestra and has hosted receptions for the local dance institute.
Anyone would be proud to have these as part of any resume. The fact that he calls himself a caller allows all of us to stand a little taller.
A coworker once asked his wife, “Why does he talk so much?” He proudly responded, “Cause I have so much to say!”. CALLERLAB and square dancing is indeed fortunate to be the beneficiary of so many things he has to say.
The person we have discovered in all these actions is a giver. A giver of his time, his money, his knowledge and his skill.
It is only fitting that this organization give him its highest award, the Milestone Award. That person is Bill Heyman.