7th CALLERLAB Convention 
Milestone Award
Presented by Al Brundage
A true New Englander, Charlie got his first taste of country dancing as a small boy and among his favorites was the traditional Portland Fancy. His rebirth of interest came shortly after WWII when, encouraged by caller Lawrence Loy, Charlie struck out on his own. Known in those early years as the “Country Dance Serenader”, he fast became a favorite among the dancers. His weekly session at the Boston “Y”, complete with live musicians, were always filled. Taking an active leadership role in the New England area during more than four decades, the name Charlie Baldwin became indelibly inscribed in the dance history of that area and in the minds of many thousands of dancers.
As the editor of one of the largest area square dance publications, Charlie, and The New England Caller, both played a significant role in the growth of square dance in the northeast corner of the Untied States. Charlie, and his wife Bertha, played an important part in the development of the New England dancers as well as caller organizations.
During the 1970’s Charlie shard in the formation of Legacy, the international square dance communications group, and before that he formed one of the three links in the square dance trouble line known as the Listening Post.
Recipient of a number of awards for all he had done for square dancing over the years, in 1976 at one of the New England observances of America’s Bicentennial, the Baldwins were honored with the coveted Silver Spur Award. In September 1981, Charlie was inducted into the Square Dance Hall of Fame and in 1982 Charlie received the Yankee Clipper Award for distinguished service to square and round dance in New England.
The Baldwins indeed left their mark on the square dance activity.