CHAIRMAN’S AWARD
Presented by Patty Greene
Recipients of the Chairman’s Award are chosen by the Chairman of the Board to recognize outstanding contributions to CALLERLAB, square dancing, or to the Chairman. This year, I would like to recognize an organization that has provided opportunities for caller training around the world.
I believe that caller education is one of the most important activities we can participate in. Attending clinics and schools, participating in workshops, and sharing ideas and information strengthens our skills and gives us the tools to entertain, teach, and call to our dancers. There are many caller schools available, sponsored by our caller-coaches. Each one offers something different depending upon the staff of the particular school. A lot of time, energy and resources go into putting on a successful event.
Since 2005, callers from all over the world have had the opportunity to attend a fully staffed, CALLERLAB curriculum-based school for free; all they had to do was show up and pay for their lodging. These schools have been held both stateside, in conjunction with the National Square Dance Convention, and in Sweden, England, and Japan.
What sets these education opportunities apart is that coaches volunteer their time and talents to staff these schools. Expenses for the venue and supplies are funded by GSI. Attending callers are treated to top notch education. Opportunities are also provided for callers working toward their caller-coach certification to get teaching time and experience towards their accreditation.
If you have attended a GSI caller’s school in the past, either as a student or a coach or a coach-in-training, would you please stand? This is the legacy of GSI and their caller training program.
GSI’s commitment to caller education has always been an important part of their mission. It is evident in the personal time and resources that they invest in sponsoring, funding, staffing, and running caller schools, and additionally through donated funds to provide caller scholarships for callers to attend other schools.
It gives me great pleasure to present the Chairman’s Award this year to GSI International in recognition of their contributions to the education of square dance callers worldwide. I especially would like to recognize the people who make all this happen: Everett and Virginia Curlee and Tony Oxendine and Kim Curlee. I am personally grateful for your support and your commitment to quality caller education.