7th CALLERLAB Convention 
Milestone Award
Presented by John Kaltenthaler
Our next Milestone recipient is well known to all of you here tonight. But before I give the name of this caller, let me give you some additional background so that you can join me in sharing the enjoyment of presenting this prestigious award. He is one of the original members of CALLERLAB and one of the original charter members of Board Of Governors.
He spent a great deal of his early years devoted to sports with particular emphasis on baseball. He actually started his college career with a baseball scholarship and left school to play semi-professional baseball. However, after a couple of years he returned to the university and began working for the recreation department of the City of Miami Beach. One of his early activities was to supervise the evening programs and this included square dancing. The caller at the time was George Campbell and the dancing was outdoors on the basketball court. As his interest grew, he asked to borrow a record, and he tried his hand at calling. Before long he was doing one nighters for local motels and churches. His early research included taking classes with his wife so they could stay ahead of the groups they were teaching. His family was growing up now with two children and he was getting ready to graduate from the University of Miami with his degree in Education. After graduation, He worked as a physical education teacher at the same elementary school he had attended as a child. Since his early music teacher was now principal and since he was teaching a square dance program it caused his boss to wonder how it would all work out. The principal just could not imagine his former student singing.
Several years later, he left the teaching profession and began to work for the Count Parks Recreation Department. He worked closely with the resident winter staff and after the regular staff left for the summer, he was asked to continue the programs during the summer and continue the learning process. By now, the western bug had really bitten. A class in Homestead, the one in North Miami, then more and more until square dancing began to interfere with his regular job. His bosses didn’t like his moonlighting. He returned to teaching in junior high for a few more years until his calling and caller training began to interfere again with his outside employment.
Soon their own hall. More than 3 levels of clubs, more than 5 nights a week calling, then weekends as well as trying to maintain another full-time job. All of this while trying to raise a family, something had to give, fortunately, square dancing won.
Now there was nothing to hold him back. His involvement became greater, an outstanding note service developed. Four nights a week with the home program and traveling every weekend to all at festivals and conduct caller training clinics. Regular caller training during the summer. Guest staff on eh other caller training colleges. Since his formal education background was with education, it was natural for him to get so heavily committed to teaching and sharing his knowledge with others. In 1973, he became very active in the formation of CALLERLAB and was one of the principle presenters at our first convention in St. Louis. He went on to become the Chairman of the Quarterly Selections Committee and was largely responsible for the early success of the program. His administrative procedures are still closely followed today in the ongoing program. Since he was a charter member of the Board Of Governors and since he was doing such a good job with this committee, the members of the Board Of Governors subsequently elected him to be Chairman of the Board Of Governors in 1978 and 1979. By now, you must have surmised who I am talking about.
Then in 1976, he learned he had a serious health problem and had to change his way of life quite a bit. He changed his eating habits, his travels, and a few other things but not his dedication to square dance and the training of callers.
Then in 1978, as his health problem continued and worsened, he had to make contingency plans. He knew that dialysis was not too far away. By the time the 1979 convention rolled around in Los Angeles, he was taking dialysis treatments once a week. This further curtailed his travels but enabled his and his lovely wife Carolyn to teach beginners classes. His dialysis treatments were now three times a week and still maintains a full program at home as well as continues training programs for callers. His note service continues, he handles some caller material such as microphones and his beginner class this year held steady at 20 squares. He still calls festivals and his health has stabilized. He now heads up the important Education Committee for CALLERLAB and is also one of the Accreditors for Caller Coach Program. His philosophy has always been that good dancing is the result of good teaching. His programs and success with them attest to his credo.
His attitude and judgement attest to formal training and are evident in his personal teaching. His calling continues at all levels from teaching beginners up and through C1. He has called at all major festivals from Hawaii to Alaska and from California to Florida.
Jack is married and he and Carolyn have one son and two daughters. Won’t you please join me in presenting this Milestone Award to Jack Lasry.