About
our Club
2011-12 Club Officers
Carolyn Thomason,
President 785- 232-6125
Lalla and Curly Steenbock, Treasurers
785-286-0105
Allana Barngrover, Secretary
785-272-1019
Henry Staub, KSDA
Rep. 785-256-0130
Club Cuer: Lalla Steenbock 785-286-0105
Club History
Shawnee Swingers started in 1978 with 16 members in an old
grocery store on the east side of town. Dana Schirmer was a brand new caller at
the time. Our rent was $25 per night and we paid Dana $10 per night if the club
had enough money. Although we were small our members traveled all over to
announce our new club and invite other clubs to attend our dances.
Our first club outfit
was light blue with white trimming. The blue was to depict the blue sky to help
accent our orange sun-setting badge. The campfile on the badge represented the
Shawnee Indians campfire. So hence the name Shawnee Swingers was developed
around the Shawnee Indians tribe rather than Shawnee County as most people
thought.
We had our first class
starting in January of 1979 with 16 people taking lessons. Our big issue at
that time was we had 12 girls and 4 guys in class which made it very difficult
to pair up couples. We managed and made things work.
During our 29 years
we have seen several different homes. Various school gyms, churches and
recreational centers have been a venue for our fun fellowship. Many of the
original 16 members are either no longer dancing or deceased.
Additional comments from
Dana:
"As I think back our
beginning was truly a great time and one I will always cherish.
Thanks Shawnee Swingers
for letting me be a part of these past 29 years.."
(This information provided by Dana Schirmer in our Smoke
Signals of August 2007)