Jim Steele started dancing in Nebraska in 1952. In 1959, Jim started calling, and graduated from a caller's school taught by Mel Stricklet. Jim's father was also a square dance caller, and Jim apprenticed and taught classes under the tutelage of Clyde Steele for two years.
Jim and his father started a teen club (Hixs & Chicks) in 1961. Jim was the caller of this club for 8 years. Along with his father, Jim formed a teen exhibition precision group in 1962 called "Tandem Teens" with as many as 40 teens. Jim did all of the choreography for this group.
From 1961 to 1980, Jim was known throughout the northwest as the most in demand and hottest teen caller.
Jim became a professional caller and traveled on the road from 1969 to 1976, including weekend dances, festivals, and special dances. Jim ceased being a traveling caller in 1980 for family reasons.
Jim has called in 30 states and 2 foreign countries. He has taught at least one set of mainstream lessons each year for 58 years. He has called for one night stands, after parties, 12 different clubs, state and area festivals, 4 Far West Conventions, and National Square Dance Conventions through his 58 years of calling. He calls Mainstream through A-2.
Jim conducts a Mainstream workshop and Plus workshop every week, to give the seasons dancer a place to come and work on dance moves, to give them floor time, and to introduce them to "All Position Dancing". These workshops continue to grow in popularity.
Jim has been the owner of El Dorado Record Company since 1980.
Ferrous and Karen Steinka are a shining example of the special spirit of the square dance community.
Their square dancing journey began in 1980 with the Tualatin Twirlers. Over the years, they have had the privilege to dance with Daryl Clendenin's Columbians, learned round dancing from Joyce Hooper, spanned the 30 years of Norm Yoder's Plus Knights, joined the Eager Beaver's mid-day club, and reunited with Daryl Clendenin with the Hoedowners. Ferrous and Karen have visited every club in the TVC.
Karen and Ferrous have chaired special dances, mystery trips, lessons, and club officers and board members. Working with Tony Haskins, they coordinated and organized TVC dancers and callers for the Oregon State Fair for 5 years.
In addition to club level participation, Ferrous and Karen have been the TVC Council Delegates, OFN Area Editors, and co-authored the rewrite of the TVC Constitution, By-Laws, and Practices and Procedures, and the Delegates Introduction.
Ferrous and Karen are also tech-savvy, and have contributed hours and hours of effort in computing. They compiled and formatted the TVC directory. They created, hosted, and now maintain 9 different web sites for clubs from the TVC, PAC, Blue Mountains and Mid-Willamette councils. They are currently webmasters for five TVC clubs.
Ferrous took several months to create lists and links to compile a "Find a Dance Club" and "Find a Hall" web site for Oregon and Southwest Washington. As Tim Roberts wrote on the Federation web page, "Ferrous Steinka of the Hoedowners has created a web site that contains maps to virtually every function in Oregon and southwest Washington that has been used for a square dance in the recent past. This is quite a valuable resource."
Ferrous and Karen received the TVC Recognition award in 2011 for Outstanding Contributions. In 2015, they were awarded the Eager Beavers Swenson Award for "Continued Outstanding Support of the Club and Consistently Promoting Square and Round Dancing in the Community."
Tami Helms began her dancing career as a go-go dancer, and then dancing in a chorus line in Sparks, Nevada. She went on to focus on ballroom dancing, and participated in several competitions, winning an amateur swing dance competition. She started square and round dancing in Portland in 1982. Six years later, Tami decided to be a cuer and teach round dancing, something she still does today.
Tim Keck has had an interest in dancing for most of his adult life. Early on, he took part on contra, English country, and international folk dancing. He then added country swing and ballroom dancing to his reportoire. Tim started square dancing in 1980 oin Florence, Oregon, and round dancing in 1985.
In 2007, Tami & Tim were both dancing at Carousel Club #162 in Portland, where they became dance partners. During their dance career, they have given their time to support several organizations, participated in many events, and choreographed several dances, some being recognized as Round of the Month in local state organizations. Tami & Tim keep abreast of practices and techniques of teaching, programming, and presenting rounds by attending workshops.
The following lists some of Organizations, Festivals & events, and dances that Tami & Tim have participated in or have created.
Wayne Weaver has been calling for more than 50 years, and dancing longer than that.
Wayne has been president of the Rogue Valley Callers and Cuers Association. He has been involved in the Diamond Lake Festival every year since it began, acting as Chairman several times. He sets up the floor and sets up the many buildings that are required. He was the Caller Program chairman for Summer Festival 2018.
Wayne has donated his time and equipment time and time again over 50 years at demonstrations, parades, festivals, retirement homes, schools, and filled in for other callers when they were unable to fulfill those obligations. Wayne has mentored many new callers.
Wayne has been a positive example for square dancing, always making it fun and welcoming to newcomers, visitors, and experienced dancers young and old. Wayne has been instrumental in teaching new dancers and mentoring new callers.