| Welcome to the former home of the Town & Kountry Kickers A bit of history of the club  The club was founded in 1998 by two new callers at the time, Geoff Clarke and Brian Crawford and operated as a Basic & Mainstream Club for the next 13 years, closing in April, 2011. After the first season, Geoff was the sole caller for the club which operated in Stittsville, Ontario. Following now is the excerpts from the closing remarks made by Geoff on the very last night that the Kickers danced, April 13, 2011."The theme of tonight's dance is a celebration of 13 years as a great club. Yes, it's sad that we're closing down, but I'd rather focus on all the great things that have happened over the years. When Teena & I, and Brian & Amy started out, we had 21 dancers and away we went. In the 13 years that have passed, we've introduced well over 400 people to square dancing, with 229 joining the Kickers - 129 of them brand new to Modern Square Daancing. Of that 229, 86 are still dancing today! We've always said that the biggest positive about square dancing is the people! When we started out dancing, we only knew a few folks ... not that many. But today our circle of friends - square dance friends, is enormous - into the hundreds, and directly as a result of our involvement in this great activity! We are really proud to have met each & every one, & it's because of the Town & Kountry Kickers that we came to know you. That's the impact it's had on us personally & that will remain with us forever! We're also proud that we've been able to introduce so many people to square dancing and they too have made many new friends along the way. The social benefits are terrific! We've had a great deal of fun with the club members over the years and we have many memories and thousands of photographs that captured the fun. Check out our History in Pictures. We've held many open houses to entice new dancers; danced in parks, pools, backyards, stages and the like. We've even danced in front of a live TV audience (A-Channel morning)! As a group, we've attended several National Conventions; hosted 2 major dances (our Bashes) and gathered together for many a dinner before, during or after these events. We've always had fun doing it. However as in all things, change takes place and with our attendance & participation dwindling it was time to complete the cycle and close up shop. Kickers, however have left and will continue to leave their boot prints everywhere! Caller Bob Summers & Cuer Gerry Sawtell are former Kickers; the Trackers (Plus) & Lockits (A1) clubs are spin offs of the Kickers; 7 members of the current EOSARDA board are former Kickers, and our last group of Kickers will continue to dance at other clubs going forward. Yes, the Kickers spirit will continue to thrive! Continued good health to all and thanks for your fun & friendship, it will last us a lifetime! And although the Kickers club will no longer be dancing, we leave behind a pictoral record of many of the events of which Geoff refers to above. Check them out and see if you can find your picture amongst them and see how many of them are now your own friends! Square Dancing is indeed all about Fun & Friendship along with the terrific Health & Social benefits that are wound throughout. For those reading this that perhaps don't square dance, go to www.eosarda.ca and find the club nearest to you and give them a call to find out when you can try it out for yourself! You won't be sorry!" |
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