ELCOME TO THE WEB PAGE FOR THE WHEELERS AND DEALERS SQUARE DANCE CLUB OF STOKE MANDEVILLE, BUCKS.  THE PAGE STARTS WITH A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CLUB FOLLOWED BY A LISTING OF OUR ACTIVITIES DURING 2008.
 
WHEELERS AND DEALERS
A BRIEF HISTORY

WHEN WERE WE FOUNDED?
 Wheelers & Dealers Square Dance Club were founded on Monday 20th September 1982 by Alan Covacic and his wife. Our first venue was the Archery Unit at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital Spinal Unit. In those days club nights consisted of student classes for an enthusiastic group of new dancers combined with occasional tips for "wheelchair" patients from the hospital who were invited to join us every week.
 From time to time even some of the bed-ridden patients were wheeled from their wards to the Archery Unit to provide them with an evenings entertainment as well.

WHY ARE WE CALLED WHEELERS & DEALERS?
 Because of the active involvement of the club with the Spinal Unit of Stoke Mandeville Hospital and the patients [who are often in wheelchairs] the club name of “Wheelers & Dealers Square Dance Club of Stoke Mandeville, Bucks” was decided upon.
 “Wheelers & Dealers” is a play on words with the square dance move “Wheel & Deal”.
 “of Stoke Mandeville, Bucks” was added to distinguish the club from another club with a similar name [“Wheel & Deal”].

HOW WAS OUR BADGE DESIGNED?
 The badge was designed to reflect the involvement with the Hospital:-
 The wheel represents the Spinal Unit [a wheelchair]
 The playing cards are a representation of the "helping hand" of the square dancers [for card players - a Royal Flush]
 The handshake indicates the close relationship between them.
Although the club has no direct links with the Hospital any more, the badge serves to remind members of how and why the club was first founded.

WHEN AND WHERE DO WE DANCE?
o  Over the years Wheelers & Dealers Square Dance Club have met on either Mondays or Tuesdays at various venues in the Aylesbury Vale area. Most recently our venue has been the Memorial Hall in Wendover and it is there where we now have our meetings.
o  These meetings are now held on Tuesdays each week.  During 2008 we will be running two more "crash courses for beginners". one in April and one in October - hopefully we will recruit more new dancers for our club to swell our already increasing numbers.  Additionally, open dances are held on either Saturday or Sunday for most months of the year.
o  A new adventure for us this year is the running of a Plus teaching class on alternate Thursdays.  please note that for the time being the class is only for members of Wheelers & Dealers S.D.C.
o  Full details of our meetings are shown at the end of this web page.

INTERESTING EVENTS AT WHEELERS & DEALERS
 In 1984 and 1988 Wheelers & Dealers Square Dance Club hosted Charity Marathon Square Dances [24 hours 2 minutes and 26 hours 2 minutes respectively] in aid of the BBC TV Children In Need Appeal. In the process club members raised over £7000 for the charity.
 These particular activities have also earned our Caller entries in the Guinness Book of World Records.
 Wheelers & Dealers Square Dance Club have participated in a number of local events.
 One of the most challenging activities was the entry of a float in the Aylesbury Carnival of 1984. The carnival theme was "the next 100 years" and so the club decorated [and danced on] the float to represent square dancing in 1985 and 2085.
 Dancers representing 1985 were dressed in conventional square dance attire as we know it today and danced to a live caller. The dancers representing 2085 were dressed in "robot" clothing and danced to a "Computer".
 In 1983 Wheelers & Dealers members assisted with the transfer of patients and equipment to the new Spinal Unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital
 In 1986 several members from Wheelers & Dealers danced at the European Square Dance Convention, held in Canterbury.
 In 1990 a coach-full of members and friends from other local clubs travelled to Cologne in Germany and danced at a Square Dance Jamboree there.
 In 1994 11 members travelled to Aberdeen by mini-bus with the Club Caller for a square dance week-end with the Kilt Kickers Square Dance Club.
 1998 saw a square of dancers taking a mini-bus to Goes in Holland to support Alan Covacic at the Delta Swingers S.D.C. Delta Dance.
 In March 2002 we returned to Goes for the 2002 Delta Dance, again with Alan Covacic calling. This time we travelled by coach on a trip which lasted from Friday to Sunday and included "Wave Dancing". We were pleased to be joined this time by friends from several other clubs. 
 As recently as August 2006 a square of our dancers participated in the European Convention held in Hemel Hempstead.  What a great week-end.  Our Club Caller, Alan Covacic, was one of the staff callers for the event, together with 13 other callers from all over Europe.

CLUB AFFILIATIONS
 Wheelers & Dealers Square Dance Club are members of the British Association of American Square Dance Clubs [BAASDC], founded in 1953 by Mrs Mildred Buhler.

ANNUAL DANCES HOSTED BY WHEELERS & DEALERS S.D.C.
 Wheelers & Dealers Square Dance Club host 2 Saturday night dances each year:-
 In January: we host the Snowflake Dance, aimed at newer dancers. The dance program alternates between Easy Level and the M.C. invites any attending caller to call a tip or two during the evening. 2008 will see our 25th Snowflake Dance.
 Our other Saturday dance is our Birthday Dance - called by a well known visiting caller. Sometimes these are "theme" dances such as "Back to School".
„ In most other months we host Sunday afternoon 'Tea Dances'. These are mainstream sing-a-long dances with a pot luck tea. These dances are proving very popular with dancers.

PROMOTING SQUARE DANCING
o Wheelers & Dealers have taken part in many demonstrations to promote square dancing over the years, some of them in unusual places.
o One demo took place during the ¡§walk the by-pass¡¨ day when members of the public were allowed to walk along a newly completed stretch of the A41 from the eastern end of Tring to the M25.
o Local organisations were given an invitation to provide entertainment at the roadside and we took the opportunity to advertise square dancing to everyone who walked past. Power came from a portable generator, located behind a parked car to keep the motor noise to a minimum.

THE FUTURE
o  2002 to 2005 saw a dramatic change in the way our club was run.  Alan Covacic temporarily resigned as our weekly club caller and we were completely unable to recruit a replacement. Determined that the club would not close we planned a series of Sunday dance events for each year which enabled us to continue in a "monthly" way.
o  Thanks to the efforts of our committee these dances have proved to be very successful events and they will continue for as long as dancers enjoy them.
o  As you are probably aware we reinstated our Tuesday evening meetings with Alan Covacic back at the helm in October 2005.  These meetings were used as teaching classes for a new group of students who have now formed the nucleus of the club for the future.
o  Starting on the 3rd October 2006 we started a little earlier (at 7.30) each week to accommodate the integration of our new student class with a club night for our Mainstream members.  This was an exciting time for us as we were rebuilding our membership to ensure a bright future for the club.
o  2007 saw two major events for Wheelers & Dealers - In April we ran a very successful "crash course for beginners" which resulted in a full square of new dancers at our club and in September we celebrated our 25th Birthday with a European Style Special Dance.
o  With our membership increasing even further we are looking forward to the future with renewed excitement.
 

We hope that you have enjoyed this summary of our club and would be delighted to have you join us in the future.

DANCE DATES IN 2008
 
NOTE: VISITORS ARE WELCOME TO ALL TUESDAY CLUB NIGHTS IN WENDOVER
THURSDAY PLUS CLASSES IN STOKE MANDEVILLE ARE FOR CLUB MEMBERS ONLY

Tuesday 8th January: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 10th January: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
Tuesday 15th January: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
SATURDAY 19TH JANUARY: 8.00 - 11.00 SNOWFLAKE DANCE
Tuesday 22nd January: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 24th January: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
Tuesday 29th January: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
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Tuesday 5th February: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 7th February: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
Tuesday 12th February: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
SUNDAY 17TH FEBRUARY: 3.00 - 6.00 - SUNDAY TEA DANCE
STOP PRESS - KEVIN EVANS ANNOUNCED AS CALLER FOR OUR FEBRUARY TEA DANCE
SEE OUR FLIER
Tuesday 19th February: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 21st February: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
Tuesday 26th February: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
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Tuesday 4th March: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 6th March: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
Tuesday 11th March: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
SUNDAY 16TH MARCH: 3.00 - 6.00 - SUNDAY TEA DANCE
Tuesday 18th March: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 20th March: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
Tuesday 25th March: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
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Tuesday 1st April: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 3rd April: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
Tuesday 8th April: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
SATURDAY 12TH / SUNDAY 13TH APRIL: 10.00 - 5.00 DAILY - "CRASH COURSE" FOR BEGINNERS
(BY INVITATION - CONTACT ALAN FOR DETAILS)
Tuesday 15th April: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 17th April: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
SUNDAY 20TH APRIL: 3.00 - 6.00 - SUNDAY TEA DANCE
Tuesday 22nd April: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Tuesday 29th April: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
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Thursday 1st May: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
Tuesday 6th May: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Tuesday 13th May: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 15th May: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
SUNDAY 18TH MAY: 3.00 - 6.00 - SUNDAY TEA DANCE
Tuesday 20th May: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Tuesday 27th May: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 29th May: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
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Tuesday 3rd June: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Tuesday 10th June: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 12th June: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
Tuesday 17th June: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
SUNDAY 22ND JUNE: 3.00 - 6.00 - SUNDAY TEA DANCE

Tuesday 1st July: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Tuesday 8th July: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 10th July: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
Tuesday 15th July: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
SUNDAY 20TH JULY: 3.00 - 6.00 - SUNDAY TEA DANCE
Tuesday 22nd July: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 24th July: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
Tuesday 29th July: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
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Tuesday 5th August: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
 Thursday 7th August: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
Tuesday 12th August: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Tuesday 19th August: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 21st August: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
Tuesday 26th August: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
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Tuesday 2nd September: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 4th September: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
Tuesday 9th September: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Tuesday 16th September: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 18th January: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
SATURDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER: 7.15 - 11.00 - 26TH BIRTHDAY DANCE
Tuesday 23rd September: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
SATURDAY 27TH / SUNDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER: 10.00 - 5.00 DAILY - "CRASH COURSE FOR BEGINNERS"
(BY INVITATION - CONTACT ALAN FOR DETAILS)
Tuesday 30th September: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
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Thursday 2nd October: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
SUNDAY 12TH OCTOBER: 3.00 - 6.00 - SUNDAY TEA DANCE
Tuesday 14th October: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 16th January: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
Tuesday 21st October: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Tuesday 28th October: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 30th October: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
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Tuesday 4th November: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Tuesday 11th November: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 13th November: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
SUNDAY 16TH NOVEMBER: 3.00 - 6.00 - SUNDAY TEA DANCE
Tuesday 18th November: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Tuesday 25th November: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 27th November: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
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Tuesday 2nd December: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
SUNDAY 7TH DECEMBER: 3.00 - 6.00 - XMAS SUNDAY TEA DANCE
Tuesday 9th December: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Night - Wendover
Thursday 11th December: 8.00 - 10.00 - Plus Class - Stoke Mandeville
Tuesday 16th December: 7.30 - 10.15 - Club Xmas Party Night - Wendover

Updated Sunday 23rd March 2008