Assistant General Chairmen
Tom and Kathy Nickel
Southwest Area
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Tom and Kathy Nickel
Assistant General Chairmen
Aloha!Myron and Tracy Hollatz
General Chairmen 2027
General Chairmen 2027
Get To Know Our Volunteer Team Members For The 67th Wisconsin Convention
Assistant General Chairmen
Bob Tjensvold and Sharon Albright
Central Northwest Area
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Bob Tjensvold & Sharon Albright
Assistant General ChairmenSharon was introduced to square dancing in the early 70’s and danced for 4 years. Then her life took a different path and she did not get back to square dancing until 1999 when she took Mainstream classes again. She graduated as a Mainstream dancer in 2000 and a Plus dancer in 2021. In 2004 she helped workshop a new class of dancers and got hooked on the idea of teaching and calling. In 2006 Sharon became a full caller. She is a member of the Northwoods Levis & Lace Square Dance Club in Woodruff, WI. She has held several different offices with Northwoods Levis & Lace. Sharon has held offices in the CNW Square Dance Assoc, Central Wis. Callers Assoc, SDAW, and WSDLCC. Sharon has been chairman for several different committees for previous Wisconsin conventions and was General Chairman of the Wisconsin Square & Round Dance Convention in 2014 and again in 2022.
To contact:
Bob was introduced to square dancing in 2010 when he met Sharon in her shop. She asked him if he would be interested in learning to square dance. She invited him to watch a square dance and then invited him to join the new class. Since she had invited him to class she decided to be his dance partner. Bob graduated as a Mainstream dancer in 2011 and as a Plus dancer in 2012. He and Sharon continued to dance as partners at Northwoods Levis & Lace, and other area clubs. As their friendship grew, Bob asked Sharon to marry him. They were married on May 11, 2013. Now he is Sharon’s official “Caller Hauler”. Bob is a member of the Northwoods Levis & Lace Square Dance Club in Woodruff, WI. He has held offices in Northwoods Levis & Lace Square Dance Club and CNW Square Dance Assoc. Bob has been a committee chairman, along with Sharon for previous Wisconsin Conventions and he and Sharon were the General Chairmen for the Wisconsin Square & Round Dance Convention in 2022.
Bob Tjensvold and Sharon Albright: E-mail
Secretary
Amanda Herdt
Central Northwest Area-
Amanda Herdt
Secretary
Treasurer
Carrie Jane Danner-Vozka
Central Northwest Area-
Carrie Jane Danner-Vozka
Treasurer
Registration Chairmen
Holly Kobza and Kimberlee Streby
Central Northwest Area-
Holly Kobza and Kimberlee Streby
Registration Chairmen
Publicity Chairman
TBD
WI Area-
TBD
Publicity Chairman
Housing/Camping Chairman
Jessie Gruetzmacher
Central Northwest Area-
Jessie Gruetzmacher
Housing/Camping Chairman
Programming-Squares
TBD
WI Area-
TBD
Programming-Squares
Programming-Rounds
TBD
WI Area-
TBD
Programming-Rounds
Education Chairman
Peggy Weisensel Chavey
Southwest Area-
Peggy Weisensel Chavey
Education ChairmanPeggy Weisensel Chavey was the ‘silent’ half of the Darrah & Peggy Chavey teaching partnership. Together they taught Social Ballroom Dance and Round Dance for more than 40 years. During that time, they individually pursued ballroom instructor certification through the American International Dancers Association (formerly the US branch of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance). Although Darrah was the cuer, Peggy taught all the private lessons. They were not competitive ballroom dancers, but they loved how round dance and social ballroom dance complemented and enhanced each other.
To contact:
After Darrah’s passing last year, Peggy picked up the mic and began cueing. Her first solo taught Round Dance class started in January. She plans to restart their round dance club “Friendship Rounds” as a Phase 2-3-4 club on its 40th anniversary in September 2025. She continues to teach social ballroom dance lessons.
Peggy is a member of the American International Dancers Association (AIDA), the International Choreographed Ballroom Dance Association (ICBDA), Roundalab, and the Wisconsin Round Dance Leaders Council (WRDLC). She was the Director of Showcases and Clinics for the 73rd National Square Dance Convention held in Milwaukee in 2024. She serves on three Roundalab committees and is the WRDLC President.
Outside of dancing, Peggy is a retired Database Administrator. She spends much of her time sorting through and indexing Darrah’s many collections in preparation for finding new homes for them. In her spare moments, she enjoys reading speculative fiction and mystery books, working on various creative projects, and being the Dungeon Master for a weekly Dungeons & Dragons game. Both of her children are grown, married, and dancing. And the grand-twins joined the family dance tradition a couple years ago.
-- Dancing is good for your body and your brain. What better way to live a joyful life. --
Peggy Weisensel Chavey: E-mail
Youth Chairman
Jimmie and Deanna Burss
Central Northwest Area-
Jimmie & Deanna Burss
Youth ChairmanJimmie and Deanna, our 2025 Youth Chairman, began square dancing in the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, Jimmie started as club caller for three clubs in the Milwaukee area, and guest calling across Wisconsin and Illinois. Over the years, Jimmie has called at many Wisconsin Conventions, as well a few in other states, and two Nationals. Jimmie was a member of the Lightning Trio with Mike Krautkramer and Randy Tans. Together, Jimmie and Deanna have been chairmen in various positions for the Wisconsin Conventions over the years, including serving as General Chairmen for the 1998 convention. After taking a few years off from calling to spend more time with their sons, Jimmie and Deanna relocated in 2023 to Sugar Camp in northern Wisconsin. Jimmie is now teaching MS square dance lessons and hosting monthly dances in Rhinelander. They are excited to help fellow callers and dancers grow, and strengthen the local square dance community in the Northwoods.
To contact:
Jimmie & Deanna Burss: E-mail
Retail Sales
Doug Kindschuh
Wolf River Area-
Doug Kindschuh
Retail Sales
Services
Charles & Peggy Luedtke
Central Northwest Area-
Charles & Peggy Luedtke
Services
Showcase of Ideas
TBD
WI Area-
TBD
Showcase of Ideas
Fashion Show
TBD
WI Area-
TBD
Fashion Show
Special Events
Stephanie Esser
Southwest Area-
Stephanie Esser
Special EventsI started square dancing when I was 12 years old. I took Round Dancing from my Mom and Dad (Kathy & Tom Nickel). I have attended several State, National Conventions and Square Dance Campers Camporees. When I was dancing as a youth, our Youth Club performed Exhibitions at the State Conventions. I have held several Chairmanships for the State Conventions, Secretary position, Chairman of the Youth Hall several times, organized the Solo dancers Hall activities and Chairman of Retail Sales. At the 2024 National Convention, I was Director of Solo Dancers Hospitality. I am currently the Vice President of the Southwest Area Square Dance Association, and secretary for Badger Rovers Square Dance Campers. When I am not Square or Round Dancing, I am teaching preschool at a Catholic School and I love to go camping.
To contact:
Stephanie Esser: E-mail
Souvenir Book
TBD
WI Area-
TBD
Souvenir Book
Webmaster
Tracy Hollatz
Central Northwest Area-
Tracy Hollatz
WebmasterI first started square dancing back when I was in the 7th grade. I loved to dance, and line dancing was my favorite part. I danced until college and then took time off to raise my family. In 2016, not having a partner for square dancing, I took clogging lessons and danced on the local clogging exhibition team. In 2017 I was able to talk my daughter into taking square dance lessons and I finally returned to my favorite activity. In 2023, I married Myron Hollatz, a caller/cuer for square dancing from Minnesota. We met at an Iowa State Square Dance Convention the previous year.
To contact:
My second favorite activity is web design. I have worked on a number of websites in the past but I am currently the web designer for the Swingin' Beavers square dance club, the Square Dance Association of WI (SDAW), SW-SDAW, Westport Squares, Badger Rovers square dance camping group, the Wisconsin State Convention, and the MN Federation website.
I served one year as Vice President for the Swingin' Beavers club, two years as Publicity Chairman for the WI State Convention, and three years as the Webmaster for the Convention. I hope to see you at convention and look forward to meeting you in a square!
Tracy Hollatz: E-mail
Medical Services
Flash & Mary Ann Gordon
Southeast Area-
Flash & Mary Ann Gordon
Medical ServicesFlash took square dance lessons with the Swingin’ Single Squares and graduated in 1979. He volunteered to be part of the team to provide emergency medical services for the National Convention held in Milwaukee that same year. He has been a familiar figure at all Wisconsin Conventions for Medical Services for many consecutive years.
Mary Ann started square dance lessons with the Swingin’ Single Squares. She graduated in the class of 1987. She met Flash at a dance at SSS and were married in 1990.
We participated in Fashion Shows in 1990 and 1998. We were members of two Exhibition Groups, and have attended local, state and regional events. We were Vice Chairman of Housing at the National Convention for 2024, and have attended other National Conventions.
Some of Flash’s extra-curricular activities include being a Shooting Sports Coordinator/Instructor for Waukesha County 4-H, Treasurer for the Scottish Festivals Organization, a member of the Saint Andrews Society of Milwaukee and Longbow Co-chair at the Wisconsin Highland Games.
Mary Ann also spends her time as a 4-H Adult Volunteer for Waukesha County, doing counted cross stitch projects, jig saw and word seek puzzles.
We are also very active in volunteering in various capacities at our church.
To contact:
Flash & Mary Ann Gordon: E-mail
Computer Services
Scott and Brenda Deal
Southwest Area-
Scott and Brenda Deal
Computer ServicesScott graduated from Oklahoma State University, with an associate degree in drafting and worked within the Aerospace Industry and later in computer technology, which eventually brought us to Wisconsin in 2009. Brenda graduated from the California College of Paramedical and Technical College, as a Respiratory Therapist and has worked in health care for over 34 years. We met and married in Southern California in 2008.
To contact:
Scott has danced for over 40 years in Oklahoma, Washington, and California. Brenda loved to dance but “No one square dances in California”. It took a relocation to Wisconsin in 2009 for Brenda to find out what Modern Western Square Dancing is all about. As a couple, we took lessons with Tom Nickel and the Swingin’ Beavers Square Dance Club and have never looked back.
We have two married daughters and 3 grandchildren. Scott’s daughter, Dana, danced with the Mavericks and participated in the Pacific Northwest Teen Square Dance Festival (PNTSDF). Scott was a Junior square coach for the Mavericks and a Buckskin advisor.
As a couple, we currently serve on the United Square Dancers of America as Social Media Chairmen for our 6th year and have also served as Secretary for 3 years. Within our State, we were Publicity Chairmen for the Square Dance Association of Wisconsin (SDAW). We were the General Chairmen for the 60th Wisconsin Square and Round Dance Convention in 2019 with 667 dancers in attendance from all over the US and Canada. In our Southwest Area of the Square Dance Association of Wisconsin (SW-SDAW), we have held offices as President, Vice President, and Secretary. We have held multiple offices within our local club as well. We are members of 3 clubs (Swingin’ Beavers Square Dance Club, Diamond Squares Plus Club, and Badger Rovers Campers). Scott has served as webmaster for 5 square dance websites in Wisconsin.
It is our love for square dancing along with our talent and experience in publicity and social media that has driven us to promote Square Dancing as a wonderful way to exercise and develop lifelong friendships. We look forward to bringing the 73rd National Square Dance Convention® to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2024.
Scott and Brenda Deal: E-mail
Honu
Breeanna Norris
Central Northwest Area-
Breeanna Norris
HonuVolunteer?
Are you interested in volunteering to help put on a Convention?
Please reach out to this years' General Chairman
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Download the Registration Form or Register Online Today!
Mahalo!
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Get in touch
Do you have a question about the current convention? Do you have comments on how to improve the convention for next year? Please reach out to us and share any thoughts or questions you may have.
See you on the dance floor! -
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