Memorial Tip

The Memorial Tip is a very special tip in which dancers are encouraged to use square dancing to remember loved ones.

It is often called during the opening or closing ceremonies at convention, where everyone is dancing together in one room.

The first memorial tip was called by Anne Uebelacker at Northstar Promenade in 1990. It was not scheduled but was called in honor of Bob Bellville and another recently passed away dancer.

Regular memorial tips began with Remake The Circle, a year before the idea of the Memorial Panels.

There have been some especially memorable Memorial Tips:

• Ron Libby performed Beautiful Noise at Remake The Circle in 1993
• The Chicago Gay Men's Chorus performing Golden Memories at Track 2 Chicago in 1995
• Donald Wescoat's original composition Squares In The Circle of Love at Stars, Thars & Cable Cars in 1996 called by Bill Eyler, Todd Fellegy, Andy Shore, and Anne Uebelacker
• Mike DeSisto performed Angels Among Us at Crack The Crab in 2000 (WIKI EDITOR'S NOTE: Ett McAtee (Crack The Crab co-chair): DeSisto may well have done this song, and it was incredibly moving when he did, I do remember him doing it, but our Memorial tip song at Crack the Crab 2000 was the one called "For the Ones who Aren't Here" by Suede, and earlier version by Meg Christian of Olivia Records. It was not "danced to" but we played that piece of music in a moment of silence at Crack the Crab for our Memorial Song.  Perhaps Desisto followed up with the Angels Among us song to dance to...)
• Anne Uebelacker and The Vancouver Men's Chorus performed Heroes Just the Same at Make Magic in 2001
• Bronc Wise performed Beautiful Noise at Star Thru The Silicon Galaxy in 2005

Memorial Tip: Personal Recollections

FROM AN EMAIL THREAD IN THE IAGSDC MAILING LIST IN 2010:

On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 7:37 AM, Andy Shore wrote:

My own memory is too feeble for this. After attending 24 conventions, it's hard to keep them distinct in my mind, or to keep them in my mind at all.

I'm looking for some facts and info about the history of the Memorial Tip

• What was the first convention to have one? who called it?
• There was a convention where the memorial tip was called by the local Gay Men's Chorus - they performed "Golden Memories". I was weeping (soggy actually) by the end of it. which convention & chorus?
• Ron Libby performed "Beautiful Noise" at one - also very moving. which convention?
• I've also got Donald Wescoat's "Squares In The Circle of Love" at Stars, Thars & Cable Cars.
• Mike DeSisto calling "Angels Among Us" was when...? (WIKI EDITOR'S NOTE: Allan Hurst suggests this was at Baltimore's "Crack The Crab", because he remembers crying during the tip because Mike DeSisto had just announced that he was retiring from convention calling.)(SUBSEQUENT NOTE FROM Ett McAtee: DeSisto may well have done this song, and it was incredibly moving when he did, I do remember him doing it, but our Memorial tip song at Crack the Crab 2000 was the one called "For the Ones who Aren't Here" by Suede, and earlier version by Meg Christian of Olivia Records. It was not "danced to" but we played that piece of music in a moment of silence at Crack the Crab for our Memorial Song.  Perhaps Desisto followed up with the Angels Among us song to dance to...)

Others? what am I forgetting?

I've called a few of them myself and always find it very hard to face and difficult to get through. So many friends gone.

On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 8:25 AM, Dennis Moore wrote:

Ron Libby performed "Beautiful Noise" at Seattle 1993. Amazingly moving, beautifully sung..a truly memorable performance

On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 8:24 AM, Michael Levy wrote:

My fondest memory is Bronc Wise calling the memorial tip at Star Thru The Silicon Galaxy in 2005 to "Beautiful Noise". As we were dancing he turned the music softer and softer until all you heard was his calling and the shuffling feet of 1000 dancers.

It sent chills down my spine and I a still get teary eyed thinking about it.

On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 8:41 AM, Mark Ambrose wrote:

I don't know the early history of the Memorial Tip, but I know that it has been scheduled in a variety of ways, sometimes at the Opening Ceremonies, sometimes at the Closing Ceremonies, and at least once in one of the regular dance halls, blocked in like other "specialty tip" hours.

I remember Bill Eyler calling "Beautiful Noise" for the Memorial Tip in the MS hall in Toronto, sometime in the middle of the weekend. Because of how it was scheduled, the tip was rather lightly attended, but the smaller crowd/room made for a very intimate and moving experience.

On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 12:00 PM, Don St. Jean wrote:

Toronto scheduled the tip at 7 pm on the Sunday in response to dancer concern about finding the tip an emotionally overwhelming experience and wanting alternatives which did not make them look as though they were deliberatly boycotting the Memorial Tip. While there are no perfect schedules, it is good to know that some found this choice an "intimate and moving" dance experience.

On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 11:58 AM, Harlan Kerr wrote:

The first time there were memorial tips was at Northstar Promenade. These were not planned, but were called by Anne Uebelacker for two recently passed away folks from San Francisco at requests from SF dancers. One was a tip in memory of Bob Bellville, the other for Tom (whose name I will remember as soon as this is done), from Foggy City Dancers.

Regular memorial tips began With Remake The Circle, unless there was one in Albuquerque that I do not remember. Actually I think there was one in Albuquerque-—Bill Eyler would know. This coincided closely with the introduction of the memorial quilt.

there was a convention where the memorial tip was called by the local Gay Men's Chorus - they performed "Golden Memories". I was weeping (soggy actually) by the end of it. which convention & chorus? I think Golden Memories was at Los Angeles--I may be wrong on some of this, so let’s hear from others.

Mike DeSisto calling "Angels Among Us" was when?

On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 6:26 PM, Matt Fleig wrote:

The one year that stands out for me was San Francisco 1996 convention. I couldn't tell you the music, but I remember the whole caller staff singing something wonderful in the sweetest of harmonies.

Certainly, the circumstances of just having lost my sweet, handsome Ray (Ray Blevins) primed my own need for some solace that year - and that was found in the wonderful harmonies and tenderness of the memorial tip that year. So, one cowboy voice here to keep that memorial tip going each year. You never know which cowboy or cowgirl heart is getting the virtual music hug that it needs ...