Jack & Dolores MacArthur's first involvement with the square dancing activity occurred in 1967 when they along with a number of eager and interested couples began square dancing in Trenton with callers Dana & Laura McLeod. The next summer Jack took up the mike and has never looked back and what a lucky break for all the rest of us who have taken up this activity since that time.

        Friends since high school days, Jack & Dolores were married in 1953 in Quebec where Jack was stationed with the Royal Canadian Air Force. After the military, Jack & Dolores settled in their hometown of Trenton, NS. Jack was employed with Nova Scotia Hydro. It was here that square dancing entered their lives and one could say their lives together have been one long and happy square dance. Parents to a daughter and three sons who along with spouses and the grandchildren provide Jack & Dolores many memories to treasure. However busy with family or jobs the MacArthurs always have time for dancers or anything connected with the square dance activity.

        Jack's dances reflect the thorough preparation he makes for each dance and features challenges, which he delivers with humor and warmth. His respect for people shines through and the crowds feel at ease at any dance where Jack is the caller. Jack calls with spirit and his desire to advance square dance makes him a great asset to this activity. It was Dolores who first discovered square dancing and she has been Jack's biggest fan and he has had her complete support throughout his calling career. She is his greatest asset. This impressive career of dedication and caring puts the MacArthurs front and center as Ambassadors of Square Dance.

        As Jack hangs up the mike after 35 years, an Appreciation Night was held on April 27/02 at the Royal Canadian Legion in Stellarton hosted by his home club the Highland Squares. Two hundred fifty dancing friends from PEI, NB and across Nova Scotia, from Cape Breton to Yarmouth attended the 'roast & toast' dinner dance, catered by the Ladies Auxiliary Branch #28. Rev. Jim Fraser asked the Blessing. Banners from current & past County clubs were displayed around the room along with a collection of photos pertaining to Jack's career. With long-time associate and close friend John Essex acting as Emcee, the festivities began with a nostalgic look-back at the square dancing story in Pictou County of 'the three Ms' (Muir, MacArthur and MacDonald).

        His colleagues soundly roasting Jack were Hilton MacIntosh, Brundage MacDonald, Bruce Savage, John Essex, Alex Ritchie, Bill McPherson (one of the original five callers), and Dave Paulen. Jack replied in his own elegant style and paid tribute to his wife Dolores which drew a resounding round of applause.

        During the evening, Alex Ritchie representing SRDFNS presented Jack with a Retirement Award and a Thirty Year Calling Award. Alex also stated that Jack & Dolores have been granted an Honourary Life Membership to ANSSRDT. Ralph & Barb MacDonald, on behalf of the National Society, paid tribute to Jack, and Murray Workman presented Jack & Dolores with a gift from the Antigonish Square Dance Club. Pat Alguire presented Jack & Dolores with a gift from the Scotia Dancers. A special presentation of an oak-framed mirror by Cam & Virginia Garrett, Highland Squares, was made on behalf of the Stellarton club. The engraved inscription read, "Thanks for the Memories".

        An evening of excellent square & round dancing followed. Ably leading the many dancers through the tips and rounds were Cuers Blanche Paulen and Alex Ritchie. Callers were Hilton MacIntosh, Wilf Burns, Tom Gardner, Bruce Savage, Pat Alguire, Mark Savage, Dave Paulen, and Kerry Fletcher. A duet by the Savage brothers was especially appreciated. The evening door prizes were drawn by Ed & Ann Mills. Holding the winning ticket on the tole-painted butter churn was Toosje Ven Der Sende, Antigonish. This was presented by Marshall & Paula Dunn. Gerald Patterson thanked everyone for making the evening another special memory for Jack & Dolores. To end the evening dance the 'Silver Fox' stepped up to the mike and showed us what calling is really all about much to everyone's enjoyment. A lunch by the Highland Squares and the Maple Leaf Whirl-a-Ways completed this special evening.

        Our dancers here in Pictou County have shared lots of adventures over the years with Jack & Dolores. It has been our great pleasure to say, "that's our caller".

"Thanks for the Memories", Gerald & Lola Patterson

        STELLARTON: More than 250 guests were on hand recently as the Highland Squares honoured Jack and Dolores MacArthur at the Stellarton Legion.   The appreciation night dinner/square dance took place on April 27 after Mr. MacArthur announced he would be retiring from calling square dances after more than three decades.   Jack and Dolores have been dancing since 1967 but took up the task of square dance calling in the summer of 1968.

        Since then, Jack has taught hundreds of dancers in his various clubs in Trenton, Stellarton, Antigonish, Pictou and Truro. He, along with another caller, ran a school for callers for 10 years.   Jack was instrumental in graduating the first class of dancers at Labrador City in 1976.   Jack's dances reflect the thorough preparation he makes for each dance and delivers the same with humour and warmth. His respect for people shines through and crowds feel at ease at all his dances.

        Mr. MacArthur is much in demand as guest caller across the Maritimes. Over the years he has called at international conventions in the United States, at national conventions in Canada and has entertained at Maritime conventions and provincial festivals.  Locally, he is always willing to take his dancers into the nursing home for the entertainment of the residents, do demonstrations for school children and the members of 4-H groups.   He has entertained with his dancers at summer festivals and carnivals, for bringing the fun and friendship of square dancing to local residents.    Throughout his long career, Jack has had the total support of his wife Dolores. The high school sweethearts married when Jack was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force. They have a daughter and three sons, who along with spouses and grandchildren provide wonderful memories for Jack and Dolores to treasure.

        The MacArthurs have more time for other interests, especially their grandchildren now that Jack is retiring.    However, Jack and Dolores plan to continue dancing with the Highland Squares.    The group starts a new season in September with callers Ed and Kitty Giles from the Truro area.    More information about modern western square dancing is available by calling 275-5775.

        On Saturday, 20 April 2002, the Scotia Dancers Square Dance Club held another successful Annual Spring Fling at Mount St. Vincent University, Rosaria Building. Reportedly, it is still the biggest Club Square Dance Event east of Montreal.

        The numbers were down a bit this year overall, the visiting clubs and our own club coming up shorter, as seems to be the case generally. However, there were eleven squares on the floor for Gerry O'Hara's workshop which may be a new record. All the Square Dancers seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves although some of their moves looked a bit different.

        There were 24 squares on the floor for the Grand March count at 8:00 PM, but there were numerous couples on the side lines and in Harry & Debbie's Square Dance Shop. Gerry O'Hara kept the square dancers hopping with his calling, with a lot of laughter and whoops. Alex Ritchie cued two rounds after every second tip and had double rings of Round Dancers twirling to his cues. All seemed to be having a great time, judging by the volume of laughter and chatter that was going on.

        Mount St. Vincent University's Rosaria Cafeteria stayed open again this year for a light lunch and hot dinner before the main dance. This was very well attended and much appreciated. This and the big lunch in the cafeteria after the main dance ensured that the dancers were well fed - recovering the calories burned while they were on the dance floor.

        Among the comments from the many dancers as they were leaving were "We had a great dance", "That lunch was fabulous", and "Wow, we had a wonderful time". The consensus was that the Mount was a great place to have the dance and everybody seemed to have a really good time.

        Scotia Dancers Square Dance Club plans to book the Mount's Rosaria Building for next year's Spring Fling 2003. We hope to see all of you there again !!

Ernie & Pauline Smith

On Saturday, May 18, 2002,at the Mill-A-Round Dance Center in Manchester, New Hampshire, Nova Scotia's Gloria Rios Roth was inducted into the "Square Dance Foundation of New England Hall of Fame". This richly-deserved honour by the Square Dance Foundation of New England is in recognition of a lifetime of service devoted to the Promotion, Preservation, and Perpetuation of dancing in New England.

Gloria stated that she was excited about being inducted in the New England Hall of Fame for her square dance work in New England. That excitement and pleasure shows in her face.

In 1999 the "Milestone" award was presented to Gloria by Tom Jones in Dallas, Texas. The "Milestone" is Callerlab's highest award by peers, and the following appeared in "American Square Dance" magazine.

GLORIA Rios ROTH
1999 MILESTONE AWARD
American Square Dance, May 1999

Gloria Rios Roth graduated high school in 1947. Her activities included cheerleading, gymnastics, basketball and the Leaders Club. Gloria taught the football team and the cheerleaders to square dance in the coach house attached to her home using Ed Deulacher's records in 1946. She began teaching and calling at the age of 17. Gloria graduated from the Westfield College in Massachusetts in 1952 with a B.S. Degree in Education. She started calling with a band in her early years. Gloria was married while in college and she and her husband could not find the type of facility they desired to conduct evening and weekend square dances, so they bought some land and built a place called "The Woodlands." The Woodlands was a youth camp during the day and was used for square dancing during the evenings and on weekends for many years in the Springfield, Massachusetts area. Many different callers were involved with conducting square dances at this facility, including the Brundage brothers, Al and Bob. From 1951 through 1964 she had 5 children. She never missed a birthday. Gloria turned down bookings to be at home for birthdays. Gloria is the first female in the world to have called for 50 years. It's now almost 52 years. That in itself is a milestone. She was instrumental in organizing the Springfield Massachusetts Area Callers Association, involved in forming of the New England Council of Callers Associations, organized the Maritime Callers Association 26[sic] years ago in the "The House of Roth," conducted caller training schools for more than 40 years, became an Accredited Caller Coach the very next year after Board approval of the initial nine (and she was the first). Gloria is the only female Accredited Caller Coach in Canada and she is one of only three in the world. Gloria has been active in CALLERLAB since 1975 and has served on several committees.continued on page 5Gloria Rios Roth continued page 5 Having been a caller for more than 50 years, it is estimated that she has taught more than 1,600 people to square dance. That's an average of four squares per year. She has made numerous presentations at CALLERLAB Conventions including her invention of the Kaleidoscope Squares. The kaleidoscope was used in the Calgary, Alberta, Olympics opening ceremonies. Gloria is the first woman to travel world wide calling dances and conducting callers clinics and schools. She is the only caller to have owned a square dance center for her entire career. She has recorded on Top, Blue Ribbon and the Sets in Order L.P.'s. Over the years she has been heavily involved in aquatics, directing and choreographing full length shows with swimmers. Gloria has coached the first place synchronized swim team in the Canadian games. She has had a calling experience that involved some Lippizan Stallions. "The House of Roth" began operating about 1970 and is still very active today promoting square, round, contra, country western and line dancing. Gloria believes that square dance callers give of themselves much more than highly paid entertainers, doing what we do night alter night to entertain the dancers and to see the joy and fun that are generated. Gloria thoroughly enjoys bringing joy into the lives of others. There are many more accolades that could be mentioned. When you have the chance, you should sit down and talk with Gloria about her many experiences.

In a letter dated May 8, 2002, Gloria wrote:

When I was five years old, my parents held a 'Square Dance' in the coach house attached to my home in Needham, Massachusetts. Because they were members of the Baptist "Young Couples Club", and because dancing of any kind was not allowed in the church, my parents had offered the panel-walled coach house and the use of their wind- up old victrola. The records were from an album which remained in my parents' possession. On that night, I crept out of my bed and climbed up an ivy trellis to peer in a window at the dancing.

Unknown to me, my life's pattern was launched that night. As I looked through the window, I saw even the Minister dancing, and the colours, the music, the whole atmosphere of happiness and joy blew me away.

I used to take out the album and scrutinize the printed directions even before I could read.

In High School we had great a P. E. program, included was a segment on dance. Ballroom, Square, Modern Interpretive - the teacher used the same square dance album, and boy! I "knew it all".

In 1946-47, I invited the football team, and my fellow cheerleaders for a square dance in the coach house. At my 50th High School Reunion, I was reminded of the times I pushed, shouted, begged, the "gang" through those simple visiting couple dances, some of which I can still call.

In college in the late '40s and the early '50s we also had "dance", and be damned if the professor didn't use the same album - I got an "A".

Then one day, a college friend called my husband (I was married my sophomore summer) and me, to invite us to the first, what she called "Modern" Square Dance Class; we went, and part way through the evening on the first night of class, we were promenading when my husband leaned down and said to me, "You know, you'd make a great Square Dance Caller!" The man opposite us, also promenading, had his left shoulder close to my husband's and heard him. He spoke up and said, "Hey I'm learning to call, I'll bring a record next week." His name was Les Woods and he with his wife Althea had come in from the Wilbraham Square Dance Club with Bob Brundage to put on a demonstration. There were 17 squares in our class, and the second night he brought the record; the third night I invited a square back to my house and called my first "Modern Western Square Dance Record". It was "Hurry, Hurry, Hurry".

In our 17 square class was a high school classmate of my first husband and he had a band (5 pieces) so I got together with them and for two years and called with the band. We did demos at fairgrounds, malls, etc. (We were pretty lousy - but a novelty). Ten years later we had a huge "reunion" dance at the Woodlands Hall where we built a 30 square Hall, and I conducted weekends, and dances booking all the many travelling Callers from whom I learned so much.

Having the opportunity to travel, getting booked at the major Festivals and Conventions mystified me! (It still does!)

Two years after a nasty divorce, I married Johnnie Roth, a Square Dance Caller and the Chicken Sexor. I made the decision that we couldn't stay at the Woodlands because Johnnie would not have been accepted as Johnnie Roth, only as Gloria Rios's husband, I was too well-established. Also my children needed space from their father so I was happy to come to Nova Scotia in 1967. Johnny had secured a poultry position in Port Williams which was seasonal. We found this dear old 'new house', and I fell in love with it. No one had ever lived in it!

After a disturbing experience at a Nova Scotia Caller's meeting in our dance area, Johnnie resigned, and being a good wife, I did too. The issue was that notices had been sent out about the meeting, and several new callers had not been invited. When questioned, Arch Erickson, then president of ANSSRDT, said these words, "We didn't invite them because we don't consider them callers!"

I had formed (STARTED) the Springfield (Massachusetts area) Callers Association, and I have always been a strong believer that it helped Square Dance to have a callers association, so I decided to form a Maritime association. An invitation went out to ALL callers in the Maritimes. On our front porch I had a huge "STOP" sign, which said, "Do not enter these portals with a negative attitude". Channing Beach accepted the Chairmanship and MCCA, Maritime Callers Clinic Association, became an organization. It had two objectives:

1. To provide an Annual Convention for dancers to give callers the opportunity of calling to larger groups and for the dancers to be able to hear and meet other callers.
2. To bring in Professional Callers to give clinics at our Caller meetings.

[Editor's note: From that beginning MCCA, which now stands for the "Maritime Callers and Cuers Association", will be holding its 33rd Annual Maritime Square & Round Dance Convention this coming November at the Prince Edward Delta Hotel in Charlottetown. Thank you, Gloria.]

The greatest thing about Square and Round Dancing is the people you meet and the friendships that are formed. Just yesterday a couple from Locke, New York, stopped at the 'House of Roth'. We visited and had coffee and snacks. They had been at my last U.S. booking this past August, a weekend in Aurora, New York.

A lot of people do not know I was born in Massachusetts to two Canadians making me a Canadian too. I was sixty years old before I knew it, but I used to say I wanted to live out my life in Nova Scotia where we came summers as a family. I haven't changed my mind! I AM CANADIAN!

Sincerely, Gloria Rios Roth

Gloria Rios Roth with family

NOTE: [The following is the citation read by Anna Dixon at the Hall Of Fame Induction.   It was not available when this issue of Between Tips was printed.]

On October 18, 1929, Hilda and Lester Ramey brought into the world, their beautiful daughter, Gloria.   While attending Needham High School, in Massachusetts, Gloria used Ed Durlacher's square dance record album to teach the football team and cheerleaders -- that started her calling career.   She started "calling" before she even took modem square dance lessons.   An interesting note, the first night of Gloria's "modern western square dance" lessons was taught by Bob Brundage of Danbury, CT.   While taking square dance lessons in the 1950's, Gloria started calling with a band.   Through the 1960's, 70's, 80's, and 90's she called allover at festivals and clubs.   Gloria graduated from Westfield College in 1952.   Gloria has 5 children, Tony, Randy, Gwen, Lester, and Tiger.   For 38 years, she ran a Children's Camp.   For 10 years Gloria produced a 1-hour square dance radio program.   Calling for 55 years, the legendary Gloria Rios Roth established a reputation for vitality, enthusiasm, and maintaining her special square dance calling style, as well as keeping control of the floor and keeping everyone dancing.   She started calling and teaching before taking modem square dance lessons in Westfield's Pioneer Valley Club.   Over the years she has started 6 square dance clubs.   She started her own Square Dance Caller's School and has kept it active for over 40 years.   She founded the Springfield Area Callers at The Woodlands in Westfield, MA, the Maritime Callers & Cuers Association in Maritmes, Canada, and the Maritime Square Dance Convention.   She is the creator of "Kaleidescope Square" formation.   She has called at and had her Exhibition Troupes dance at numerous New England Square & Round Dance Conventions, National Square Dance Conventions, and local Festivals.   Gloria has called square dance demonstrations at schools and colleges, nursing homes, shopping malls, town celebrations, local fairs, & benefit dances.   She "called" on live and cable television.   "Sets In Order" and "Round Dancer" published her articles several times.   Grenn and HiHat featured her as one of their recording artisits on records and on albums.   She belonged to Caller organizations in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, South Florida & Florida, and Nova Scotia.   Gloria was the first woman to earn "Caller Coach" status for Callerlab; to receive Callerlab's 50 yrs as a Caller; and the second woman to receive Callerlab's "Milestone Award" in Dallas, Texas, 1999.   She has formed teen square dance groups for 37 years.   And a a dance troupe of Senior Women Without Partners, called LORETTES-Ladies of Retirement.   They dance at least 7 dance disciplines.   This group is still dancing.   She started Dance & Camp weekends and a Caller School at The Woodlands in Westfield, MA.   She also has conducted Callers' Schools in New Zealand, Florida, Georgia, Canada, and for 33 years at her "House of Roth" in Nova Scotia.   With great admiration, the Square Dance Foundation of New England is pleased to induct Gloria Rios Roth into the Square Dance Foundation of New England's Hall of Fame on this 18th day of May, in the year 2002.