Council Membership 

The Bucks and Does joined the council at the June 10, 1953 Council meeting. The State Federation approved the Bucks & Does membership application on August 29, 1953. Something happened between 1954 56 that they did not appear in the State directories for that period. Central Puget Sound Council approved the Bucks & Does as a renewal club on October 10, 1956. The State Federation also approved them on January 28, 1956.

A discrepancy exists above but that is what is in the minutes, no mention of club renewal in 1954 and 1955 in minutes.

SOURCES: State Federation Directories and minutes, Council Directories and minutes, Footnotes magazines, membership application, renewal forms and other sources.

Ruth and Bob Kramer, CPSC Heritage Center Representatives, 4-26-95

1953

The Bucks and Does Square Dance Club of North Seattle might have been a Mothersingers Group for the Hamlin Park PTA in 1953, except that Terry Freeman, wife of Bucks and Does first president, Leigh Freeman, who had been asked to form the Mothersingers groups decided that square dancing might be more fun. The Bucks and Does still agree with her.

After taking lessons at Hamlin Park School, the Bucks and Does formed a club, joined Central Puget Sound Council in June, 1953 and the State Federation in October, 1953. They later dropped out of the Federation until 1956.

The Bucks and Does selected an Indian motif for their banner, a Big Buck and his rather overweight Squaw, painted by Dorene Hore. Club ladies objected to the squaw image as inappropriate so our present banner with the Buck Deer and his Doe partner was drawn and painted by Shirley and Ken Johanson in 1963.

Our first caller was Ken and Florence Leighty, followed by Margaret and Walt Hakola, Barry and Arlene Garland, Jack and Julie Willison, Marv and Bev K (17 years), and Dave and Katie Knein.

Debbie (John) Smith was our first round dance cuer as our callers did the honors before 1989 90. In 1992, Debbie had to quit cueing for the Bucks and Does because she had full time employment at night. The Bucks and Does chose Shirley and Bernie Cook as their cuers.

After dancing at Hamlin Park School, the club moved to Richmond Highlands Community Club, Haller Lake Community Club, 1963 1986, the Outpost in Lynnwood in 1986 92. The Bucks and Does then moved in 1992 to the Richmond Masonic Hall at N. 185th and Linden Avenue N. behind the Fred Meyer store.

The club has had several club caravan outfits including an orange check skirt with a white blouse for the ladies and orange check shirt with white ties for the men. Another outfit was a soft green print trimmed in green lace and green velvet for the ladies’ dresses and green print shirts for the men with cuffs and yokes trimmed in green velvet.

The next caravan outfit could be made of a light color with a trim of the darkest shade of the same color. The women had sleeveless dresses of the light color, large collar lined in the dark and dark ruffles at the bottom of the skirt. The men had light colored shirts with dark color cuffs and yokes. The Bucks and Does now have a royal blue jacket with a buck and doe motif on the back.

Then came royal blue jumpers with the club logo on the bib of the jumpers for the ladies. The jumpers are trimmed in white and a white blouse is worn with this. The men wear dark blue or black pants, white shirt with royal blue tie.

Current caravan outfits are blue skirts combining a starry blue/black pattern and plain blue panels. Men have ties to match the skirts. Shirts/blouses are white, black or blue.

The Bucks and Does took part in the Lake City Pioneer Days parade for four years. They decorated and danced on a f lat bed truck provided by Marshall and Elfa Wells, club members.

Special dances for the Bucks and Does have included a costume dance at Halloween, a pumpkin pie dance in November, “Puttin’ on the Ritz” in midwinter, and a Sweethearts Dance in February.

They usually hold a St. Patrick dance in March, anniversary dance in April and end the season at a dinner dance in May. When Marv "K" was calling for them, he and his wife, Bev, would dress up in different hats and costumes for "The International Hat Dance." At Haller Lake Community Club, their dinner dance would feature a "Hawaiian" theme with hula girls and ship's crew aboard.

The weekend of April 16 18, 1993 found them busy first, April 16th with their fortieth anniversary party with four former callers in attendance, Barry and Patti Garland, Jack & Julie Willison, Marv and Bev K and present caller, Dave Knein. Cueing honors were shared by Shirley and Bernie Cook, and returning Bucks and Does, Betty and Orin Voigt. Former Members returned and had a nice visit and some rejoined the club.

On April 18, they hosted Central Puget Sound Council's spring festival dance, "April Frolic", at the Lake City Community Center in North Seattle. Callers were Dave Knein, Walt Anthis and Skip Duquette, and Cuers were Shirley Cook and Betty Voigt. Attenders had so much fun, they stayed and danced from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Bucks and Does used to have summer dances but now they just have a picnic and other summer activities such as attending a Mariners ball game, or Longacres Race Track where the third race has been dedicated to them. One summer, they went on a cruise on Puget Sound aboard the "Spirit of Puget Sound". They have taken train trips to Lillooet, B. C. , took a boat trip above Ross Dam and like to attend the Whidbey Whirlers, Tulip Time Festival at Oak Harbor. On July 7, 1993, they traveled to Everett and boarded the Snohomish River Queen for a tour of the Snohomish River.

The Bucks and Does like to travel together and have been to the Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska, Reno; Vancouver, B. C. and Washington; and Europe. 

The Bucks and Does used to dance at the Ballard Fun Fest every year and they are always ready to dance at nursing homes, malls etc. They have taken part in both the 1969 and 1981 National Square Dance Conventions in various capacities. Several members of the Bucks and Does have held offices and chairmanships in both Central Puget Sound Council and the State Federation. They also have danced at the Bethany on the Lake nursing home at Silver Lake in Snohomish County.

Like many clubs in the 1990's, the club has been struggling to keep members who have been dropping out due to illness, death, and age. In the fall of 1991, they joined with the Frontier Squares to hold Mainstream lessons at the Shoreline Senior Center. In the spring of 1992, they held mainstream and plus lessons. Several former members have returned to the club.

In 1994 95, they held plus lessons in September. They hold Plus dances on the first Friday of the month and Mainstream dances on the third Friday of the month. The plus DBD lessons were a financial success but did not produce new club members. However they made a lot of friends who attended the lessons and return to dance both plus and mainstream.

For 1995 96, they held mainstream lessons in September, 1995 and 1996 and plus lessons in 1996 and 1997. These lessons have paid off with several new members joining the club. Bucks & Does took part and worked on CPSCIS 45th State Festival in June, 1996 in Issaquah, participated in CPSCIS Square Dance Express for two years and various parades and danced at the Lake City Salmon Bake and parade. Things are beginning to look up for them. They have many plans for future activities.

Prepared by Ruth and Bob Kramer, Bucks and Does historians. April 4, 1997.

Updated by Tracy Salter, August 2007