November 17, 2007
Waterville, Maine
We are here today to present the Local Legend Award to Lee and Kay Kennedy who have given many years of dedicated service to this dance community.
The LOCAL LEGEND AWARD was established to honor those individuals and couples who have advanced the goals of the SQUARE DANCE FOUNDATION OF NEW ENGLAND by their actions within their local areas. These goals are the promotion, preservation, and perpetuation of the square and round dance activity.
Lee and Kay Kennedy, by their spirit and dedication, have exemplified the meaning of leadership in the Square and Round Dance Community. Lee started dancing in 1978 and when an accident curtailed this activity, he found a new means to satisfy his interest in square dancing. In 1981 Lee attended a caller school at East Hill Farms and has been looking and moving forward ever since, continually striving to promote the square dance activity. Lee has been the caller for The Singing Lumberjack Swingers, The Square 80’s of South China, The Square Town Squares of Winthrop, the Coastal Clippers of Rockport, The Kennebec Reelers, the Tripple Town Swingers, the Friendship Squares, and the Central Maine Squares.
Lee has always answered the need to promote square dancing at all levels. In 1984, Lee was invited to call at our nation’s capitol in Washington, DC to promote Square Dancing as our National Dance. In 1991, Lee called in Augusta, Maine to promote Square Dancing as the Maine State Dance. Lee has participated and called in state parades in Lewiston and Auburn. Lee has called at many New England Square and Round Dance Conventions, and has been a guest caller at the Canadian Convention. Lee gives freely of his time and energy with demonstrations and fundraisers for nursing homes, cancer research, the heart fund, and the physically and mentally disadvantaged. Lee has a passion and enthusiasm towards Square Dancing, which envelops all of the dancers. His style and manner of calling beckons not only the experienced dancer, but also the newer dancers and even those who have not yet experienced the fun and excitement of Square Dancing.
The Square Dance Community is extremely fortunate to have couples and individuals, like the Kennedy’s, who give so generously of their time and talents to support and perpetuate the legacy of square and round dancing in New England. It is with great pleasure that we present this year’s Local Legend Award to Lee and Kay Kennedy of the Central Maine Squares Square Dance Club.
With heartfelt appreciation and gratitude,
Bob and Barbara Graybill
Local Legend Committee Chairman
of the Square Dance Foundation of New England