NEW ENGLAND SQUARE & ROUND DANCE
COOPERATION COMMITTEE
YANKEE CLIPPER AWARD
CITATION
BILL & NORMA BARKER
Bill & Norma Barker have exhibited strong commitment, support and longevity in an activity they both love. They have one of the greatest records of dance longevity in New England. They began dancing in 1962 when they took lessons from Lloyd Platt, graduating in 1963, they became members of the Friendly Mixers and both have served the club as President, Bill in 1977 and Norma in 2001.
Throughout their more than 50 years of dancing the Barkers have served New England square dancing in many ways. They enjoy the fellowship, they support the activities and they encourage all who step on the dance floor. Through most of those five decades, they have traveled to organizational meetings, participated in the formation and modernizing of policy to fit todays societal changes and inspire leadership in others. They have been delegates to the Eastern District Square and Round Dance Association (EDSADA) and the Rhode Island Federation serving annually until the Friendly Mixers dissolved in 2003. They have remained as members of EDSRDA, serving a term as Vice President, as Chairpersons of the New England Co-Op Directory Committee in 1991 and have just completed a term as chairs of the New England Co-Operation Guidelines Committee.
The Barkers have attended every New England Square Dance Convention since 1963 except for 2012 when a family wedding took precedence. The have attended many National Conventions and have served on the committee for the New England Convention when it was held in Rhode Island. Both Bill and Norma have been involved in activities in their community including the St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, the Girl Scouts and the Rhode Island Credit Union League of which Bill was president in 1968.
The Yankee Clipper Award Committee is pleased to recognize this long history of service with the presentation of the 2015 Yankee Clipper Award.
Presented April 25, 2015 in Concord, New Hampshire