Newsletter

Howdy all,
It’s been along time since I have reported in; please accept my apologies.
It has not been due to lack of things to report just the lack of time and energy.
I have been a very “Busy Beaver” at work! And I wonder why I’m still single?…married to the job! Duh!

So much has happened, where did the year 2003 go?
It was a good year of fun times participating in our regular annual events and many
first time opportunities for our club.
It was our first year for “Bunnies In Boots” on the Bayou of course!
We replaced our Gay Pride Parade float with a not so strategically placed,
but fabulously built and well decorated dance floor,
thanks to Don, and all those guys who helped with the dance floor…
used some muscles they did not know they had!
Also, special thanks to Rangler’s Helen F and Don C for making it in from Austin to teach.
And damn it was hot!

And the Annual IAGLCWDC Convention in Montreal!
We knew this was sure to be a festive journey
when airport security and customs immediately went into “Rainbow Alert” status!
Never before had the x-ray machine exposed so much leather & chains.
They just knew it was a gay conspiracy to make explosives out of all those slings and harnesses!
Well, I guess they were meant for an explosion of a totally different kind!
Next time guys, please don’t try to wear them through the metal detectors,
it was way too obvious that some you thoroughly enjoyed the strip search part!
Another first happened in Montreal as the Rainbow Rangler’s hosted the first ever
“Texas Clubs Dinner” on the Thursday night before everything really started.
It was a huge success, not an empty seat at Gibby’s Restaurant.
It is a 200-year-old stable that they turned into a restaurant, totally awesome!
Over 50 people were in attendance from Austin, Dallas, San Antonio and Houston.
I hope this will become a traditional thing for our Texas clubs to get together at the conventions.
The most commonly used phrases on the trip: “Le wolf, le wolf” and “Shut up Don”
not necessarily in that order.
Oh and did I forget,
“Can I get you a cocktail?”, with the roaring of our smoothie machine in the background at 3am.
One of our adventures on public transportation sparked that entrepreneurial side of Rangler Don!
He decided to open a new business, “Subway Porta Potties”, for those who really gotta go on the go!
He had to pee so bad his eyes turned yellow and none of us knew he could dance like that,
especially with his knees that tight together and without any music!
We ventured out to some amazingly revealing places. The casino sucked,
but we had a great time walking back through the square.
We happened upon an outdoor dance class taught in French,
for about 200 senior citizens and proved once again that we
Rangler’s really can dance to just about anything!
We actually danced the Chill Factor to the music of the Fox Trot!
We certainly raised a few eyebrows!
Montreal was awesome and very openly gay, since they had only recently legalized gay marriages.
It was one of our best trips ever.

Continuing with some other first,
our Board Retreat in Galveston was a very productive and bonding experience,
which I highly recommend it be continued annually.
Our Performance Team danced for the Diana’s and not only did we bartend,
but we finally danced for Halloween Magic!
Many thanks to all the dancers & stage hands:
Cliff & David, Don & Chad, Drew, Joe W., John L, Michael W, Rafael, Robert. Sal, Tim, Tom B & Tony;
you were all awesome and as usual we had a great time!
If you missed the show, then you also missed Don’s drag debut as Dolly!
You had to be there!
And special thanks to Joe W. for the use of his studio for practices
and to Cliffy for a terrific job cutting the music.
Also big a THANK YOU to our Rangler’s Melissa & Andrea
and our many friends who helped us guest bartend for Halloween Magic.
Halloween at the BRB was another night of debuts.
You never would have known Miss Kitty Pussoi’, Mikey W., aka “Reba On Steroids”
and I still crave pancakes just thinking of that beautiful southern bell, Tony; Aunt Jemima move over!
I had the pleasure of rooming with Tony
as we were the only 2 from Texas that attended the semi annual convention in California
and yes it’s true…I think we both left our hearts in San Francisco!

Another first for us and we are so proud of our very own Rangler;
Cliff Coker who reigned as one of the best ever Mr. BRB 2003!
Congrats Cliffy on an outstanding year!
And major kudos to Cliffy for the awesome job developing our website,
rainbowranglers.org.
And to my knowledge, and I know that some of you guys have been trying but,
the first Rangler to actually physically have a baby,
congrats to Dawn “Twinkle Toes” Young and son Luke Alan!

We guest bartended for the Court Coronation after hours party;
and I must say “Hats and everything else off” to Drew!
He really went all out to achieve maximum exposure for the club!
And thanks to all the volunteers who showed up to help on what turned out to be a very late night/morning!
Other than that if you watched the Superbowl half time show, I think you’ll agree they made a whole lot out of nothing with Janet’s exposed breast! Although it did provide some great ideas for future performances to include “Malfunctioning costumes” and besides from what I’ve seen most of you guys have much more on your chest! Hell, it’s obvious they have never been to LUEY!

Which brings us to the next opportunity for fun and excitement!
The LUEY show of shows all happens Feb 29th.
We are sponsoring a cocktail party on that Saturday night, 9pm, Feb 28th @ the BRB.
We need dancers and participants to help us dish out the power punch at the cocktail party,
so what are you waiting for? Come on out, party and play with us!
It’s your club so please come out and get involved in the fun!
We are now rehearsing for LUEY on Monday nights 8-10pm @ the BRB
and Thursday nights, Feb 12th, 19th, and 26th at EJ’s.

Again, I want to thank all the core Performance Company dancers
for all their efforts in the many performances we have participated in for the community.
A special thanks to our Vice President, Tom B.
for his efforts in the past few weeks,
I don’t know what we would have done without him and I believe he is excellent Presidential material!
Thanks to you all! I love you guys!

Until next time, I remain your lesbian brother in dance,
Debbie Storrs
President
Rainbow Rangers Dance Club