Rafter Rockers will merge with the Jokers starting May 1, 2005. The new club name will be Rockin' Jokers.

Club History

The Rafter Rockers Club was organized in 1955 by Jack and Neva Johannes, with Neva as the first club caller. Callers through the years include:

• Neva Johannes (1955-1967)
• Herb Jackson (1967-1974)
• Bob Tripp (1974-1980)
• Ken Kenmille (1980-2000)
• Gary Carnes (2000-2005)

The club started with 17 couples but grew to about 30 couples during the 1960's. They eventually reached nearly 100 couples and maintained that level through much of the 1980's and 1990's.

Activities

Rafter Rockers has a rich history of social activities that have continued to the present time. These activities have included campouts, picnics, mystery trips, theater parties, progressive dinners, house tours, sailing on the bay, hiking, whale watching, ice cream socials, and more. The Club has also been very active in supporting square dancing. In addition to attendance and participation at local hoedowns, these activities have included membership for many years in SCVSDA, participation in festivals and special events such as the Jubilee, Winterfest, Silver State, Napa, and the Nationals at Anaheim and Portland, and demonstrating square dancing at the Fair and other locations.

The Club has also been involved in many charitable activities over the years. These have included, a Rafter Rocker booth at the De Anza Flea Market to raise money for the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Marathon, volunteer nights at Second Harvest Food Bank, and annual visits to (and performance at) local convalescent homes.

Rafter Rockers sponsors the Circus Circus hoedown every year in April. This year, the dance will take place on April 9, 2005 at John Muir School in south San Jose.

Jokers

The Jokers square dance club also dances on Wednesday nights in Campbell. The club started dancing in October 1951 an unfinished store in the Quito Shopping Center. The first caller was Johnny White. Callers through the years include:

• Johnny White (1951-1978)
• Dick Lawrence (1978-1980)
• Johnny Robertson (1981-1982)
• Kip Garvey (1983-1987)
• Scott Slocum (1987-1990, 1992-1996)
• Doug Davis (1991-1992)
• Gary Carnes (1996-2000)
• Bob Elling (2000-2003)
• Roger Smith (2003-present)

The Jokers sponsor the Hawaiian Luau hoedown every year in May. This year, the dance will take place on May 21, 2005 at John Muir School.

Rockin' Jokers

Gary Carnes is retiring at the end of April. Roger Smith will be the caller for the new Rockin' Jokers club. The new club will be a great place to dance, and they hope to have 8 to 10 squares dancing.

The new Rockin' Jokers will dance at the American Legion Hall in Campbell where the Jokers now meet. Allen Glesser, the current Jokers president, will continue as president of the new club starting May 1. Rockin' Jokers will hold elections in the fall.

The Rockin' Jokers will continue to sponsor the Circus Circus hoedown and the Luau hoedown.