About 200 hepcats, young and old, converged on Hafford Communiplex Feb. 11.
The evening was busy with the sounds big band era swing. The dance went from 8 p.m. to midnight. The evening was held to raise money for Ukrainian National Hall upgrades.
Tommy Dorsey, Glen Miller and Duke Ellington played in the air while a receptive crowd juked and jived to the sounds of the Stone Frigate Big Band. The group is a full 1940s style orchestra.
The hall was decorated in red and pink giving the night a romantic Valentine feel from another era. Roses were sold with the proceeds going to Telemiracle. Portraits by Christine Watson were available for $12, with $10 from that going went to the fund for the Ukrainian National Hall.
At 11 p.m. a cold cut supper was served with Valentine cookies and treats for dessert.
The drivingcatalyst behind this evening was Team Youth Force. About 30 young people from Hafford and area belong to this group. Through the night the youth, who wore bright green t-shirts, could be seen helping with lunch, taking tickets and helping on all levels to make the dance the success it was.
Team Youth Force members have much to offer. And, as they become mentored by the adults, the results are truly a positive result for both youth and adults of the Hafford community.
Here is an excerpt fromDenise Kowalchuk as she shared some of the reasons to mentor our youth.
"Through studies involving hundreds of thousands of young people across the country, Search Institute has found 40 factors that are essential to young peoples' success. They call them 40 developmental assets.
"These assets are opportunities, skills, relationships, values and self perceptions that all young people need in their lives. On average Saskatchewan youth experience only 18.5 of the 40 assets, when 31 or more assets is optimal for them to thrive.
"The dance showed off the skills and assets that are in these young people - asset number seven, community values youth. Young persons in the community perceive that adults in the community value youth.We can see asset number eight - youth as resources - young people are given useful roles in the community.
The great job done by these youth was evident throughout the evening andwe can see it in the future events they have planned.
March 3, the Team Youth Force will be hosting a dodge ball tournament. There will be seven people to a team. The cost is $35 per team. There are two categories, 15 and under and 16 and over. The first place prize is 30 per cent of the pot. The second place prize is the team's entry fee refunded. They will also be selling 50/50 tickets with the proceeds to Telemiracle. Also in conjunction with the tournament there will be a movie night to follow. Tickets for the movie are $5 for one movie and $8 for two movies.
Please contact Katrina at 246-4863 to get in on the fun and for more information. Entry deadline is Feb. 27.
