Donna Barks
Glen Allen, Missouri

2021 Caller / Cuer Hall of Fame

Donna Barks started her dancing career in 1970. She and her husband Jim own Barks Plantation at Glen Allen, Missouri, and they have been married 56 years. She belonged to the Funtimers Club in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Dale Phillips was the caller and they danced in the Cape Vo-Tec School until Dale built his own barn just for square dancing. Donna danced with Puxico Country Squares, Funtimers, Hilltoppers, Cape County Swingers, Perry Promanaders, Rollaways, Cape County Promanaires, Bluff City Twirlers, Venus and Mars in Steelville, Illinois, Hi Neighbors Cabondale, Illinois, Jefferson County Swingers, and many other clubs over the 50 years. She and Jim were members of the Rollaways in Cape, Cape County Swingers in Jackson, and Puxico Country Squares. She was the club Cuer for the Rollaways and Puxio Country Squares for years. She started teaching and clogging around 1990. Donna did many square dance/clogging demonstration groups for community service.

Donna Barks taught weekly classes at Chateau Girardeau Nursing Home for ovr 10 years. She has done so much community service over the years visiting nursing homes, city celebrations and campgrounds. She began teaching and cueing Rounds in 2001 and joined Round A Lab sponsored by Judy and Hank Scherer. She has cued Round and Lines at many state conventions over the last 20 years and cued 5 years out of the last 10. She attended Round A Lab at one of the nationals and has cued at several nationals. She held round dance lessons in her own building at their farm and at several of the clubs in the Puxico area. She is and was club cuer for the Rollaways Club and now Puxico Country Squares. Donna was co-chair of the state festival in 1996 and various chairman positions during all of the other state festivals in the past hosted by the SE district. She has held numerous officer positions in clubs and district and represented the SE district on the state board. She was always the first to volunteer to do anything to help with square dance events whether it be floats, furnishing equipment for lessons and demonstrations.

Over the last 50 years Donna has been a dancer plus a round and line dance cuer during her working years and retirement. The SE District is proud to nominate Donna Barks and Fred and I, as immediate past presidents are so pleased to announce for the Missouri Federation of Square 'N Round Dance Clubs Donna Barks as the 2021 Missouri Federation Caller/Cuer Hall of Fame Inductee

Now for the winner of the 2021 Caller/Cuer Hall of Fame; This Nominee has really outdone herself as so many qualities described made it very difficult to type up in such a way as to not give away the winner immediately.

Fred and I recommend that you read the Proclamation, the Inductee page letter, and the winners picture. This will be displayed in the Yearly Winner's pages Book on the table in the Registration area. This person has quite an impressive list of accomplishments listed out in those pages.

In 1970 this person started dancing. With the spouse of 56 years they have belonged to 3 clubs and danced with many different clubs. Joined in on many demonstration groups in the community served. The years of Calling/Cueing and teaching began around 1990.

This person was co-chair of the 1996 state festival, and held numerous officer positions for clubs, and at the district and state levels.

This Cuer volunteers to help in square dance events for floats, meals, demonstrations and even furnishing equipment for lessons.

Weekly classes were taught along with visitations in nursing homes for years by her. Also city celebrations and campgrounds were visited. In 2001 she began teaching and cueing, along with joining the Round A Lab, and several years of cueing at nationals. Many clubs have had the pleasure of her great cueing. I, too have had the pleasure of dancing to her great cueing, along with enjoying her fun smile and personality.

If you have not figured it out already, this dancer of over 50 years, Round and Line dance Cuer during her working years and retirement deserves this award. The SE District was proud to nominate this Cuer and Fred and I, as immediate past presidents of the Missouri Federation of Square 'N Round Dance Clubs are so pleased and honored to announce Donna Barks as the new 2021 Missouri Federation Inductee of the Caller/Cuer Hall of Fame