Everyone knows the saying, “many hands make light work,” no where is that proven more true than at the Surf Ballroom where the Winter Dance party is held. It’s the volunteers that help make the huge event a success year after year.
Denni Sue Erickson has been volunteering at the event since 2007. Erickson is in charge of hospitality back stage, the wedding renewal ceremony and suppling the VIP section.
“My main job is obtaining all the special requests that the performers have and filling those lists,” said Erickson. “It’s everything from food requests, to drinks, one year I even had to supply black socks for a performer.”
Erickson recalled that the first year the Nelson Brothers came they requested that all their food be healthy and organic. “The next time they came I was prepared, but they informed me that they had just requested that because most places just had junk food and they were tired of it. They said they knew I had good, homemade food, so they would eat whatever I had.”
Another request that stands out in Erickson’s mind is a request to have a bouquet ready for Pat Boone. The request came late and Erickson said she had to scramble to put together a bouquet at the last minute. At 5 p.m. she headed to Hy-Vee in Mason City and they put together a beautiful bouquet. The flowers were put on the piano on the stage.
“During Pat’s performance he sang a song to a 10-year-old girl and at the end of the song he handed her the bouquet,” said Erickson. “I was happy to be a part of that special moment.”
Erickson said the thing she enjoys the most about volunteering is seeing the entertainers interact with each other. She said they like to share stories and have a lot of fun with each other.
Linda Thoen has had so much fun volunteering during the Winter Dance Party that she literally lost track of time. When asked how many years she has helped out she replied, “I don’t know. I’ve always been curious about that. I’ll have to look.” She then proceeded to count every volunteer t-shirt she received over the years. It turns out that this will be her 14th year.
She said she has always been in coat check for the Winter Dance Party. “The attendees are always so friendly. They remember you from year to year, which is a nice feeling. They are so enthusiastic about the Winter Dance Party,” Thoen said.
And she has met people from all over the world. She said they (other coat check volunteers) are usually too busy to visit, however, “If you have an opportunity to talk they love to tell you where they’re from, if this is their first time, what they think about it.”
Asked if she had a specific memory that stood out she said, “No. Memorable things happen every year.”
Doug Grabinski has volunteered as a driver for the past 10 years, sometimes picking someone up from an airport, but usually being assigned to a specific performer or group and then driving them around locally. His job usually begins Thursday morning and ends on Sunday when everyone is returned to where they need to be.
“They have your cell phone number and you have theirs. They’ll call or text where and when they want picked up or taken to,” he said. “Pritchard’s provides all the vehicles. They (Surf staff) give you a sign with the performer’s name to hold up at the airport.”
He said what he enjoys the most about his duties is, “…meeting people and getting to go backstage to see what’s going on. And they treat you, usually, to the food that is available.” He said his favorite performer is Little Peggy March. “She’s a real nice lady,” Grabinski said.
Some of the things that really stick out in his memory include driving a performer to Ace Hardware to buy a tabletop grill and trying to tell Bobby Rydell that he couldn’t smoke in the leased vehicle.
For Meg Casey the Surf Ballroom has been a big part of her life, so volunteering at the biggest event the Surf hosts is an easy decision. Casey’s grandfather, Richard Casey, was a part owner of the Surf Ballroom in the early 60’s, so the venue has always been special to Casey her entire life.
“I grew up going to the Surf. I’ve always really enjoyed the atmosphere and the historical aspect of the place,” said Casey. “I started volunteering for the Winter Dance Party when I was in high school in 2009.”
Casey said her duties include managing the VIP section, which is a space for family and friends of the performers. Casey makes and supplies food for the section. The section also has its own bartender and bar.
“I’ve made some good friendships over the years, from the people I work with, to the people who come back every year. The Valens family comes every year and it’s good to see them and catch up,” said Casey.
Casey said one of the things she enjoys the most is seeing the original performers play the music that she grew up with. “The Surf and the Winter Dance Party are just very special, from the people that work there and keep it all going, to the performers and the friends I’ve made over the years.”
Other very hard working volunteers have been Duane (Doc) Gilbert and now his daughter, Jen Gilbert, who has taken over his duties as Head of Transportation the last two years. Doc’s volunteer involvement with the Surf began in 2006 and since then all his family members have been involved.
The Head of Transportation entails knowing the flight or travel plans for each Winter Dance Party entertainer and booking a hotel for each, finding and coordinating with drivers to pick up and drop off entertainers at airports and shuttle them back and forth for sound checks, dinners, shopping or wherever they want to go and for whatever they need.
Jen, who began volunteering in 2009, said she started in security but has been a driver ever since. “One year I did seven trips to Minneapolis in one day,” she said. “The entertainers typically fly into Minneapolis, but sometimes Des Moines and very, very rarely, especially for the Winter Dance Party, will they fly into the Mason City airport because they believe it’s cursed.”
This is the second year she has taken over for her father. “He’s getting older and this is a lot. We work on it all year long, then it is a good solid two months [of non-stop work] coming into it,” Jen said.
When asked what keeps them volunteering year after year Jen replied, “Just being a part of the Surf.” Jen and her parents are locals and the Surf Ballroom is as much a part of Clear Lake as the sand on the beach. “My dad grew up going to the Surf, his parents danced at the Surf. It’s just in our blood. Pretty much the whole family is involved.”
The Gilbert family of volunteers includes Doc Gilbert, his wife, Pat, his son “Spud” (deceased) and his wife, Angie, daughter, Jen Gilbert and her significant other, Kevin Carlson. Spud’s daughter, Tonii Gilbert, has worked as the box office manager for the past 14 years and her significant other, Dusty VanNess, is the production manager. “It is absolutely a family thing,” Jen said proudly.
