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The exact origin of the West Coast Square and Round Dancers' Association is shrouded in antiquity, but as near as can be determined it appeared about 1956 and was incorporated in 1964. The area served by the West Coast Association encompasses 16 counties on the West Coast of Florida from Hernando County in the North to Collier County in the South. The counties to the East are Polk, Highlands,  Glades and Hardee.
The main purpose of the Association is to keep the dancers informed of events and happenings in the Square and Round Dance picture on the West Coast of Florida. This is accomplished through the publication of the West Coast Dancer, a bimonthly magazine devoted to club news, feature items of interest and a complete schedule of open dances in the area. The Dancer was started in 1968 by Mori Sogolow and the first editor was Chuck Gernheuser. This magazine is supported by the dues of the Association members, proceeds from the Fall Fun Fest and a share of the proceeds of the State Convention chaired by the West Coast Association every five years. It is distributed free throughout our area.
In 1965 the West Coast Association was host to its first State Convention under the capable chairmanship of Mori and Phyllis Sogolow. Later conventions were chaired in 1969 and 1977 by Walter and Esther Stoltz, in 1973 by Ron and Mary Lee VanValkenburg, in 1982 by Hugh and Jean Fultz, in 1987 by Merle and Sally Herbert, and in 1992 by Lou and Dottie Vogel. Tour the State in '98 was hosted again by the West Coast Association under the leadership of Chairman Merle and JoAnn Lewis and "Folk Dance the Key in 2003" was chaired by Ken and Sue Brown. The 2008 convention will be chaired by Don and Ann Slocum.
Each of these have been bigger and better under the guidance of the Florida Federation, the Florida Callers Association and The Round Dance Council of Florida.
One of the most worthwhile projects of the Association is the Blood Bank. It was started by John and Susie Petrauskas in 1976 under the guidance of Mae and Ken Ford, then Presidents of the West Coast Association. All members and their dependent children are eligible after they have been members for 30 days.
The West Coast Association sponsors approximately 10 membership dances each year. These dances are rotated throughout the area, free to all Association members and are staffed by local callers and cuers.
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