Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
P. O. Box 3711
204 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24115
276-638-8801
Toll Free: 800-234-6575
|
|
 |
|
|
John Morris |
Friday, February 13, 2009
By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer
Call him Cupid, but John Morris hopes to give local singles the chance to find fun and friendship.
He plans to sponsor a series of monthly singles dances dubbed “Patrick Henry Singles,” the first of which will be held from 8 p.m. until midnight on Feb. 28 at the Martinsville Inn (Best Western) in Collinsville, Morris said.
He had wanted to schedule the first to coincide with Valentine’s Day, but that was not possible because of a booking conflict.
Still, he hopes the monthly dances are a hit and attract professionals aged 40 “and up.”
Admission is $10 per person, and the event will include a cash bar and a DJ from “Big Daddy’s Road Show” playing ’60s, ’70s and ’80s beach and shag music.
The dance includes ladies choice dances, and dress is business or business casual. That means “no raggedy jeans. I prefer no jeans at all, actually, and absolutely no T-shirts,” Morris said. “Come dressed to impress.”
Morris is a retired Greensboro police officer and Henry County native. The divorced 52-year-old moved back to the area in 2006 to help take care of ailing relatives.
Since then, he said he has learned “there’s just nothing here” in the way of places to meet singles. Aside from some bowling alleys, bars and churches, “I just don’t know of any other places to socialize,” he said.
Using the Internet to try and meet others can be misleading and risky, he added.
So Morris decided to start the monthly event that will provide a safe atmosphere, the opportunity to network with other like-minded singles and good, clean fun, he said.
“I hope the dances will promote camaraderie among people,” Morris said. At the every least, the events “will offer the opportunity for professionals to meet and enjoy camaraderie and friendship.”
If things go as he hopes, Morris said those regularly attending the events could expand the monthly meetings by going on group outings to events such as the beach music festival in Stuart.
He has committed to holding the dances for six months and patterned them after the Piedmont Triad Singles Association, a similar venture that started in Greensboro in 2005.
It has grown from the 50 people at the first meeting to an average of about 180 per month, he said. Once, more than 300 attended, he added.
“I’m duplicating what started there. I’m a follower of success,” Morris said. “If it takes off, fine,” and if not, he has no regrets.
After all, “nothing ventured, nothing gained,” he said.
For more information about the event, e-mail Morris at 3rd-events@comcast.net. |
| |
|
|
.jpg)
.jpg)
