Arnold was first intrigued to become a caller soon after he learned to square dance in 1976. He went to his first caller school in New England in 1979. However, it wasn't until 2001, several years later, after both Arnold & Marie were married and had raised their family that they both returned to square dancing and Arnold began to actively pursue calling. In 2001, he was mentored by his club caller, Al McCoy.

In 2002, he actively began calling by teaching a group of friends to dance in the living room of his own home and in March of 2003 Arnold advertised in the local newpaper to begin a new club in Cedar Park, TX. Several people in the area showed up to the 1st dance and a new square dance club called "Buckles & Bows" began in Cedar Park, TX. In addition to the new club in Cedar Park, Arnold was also asked to begin calling for a new group in Bastrop, TX, who named their club the Pine Knot Squares. Arnold & Marie taught new classes each year for both clubs.

Arnold attended his first caller's school in November 2002 at the Silver State Callers College, run by Doug Davis, Nasser Shukayr, and Bengt Gellef.

In June of 2003 Arnold attended his 2nd Callers school at the Rocky Mountain Caller's College in Durango, Colorado run by Jon Jones & Deborah Caroll-Jones.

In August 2004 Arnold attended his 3rd Callers school at the Carolina Caller College in Charlotte, N. Carolina, run by Tony Oxendine and Tim Marriner.

Arnold attended his 4th caller school in May of 2006 at Rocky Mountain Caller School in Bayfield, Colorado with Callerlab Accredited Caller Coach, Tim Marriner & caller coach Ron Markus.

In 2007, Arnold attended the 1st GSI National Convention Caller School with callerlab coaches: Jerry Story, Tony Oxendine, Jon & Deborah Carroll-Jones, and Vernon Jones.

Arnold served as President of the Austin Area callers association called Capital Area Dance Leaders Association (CADLA) from 2005 - 2008. He has also served as 2nd Trustree for the Texas State Callers Association in 2006, as 1st Trustee for TSCA in 2007, Vice President of the Texas State Callers Association in 2008 and in 2009-2010 he served as the President of the Texas State Callers Association.

Arnold has served as the Chairman Coordinator for the USDA Youth After Parties at the National Conventions in 2004 in Denver, CO, in 2005 in Portland, Oregon and in 2007 in Charlotte, NC.

Arnold has called at the Texas State Conventions in Amarillo, TX in 2005, Witchita falls in 2006, and in Lubbock, TX in 2007. He has also called at National Conventions in Denver, CO, in 2004, in Portland, Oregon in 2005, in San Antonio, TX in 2006 and in Charlotte, NC in 2007.

He continues to actively improve his calling technique through teaching new dancers, weekly calling at club dances, and calling at various dances whenever he and Marie have the opportunities.

CALLER'S BIOGRAPHIES

Marie - In 1977 while attending college in Durango, Colorado, Arnold convinced Marie to learn to square dance. They continued dancing after moving to New England, in 1978, however, stopped squaredancing after getting married in 1980, and raising their family. In 1984 they moved to Texas and in 2001, decided to return to dancing again, this time with the Swinging Lakers in Lago Vista, Texas.

Marie's interest in calling began in November of 2003, when Arnold encouraged her to sing the tag lines to various Christmas songs while calling for the Pine Knots Squares & Buckle & Bows Square dance clubs. Marie found she really enjoyed singing, and decided to learn more singers to do on her own. She received encouragement from her club members and from her caller mentor, Lottie Ainsworth, who continues to help and encourage her as she pursued calling.

Marie attended her 1st Callers School in August of 2004 at Carolina Caller College in Charlotte, North Carolina run by caller coaches, Tony Oxendine & Tim Marriner.

The 2nd Callers School, she attended in June of 2005 was Lone Star Caller College in Glenwood, TX. Caller coaches were Jon, Deborah-Carroll & Vernon Jones.

The 3rd Caller School she attended in May of 2006 was Rocky Mountain Caller School in Bayfield, Colorado with Caller Coaches, Tim Marriner & Ron Markus.

The 4th Caller School she attended in 2007, was the 1st GSI National Convention Caller School with callerlab coaches: Jerry Story, Tony Oxendine, Jon & Deborah Carroll-Jones, and Vernon Jones.

Marie taught her first class of new square dancers in November of 2005. These students graduated to become members of Buckles & Bows club in Cedar Park, TX in July of 2006. Both Marie & Arnold continue to teach new students in clubs they call for at least twice each year.

In addition to calling, Marie also enjoys teaching and leading "line dances" in-between tips on club nights as well as during Party Fun nights that Marie & Arnold are hired for. She has also led line dances at the National Conventions in San Antonio in 2006 and in Charlotte, NC in 2007.

Marie has called at the Texas State Conventions in Amarillo, TX in 2005, Witchita falls in 2006, in Lubbock, TX in 2007 and in Tyler, TX in 2008. She has also called at National Conventions in Denver, CO, in 2004, in Portland, Oregon in 2005, in San Antonio, TX in 2006 and in Charlotte, NC in 2007.

Marie enjoys calling both with Arnold and on her own, and enjoys the challenge of Calling which has helped her overcome much of her "shyness". People often mistake some callers as "unfriendly", when in reality it may often be an uneasiness to approach people they don't know. Being a caller, often brings out ones confidence to learn more about the friendliness in people. Marie has come to enjoy interacting with square dancers throughout the country, and when she teaches new dancers, she loves watching new dancers she teaches as they successfully learn to dance and the joy it brings to many who thought they couldn't learn!