Our second annual St. Joseph’s Day Ballroom Dance was organized through St. Francis Young Adults as a service to the wider community, and I served as lead organizer from planning through execution. I secured the venue, hired the orchestra, and co-taught the introductory dance lesson with Audrey Aschoff, helping shape both the event structure and the experience of the evening.
Role
• Lead organizer from concept through execution
• Headed promotion, coordination, and overall event structure
• Co-taught the beginner dance lesson
• Lead organizer from concept through execution
• Headed promotion, coordination, and overall event structure
• Co-taught the beginner dance lesson
Actions
• Secured the venue and hired the orchestra
• Organized the work into finance, decorating, and advertising teams
• Designed the event ad, sent it to 100+ people, drove to churches, and posted flyers personally
• Secured the venue and hired the orchestra
• Organized the work into finance, decorating, and advertising teams
• Designed the event ad, sent it to 100+ people, drove to churches, and posted flyers personally
Outcome
• Drew around 60 attendees
• Attracted guests from as far away as Kansas
• Finished at break-even without losing a dime
• Drew around 60 attendees
• Attracted guests from as far away as Kansas
• Finished at break-even without losing a dime
What made the event strong was not only the atmosphere, but the system behind it. I built a clear operational structure so the event could run with order, then handled much of the practical work myself. That included designing the promotional materials, leading outreach, setting up the online payment flow, and creating an Excel-based system to track tickets, attendance, and commitments before the doors even opened.
• Clear team-based organization
• Hands-on promotion, both digital and physical
• Practical systems for ticketing, attendance, and payment tracking
• Hands-on promotion, both digital and physical
• Practical systems for ticketing, attendance, and payment tracking
The event brought together about 60 people for an evening of live music, dancing, hospitality, and prayer, with attendees traveling even from Kansas. The Duffy Belorad Orchestra gave the night its musical center, while the broader team carried food, décor, and logistics with real generosity. It was not a solo effort, but it was a carefully led one: structured, hands-on, community-facing, and financially disciplined from start to finish.
• Strong regional draw and turnout
• Community tradition carried through music, dance, and prayer
• Delivered a meaningful event with no financial loss
• Community tradition carried through music, dance, and prayer
• Delivered a meaningful event with no financial loss