Florida Order Of the Traveling Shoes Story of "the Shoes" Every good organization has a good idea and

every good idea has an inspiration. The idea to start an organization that would establish some "thing" that could travel around from dance to dance attracting dancers from the far flung corners of the state was the foundation. The inspiration of the idea that the "thing" should be dance shoes actually came from the gospel song "Travelin' Shoes" played one night at a local dance. nd so the Florida Order Of the Traveling Shoes was spar!ed into e"istance. The icon itself represents everything about #est $oast Swing dancing in Florida. The shoes represent dancing% and travelling. Our shoes were donated by a couple who have been dancing #est $oast Swing for a combined 115 years. They met at a dance bac! when it was still called "#estern Swing" and were married a couple of years later. They have traveled all over the country to dance #est $oast Swing and are still dancing today. &t is the absolute honor of the Florida Order Of the Traveling Shoes to feature shoes previously worn by rt and $arolyn 'ohnson of $learwater. The icon% !nown as "the Shoes"% has been constructed in Florida by a Florida #est $oast Swing dancer in his home wor!shop. (any than!s to )ill )ray of *eltona for his fine wor! and dedication. The core of "the Shoes" is made of Southern +ellow ,ine from the sand hills of the big pine forests of $entral Florida. The floor area is made of Southern -ed Oa! from the sandy uplands of .orth Florida. The sides and s!irts are made from )ald $ypress from the swampy Everglades in South Florida. The rope trim is +ellow ,oplar from the forested stands in the Florida panhandle. The ple"iglass sheets came from some factory in Ohio.