Organizers

organizers@lists.sharedweight.net

4 participants
515 discussions

by Penelope Weinberger

Hi All, I'm exploring the idea of hosting/organizing a gender free dances organizers summit, if you are interested please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J3GVMYQ and complete the survey. please forward if you know someone else who might be interested. [https://www.surveymonkey.com/collect/images/default_custom_meta_image.jpg]<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J3GVMYQ> Gender Free Organizing Summit<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J3GVMYQ> Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free. www.surveymonkey.com Thanks, Penelope

6 years

Directors and Officers insurance for a medium-size dance organization with a volunteer BOD

by Craig Meltzner

North Bay Country Dance Society (NBCDS) is a medium-size CA dance organization (about 90 dances per year - contra, ECD, family, Morris team, two dance weekends), a CDSS affiliate, with a volunteer Board of Directors. NBCDS has been around 25 years. Our Board is discussing whether to purchase Directors and Officers liability insurance. We have a quote from a local broker for a $1 million limit of liability, claims-made policy with a $5,000 deductible for annual cost of $850. Reputable insurance company - same one which provides general liability coverage for NBCDS through CDSS insurance program. We've researched D&O, understand what it covers and what it doesn't, had one Board discussion without a decision. Not a cost we couldn't cover but not insignificant either. Arguments for obtaining coverage - protects individual Board members thereby encouraging participation, particularly among higher net-worth individuals; provides for defense costs in case of frivolous suits. Arguments for not obtaining coverage - 1) our 25 year history of having no actions taken against us; 2) the fact that our mandate is so narrow - we put on dances; 3) the people who come to our dances understand that they are social events and we don't seek a community with special needs or vulnerabilities; 4) we're an all-volunteer run enterprise; 5) we don't make (much) money which makes us much less of a target; 6) if there was a suit, it is unlikely that personal assets would be sought. Do any of you involved with similar non-profit organizations have information to share about D & O coverage? Do you have it/thought about getting it? Decided not to get it? Know of any dance/music/song organizations and their Board of Directors which have faced a suit of any kind which would be covered by D & O insurance? Thanks.

6 years

Handouts on contra figures + history?

by Emily Addison

Hi Folks, One of our new dancers has asked if we could have a handout on the history of contra dance as well as a list of the figures with a brief description of each. Does anyone have examples of these types of resources? Any leads? Thanks! Emily <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> Virus-free. www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

6 years, 1 month

Shared Weight - looking for a web designer

by Seth Seeger

Dear Shared Weight organizers, Do you have experience in WordPress design? Do you love Shared Weight? Shared Weight is looking for a volunteer to help us on a well-defined website development task. Essentially, we need someone to create a wordpress site that will serve as a new website for: https://www.sharedweight.net Here are a few details: --> There would be a few additional pages to what is on the current site, but as you can see, our needs are relatively basic. (Template/model pages for each of the lists, FAQ for the whole site, etc) --> The Shared Weight team would like to have some say into the look of the site but we also welcome your ideas. --> You will not need to be responsible for maintaining the site - simply creating the templates will be a great help! We will provide all the content for the site and can even populate the content once you have created the template if you don’t want to do the initial upload of text. Please email Emily at emily(a)cdss.org if you are interested in helping us on this project. ***An exciting heads up about Shared Weight*** The new wordpress site is part of an exciting new initiative for Shared Weight. Seth Seeger and Chris Weiler (Shared Weight founders) have partnered with Ridge Kennedy (Trad Dance caller listserv), Alan Winston (English Country dance listserv), and Weogo Reed (Contra Sound Forum) to collectively update and enhance the lists. All six lists will be hosted on an upgraded Shared Weight software platform with the new website and better mailing list software. We will also be doing lots more promotion of these lists. Emily (CDSS Consultant) is helping to coordinate some of this work and so am the contact for finding a wordpress volunteer. Watch for more updates from the Shared Weight team over the next new months! Seth & Chris

6 years, 1 month

Little follow up idea re Shop Talk -- plugging organizing with your dancers

by Emily Addison

Hey fellow organizers, I know some of us struggle with getting more organizers on our team. (We're currently looking for more folks to help with outreach/promotion here in Ottawa!) Just wanted to share a quick strategy relating to the CDSS Shop Talk that I sent out a few minutes ago. I've posted info about Shop Talk as well as this list, the CDSS organizers resource portal and the FB group for organizers on our local dance community facebook group. I thought that a quick 'we can always use more help' and 'check out these cool resources' might set the seed in some dancers' minds.. ... ... even just making them aware of the broader conversations is worth it. I don't know how much merit there is in this idea but I just wanted to share in case you liked it. I've included my post info below. (I made an initial post and then followed up with a few comments underneath.) Emily in Ottawa ----------------------------------- A plug for those of you who might be interested in helping organize our dances... ... ... we can always use more help! A neat way to catch the bug is by watching (and even participating) in some conversations that happen around organizing. As part of this, you might might want to sign up for Shop Talk - it's CDSS's free quarterly e-blast for organizers. Here's a link to the May issue that just came out yesterday: https://conta.cc/2HlZOXA <https://conta.cc/2HlZOXA?fbclid=IwAR2N4jWQTE5IvafWfSIl3DF8Ys8sa0zcTzT1Brsln…> In the issue.... - Heads up regarding an article in the upcoming June CDSS News which outlines how to easily plan organizer discussions. - Announcing the CDSS Web Chat: Building Safe Dance Communities which is happening on July 11th - CDSS Scholarships still available for camp sessions! - News about an exciting collaboration among organizer, caller, and musician listservs - A survey for Open Bands to support resource development. - Heads up regarding the upcoming CDSS Group Affiliates survey - A call for volunteers interested in developing organizer resources. - Join CDSS as an affiliate and individual member to help make resources and supports like these possible! =============================== And here are three other great links.. ============================ There's a FB group for contra dance organizers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/111126912393768/ <https://www.facebook.com/groups/111126912393768/?hc_location=ufi> ================================= There's an email listserv for organizers at Shared Weight https://www.sharedweight.net/index.php?pagestate=org_about <https://www.sharedweight.net/index.php?pagestate=org_about&fbclid=IwAR2wM4g…> ===================================== And the Country Dance and Song Society has a big collection of resources for organizers here: https://www.cdss.org/resources/how-to/organizers <https://www.cdss.org/resources/how-to/organizers?fbclid=IwAR1H5cWZNb6RQBxyE…> <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> Virus-free. www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

6 years, 1 month

CDSS' Shop Talk (e-blast for organizers) now available!

by Emily Addison

Big hello fellow Shared Weight organizers, The May issue of Shop Talk just came out yesterday! Here is a link: https://conta.cc/2HlZOXA There are a number of items that I think you might find interesting including an announcement about a collaborative project between Shared Weight, some of the other traditional dance/music listservs, and CDSS. With thanks! Emily Addison Consultant for CDSS and local organizer in Ottawa, Ontario *In the May issue:* - Heads up regarding an article in the upcoming June CDSS News which outlines *how to easily plan organizer discussions*. - Announcing the *CDSS Web Chat: Building Safe Dance Communities* which is happening on July 11th - *CDSS Scholarships* still available for camp sessions! - News about an *exciting collaboration among organizer, caller, and musician listservs* - A *survey for Open Bands* to support resource development. - Heads up regarding the upcoming *CDSS Group Affiliates survey* - A *call for volunteers *interested in developing organizer resources. - *Join CDSS as an affiliate and individual member to help make resources and supports like these possible!* <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> Virus-free. www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

6 years, 1 month

Following up from the CDSS family/community web chat - questions and stories?

by Emily Addison

Hi fellow Shared Weight organizers, I was curious as to whether anyone on this list had lingering questions coming out of the CDSS Family and Community dance web chat last month? There were a number of great ideas I was excited to learn about including many suggestions on adding non-dance features to events in order to make them feel special. Related to community dance organizing, I also wanted to share a story from our community dance this past Saturday here in Ottawa Ontario. The story relates to the Belfast Flying Shoes community dances ---> They were one of the groups featured in the CDSS web chat. Note... the story is long... apologies! The backstory: Ottawa Contra Dance has been hosting afternoon family dances for approximately 8yrs. These are well attended (70-100 people each time) but there is big turn over with kids aging out around 7yrs old and no bridging into our evening contra dances. This year, we launched four community dances using a very similar model to Belfast Flying Shoes (and a few other community dances) in the hope that we could create a truly intergenerational dance that would encourage school-aged families in particular. The timeline is as such: 3-5pm afternoon advanced dance, 5-630 potluck for all, 630-730 community dance, 730-8 beginner lesson, 8-11 contra dance. (People who pay for the community dance can stay for the contra beginners + first two dances for free; People who pay for the contra can come to the community dance for free.) It took us a whole year to plan the new series (e.g., the timing; pricing; how the open band would work; sound; type of dances; etc). Mostly our planning has paid off as the dances have been a blast. We just need more school-aged families + a few more volunteers. The cool thing: During the planning of the new series, our Board couldn't imagine not having a beginner contra lesson before the 8pm dance. This is a long tradition in our community and there were a number of us who felt that the skills that are built in that workshop are too important to give up and we couldn't see how else they could be taught. Well.... Will Mentor was calling our afternoon advanced dance as well as the evening contra dance this past Saturday and when he arrived, he suggested we 'do as in Belfast'. Instead of running a beginners lesson, simply bridge the community dance into the contra dance with some basic dances from 730-8pm. That's exactly what we did (after checking with some Board members). Instead of having a formal break & switch at 730, Will took over the calling from Esther (our community dance caller) and continued with those same dancers + others who were arriving in the hall. He taught a couple of beginner contras and built the skills right in. And our all comers band got to play with Will calling contras - a great experience. I know lots of contra dance series don't have beginner lessons AND we didn't have as many beginners that night as we sometimes have but it was so exciting to try something new to us and that we had been unsure of, with the suggestion coming from such an experienced caller who wanted to make it happen. I love these moments in dance organizing! Emily PS - I don't know if we'll keep the beginner workshops on community dance nights next year or whether we'll give this model some more testing time... we'll see! :) PPS -> Shout out to Belfast! When Will suggested the idea, he said that he feels the great success of that series has to do with the community dance and how they've structured their model!

6 years, 1 month

Re: [Organizers] outdoor dances in parks?

by Dugan Murphy

Below are a few more notes from my wife, Dela Murphy. She is not signed up for this listserv, so I am sharing on her behalf. How very cool, Chrissy! :) Go Belfast Flying Shoes! Another few notes: - It's great to partner with an organization that has a broad audience that can co-market to bring in new dancers, or to offer the dance during a pre-established event/festival. This way, you can maximize your investment and open your audience. - Plan for children to attend. Plan for lots of diverse audience members with differing levels of ability, including different levels of comprehension. - Have a handful of "planted" experienced dancers coming who are ready to dance with newbies - not each other. - Have a rain plan in place. In Congress Square, we cancel by 10am without payment, and do our best to postpone to a later date. All marketing online is updated asap in case of a cancellation. - We provide ice water from a drink dispenser and compostable cups. - Be sure to bring promotional materials like flyers or postcards. Be very clear in your marketing about regular dance series location and provide a website with more information if available. (People generally won't call a number to get more information.) - Consider bringing a large, outdoor stand up sign that promotes your organization or website. All the best, Dela Murphy dela at delahere.com www.DelaHere.com www.PortlandIntownContraDance.com www.NufSed.consulting Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2019 18:05:48 +0000 From: Chrissy Fowler <ktaadn_me(a)hotmail.com> To: organizers shared weight <organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> Subject: [Organizers] outdoor dances in parks? Anyone have tips/advice for ways to successfully structure a free (no charge) outdoor dance series for the general public in public parks? * Logistics * Sound * Tips for dancing on grass/pavement * Dance repertoire * Promotion, including language to help welcome in non-dancers * Hydration that doesn't involve single-use plastic bottles from aquifer- draining profiteers (ooops, crankpot editorializing...) * Add-ons * Other We're working with our parks & rec director and other local groups to produce a series this summer. Would love any 'hot tips" from the hive. Cheers, Chrissy Fowler Belfast Flying Shoes, Belfast ME ** ** ** Dance Calling | Transcription | Belfast Flying Shoes

6 years, 2 months

Re: [Organizers] outdoor dances in parks?

by Dugan Murphy

Hi, Weogo, The Friends of Congress Square Park (our partner in organizing the outdoor contra dances) has a cheap decibel reader that they use to measure the sound about 25 feet in front of the speakers. They'll take an average reading. We don't know about whether is A-weighted or C-weighted. Dugan Murphy Portland, Maine dugan at duganmurphy.com www.DuganMurphy.com www.PortlandIntownContraDance.com www.NufSed.consulting Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2019 15:39:40 -0400 > From: Weogo Reed <weogo(a)liveedge.net> > To: organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > Subject: Re: [Organizers] outdoor dances in parks? > Hi Dugan, > > "*Sound*: At Congress Square Park, we shoot for 92 decibels." > > Is this measurement made with a calibrated meter? > Right in front of a speaker?? 50' back from the stage? > A-weighted, Slow,? or? C-weighted, Fast? > > At an outdoor dance, 50' back from the front of the stage, A-weighted, > Slow, > I'm often happy with an average around 78~80db. > This equals around 90~92db near the front of the stage. > > Thanks and good health,? Weogo Reed >

6 years, 2 months

Re: [Organizers] outdoor dances in parks?

by Dugan Murphy

Hi, Chrissy, In 2017 and 2018, Portland Intown Contra Dance (PICD) partnered with Friends of Congress Square Park (FoCSP) in downtown Portland, Maine in putting on a series of outdoor contra dances. Info about the 2018 series here: http://portlandintowncontradance.com/blog/2018/5/3/happy-dancers-dance-outs… *Logistics*: FoCSP is a nonprofit that has an agreement with the City of Portland, Maine to organize events in the park, but other organizations can do so as well through the Parks and Recreation Department by paying for an event permit and providing proof of insurance. FoCSP provides the insurance for these events and fundraises money to pay performers for events throughout the season, including the contra dances. PICD handles booking. Both organizations do promotion. *Dancing on asphalt*: It's not awesome. I don't think there's anything else to say about it. If people are dancing on concrete, you might tell the experienced dancers to minimize their stomping, if anything. I do know someone who sustained an injury that way at an outdoor event in Cincinnati, Ohio. I don't know if there's something you would need to say about grass. *Sound*: At Congress Square Park, we shoot for 92 decibels. We also make sure to comply with the municipal sound ordinance in regards to maximum decibels and how late an amplified event may run. *Dance repertoire*: This can be so variable that a caller needs to be very very flexible in choosing and teaching dances. If no more than a few experienced contra dancers show up, then you need to treat it as a community dance. But even if a whole bunch of experienced dancers show up, the total number of dancers and the proportion of new dancers is likely to vary unpredictably throughout the event. While the experienced dancers are more likely to stay for the whole event and dance each dance, the new dancers are more likely to drop in and out, which means that you cannot expect to build up the level of complexity in choreography over the course of an event, as you usually can at a regular indoor contra dance. This variability is especially the case in a downtown setting like the events we host in Portland because people will stop as they're walking by, try one dance, and either stick around or more on. That's the info I got. Good luck! Dugan Murphy Portland, Maine dugan at duganmurphy.com www.DuganMurphy.com www.PortlandIntownContraDance.com www.NufSed.consulting > Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2019 18:05:48 +0000 > From: Chrissy Fowler <ktaadn_me(a)hotmail.com> > To: organizers shared weight <organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > Subject: [Organizers] outdoor dances in parks? > > Anyone have tips/advice for ways to successfully structure a free (no > charge) outdoor dance series for the general public in public parks? > > > * Logistics > * Sound > * Tips for dancing on grass/pavement > * Dance repertoire > * Promotion, including language to help welcome in non-dancers > * Hydration that doesn't involve single-use plastic bottles from > aquifer- draining profiteers (ooops, crankpot editorializing...) > * Add-ons > * Other > > We're working with our parks & rec director and other local groups to > produce a series this summer. Would love any 'hot tips" from the hive. > > Cheers, > Chrissy Fowler > Belfast Flying Shoes, Belfast ME > > ** ** ** > > Dance Calling | Transcription | Belfast Flying Shoes >

6 years, 2 months

← Newer
1
...
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
...
52
Older →

Jump to page:

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

Organizers