As the original poster, I want to thank everyone who responded to my question about how people's dance communities have experienced reopening and also shutting down dances during this time. The information was useful to me. Our community has made its decision (predictably, we're not holding any in-person dances). 

I very much agree with Seth. As moderator, he has the power and indeed it is his role to keep conversation on-topic. This is internet etiquette. For whatever it's worth, I'm not interested in debating any covid health protocols. I don't think it's relevant to this particular conversation. If people want to keep talking about it, then they should find other avenues rather than to clog up this email thread.

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the discussion of whether anyone got sick at a dance (no one for certain) and about restarting and re-canceling dances (it has happened). 

Take care and be good to each other!
Liz Burkhart

On Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 1:01 AM <organizers-request@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
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When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of Organizers digest..."Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Vitamin D and Contra Dancing (Woody Lane)
   2. Re: Vitamin D and Contra Dancing (Dale Wilson)
   3. Re: Vitamin D and Contra Dancing (Seth Seeger)
   4. Re: Vitamin D and Contra Dancing (Ron Blechner)
   5. Re: Vitamin D and Contra Dancing (Alan J Rosenthal)
   6. Re: Vitamin D and Contra Dancing (Alex)
   7. List Guidelines (Seth Seeger)



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Woody Lane <woody@woodylane.com>
To: Weogo Reed via Organizers <organizers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Cc: 
Bcc: 
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2021 05:58:39 +0000
Subject: [Organizers] Re: Vitamin D and Contra Dancing
Hi Everyone,

Some basic info about vitamin D. [In my other non-dancing life, I am a nutritionist -- a livestock nutritionist with a PhD from Cornell in Animal Nutrition.] The last time I looked, people -- at least most of them, including contra dancers -- have metabolic systems that are similar to other mammals.

A lot of health claims are attributed to vitamin D. There are some good reasons for this, because Vitamin D is not a true vitamin; it's actually a hormone hiding under the vitamin moniker. And very powerful in its actions. The precursor to vitamin D is made in the skin by the application of ultraviolet light, usually from the sun. It's also absorbed from animal-based foods as vitamin D3. And from plant-based foods as vitamin D2. Either way, all these molecules travel to the liver where they are all changed into 25-D which is the form tested medically for blood levels. Then 25-D goes to the kidney where it is converted to 1,25-D which is the actual active molecule (technically named 1,25-dihydroxycalciferol). This form is relatively short-lived in the blood which is why it is not the actual test for vitamin D. Then 1,25-D is carried to all the cells in the body where it does some heavy-duty tasks. This 1,25-D enters the cell and through a complex series of steps, enters the nucleus where it affects the DNA. It acts like a toggle switch to turn on or turn off genes -- more than a thousand different genes -- which affect dozens of metabolic pathways. Some include calcium absorption and metabolism which influences bone density, of course; some involve the production of anti-microbial compounds; some involve the control of cell growth; some involve the release of cytokines which are small messenger molecules, etc. Importantly, the cytokines are deeply involved in the immunological responses to diseases. And vitamin D affects many other metabolic systems.

Traditionally, the recommended nutritional levels of vitamin D were designed to prevent rickets (and the adult version, osteomalacia) and also osteoporosis. But that was the minimum. Recommended levels (Dietary Reference Intakes, DRI) have increased in recent years as we've learned more about vitamin D and its importance. DRI levels now are in the range of 600-800 IU per day, depending on age (of the person, not of the bottle of vitamins). Frankly, I think these are still on the low side, so personally I routinely take a daily dose of 2,000 IU, and my blood levels of 25-D are in the middle of the normal range. In reality, most people are generally mildly-to-strongly deficient in vitamin D, primarily because during the day they wear clothes and hats and apply sunscreen. OTOH, lots of sun has a very strong tendency to lead to skin cancers. Ask any dermatologist. So a pill containing vitamin D is a rational technique, although megadoses are not recommended.

Yes, vitamin D is involved with the immune system, but it is not a treatment against viruses. It's a nutrient. Obtaining enough of it is a good thing, and it will help maintain the immune system to its functionality. But vitamin D is not a drug or a vaccine.

But how can we, as dancers and dance organizers, use this information to our benefit? In a humble attempt to contribute constructively to this discussion as well as set a few records straight, here are some practical suggestions:


* Dance contras and squares outdoors with no clothes on.

* Do a lot of dancing because this word begins with the letter "D".

* Never use sunblock when you dance indoors.

* Eat highly bleached grass hay because it will have high levels of vitamin D2.

* Always dance full heys rather than half-heys because a full 16-count "hay" can have twice as much vitamin D.

* During the break, always go outdoors and sit in the sun. If there is no sun, especially at night, sit under a heat lamp and make believe it's the sun.

* Don't eat any polar bear livers during the break because these can have toxic levels of vitamin A, and A is only three letters away from D.

In the hope of dancing together again before 2026,
Woody

--
Woody Lane
Caller, Percussive Dancer
Roseburg, Oregon


On 8/23/2021 8:25 AM, Weogo Reed via Organizers wrote:
Vitamin D:
     "Several recent studies have looked at the impact of vitamin D on 
COVID-19. One study of 489 people found that those who had a vitamin D 
deficiency were more likely to test positive for the virus that causes 
COVID-19 than people who had normal levels of vitamin D.
      Other research has observed high rates of vitamin D deficiency in 
people with COVID-19 who experienced acute respiratory failure. These 
people had a significantly higher risk of dying. And a small, randomized 
study found that of 50 people hospitalized with COVID-19 who were given 
a high dose of a type of vitamin D (calcifediol), only one needed 
treatment in the intensive care unit. In contrast, among the 26 people 
with COVID-19 who weren't given calcifediol, 13 needed to be treated in 
the intensive care unit."
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/expert-answers/coronavirus-and-vitamin-d/faq-20493088
Note that the current RDA(Recommended Daily Allowance) is for bone health.
For optimal health, it may be more.

 From Liz:
"Sunshine and fresh air will not keep you safe."
     Partially correct.  They can increase your health and improve your 
body's covid response.
Sunshine helps your body produce Vitamin D.
      Time outside for me generally equals exercise  -  in the garden, 
doing construction, walking/hiking and more.
For the past year and a half, my one gig as a sound person was outside, 
providing audio for
the local state university's graduation in May, with everybody masked 
and spaced 6'.





---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dale Wilson <dale.wilson@gmail.com>
To: Organizers@lists.sharedweight.net
Cc: 
Bcc: 
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2021 10:04:55 -0500
Subject: [Organizers] Re: Vitamin D and Contra Dancing
There is a lot of misinformation out there about Covid-19 and various folk remedies that are being recommended.   Sometimes the people posting this information say something like "Studies have shown.." or "In a recent study..."

Because misinformation can destroy people's lives (even if it doesn't kill them) anyone posting information from a study should include references to the original publications, or at least the name(s) of the author(s) of the study and a mention of the peer-reviewed journal in which the study results were published.

Without this supporting information, the information is at best a distraction, and at worst a death sentence for people who cannot be vaccinated due to age or other physical limitation.

Thank you for keeping this in mind,

Dale Wilson
Childgrove (St. Louis) Board Member.





---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Seth Seeger <seth@tofutavern.com>
To: Organizers@lists.sharedweight.net
Cc: 
Bcc: 
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2021 11:10:11 -0400
Subject: [Organizers] Re: Vitamin D and Contra Dancing
Hi everyone,

It's absolutely time to stop.  We can discuss COVID and how it relates to organizing dances and when we should begin dancing again, but remedies, vaccinations, and preventions are now off limits.  I'm sorry!

Seth

On Aug 25, 2021, at 11:04 AM, Dale Wilson via Organizers <organizers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

There is a lot of misinformation out there about Covid-19 and various folk remedies that are being recommended.   Sometimes the people posting this information say something like "Studies have shown.." or "In a recent study..."

Because misinformation can destroy people's lives (even if it doesn't kill them) anyone posting information from a study should include references to the original publications, or at least the name(s) of the author(s) of the study and a mention of the peer-reviewed journal in which the study results were published.

Without this supporting information, the information is at best a distraction, and at worst a death sentence for people who cannot be vaccinated due to age or other physical limitation.

Thank you for keeping this in mind,

Dale Wilson
Childgrove (St. Louis) Board Member.


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To unsubscribe send an email to organizers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net




---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ron Blechner <contraron@gmail.com>
To: Seth Seeger <seth@tofutavern.com>
Cc: organizers shared weight <Organizers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Bcc: 
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2021 11:23:18 -0400
Subject: [Organizers] Re: Vitamin D and Contra Dancing
Vaccinations are the best way we get back to dancing.
I'm sorry, you cannot unilaterally demand that all organizers on this list stop talking about the primary way to stop the virus that's killing 600,000 plus Americans and has kept us away from dancing for a year and a half.

On Wed, Aug 25, 2021 at 11:13 AM Seth Seeger via Organizers <organizers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi everyone,

It's absolutely time to stop.  We can discuss COVID and how it relates to organizing dances and when we should begin dancing again, but remedies, vaccinations, and preventions are now off limits.  I'm sorry!

Seth

On Aug 25, 2021, at 11:04 AM, Dale Wilson via Organizers <organizers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

There is a lot of misinformation out there about Covid-19 and various folk remedies that are being recommended.   Sometimes the people posting this information say something like "Studies have shown.." or "In a recent study..."

Because misinformation can destroy people's lives (even if it doesn't kill them) anyone posting information from a study should include references to the original publications, or at least the name(s) of the author(s) of the study and a mention of the peer-reviewed journal in which the study results were published.

Without this supporting information, the information is at best a distraction, and at worst a death sentence for people who cannot be vaccinated due to age or other physical limitation.

Thank you for keeping this in mind,

Dale Wilson
Childgrove (St. Louis) Board Member.


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To unsubscribe send an email to organizers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Alan J Rosenthal <flaps@56789.ca>
To: Organizers@lists.sharedweight.net
Cc: 
Bcc: 
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2021 11:34:45 -0400
Subject: [Organizers] Re: Vitamin D and Contra Dancing
If some people want to talk about a (sub)topic and others don't, why not
create a separate mailing list for that topic?

Then the discussion can continue unimpeded, without destroying this mailing
list.

Because things like this DO destroy mailing lists, because people unsubscribe
from a mailing list which is dominated by a topic they find unworthy.  Let's
give such people a different mailing list to unsubscribe from instead, and
divide topics between the two mailing lists appropriately.

regards,
ajr


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Alex <alex.shevits@gmail.com>
To: organizers@lists.sharedweight.net
Cc: 
Bcc: 
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2021 14:16:02 -0400
Subject: [Organizers] Re: Vitamin D and Contra Dancing
I have been deleting without reading this list for a long time now, but
I have to weigh in with Alan Rosenthal.  I unsubscribed from one of the
CDSS list because I felt it was inappropriately being used (abused) to
promote individual programs.  I was getting ready to unsubscribe from
this list too.  Not because of the subject, but because the topic just
didn't seem to know that it was done.  Maybe having a time limit for
each topic and creating a new thread for (sub) topics would help.

Soon to exit, maybe,

Alex Shevits

On 8/25/2021 11:34 AM, Alan J Rosenthal via Organizers wrote:
> If some people want to talk about a (sub)topic and others don't, why not
> create a separate mailing list for that topic?
>
> Then the discussion can continue unimpeded, without destroying this mailing
> list.
>
> Because things like this DO destroy mailing lists, because people unsubscribe
> from a mailing list which is dominated by a topic they find unworthy.  Let's
> give such people a different mailing list to unsubscribe from instead, and
> divide topics between the two mailing lists appropriately.
>
> regards,
> ajr
> _______________________________________________
> Organizers mailing list -- organizers@lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to organizers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Seth Seeger <seth@tofutavern.com>
To: organizers shared weight <organizers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Cc: 
Bcc: 
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2021 14:40:23 -0400
Subject: [Organizers] List Guidelines
Dear Organizers,

First off, I'd like to say that I am the solo moderator here, and I don't have a lot of time to spend on moderating this list.  So please hang in there with me as we work through this.  

Secondly, the focus of this list is about organizing and running dances.  In these times, we can expand that to include running dances safely in a pandemic.  That said, this is not a place to discuss different COVID remedies.  The COVID-related topics on this list MUST be based on widely accepted scientific solutions.  At the moment, that includes vaccinations and wearing masks.  The consensus of the medical community is that the COVID vaccines are both extremely safe and extremely effective at preventing serious infection.   

I need to draw a proactive line in the sand with these guidelines.  Any discussions of COVID-related cures, preventions, medications, etc that are not widely accepted will result in a warning.  A second time will result in being removed from the list.

I understand that some of you may have been hurt or betrayed by our medical community.  And that in plenty of examples, the medical establishment has been behind the times. However, we have a lot of scientists right now looking at all things COVID.  In order to maintain a functional mailing list where everyone feels safe, we need to limit conversations to currently, widely accepted solutions.

If you have feedback or questions about this, please write to me directly, off-list.

Thank you,
Seth

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