[2008/05/02 10:04 pm]Just a quick note to get a head count. We need to sign up to reserve a space in the pride parade, but given that people belong to other groups or may have already left town to go to Cleveland, I figured I better get a head count to see how many people we have to dance in the parade with us.
So, if you will be able to dance in the parade with us (this includes our current students!), please let me or Grant know before Monday. I know nobody likes to commit any sooner than when they wake up after their Disco Nap the night of the event, but we would really like to be a little closer to the front of the parade this year if we are going to do it at all. We need at least 12 people to really put on a good show.
And if you really like being in parades, don't forget that Ross and Justin need help forming their new group in Salt Lake and would really like us to come down to dance with them in the Salt Lake City pride parade the weekend of June 7th and 8th.
The drive looks like a straight shot!And speaking of Road Trips, JW reminded me that the one and only Andy Shore is calling in Portland this weekend! More information can be found on the
Ramblers website!
[2008/04/29 9:56 pm]Before we get too much further into the month (like, say, into the next one...) I wanted to thank everyone who participated in the Squares General Meeting portion of Dancer's Annual General Meeting (AGM). Your time and support are vital to our success.
I will attach the revised version of the minutes at the bottom of this e-mail (full versions of the minutes, plus the minutes from the full Dancer's AGM are posted on the "About" page on the website), but before we get to that I wanted to tell you about one of our major goals for the year.
We're calling it the "RUGrat" campaign: Re-connect, Unify and Grow our most vital resource...our membership. We will be gathering info on members views, attitudes and statistics to form a strategic plan for the future. We hope u will actively participate. Please watch for forthcoming information.
I especially want to thank Grant for all his work on this as our new Membership Coordinator.
Some quick reminders: Advanced lessons are coming up in just a month and a half! If you are interested in taking Advanced with us, please let Dinah and/or myself know so that we can start planning for hall space and lesson materials.
Also, one of the best ways you can help the club is to Angel a class. Sometimes you don't get to dance much as an angel, but other times you make the difference between everyone being able to dance or not, and lets face it, we always love to see everyone!
And finally, we are fast approaching the height of recruiting season. We have plans for NW Folklife, Advanced Level Lessons and PRIDE and our we are refashioning our June dance as our June Homecoming Dance to attract returning members!
Minutes:
Squares General Meeting April 17, 2008
Needed 40% of membership to have a quorum. There were 12 members. Decided it was a quorum.
Minutes from the last meeting were read and accepted.
Five people are officers and Board, with two appointed. The five officers are:
1. President (currently Troy)
2. Vice-President (currently Jonica)
3. Secretary (currently Chris)
4. Treasurer (currently Dinah)
5. Level Coordinator for each level (Only Mainstream position is currently filled) (currently Theresa)
The two appointed members are the Caller Liason (currently Mary) and Recruitment Coordinator (had been Dinah).
Report from the Squares Treasurer (taken from Dancer's minutes)
• 15 new students (in 2 classes) for Mainstream.
• There is an Advance class to start in June.
• The Tastes are scheduled for August.
• Level dances play for themselves
• Club dances mostly pay for themselves. Lost money both times Don Wood called.
• There were 65 registrations for the Halloween fly-in. Lost $181. Just a couple of more registrations would have put us in the black.
• Community dances make money.
A number of People have said they pay less and get live music at the Tractor Tavern.
Tentatively scheduled a community dance for the end of May.
Currently it is our largest source of income.
Some musicians are willing to take a cut of the gate, so looking into seeing if we can get live music.
President’s Report
Schedule has been made through the end of December (end of the Advanced Class). Goal is to schedule things three years out.
Club is stretched thin due to almost a full square of members moving away, but should be in better shape by next season.
Have Plus class mixed into the Mainstream class. Classes are not making money. Putting a lot of effort into recruitment.
Dues all go to dancers. We only make money from the community dances. Can project outgoes, but not income, so we can’t make a budget.
Need a recruitment coordinator. Grant said he’d do work on it. We will do a Taste at the Pride Festival.
Troy wants input on where we want to be in one, three, five, and ten years from now.
Officer Elections
Secretary, VP, and Mainstream Coordinator continue on, since all the offices are staggered two year positions.
Troy was unanimously voted in for a new two year term. As President he is automatically the representative to the Dancer’s Board.
Dinah was reconfirmed as Treasurer.
There was a unanimous vote for the following slate: Mary Ayers reconfirmed as caller liasson. Grant agreed to be the team leader for Recruitment.
Decision was to table the vote for the primary and alternate representatives to the IAGCD until closer to the convention. Their purpose is to go to the meeting at convention. Since we don’t know who all is going to convention and none of the members present want to go to a meeting during convention, it seemed best to put off the vote.
[2008/04/29 4:09 am]This week is week 6 of Mainstream Lessons. Everything is on schedule for the usual times and places, with Ron calling at Tibbetts on Wednesday, and DC calling at St. Andrews on Thursday.
http://www.iagsdc.org/puddletown/calendar.phpSomething that some students find helpful is to study the calls ahead of time (if I haven't gotten you a Mainstream book, let me know...I think I got everyone.) The calls that are going to be taught each week are listed here so you can study ahead:
http://www.iagsdc.org/puddletown/lessons.php---
On Friday we have the Emerald City Jamboree, and this week it is the Mainstream/Plus level night. Make sure you sign up on the RSVP site. If there are not enough dancers we cancel the room so we don't end up paying for rent when we won't be there so it really pays to sign up early and often!
You can go through the calendar:
http://www.iagsdc.org/puddletown/calendar.phpOr go directly to the RSVP site:
http://www.cogentweb.com/puddletown/---
On May 10th is our May Club dance with the fabulous Susan Morris! 7 to 9:30 at Mt. Baker Park Presbyterian. There will be student level dancing and students get in for free, so come out and meet the new dancers!
The potluck theme, in honor of the month and of Dame Julie Andrews, will be, "The Lusty Month of May."
(for the new dancers, don't worry, everyone else ignores my potluck themes too, just bring something to share with the crowd...)
---
I am just about to order a batch of student badges and will be ordering replacement badges for members then too. I have an order from Carl, and will get one for Linda, and be replaceing Chris(2)'s badge. Anyone else need a new badge? And do you need a level bar to go with it? A magnet? Let me know, I would like to order them this week.
That's it for now,
See you on the floor!
[2008/04/08 4:23 am]Lots of stuff to cover for this e-mail:
===Mainstream lessons===
First off, a big thank you to everyone who is coming out to Angel for us! Both classes are looking like they are going to be a success, but we don't have final numbers yet. We should know in a couple weeks how many Angels we will need at each lesson in order to make sure everyone is able to dance. If you haven't made it out to dance with us yet, come meet the new dancers. We meet from 7 to 9:30 out at Tibbetts in West Seattle, and again from 7 to 9:30 at St. Andrews in Greenlake. We have been having a lot of fun so far!
===AGM===
Also don't forget that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) is coming up April 17th. Both Mainstream classes will meet at Tibbetts on Wednesday that week so they will not fall behind, and the AGM will be at St. Andrews on Thursday.
Squares will be having elections in addition to reporting on the state of the club. Both President and Treasurer are up for grabs (Dinah is just finishing up Ross's term.) If you want to run or nominate someone for either of those postions, just tell one of the Puddletown Squares board members.
Bylaws and such are online at:
http://www.iagsdc.org/puddletown/resources.phpWe also need to fill an appointed position. We need a Recruiting Coordinator to head up this years recruiting efforts. If you are interested, please let me know.
===Club Dance===
Don't forget our club dance this Saturday with Wayne Easton! We are really excited to have Wayne back after long absense.
I think we will go with the same theme as last year and have "April showers" as our theme for the potluck. 7 to 9:30 at Mt. Baker Park Presbyterian Church.
===Advanced Classes===
Registrations are open for Advanced Classes. Classes start Friday, June 13 at Tibbets with Raleigh Wieand teaching and run 30 weeks. Be dancing Advanced by 2009! Cost will be $150, and as usual, talk to Dinah if you need to make payments or other arrangements.
I'm going to be talking the Advanced class up a lot over the next couple months, but don't feel pressured to take the class, not by me or anyone else. We fully intend to offer Advanced every two years from now on, so if you find yourself underwater on Load the Boat, if your Coordinate is "no, No, NO!", or if you find yourself in another square when you Spin Chain and Exchange the Gears, you will be much happier if you wait till next time around.
===Level Night===
We are switching off Mainstream/Plus and Plus/Advanced for our Friday night Level night, and this week it is Plus/Advanced. The RSVP site is conveniently linked from the calendar so go sign up!
http://www.iagsdc.org/puddletown/calendar.phpThat is it for this time. See you on the floor!
[2008/03/29 7:44 pm]Don't forget we have your Community Square Dance tonight at Tibbetts Methodist. We have caller Neil Smith comming down from way north of Bellingham to call for us and it should be a lot of fun!
http://www.iagsdc.org/puddletown/community.phpBring snacky things to share and all your friends!
[2008/03/25 5:03 pm]Wow, time really flies! Not only are we about to begin our spring mainstream lessons, but the Community Square Dance is this weekend.
Mainstream lessons start this week, Wednesday night at Tibbetts with Ron Legters teaching, and Thursday night at St. Andrews with DC Cronyn teaching. Both run from 7 to 9:30. As usual we will be needing angels, so if you live in the south end of Seattle and are free on Wednesdays, we would love to see you out at Tibbetts each week. If you live to the north, we would love to have your help at St. Andrews.
I try very hard as president to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to dance at least once a week, but no one -has- to dance more than that. It doesn't always work out, but that is the goal. With that in mind, it is especially important that Plus dancers who are not planning on taking Advanced this time arund, consider angeling since everyone who is going to take Advanced is going to end up super busy if they have to angel along with taking a class. Things will lighten up in September when what is looking like two big classes of Mainstream dancers are able to take over the angeling until Advanced finishes up
***
Don't forget our third Community Square Dance is on Thursday. Bring your friends! We have Neil Smith coming down to call for us. It should be a lot of fun!
http://www.iagsdc.org/puddletown/community.php***
The calendar is updated with everything that is planned through September. I have added a link to the RSVP site to each Level night entry, so that should make it easier for people to get an overview of what is going on each week.
http://www.iagsdc.org/puddletown/calendar.phpThat is it for now. See you at Mainstream lessons!
[2008/03/20 4:52 am]Press Release
Contact: Ross R. Crawshaw-Lopton For Immediate Release
Phone (425) 260-2494 9:13pm , March 19, 2008
NEW CLUB NEEDS GCA CALLERS AND IAGSDC DANCERS
Salt Lake City, Utah, March 19, 2008: A new square dance club is forming in Salt Lake City. Their first event will take place on June 7th and 8th, during Salt Lake City's UTAH PRIDE 2008 events.This new club is in need of volunteers to staff their PRIDE booth, serve as dancers, and fill in guest calling slots. More information regarding times and location will be forthcoming.
Participation in Utah Pride 2008 provides an opportunity to share the fun of Modern Western Square Dancing with the gay community of Utah and will encourage the growth of club membership. We will distribute brochures featuring the IAGSDC as well as information pertaining to our "Beginner's Round Up" square dance events in the Salt Lake Area. We will also have a drawing for free tuition to the next Basic/Mainstream class that is scheduled for fall 2008.
Begun in 1983, the Utah Pride Festival has grown dramatically from those small and rather secretive gatherings to a 3-day festival including national headliners, Pride Film Festival, the Pride Parade with Grand Marshall Reception, a Pride Interfaith Service, Dyke March and Pride Dance. Visit www.utahpride.org for more information about the Festival.
For additional information regarding volunteer opportunities for the new square dance club, Contact: Ross Crawshaw-Lopton at rosslopton@yahoo.com
- END -
[2008/03/19 3:52 am]Don't forget we have our second Taste of Square Dancing tomorrow night from 7 to 9pm at
Tibbets in West Seattle. It is actually going to be Mike DeSisto calling for us rather than Gaylen (he and Gaylen worked out some sort of deal...I don't know what it is and I'm not going to ask) so this is a great chance to come dance to Mike!
Don't forget to bring hors d'oeuvres to share (as well as all your friends!) and we will see you on the floor!
[2008/03/11 4:45 am]FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
Troy Johnson
Puddletown Squares
puddletownpres -at- speakeasy.net
http://www.puddletowndancers.org/Puddletown Squares Hosts a "Taste of Square Dancing"
Seattle, WA, 3/1/08 - Puddletown Squares will be hosting a "Taste of Square Dancing" March 13 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in the Greenlake neighborhood with internationally renowned caller, Mike DeSisto and March 19th at West Seattle's Tibbetts United Methodist Church with popular local caller Gaylen Sauve. Both will run from 7 to 9pm. The "Taste of Square Dancing" is Puddletown's chance to introduce potential dancers to the fun of Modern Western Square Dancing.
Modern Western Square Dancing is nothing like the square dancing most people remember from grade school! With Puddletown it is upbeat and energetic without a single hay-bale in site. Square dancing is fun for all ages and is a great alternative to the bars for the gay community. It is a highly social activity, one of the few where gay men, lesbians, straight people, and all the other groups that are part of the gay and lesbian community all join hands (literally) to dance. The first night of lessons is often the first time many dancers see people who are about to become life long friends.
Puddletown Squares hold its "Taste of Square Dancing" events right before the next cycle of lessons begins so if attendees fall in love with Square Dancing like the members of Puddletown all have, they can jump right in and join the fun!
For additional information, Contact: Troy Johnson at puddletownpres -at- speakeasy.net
Puddletown Squares is a gay and lesbian Modern Western Square Dance (MWSD) club open to everyone. They sponsor classes, dances, and tape-dancing for the MWSD Mainstream through the Advanced programs and have been a vibrant part of Seattle's gay community for over 25 years..
[2008/03/05 5:49 am]Another e-mail that went out to the listserve that the fly-in committee is worried not very many people got:
Puddletown Dancers is hosting the Rain Festival fly-in which is next week(!) (THIS week now--ed) and we are asking that club members bring a potluck item for Saturday night dinner, which is March 8 from 5 to 6 pm. I'm coordinating the potluck (oh no! Everyone brought bean salad!) so please email (jkeel -at- comcast.net) to let me know what you are bringing. See below for more information about what sort of cooking facilities are available. We need main dishes, salads, side dishes, and desserts.
We also need volunteers to bring cookies for the Friday night trail in dance (starts at 7 pm).
The kitchen at the Renton Community Center is somewhat limited. There is a microwave, convection oven, griddle top, lots of refrigeration, and an ice maker. The oven is not large, so depending on what needs to go in there it may get a tad crowded. If you want to bake or roast something, please use a dish that is no higher (deeper?) than 6 inches including the lid. And figure out how long it needs to bake at a temperature of 350 degrees. Please also bring serving spoons/utensils and remember to put your name on everything. Use of crock-pots are encouraged. You may drop off your items to the kitchen with instructions on when to plug in the crock-pot or pop it in the oven and we'll do the rest.
More info about the fly-in including schedule and driving directions can be found at
http://www.puddletowndancers.org/Hope to see you next weekend on the dance floor!
Cheers,
Jonica Keel
