Callerlab – New Initiatives Committee
News from Square Dance Land… at least my corner of it.
There’s a new Callerlab committee called “New Initiatives.” I’ve been asked, and accepted, to be the chair.
Its function has several aspects. (Though, I’m still a little unsure of one of them.)
One is to continue the work of the (now disbanded – I think) Program Policy Initiative. This is a discussion of how we can actively adapt the existing programs and mold them into a system that works better on an individual/local level.
Next, NI is going to actively maintain the Winning Ways document. The idea is to make it a living document that revisits past successes to see what still works, what might not work, and what changes took place to keep things going.
As part of NI, we’re going to be soliciting new ideas for the development and growth of the
square dance community and then find ways to engage our dancing population
to implement these ideas.
The last big part of the NE is probably the most fun. “Square Dancing in 50 Years.” What will square dancing look like in 50 years? How will it evolve? How will it grow? These are all hypothetical questions that allow us to talk about change but not feel threatened by it.
If you would like to be a member of the committee, here are the requirements. You must be in good standing and be an Active Member, Associate Member, Active Youth Member, Associate Youth Member, a Lifetime member, or a Partner of any of these members.
With the blessing of the Callerlab leadership, I may try to set up a group of dancers that are not callers to get their input as well. They might not be full committee members, but dancers have a stake in some of what we’re talking about, so I’d like to create a forum where I can get some information.
If you’re a caller and want to be a member (or a Vice Chair) please contact the Callerlab Home Office.
If you’re a dancer and want to be involved with any of these discussions, let me know… stephen.cole@isquaredance.com.
Thanks!
Stephen:
Congrats and good luck with the new committee. I will send you via email the name of someone you should talk to.
Brian
There are Millions out their who could be square dancing, they just need the right person to ask them. As for getting to be fewer callers, new callers come from new dancers. Regular Dancers want callers with 10 years under their belts, or who can draw a big crowd to pay the bills.
Dancers today require the Caller to be the entertainment. One who can put together a puzzle and deliver it as a Super Star!
Just like kids today don’t know how to put together a game of work up! They need Coaches and Practice and a Team to BEAT!
Work up only needed a bat and ball, and something to make bases. Sometimes it was a simple game of 500! Sometimes it was a crushed paper cup for Home Plate. No Umpires, no Refs, no Rule Books, no Coaches! Catch a fly in the outfield and you moved up to bat! So, just because you got in the game late didn’t mean you had to be the last person who got to bat!
Organized Sports are big money today! But, the majority of people are spectators instead of participating! Square Dancing either needs to become a Spectator Sport or teach people how to do Work Up Square Dancing. Where People can walk by and join in. I don’t believe in the ABC Program, I think it is to restrictive, and no real reason not to show up every dance other than the people who come! They get recruited to move up the ladder and you lose them!
I think we need an ABC with and Attitude Program. One where you learn something new every time you come so if you don’t show up you miss out. But, not one where you need to learn the whole book before you can get your turn at Bat!