Floor sweeping

I got a comment from someone that mis-read the last post
I know the folded club did NOT quit about floor sweeping- The quote was from another club who doesn't want additional chores- re-read it and understand 1) Other clubs exist 2)I'm not "off base" at all
A Good Nite in Oakdale on Sat.- Way above average crowd,Good turnout on Sunday and visits from 4 former dancers who jus may start again-YAY
Now Next week it's off to the east coast and Idaho thru the 13th
Fun
Rick

Why do folks complicate the simple?

In the Northern Ca. area, I found out that a festival (which had died) was re-invented to re-start and now it's been cancelled-AGAIN?? The irony is that the folks, had they made some minor adjustments a couple of years ago, The "Fun" weekend would be alive and well.
This is an example of why I get so worried that in the U area, I hear things like "our attendance is dropping we're going to have to fold" NONSENSE- Anything that draws over 1000 dancers in todays arena is doing something right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also have heard (In this particular festival the clubs share work, and benefit financially from the revenue) That ....and I quote "The Club who swept the floors folded- Our club is not doing it-we'll quit"- Sad but true.
I suggest that 1) the floor sweeping duty gets doled out to all clubs but if it's an issue that can't be reconciled 2) Have a scout troop, 4H, FFA or other youth group do it for a $500 donation .(That would actually be cheaper for the budget, help the youth and allow the folks to "do what they've done in the duty department"
I've seen so many weekends go away, so many clubs go away-often for complicated responses to simple fixes.
It is still about the Square Dancing? Right?
Rick

Good and Not So Good

The Solvang weekend went well, albeit not as much growth as we hoped-One more year and we'll decide if it's to continue- Sorta Good news
The Anniversary dance of a club in the USDA area was poorly attended, and this concerns me- This dance has been one of the larger dances in the years past- Now there was 1 square of that area dancers at Solvang, (Up from 3 couples last year) but that does not explain the dramatic drop in attendance- Not Good news I hope this was a fluke- Good Caller, lotsa food-just a crappy turnout- I promise to re-double my efforts to promote SD in this area!!
Now the Sunday Dance in the same area had a decent crowd (by that clubs averages) so that's good- The bottom line is between the 2 dances only some 7 squares attended
(Even if the area folks who were in Solvang had stayed home-it would've been 8 squares total-less than the single club anniversary dance had last year)
I wonder if, given the success of the last MS Dance in the are on 5/7, and the poor attendance of these 2 dances- Should Plus be the destination level?- In most areas on Earth (literally) MS is the level.
Thoughts??
Comment Please
Rick

A good Question Via Comments

I'm So Glad that someone via the comments asked a good question
"You do need to start posting the names of all the clubs and people you are talking about. Otherwise you do not look honest. Why not say who the people are, maybe they would have a change of heart. Or did this not ever happen? See what I mean?"

Rick sez- I DO see what you mean, I've always (for the 5 years I've blogged) tended to not name names- But I've recently learned that doing that can cause issues, I still wonder if naming names is a better way to help ALL not fall down the same path other groups have gone down.
I think in the future I will go back to naming AREAS but not specific clubs.callers or people- What do you think-
Here's a couple - In the VASD area a club is losing their caller, and thinking about going back to a previously fired caller- I Think that's a BAD Idea
In The USDA area There is a good track record of Mainstream Dances with multiple clubs sponsoring- That's a GOOD idea
Rick
PS to any Mavericks (Bakersfield area) I will buy your way in to the workshop in the next 2 weeks- To continue dancing, not lose insurance, and I'll be available to chat with anything you wish at 9:30 (If you dance- Please don't just show up to chat-Thats not the point
Rick
Comment

Have Fun

Hey Lotsa good dancing this weekend- Area info for the multiples area I call regularly in are at my homepage-lower left side, as well as nationwide info via some links- Pick a dance
Go to one and have FUN
Rick

Curious

I'm curious that those who were upset of a post still haven't commented here( It's not needed to give a name if you wish)- Facebook and in a public meeting seems to be the way to comment? (I thought all agreed to not do that-Facebook anyway) The tragic situation of another club folding seems to have been lost in the political BS so again let's discuss here shall we?- My clubs are not folding- Hopefully the damning of my position (In favor of Dancing- against this BS) will motivate those in groups who have decided Political stuff trumps Square dancing to remember where they came from....A Caller Run Group converted to a club- 20 years of fighting with another club and voila- Folded, a couple of folks who were nurtured at my
class-who were not welcomed by the group-stayed in the activity -Thanks to me not allowing the host club to kick them out- Now these same nice folks forgot that gift and are calling me the jerk (so to speak). I don't regret fighting for them at the time but now-WOW
Rick

Irony about Clubs

I've never had the honor of being mentioned, cussed and discussed, with passion, at a meeting before.
I blog about the ENTIRE universe of Square dance issues here and the COMMENT link is for that- To comment.
My April 15th post was taken poorly by a few, and the few made public (in a meeting) their wish to see me not involved in that particular area's SD. Ironically the post I made (I don't name names usually) was about a combo of similar reasons for The Steppers Fresno area) and Silver Dollars (SF Valley area) folding- Not about the Bakersfield Mavericks but since it was brought up..................There was no reason not to at least give the Caller (In the case of the latter-JH) a chance to continue the group, seeing as how he started the club in the first place. I am sad that a public, unwarranted tirade at an open meeting forced me to "name names" especially since it wasn't you in the first place- Why not click comment this time????????????????
Bottom Line The Silver Dollars, Steppers and Mavericks all folded for no good reason-If nothing else the callers would have kept the dancing going-That is the important part-Right?????
Rick- COMMENT BUTTON BELOW