Tag: Club Organization

IAGSDC History Wiki

Article Type Owner Links Description
Resource

IAGSDC (International Association of Gay Square Dance Clubs)

Website

The IAGSDC is an umbrella organization for square dance clubs around the world that serve the LGBTQ community. Their History Wiki presents a wide range of historical information about LGBTQ square dancing, including current and past clubs, notable people, their annual Convention, the Gay Callers Association (GCA) and other affiliated organizations, as well as the evolution of the IAGSDC itself.


Rocky’s Success Story

Article Type Submitter Date Story Abstract
Winning Ways Story Doreen Guilloux (jdguil2@cciwireless.ca) March, 2016

Three years ago the Rocky Mountain House Whirlaways were struggling to hold their own. This spring they already have 2-1/2 squares signed up and paid for, for next fall, and they haven’t even advertised yet! Their recent President’s Report explains how their club worked together to turn things around.

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Recruitment

Article Type Author Publication Date Links Description
Document Tim Marriner 2016 Document PDF

Some ideas from Tim Marriner on the subject of recruiting new dancers to a club.

One of the most important necessities of our activity today is the need to find prospective new dancers. Unfortunately, many current dancers have grown weary looking for new people for various reasons. Existing dancers often have hounded their neighbors and friends several times to the point of being a nuisance. There are also dancers that would prefer not to have to “angel” anyone else again, possibly due to burn out. Some members might not really want to lower their proficiency or may wish to move ahead to other forms or programs of dance, not really interested in recruitment of new dancers. If a club determines they need to host new dancer sessions, the entire club needs to understand their responsibilities to support the effort 100%. Recruitment should not be left in just the hands of the caller or the club officers.



New Dancer Coordinator

Article Type Author Publication Date Links Description
Document Tim Marriner 2016 Document PDF

Does you club have an officer who has the job of organizing and catering to your new dancers? If not, you should think about it. This document describes what the responsibilities of a New Dancer Coordinator would be.

After the Club President the New Dancer Coordinator (NDC) is the next most important officer of a square dance club. They must coordinate between the Club President and the club instructor many necessary duties to achieve success. Without new dancers clubs are destined to fail. New dancers are the lifeblood of our activity. New dancers usually have friends nobody has ever contacted to join the square dance activity. They are often highly motivated and willing to encourage others to join something they find new and exciting. The main objective of the NDC is to provide the best fun filled learning experience possible. The NDC must also work year round to energize the club to recruit prospective new dancers, not just one month prior to a new dancer session. The task is very rewarding when everything comes together and you are able to achieve club growth.



174 Prospecting Ideas

Article Type Submitter Date Links Description
Idea Jim Langdon (mntndncr@gmail.com) March 2016 174 Prospecting Ideas

Timberline Toppers’ Recruiting Plan

Timberline Toppers is a club that has dramatically grown their membership by creating an effective plan and executing it repeatedly. One element of that plan is to use a variety of prospecting tactics. Over the years they have collected a large number of prospecting ideas and published them in the first document in the list of links. This document is part of a larger Winning Ways story which is included as the second document in the list of links.


Timberline Toppers’ Recruiting Plan

Article Type Submitter Date Story Abstract
Winning Ways Story Jim Langdon (mntndncr@gmail.com) March 2016

Timberline Toppers in Colorado created a recruiting plan that they used repetitively over a period of several years resulting in a dramatic regrowth of their failing club. In 2005 they struggled to put a square on the floor. Their first execution of this plan resulted in 38 new club members. They have fine tuned their plan over the years and now believe they can develop a class of 40 or more any time they choose to put forth the effort.

Read Timberline Toppers’ Plan …
Read Timberline Toppers 174 Prospecting Ideas …


Using The 12 Session Twice Per Week Program in Red Deer, Alberta

Article Type Submitter Date Story Abstract
Winning Ways Story Ron & Connie Morgan, RED DEER May 2015

For the 2014-15 square dance season, the Red Deer Square Dance Club decided to try something new and untested for introducing New Dancers to square dancing. Instead of the usual 6-7 month lessons once a week, we wanted to do a 12 week, twice a week approach. Red Deer has always had lessons on a separate night than the regular dances, so our new dancers get more floor time right from the start than most other clubs who teach on their regular dance night.

Thanks to Claudia Littlefair for her permission to republish this story first published in her Alberta Chatter newsletter.

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Experience Using the Nest System in Calgary, Alberta

Article Type Submitter Date Story Abstract
Winning Ways Story Claudia Littlefair, Calgary May 2015

May 2017

The Banff Trailers Club dance every second Saturday, and have New Dancer lessons every Monday night. Each September several New Dancers would join, but due to factors such as illness, time constraints, vacations, only some were able to complete the year. The club was looking for a new way to increase their numbers, and when ‘The Nest’ idea was presented they agreed to give it a try during the 2014-15 dance year.

Thanks to Claudia Littlefair for her permission to republish these stories first published in her Alberta Chatter newsletter.

Read the original story from 2015 …

Read an update about their experience in 2017


Success Using Fast Track in Edmonton, Alberta

Article Type Submitter Date Story Abstract
Winning Ways Story Pat & Ray Duffy, EDMONTON May 2015

In 2011/2012, the Country Sunshiners promoted and started New Dancer lessons under the watchful eye of Gary Winters. However, our turnout was low and to our dismay, by Christmas most of our new dancers had disappeared. During a meeting to discuss the results it was suggested a new format might be in order as the current one had not worked and maybe a compressed time frame would be better received. At the 2012 A.G.M. the Club discussed our future and the need for new members. It was decided to initiate the FAST TRACK Program with the hope of increasing the interest in Square Dancing.

Thanks to Claudia Littlefair for her permission to republish this story first published in her Alberta Chatter newsletter.

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Otonabee Squares – Success Starting a New Club (2009)

Article Type Submitter Date Story Abstract
Winning Ways Story Jean Lander (hjlander@gmail.com) 2015-08-03

Report from Jean and Howard Lander about their success in starting up a new club in Peterborough, Ontario. The report contains much interesting information about how they advertised, promoted, and recruited for the new group.

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Success Strategy – Brecksville Squares (Ohio)

Article Type Submitter Date Story Abstract
Winning Ways Story Dennis H. Deluga 2004-01-30

A report from Dennis H. Deluga about what can be done to help a club become successful. It deals with a number of areas including leadership, communication, and outreach, that clubs must address in order to be successful.

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