Next meeting:EXCLUSIVE TOPIC IS MEMBERSHIP. LET'S GET THIS PUPPY DONE! TUESDAY MAY 20, 7-9, at Traca's, 39 Highland Ave, Gorham, 207.252.4059
May 6 Meeting Minutes
We met at Eva's home in SoPo. Thanks for your hospitality Eva! John took notes. Deb spiffed 'em up and posted.
Present: Nev, Blair, Neil, Liberty, Chloe, Deb, Dave, Mellen, John, Julie, Eva (presiding)
First topic-- Discussion of physical safety.
Concerns/complaint(s) recently, from dancers feeling worried about being knocked into or someone getting hurt.
Sense of exuberance, people feeling comfortable, others perhaps not so much. Some people don't have a sense of their own space and how it affects others. Others may be exuberant but are aware of others. Mainly discussing high energy dancers who partner and use a lot of space.
This seems to come up periodically. Maybe from time to time we need to make an announcement or remind dancers to be conscious of others.
It's crowded. Contact: some lifts/moves that others find frightening. The true risk depends in part on experience/ability of individual dancers and partners. Some things are pretty risky. At times dancers may be a step away from someone really getting hurt.
Suggestion: put something out written. Dancing in partnership: in a way responsible for your partner, looking out for possible collisions by partner with other dancers.
Need to put this out verbally.
Restating: concern of safety with others and self (injury avoidance). Concern about excessive exuberance.
Idea: Try the whiteboard, with instruction to greeter to ask people to look at it.
Another idea: floating sign.
Another idea: speak with people you don't feel safe with. Encourage direct communication.
Deb read website page on safety.
Facebook another tool. We'll ask Don to post something there.
John gets whiteboard. Ask Cherie to highlight to greeter special announcements on whiteboard.
Next topic: General topic of Inclusion, including who comes to dance, and when and how do dancers feel included or excluded.
1--We're a primarily white community, able-bodied. How to reach out, draw and/or include people from non dominant culture or groups that might otherwise feel excluded?
What is our responsibility now? In the future?
Currently we don't advertise and we are not trying to actively grow in number. If an when we do we may want to return to topic of diversity.
2--How to include new people who often hang out around the periphery of the dance space?
Most of us are aware of helping new people feel welcome and make an effort.
We reminded ourselves to keep in mind how cultivate an inclusive environment when possible.
We do have a very strong subgroup of social-outside-of-dance community members and some dancers who sense exclusion may be feeling that.
Some of the people around the periphery feel safer on the edge as dancing is already an edge or feels risky and is plenty to deal with. Others would like to be invited "in". Often it's not clear what dancers who are dancing primarily alone want.
At some point we may want to consider educating inexperienced or new dancers about how to engage with other dancers, from a dance perspective.
We don't have any instructor saying "find a partner"
Idea: Once or twice a dance DJs could provide music that implies or invites dancing with a partner or group dance or stupid line dance. Bring up with the DJs.
Next topic: Discussion of a community issue.
Topic for future discussion/review: Membership: Committee needs to meet first (Dave G, John B, Blair F). Otherwise tabled for now.
Next topic: Website
SEO. Others can link to site, add a few keywords, but otherwise don't worry about it.
Topic for future discussion/review: Create a policy statement that reserves the right to ask a member/participant to leave.
Next topic: Outdoor dance/special event: Nev/Julie to work on planning one or more summer beach events. Neil to call State St. church to secure facility for New Year's eve.
Next Topic: Announcements: put on the whiteboard, reduce spoken announcements at closing circle. Try for a month (having no announcements at closing circle). Chloe to get info to DJs.
Additional tasks: John to check with Kristin about putting us on the website. John to get whiteboard. Deb to make sign that reminds dancers about safety.
Next meeting:EXCLUSIVE TOPIC IS MEMBERSHIP. LET'S GET THIS PUPPY DONE! TUESDAY MAY 20, 7-9, at Traca's, 39 Highland Ave, Gorham, 207.252.4059 Liberty's home as backup!
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