Docey Dandies News Update ~ 8/22/16

Highlights:

1. Rusty Dancer Support
2. Lesson Information Meeting August 29th
3. Parade and Demo
4. Kaw River kayak/canoe float *** addition info here that was not in the original email
5. Solo Dancer Support

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President’s Corner – Doug and Sandy
If you have not heard Doug had bunion foot surgery last Friday. It went well and recovery seems to be going well. But it will be at least 6 weeks before you see him on the dance floor.
Five things to share in this news update.

1. Rusty Dancer Support
   1. First Dance Will Be a Rusty Dancer Dance - Mike is going to be calling the first dance this year in a manner consistent with the fact that many of us have not danced a lot this summer and are a bit rusty in our square dancing. So be sure to come out to the first dance and shake off those cobwebs.
   2. Lesson Dances – This year we are going to have three dances associated with lessons. Our goal this year is to make lessons “funner” and less stressful. The only calls at the dance will be ones that the students have learned to that point. The intention is to give them a chance to practice what they have learned and to show them how much fun our dances can be. But an additional intent is to give our Rusty Dancers a chance to practice their dancing skills. The first lesson dance will be October 4th and it is free to current Docey Dandy members.
2. Lesson Information Meeting August 29th - The membership committee has been busy recruiting and planning for lessons, maybe you have seen our yard signs all over town?

The lesson coordinators this year are Daryl & Leslie.  Please give us your consideration while we keep each lesson going smoothly and provide the best learning experience for our students. If you would like to be an angel this year, we will have an informational meeting at the Grange on Monday August 29 from 7:00 – 8:00pm. We will be going over our new exciting lesson plans and angel expectations to make this year  “FUNNER”.  If you are unable to attend this meeting just let us know and we will go over the angel expectations and lesson plans with each of you individually. We are looking forward to seeing each of you, and together, we will make this a year to remember for all of us!
Also please remember to bring your family and friends to lessons.  Especially friends who are single men as this class looks to have many more single women than men.
Please check the Docey Dandy website for the fall lesson schedule.
Thank you,
Leslie & Daryl
Membership Chairs
 
  3. Parade and Demo News – So far our parade and demo activities have gone really well. We even won 1st place at the Fair parade. Our trailer looked really sharp all decorated out. Thank you Donna, Charlie and Greg for leading this effort and to everyone else who helped out. Our next opportunity will be in DeSoto on September 3rd for their parade and fair. Mike will be calling at the fair from 4 to 6 and would like dancer support from the Docey Dandys. This will be our next travel event (more information will be coming out in the future).  

  4. Kaw River kayak/canoe float Here's the latest- Saturday, Sept 17th. Meet at 2pm at the Rising Sun boat ramp in Lecompton. (Directions will be provided with your reservation) Floating on the Kaw with Up A CreekCanoe and Kayak Rental. They will provide you with the boat, paddles and life vests. This float is approximately 3 1/2 hrs, and with a 1/2 hr picnic on any sandbar of our choosing we should be off the water by 7pm. You just need to decide which type of boat you prefer:  single kayak $35, double kayak $45, canoe $50. Cash or check due the day of the float. I do need to provide an exact head count with your boat choice so they can have the correct boats loaded and ready for us that day. Please let me know if you will be joining us by our first dance on Saturday, Sept 10th. Let us enjoy a local river in a beautiful, peaceful setting with a great group of people! 
 
  5. Solo Dancer Support – Diane and Marvin have put together a plan to enable our club to provide support for the solo dancers attending our dances. Our club is going to try it and see how well it works. Please consider volunteering to dance with our solo dancers. Here are the highlights of our plan: 
 
The Docey Dandys “Ask Me to Dance” Initiative
 
Goals:

• Give each solo dancer in attendance (Docey Dandies or otherwise) the opportunity to dance every Mainstream tip (if successful, expand to include Plus tips)
• Increase attendance of solo dancers (Docey Dandies or otherwise)

How to Accomplish:

• Provide an easily communicated method so solo dancers can take the lead to find a dance partner each tip
• Develop a poster /white board / handout that explains the process and make it readily available and viewable during each dance
• Secure at least eight (8) active DD members to volunteer PER DANCE (4 men and 4 women); develop a list of all DD members willing to participate and schedule volunteers 1 to 2 dances in advance
• The DD volunteers should:
  • Arrive at least 10 minutes before the start of the dance
  • Plan to stay the entire dance
  • Be prepared to dance with solo dancers needing a partner
    (anticipate this would not be every mainstream tip)
• Provide DD volunteers with an “Ask Me to Dance” badge (returnable at end of dance)
• Provide each solo dancer who chooses to participate with a “Ready to Dance” ribbon (which could be pinned on or may be permanently attached to their name badge)
  NOTE: a side benefit is that solo dancers can easily seek out other solo dancers
• Enlist the help of the Greeters and Treasurers (to help educate the dancers as they arrive)
• Enlist the help of the Caller (to help continue to educate the dancers…from the microphone); this could include an introduction of the night’s volunteers
• When the music starts, encourage dancers to form squares quickly; DD volunteers should seek out solo dancers (with “Ready to Dance” ribbons) not yet on the floor and ask them to dance. Solo dancers who want to dance should stand up making it easier to identify them.