CDSS E-News 3/1/12

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E-News

New Director
Earlier today, CDSS announced its appointment of Rima Dael as Executive Director, beginning March 5. We're delighted she'll be joining us.

Recognizing George

We are pleased to announce that George Fogg, of Boston, MA, is the recipient of CDSS's Lifetime Contribution Award for 2012. A teacher of country dance since 1968, he is an expert at getting beginners out onto the dance floor, is endlessly enthusiastic about dancing and dancers, and full of good humor that quickly makes everyone around him smile. He's also a volunteer extraordinaire and the author of several valuable books. Details about the presentation celebration will be announced later. Congratulations, George.

Thank You
Thank you to our friends and members for the many ways you support our work. The list of 2011 donors is now online.

Summer Is Coming

Registration for our camp programs is now open; see our website for program and staff details, registration and scholarship forms.

We're especially excited to present Leadership in Dance & Music for Young Adults as one of our Special Courses. If you're a young adult (between a rising high school junior to age 25) and ready to develop the skills to lead your community to new and greater heights, sign up soon. Tell your friends to sign up with you too.

Registering for camp? Don't forget to make sure your CDSS membership is up to date, as members will be considered first should a lottery process be necessary. And whether or not you're planning to come to camp this summer, please consider making a gift in support of our wonderful scholarship program.

Twelve New Outreach Grants Awarded

As of the January 1st deadline, twelve new events and projects from coast to coast have been offered a total of $3,500 from CDSS Outreach Funds. Of special note is a project to revive dancing on the remote Swan's Island off the coast of Maine (total population 350). Another is the Mountain Dance Trail, a project to revitalize dances in ten communities throughout West Virginia (also supported by the National Endowment for the Arts). April 1st is the next application deadline.

Leadership Conferences, Midwest and Southwest

Regional leadership events like these, for dance organizers and callers, provide much-needed resources and connections that have an energizing effect on music and dance communities far and wide. CDSS is pleased to co-sponsor these projects.

Midwest Leadership Conference -- August 10-12, 2012, in Cincinnati OH -- contact Ryan Smith
Southwest Leadership Conference -- We're scouting for people to help create this event. If you know anyone who might be interested, please contact Linda Henry soon.

Go Square Dancing at the Keith Blackmon Memorial Weekend

Nils Fredland has been working on an upcoming CDSS publication, featuring the late southwestern NY caller Keith Blackmon's fascinating collection of singing squares. To honor Keith's significant contributions to his local dance community, his friend and musical colleague Howard Blumenthal and Nils are creating a dance weekend on March 24-25 in Bradford, PA, and nearby Great Valley, NY, to celebrate the rich tradition of round and square dancing in NY state.

Folk Sing Starter Kit
Our newest online resource, the Folk Sing Starter Kit, created by Julia Friend and Nicole Singer, has suggestions for forming singing communities and events, encouraging new singers, finding venues to sing in, and more. See also Julia's blog introduction.