Unfortunately, square dancing is the one recreational activity that is the most severely affected by the possibilities associated with transmission of this virus. It is obvious that our activity will be one that takes some time to recover. However, recovery will come. The social distancing guidelines currently in place have served a purpose to keep us safe and we now see some signs of getting back to normal life. However, until such time as the health authorities give us the go ahead to safely socialize together in a normal manner, we will be obliged to keep our clubs shut down. But when our clubs do start up, PLEASE support them!

At the end of May, the Federation hosted a successful Zoom AGM. In addition to our executive committee, we had 36 participants – considerably more that our usual attendance! We had valuable input from the participants. Quite a few people spoke of the importance of keeping contact with our dancers in this time of social distancing and the many ways the clubs or individual members have taken this to heart. Some are holding Zoom meetings, some have their telephone tree active to keep in touch, others are sending out newsletters and other individuals are taking the initiative to call a dance friend.

Although we all love dancing, the social time at our clubs is so important. Friendships made and the support to all when they are going through rough times and the shared happy events in their lives. For many, social isolation is difficult so we should all reach out to our dancer friends!

It is possible that clubs will not be able to start up in September. Our facilities may not be available to us or there may be concerns about cleaning the halls after use. At this time, school boards in some areas are not taking reservations for space for the Fall. Should clubs not be able to open by the end of the year, the Canadian Square and Round Dance Society has agreed to pay our insurance based on last year’s membership lists. So much is uncertain at this stage so keep watching the Federation webpage for updates.

Some callers are keeping in touch sending out quizzes to challenge us; some are doing some virtual calling. We thank them for all the work involved to keep us happy!

Jeff Priest recommends going to Dancing in the Garage series
Click on the link to view the complete video listing of the “two person” dancing that was created by Bob Simpson and Darby Love. The challenge has been to address social distancing in square and round dancing. The “Dancing in the Garage Series” is specifically designed for two person squares & rounds and can be done in your basement, garage or driveway. These videos are presented as dance-along fun-shops and tutorials. Jeff Priest notes that the list is in reverse order so recommends starting at the bottom.

Two Associations will be holding zoom AGM meetings this month. Your participation is encouraged.

Be kind; keep smiling and keep safe!

Howard and Jean Lander – Federation Publicity and PR

Greetings to all!

September will see most clubs starting dancing for the 2017-18 season. Some of you have been dancing during the summer at different places and making new square dance friends. This is one of the joys of square dancing – meeting like-minded people all over the country and further afield!

The Ontario Square and Round Dance Federation (usually referred to as “the Federation”) is your provincial body that promotes square dancing, maintains the website and facebook, manages membership and insurance, offers financial assistance for recruitment and leadership training and manages the Trillium awards. The Board is made up of members from all local Associations (EOSARDA, T&D, SWOSDA and Northern Ontario). We urge you go to the webpage for more detailed information: http://squaredance.on.ca

Congratulations to the following people who have been awarded Trillium Awards:
Barry and Pam Clasper (T&D)– Merit Award
Richard Sharman (EOSARDA) – Merit Award
Jim and Grace Bagshaw (SWOSDA) – Long Service Award
Jack and Joy Glasman (SWOSDA) Long Service Award
Bob and Joan Hobson (T&D) – Long Service Award

New callers are needed in Ontario and to this end there are bursaries available to help towards the cost of attending caller schools, not only from Federation but also from the national body, Canadian Square and Round Dance Society. Up to $500 from the Society and $400 from Federation. EOSARDA also offer up to $250. Full information is available on the website. There will be a caller school next year in July, prior to the National Convention. Watch the website for more info.

Congratulation to Luke Periard and Ron Gardiner, both from Ottawa; Murray Pattenden from Newcastle; Janis Reed from North Bay and Marg Coahran from Toronto; who, this past June, completed the course at the Canadian Connection Callers’ College run by Joe Uebelacker.

Six clubs received recruitment bursaries from the Federation.

Dan Roy, web master for the Federation, requests clubs to submit videos, photos, articles, etc., for inclusion on the webpage; info@squaredance.on.ca. If you have been successful recruiting new dancers, please share this information with other clubs through the Federation webpage. If your club has celebrated a special milestone or other event, please share this with other clubs.

Membership. Ontario had a membership of 2650 (down 40 from last year). Canada wide, membership was down by 5%. Let’s try and reverse these figures this year! If everyone could bring in one dancer we could do wonders for this hobby of ours!

The Federation has allocated a budget for advertising at events which attract many visitors. For example; the Havelock Jamboree or other Fall Fairs. The timing should be July to early September to coincide with club start ups. A generic ad (not advertising a specific club) would be put in their program booklet. If you know of any such events which may be of interest, please contact Howard Lander. hjlander@gmail.com or 905 342 5450.

Federation Logo. Are there any graphic artists among our dancers who would be interested in developing a new copy of our logo? Contact Dan if you can help contact dan.roy@tnt21.com
member.

20th Canadian National Convention, London, ON – July 19,20,21, 2018 http://squaredance.ca/2018/
Please make this a priority event on your calendar.

SWOSDA is hosting the Convention next year and have been hard at work now for some time. Some important information: Hotels are now receiving reservations. The prices quoted on the registration form have been reduced and are as follows: Double Tree by Hilton is now $140 pn plus tax. Parking will be $5pn. Delta London Armouries Hotel, now $139 and the Holiday Inn is now $130 and includes a continental breakfast and parking. Each hotel has a limited number of rooms at the convention rate so book early. Besides hotels there is camping available; also very reasonable accommodation available at Western Ontario University and Fanshawe College residences.

Please encourage all your dancers to attend for this really great event and please register as early as possible. The Convention committee plan dance halls, callers, etc., many months ahead of time. To enable them to allocate the hall space and callers to any dance category, they need to know dancer levels and type of dancing early in 2018. At present no cloggers are registered so this may not be offered.

Please go to the Convention website for more information and also for information about upcoming Convention fundraising dances. http://squaredance.ca/2018/

Club Events
All local Association post an event Calendar on their respective web pages. Please try and get out to support the events, workshops and dances that various clubs host. Each year there are less of these due to the fact that many dancers are not supporting them. Encourage your new dancers by taking them to their first “outside” dance. Offer dangles to newer dancers who attend special events. One of the joys of dancing is making friends at other clubs.

On behalf of the Federation Board members, we wish you a successful dance year ahead.

Submitted by: Howard and Jean Lander
Federation – Public Relations and Promotions

How the Federation can help You

The aims and objectives of the Federation are outlined fully on the website: http://squaredance.on.ca.

Highlighted here are some of the more tangible ways in which the Federation can offer support to clubs, leaders and dancers within Ontario. Various bursaries are available to help offset the cost of recruitment, caller training, new club set-up and leadership training. Each bursary has its own criteria, deadlines and regulations so please pay careful attention to these, which are fully explained on the website.

All applications for bursaries must be routed through your local Association so you must allow sufficient time to meet the various criteria and deadlines of each bursary.

The Federation consists of 6 Associations, listed below. As Northern Ontario and Northwestern Ontario do not have an Association committee, applications from these areas should go directly to the Federation.

• Eastern Ontario Square and Round Dance Association
• Toronto and District Square and Round Dance Association
• Square and Round Dancers of South Western Ontario
• Lakehead & District Square & Round Dance Association
• Northern Ontario Square and Round Dance Clubs
• Northwestern Ontario

In some cases your local Association may also offer bursaries; please refer to your own Association for information.

The Canadian Square and Round Dance Society (CSRDS) also offer a Caller training bursary and a Leadership Training bursary. Please refer to their website for information.
http://www.csrds.ca/csrds-leaders.htm. An amount of up to $500 is offered.

New Club Bursary
Any person/s wishing to start up a new club (square dance, round dance, line dance or clogging group) may apply to their Federation for help to offset the start-up expenses incurred. The Federation may award, to each successful applicant, a maximum one time grant of up to $200. A maximum amount for any calendar year to be awarded to all applicants is $1000. All applications will be dealt with on a first come first served basis.

Leadership Training Grants
The purpose of establishing a Grants Program is to provide financial assistance for Associations/ clubs or groups affiliated with the Ontario Square & Round Dance Federation to sponsor caller/cuer/ leader training or upgrade the skills of established dance instructors. This is not available to an individual.

Caller/Leader/Instructor Bursary
Any dancer wishing to become a Caller/Leader/Instructor in the different dance categories (square, round, clogging, line, western), or a current Caller/Leader/Instructor wishing to upgrade their skills may apply for a bursary to help offset the expenses incurred. The application form can be found on the website. It must be approved by your local Association before being submitted to the Federation. The Federation may pay up to 50% of the approved costs, to a maximum of $400.

Recruitment Bursary
All member clubs can apply for this bursary to help offset the cost incurred in recruiting new dancers. An amount of up to $200 is available. Again, please read the criteria listed on the Federation website. It will be awarded on a first come basis. As the annual amount given out is limited to $1000, it may be reduced depending on the number of successful applications.

Large event Sponsorships
A new initiative by the Federation is to allocate $500 to towards sponsorship/advertising of large events, some of which draw people from all areas of the province and therefore cover the jurisdictions of different Associations. If any club has knowledge of such events they think meet this criteria, please make the Federation aware of it.

Prepared by Howard and Jean Lander
Publicity and Promotion