Communities in Conflict
May 30, 2023
An online discussion to support organizers of dance, music, and song groups
From disagreements about COVID protocols to strong feelings about role terms on the dance floor, dance leaders and organizers have been in the middle of passionate community discussions the past few years. As an organizer, what approaches and techniques can you use to help your group through these rough patches? And what can you do to keep your own balance along the way?
CDSS Executive Director Katy German joined Jenny Beer, Dana Dwinell-Yardley, Sue Songer, and Kathy Story for a conversation about working through conflict as a community.
Read More
Recruiting and Keeping Volunteers!
March 7, 2023
An online discussion to support organizers of dance, music, and song groups
In our mostly volunteer-powered community, we’ve long faced challenges when it comes to finding and keeping the people who make our organization’s dance, music, and song activities possible. The COVID pandemic exacerbated those challenges and impacted both our organizations and the environment in which we work.
CDSS Executive Director Katy German hosted this Web Chat to discuss volunteer management and address key volunteer-related questions, such as:
- Where do we find new volunteers?
- How do we appreciate the volunteers we have and help them avoid burn-out?
- How do we create processes for training volunteers and planning for position turn-over?
Read More
Building Cultural Equity in Communities
October 25, 2022
An online discussion to support organizers of dance, music, and song groups
This Web Chat provided firsthand experiences from organizers who have used CDSS grants to provide diversity, equity, and inclusion training for their groups. We heard about ways they have been applying what they’ve learned from these valuable workshops, and what’s next for their groups. We also included plenty of time for Q&A. Our special guests were:
- Cindy Culbert and Rich Dempsey: Country Dancers of Rochester (Rochester, NY)
- Janet Yeracaris and Vince O’Donnell: New England Folk Festival Association (New England region)
- Lauren Keeley: DanceFlurry Organization (Albany, NY)
Read More
Let’s Talk About Reentry, Part 7: Singing Together Safely
May 3, 2022
An online discussion to support organizers of song groups
Two organizers offered firsthand experiences about keeping their song groups alive and well through the pandemic by hosting in-person and online singing events. Our third guest provided the latest COVID-19 news from her public health perspective, with suggestions especially pertinent for song group organizers. Q&A with all three guests included:
- Janice Hanson from Golden Link Folk Singing Society in Rochester, NY
- Steve Deering from Vancouver Folk Song Society in Vancouver, BC
- Dr. Kimbi Hagen, public health professor from Atlanta, GA
Read More
Let’s Talk About Reentry, Part 6: Prioritizing Safety at In-person Dances
February 28, 2022
CDSS Executive Director Katy German had a conversation with three contra dance organizers who have resumed in-person dancing. They described adjustments they’ve made to their “normal” processes, what impacted their decision to resume, what they’re asking of participants, and what they recommend to others. We also presented a new online resource: Groups that Have Resumed In-person Events.
Read More
Weathering the Winter Together
November 1, 2021
We used this Web Chat to generate lots of ideas for keeping communities safe and engaged during another pandemic winter. Small groups brainstormed further ideas in breakout rooms. Also, public health professor Dr. Kimbi Hagen shared news and perspectives about how the pandemic is progressing.
Read More
In June 2018, CDSS began a new Web Chat series to support organizers of dance, music, and song communities across the continent and beyond. For each Web Chat, a pertinent topic is chosen and guest organizers from communities having success with that topic are invited to share their valuable experiences and suggestions (Q&A included).
Join us for our next Web Chat:
Succession Planning for Dance Organizations
Thursday, December 5, 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT)
- Does your group want to change from having a single organizer to a committee-run model?
- Have you noticed burn-out among your volunteers and are wondering what to do about it?
- Are you wondering how to attract new people to the organizing team of your group?
Join us for a panel discussion where dance organizers share their experiences with leadership and volunteer changes in their local groups.
With special guests:
- Jenny Beer, Germantown Country Dancers, PA
- Lisa Faryadi, Charlotte Contra Dancers, NC
Register now and bring your questions to share!
Questions? Contact camp@cdss.org
Latest Web Chat:
Communities in Conflict
May 30, 2023
An online discussion to support organizers of dance, music, and song groups
From disagreements about COVID protocols to strong feelings about role terms on the dance floor, dance leaders and organizers have been in the middle of passionate community discussions the past few years. As an organizer, what approaches and techniques can you use to help your group through these rough patches? And what can you do to keep your own balance along the way?
CDSS Executive Director Katy German joined Jenny Beer, Dana Dwinell-Yardley, Sue Songer, and Kathy Story for a conversation about working through conflict as a community.
Read More
Previous Web Chats
- Recruiting and Keeping Volunteers! March 7, 2023
- Building Cultural Equity in Communities October 26, 2022
- Let’s Talk About Reentry, Part 7: Singing Together Safely May 4, 2022
- Let’s Talk About Reentry, Part 6: Prioritizing Safety at In-person Dances February 28, 2022
- Weathering the Winter Together November 1, 2021
- Let’s Talk About Reentry, Part 5: News from Groups That Have Resumed In-person Events August 12, 2021
- Let’s Talk About Reentry, Part 4: Addressing Legal and Other Burning Questions May 19, 2021
- Let’s Talk About Reentry, Part 3: An MD Discusses Vaccines, and We Discuss Our Sector’s Needs March 1, 2021
- Singing and Playing Music in REAL TIME! An online discussion for organizers of song communities and open bands January 13, 2021
- Let’s Talk About Reentry: Working Together Now for a Strong Return to Dancing October 21, 2020
- Supporting Song Communities Across the Continent September 16, 2020
- Let’s Talk About Reentry: Recommendations and Q&A for Organizers July 8, 2020
- Yes we CAN keep in touch! Connecting Our Communities During the Pandemic April 29, 2020
- Diversifying Income: Thinking Outside the Money Basket February 12, 2020
- Connecting Community Sing Organizers October 16, 2019
- Building Safe Dance Communities July 11, 2019
- Family/Community Dance Organizers Unite! April 4, 2019
- Increasing Youth Involvement January 16, 2019
- Creating a Thriving Open Band September 20, 2018
- Boosting AttenDANCE June 21, 2018
Let’s Talk About Reentry, Part 5: News from Groups That Have Resumed In-person Events
August 12, 2021
There is strong interest amongst organizers in hearing news from communities that have already resumed in-person events. This Web Chat provided valuable experiences and suggestions from two dance and song organizers who are already navigating their reentry, as well as perspectives from a public health professional.
Read More
Let’s Talk About Reentry, Part 4: Addressing Legal and Other Burning Questions
May 19, 2021
For this Web Chat, CDSS hired an attorney to address some of our broader community’s legal questions. Other panelists provided resources and considerations to help organizers chart their group’s course for safely emerging from the pandemic. Ultimately, each group needs to ask their own questions and find answers that are right for their location, type of event, and community. We’re all in this together!
Read More
Let’s Talk About Reentry, Part 3: An MD Discusses Vaccines, and We Discuss Our Sector’s Needs
March 1, 2021
In this third installment of the “Let’s Talk About Reentry” Web Chat series, we featured presentations and discussions about how the pandemic has altered our communities’ needs and how we can best prepare for returning to in-person dancing, singing, and music-making.
Read More
Thanks to the Massachusetts Cultural Council for their generous support.