Here are some thoughts from Belfast ME re: Lisa's questions: Organizers, what are your plans for restarting your dances? At our most recent (online) board meeting, we agreed that we have no firm plan, beyond waiting until it seems safe to dance and continuing to reevaluate as time passes. So much depends on the ever-evolving situation. Whenever we do feel able restart our monthly dances and our outreach programs in the community, we're going to be really really happy.
...What should our organizations be doing [until they start up again]? We are sending occasional updates to our email list, including a series of blog posts called Rays of Sunshine, trying to highlight some bright spots out there, either related to dance/music or our local community or both. rays-of-sunshine-march-24/<http://belfastflyingshoes.org/rays-of-sunshine-march-24/> and rays-of-sunshine-april-3/<http://belfastflyingshoes.org/rays-of-sunshine-april-3/> are examples. This blog series is therapeutic for us, as a board, and we've gotten positive feedback. We're also sharing online offerings of music/dance on our FB page, just to help spread the word. facebook.com/Belfast-Flying-Shoes-Dance-Series-35211723615/<https://www.facebook.com/Belfast-Flying-Shoes-Dance-Series-35211723615/> And we're doing some groundwork for our organization, which has a varied palette of programs beyond our monthly programs. belfastflyingshoes.org/outreach/<http://belfastflyingshoes.org/outreach/> And finally, we're continuing the fundraising effort <http://belfastflyingshoes.org/fundraising-2020/> that we leapt into on February 29, albeit with tempered expectations, given the current societal and financial upheaval. I encourage everyone to consider reaching out to your constituents for financial support -- too many of our organizations run on a razor thin margin, and there are definitely people out there who would be happy to keep an organization from folding. CDSS hosted a web chat about fundraising - here is the webchat page<https://www.cdss.org/resources/events/web-chats> - and I recently read about a local movement by folks of modest needs who plan to donate their federal relief checks to worthwhile causes. Worth keeping in mind. What conversations are you having within your organizations? We are re-evaluating on a regular basis, monitoring our local situation and recommendations from our governor, state CDC, and national CDC. We are also discussing options for holding events that aren't quite as high touch as our dances - for example, outdoor concerts, online concerts, jam sessions, etc. We're also clear that we are very lucky to have such a strong local culture of trad music and dance. And that we in most parts of Maine are doubly lucky, given the low population density and preponderance of natural beauty. Hearing my neighbors play tunes on banjo and fiddle or sing with tight harmonies, while I weed my flower beds, is a balm for the soul. And I, personally, am refining a concept suggested by one of those same neighbors, of dancing with foam swimming noodles as arm-extenders (glue a glove onto the end of each noodle). That way everyone can "connect" with the noodles instead of hands, maintaining a greater-than-six-feet distance from one's fellow dancers. Can't you picture the stars and circles and allemandes? I admit, it needs work. But it gives me pleasure to imagine it. Chrissy Fowler Belfast Flying Shoes Belfast ME ** ** ** Dance Calling | Transcription | Belfast Flying Shoes chrissyfowler.com<http://www.chrissyfowler.com> | westbranchwords.com<http://www.westbranchwords.com> | belfastflyingshoes.org/blog<http://www.belfastflyingshoes.org/blog> <http://www.chrissyfowler.com> (207) 338-0979
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