Similar to Lou, here is a quick glimpse at what my local dance at the John C. Campbell Folk School (Brasstown, North Carolina) is doing.
First, here is the Health and Safety Statement from the School: "The Folk School is committed to providing everyone with a positive experience of learning and sharing in a safe environment. Since our reopening in May 2021, we have fulfilled our mission in a manner that makes the safety and well-being of students, instructors, guests, visitors, and staff our highest priority. In developing our safety protocols and procedures, we are considering the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health authorities. We are also considering the Folk School’s unique environment of many people coming together to learn in our studios and live on campus." Here is a link to the guidelines: https://www.folkschool.org/wp-content/uploads/documents/covid-19-safety-guidelines.pdf Based on the guidelines, you will find that as of November 20, 2022 vaccines are no longer mandatory. While there was an exception for the 2022 Winter Dance Week, the weekly dances no longer require proof of vaccination. Masks are optional, but recommended. In the instance a student at the Folk School experiences Covid-19 symptoms or tests positive, there are procedures in order including contact tracing; however, I do not believe we actively have contact tracing in place for our dances since they are open to students and community members alike (without any formal checking in process). We maintain excellent attendance, especially from the community members outside of those taking weekly and/or weekend classes. In some instances, our attendance has actually grown. For example, our monthly ECD numbers went from roughly 14-20 dancers to 45+ dancers. While I will not say this is directly related to our guidelines, I will say there is a strong desire to dance permeating throughout our community right now - people are very eager to get back on the dance floor. Please note, the Folk School indicates that the guidelines can be amended at any time. There are no further updates as of today. If you have any questions you would like to ask me off this thread, please do not hesitate to reach out! Happy dancing, Olivia On Thu, Apr 13, 2023 at 2:50 PM Lou Echeandia via Organizers < organizers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hi everyone, > > In response to this general question, "what are others doing", I offer: > > 1. We at Oakland County Traditional Dance Society are a relatively small > affiliate of CDSS and are in Southeastern Michigan. Our experiences thus > far have ranged from full shutdown in 2021 to a "moderated" relaxed but > respectful approach. > > 2. When we began again in April of last year we instituted what was > considered to be a rigorous approach. We required each entrant to complete > a waver form, which also served as basis for a contact tracing database. > We required full vaccination and proof of vaccination and identity. Masking > was required. > Each attendee is provided with a named badge indicating that the process > for entry has been completed by this person. Our attendance has been > significantly lower over the entire period. 4/22 = 26, 6/22<10, 8/22 <20, > > 3. We have chosen to expect attendees are vaccinated, but do not ask for > proof, still require new attendees to fill out contact tracing information, > and state that masking is optional. Each attendee is provided with a > named badge indicating that the process for entry has been completed by > this person. > Our attendance levels have remained poor. 9/22<15, 12/22 <25, 1/23 = > special event celebration = 135, 2/23 <15, 3/23 <10. > > Prior to COVID we were getting from 40 to 60 paying attendees. > > We have returned to offering free snacks. > > Lou Echeandia > > -----Original Message----- > From: Darlene Hamilton via Organizers <organizers@lists.sharedweight.net> > To: Seth Seeger <s...@tofutavern.com> > Cc: A list for dance organizers <organiz...@sharedweight.net> > Sent: Wed, Apr 12, 2023 11:20 am > Subject: [Organizers] Re: Is it time to change our mask mandates? > > Thank you Seth! > > > On Wed, Apr 12, 2023 at 8:10 AM Seth Seeger via Organizers < > organizers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > Hi everyone, > > I'd like people to consider a few things when discussing covid... > > * People are asking what others are doing. Not asking for advice on what > they *should* be doing. Please don't offer unsolicited advice. I think > it is useful to hear what is happening at other dances. But if there is > going to be negative/critical feedback, people will not share. > > * This is email. No one is going to change someone else's mind. If you > don't agree with the guidelines that a dance is using, don't go to it. > Please don't attack or criticize the poster. Often, the poster is only one > person of a committee making the decisions. Don't shoot the messenger. > > * Please watch the tone of your email, or how others might perceive the > tone of your email. It might feel rude or critical, even if you didn't > intend it. Responders - instead of jumping on someone publicly, please > write to them privately, saying "that felt rude. Did you intend it that > way?" Maybe they will apologize. > > * We are all doing our best here. We are all coming from different > geographic areas which each have their own particular local culture, > especially regarding masking. Please be kind to each other if someone > else's guidelines don't agree with yours. > > Bottom line: This list is NOT a place to discuss the effectiveness of > masks, vaccines, etc. This is a thread asking what other people are > doing. No one has asked if others think their policy is good. > > Thank you, > Seth > > > ________________________ > Organizers mailing list -- organizers@lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to organizers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net > > -- > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Darlene Hamilton > > *Caller, Dancer, Founder of* > *The Historical Tea & Dance Society* > *Historical Balls, Tea Dances, and Historical Dance classes* > *For more information about events and classes go > to**www.historicalteaanddance.org > <http://www.historicalteaanddance.org/>* > *Like us on facebook!* > _______________________________________________ > Organizers mailing list -- organizers@lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to organizers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net > _______________________________________________ > Organizers mailing list -- organizers@lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to organizers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net >
_______________________________________________ Organizers mailing list -- organizers@lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to organizers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
