[Organizers] Re: REMINDER TO SAY WHERE YOU DANCE. : Is it time to change our mask mandates?

[Peter Martel via Organizers]

Sorry Paul,New Hampshire.OP = original poster?MFS = Monadnock Folklore Society(same organization, as OP ;-)Sent from miHand,Peter‘…the slimmest of instructions, “To use your gifts and dreams for good.” ’— From Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer On Apr 13, 2023, at 5:38 PM, Paul Rosenberg  wrote:Just another friendly reminder to say where you and/or your dances are locatedAlso, please avoid acronyms for dummies like me.  Although I do know what COVID isBut what is OP and what is MFS?ThanksPaul RosenbergAlbany, NYwww.homespun.bizJoy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music518-482-9255On Thu, Apr 13, 2023 at 4:11 PM Peter Martel via Organizers  wrote:Thanks Seth for helping to reset the tone. Agreed folks need to feel like they can share perspectives without concern. The OP’s question was:“I am very curious about what other organizers think. Is it time? And what should be our criteria for lifting our mandates?”That suggests a broader response beyond just what others are doing.For me the broader sharing along with the thinking behind it and related experiences and implications is helpful. There are many way to think and decide, so knowing the thinking beyond just the policy I lends to better decisions. Do we do what’s best for the most people? What is best? At the hospital, folks are asked to wear a mask to make others more comfortable. Do we expect the same from our dancers?I thought Woody shared most of what I was thinking. Specifically, contra dances made be the best way to spread disease. That said, maybe also good for building immunity, if we all survive. For me, important is the idea that I wear a mask mostly for others. For those who are immune compromised, and because people are still dying. I like the idea of different lines, and even alternating dances, where masks are required or not. This give options to everyone. But I also recall a suggestion a while back; we can go back to “normal” when COVID numbers align with Flu numbers. We all should know that varies significantly from year to year, both in transmission and severity, so it’s not an exact answer but a reasonable place to shoot for, and a risk level most folks tend to accept. So everyone knows, we have been dancing every Monday since January, with N95 masks required. We didn’t choose to ask for proof of vaccine. No problems with compliance, from young and old. Doesn’t seem to affect anyone’s ability to dance.   Participant numbers are down, but then that seems to be the case generally for all post COVID events. We expect numbers to increase over time. Maybe we’ll try alternating mask weeks and see what that does to our numbers. 樂Full disclosure: I’ll be helping the OP make the decision for MFS. Because we host a weekly dance alternating mask requirements each week is more viable than a monthly dance. But we plan to restart a (hopefully) larger monthly Saturday dance soon so the mask question has greater implications. Sent from miHand,Peter‘…the slimmest of instructions, “To use your gifts and dreams for good.” ’— From Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer On Apr 12, 2023, at 11:07 AM, Seth Seeger via Organizers  wrote:* 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.___
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[Organizers] Re: Is it time to change our mask mandates?

[Olivia Barry via Organizers]

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 
> To: Seth Seeger 
> Cc: A list for dance organizers 
> 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 

[Organizers] Re: Is it time to change our mask mandates?

[Lou Echeandia via Organizers]

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 
To: Seth Seeger 
Cc: A list for dance organizers 
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 
 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






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Caller, Dancer, Founder of
The Historical Tea & Dance Society
Historical Balls, Tea Dances, and Historical Dance classes
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