[Organizers] Re: Is it time to change our mask mandates?
Yikes, masks forbidden?! That sounds pretty extreme.Most dances in western Mass are still requiring masks and vaccinations, which I fully support. Without those precautions I, and many others, would not feel able to attend.Liz Sturgen Easthampton, MA Sent from AOL on Android On Fri, Apr 7, 2023 at 9:52 AM, Rich Dempsey via Organizers wrote: ___ 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] Re: Current use of terms
The Downtown Amherst contra has gone to all gender free calling but apparently needs to update their site.Liz Sturgen Sent from AOL on Android On Thu, Mar 9, 2023 at 7:45 PM, Peter Simonyi via Organizers wrote:There are only 49 dances on Jeff's list, so I went to each website andtook a quick look around. Of the dances that are still clearly running and list the terms theyuse on their website (somewhere I could find it), the overwhelmingmajority use Larks+Robins. The only other terms with anyrepresentation are Larks+Ravens and one mention of positional calling. "Not mentioned" means they don't say what role terms are used in aplace I could find (even if they say it's gender-free etc -- some don'teven say that much). "Not running?" means it appears the series is no longer putting ondances, or still on hiatus from the pandemic. If they are holdingdances, the website is out of date. This of course misses dances that are not in or up to date on Jeff'slist. Amherst MA: http://amherstcontra.org Not mentioned (‘what is contra’ page mentions gents+ladies but itseems to be a general description not specific to this dance) Amherst MA:https://engage.hampshire.edu/organization/contradancecollective Not running? Arden DE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ardencontra/ "Arden uses gender-free role terms (usually larks and robins, andsometimes positional calling.)" Belfast ME: http://www.belfastflyingshoes.org/ Larks+Robins Berkeley CA: http://www.bacds.org/series/contra/berkeley_wed/ Larks+Robins Blacksburg VA: https://gobblerconnect.vt.edu/organization/contrafolk Private site Blacksburg VA: https://www.facebook.com/ContraFolkVT/ Not running? Was Larks+Ravens Brooklyn NY: http://www.brooklyncontra.org/ Not mentioned Cambridge MA: http://www.bidadance.org/ Larks+Robins Carrboro NC: http://firstsaturdaycontra.com/ “callers will use the terms Larks and Ravens (or Robins)” Charlottesville VA: https://www.facebook.com/groups/984316375582303/ Larks+Robins Chicago IL: https://www.facebook.com/QueerContraChicago/ Larks+Robins? Their "about" description mentions both Ravens andRobins, so probably this is an editing oversight: “Instead of gender roles, dancers choose whether to dance the Larkrole or the Raven role. One role extends their Left arm for theballroom swing and stands on the Left at the end of it (it's the Lark!)The Robin extends their Right arm for that swing and ends it standingon the Right.” Cincinnati OH: https://www.facebook.com/GFCinci/ Not running? Concord MA: http://mondaycontras.com/ Larks+Robins Concord MA: http://www.neffa.org/Thurs.html Larks+Robins Denver CO: http://www.cfootmad.org Not mentioned Edinburgh Scotland: https://www.facebook.com/EdinburghContra/ Larks+Robins Glen Echo MD: https://www.facebook.com/ContraSonic/ Not running? Halifax Canada: https://www.facebook.com/HalifaxContraDances/ Larks+Ravens They seem to have a new website too: https://www.halifaxcontra.ca/ Hayward CA: https://sfbaycontra.org/ Not mentioned Jamaica Plain MA: http://www.lcfd.org/jp/ Larks+Robins Los Angeles CA: http://www.caldancecoop.org/california-twirl/ Not mentioned Milwaukee WI: https://www.mkecontra.org/ Not mentioned Minneapolis MN: https://www.facebook.com/groups/twincitiesqueercontra Larks+Robins Monterey CA: http://montereycontradance.org Not mentioned Montpelier VT: http://capitalcitygrange.org/dancing/contradancing/ Not mentioned Montreal Canada: http://www.contramontreal.org/ Larks+Robins New York NY: http://cdny.org/ Larks+Robins (in the caller info page) New York NY: http://www.villagecontra.org Not running? (Was Larks+Robins) Northampton MA: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1311451995547490/ Larks+Robins Oakland CA: http://www.queercontradance.org/circleleft.html Larks+Robins Oberlin OH: https://www2.oberlin.edu/stuorg/contra/ Not running? (Was Larks+Ravens 2017-2019) Olympia WA: https://oly-wa.us/southbaygrange/contra.php Larks+Robins (but listed per dance as if it could change) Orlando FL: https://contraknights.org/ Not mentioned Petaluma CA: http://www.nbcds.org/ Not mentioned Portland ME: http://portlandintowncontradance.com/ Not running? Portland ME: https://www.commonfloorcontra.dance/ Larks+Robins Portland OR: http://contraremix.com/ Larks+Robins Portland OR: https://portlandcountrydance.org/pdxcontra-info/ Not mentioned Providence RI: https://www.facebook.com/ProvidenceCommunityDance/ Private site Sacramento CA: http://www.sactocds.org/ Not mentioned San Jose CA: http://www.bacds.org/series/contra/san_jose/ Not running? (Was Larks+Robins) Santa Cruz CA: https://www.facebook.com/groups/contrasantacruz/ "usually using gender neutral role terms (Larks / Robins)." Seattle WA: http://seattledance.org/contra/emeraldcity Larks+Robins Seattle WA: http://seattledance.org/contra/lakecity Larks+Robins Stillwater OK:
[Organizers] Re: Is it time to end COVID restrictions at most contra dances?
The organizers of the ten different dance series in Greenfield, MA have received overwhelmingly positive support for our continuation of strict protocols. Most of our dancers are grateful that they are able to safely resume dancing even when so many other activities still seem too risky. More people than you may think still need to protect themselves and their families from Covid, and would not be able to safely dance if the rules were relaxed. There are other dances in our region where masks are optional, and they have their supporters, but I am grateful that our protocols are in place, and most importantly, that they are working. There so far has been no known Covid spread traced to any of our dances.Liz Sturgen Sent from the all new AOL app for Android On Tue, Jan 3, 2023 at 6:21 PM, Joe Harrington via Organizers wrote: While I'm happy to comply with any COVID policy in order to dance, and I choose to wear a mask at bigger events, I question whether the contra communities' strict policies are doing us much good, either in protecting us medically or in getting dances going again. Consider: 1. Even in the most restricted states (New England, etc.), nearly everyone is maskless nearly all the time in normal life, including most dancers. People eat in very crowded restaurants, ride public transportation, fly on airplanes, sit in airports, go shopping, work, attend school, do sports, go to the gym, sing, interact with friends and family members who have been out in the community maskless, etc., mostly without masks. 2. As a result of #1, covid is spreading quite effectively in our communities, even if a few groups are still masking. 3. As a result of #2, protocols at a dance cannot much alter community spread rates, even if the dance spread rate were zero. But, this isn't concerning most people because: 4. Vaccines do keep nearly every infected person out of the hospital and reduce long covid. 5. For those going to the hospital or suspected to be at risk, monoclonal and other treatments are quite effective. 6. As a result, the mortality of covid-19 is now down to three times that of a bad flu season, which is way down from the mass carnage of 2020. It is questionable what anything but masking is doing for us: 7. Unmasked contra dancing, even with a vaccine and negative test, does lead to rapid covid spread. Several camps in summer 2022 had 50+ infected dancers, even though they were all vaccinated and all had tested negative on arrival. The incubation period and false-negative rate are enough to allow one or two cases through, and the vaccine no longer keeps you from getting it, it just dramatically reduces severity. Since: 8. Even in the most conservative, vaccine-averse Southern communities, 90+% of contra dancers at big events say they are vaccinated (per survey at Summer Contradancers Delight Holiday in Tennessee). 9. Choosing to wear a mask remains an option for everyone, and is quite effective at keeping the wearer healthy, though it is not foolproof (but neither is life). And: 10. People have options for recreational and social activities, and many are choosing those with fewer or no restrictions, especially young people who don't have much personal risk from covid. 11. Essentially all other organized dance communities besides contra/English/etc. are dancing without restrictions on a national level, and have been since early 2022: Square, swing, blues, ballroom, salsa, tango, etc. It may therefore be time for communities to reconsider absolute restrictions, and instead encourage vaccination and mask-wearing as effective ways to stop the spread of diseases like covid, but also the flu, RSV, and other pathogens. People can still (and I do) choose to wear masks if they are concerned about getting covid. The idea of reducing spread at dances would be a good one if the rest of society were playing along. But, it isn't. When I was a teen, I boycotted China. China didn't change. Communities with a large component of at-risk dancers who mask in general life and who are vaccinated may wish to continue requiring vax+mask. In areas with many dancers, two dances, one requiring masks and one mask-optional, may make the most sense. I am especially concerned at the reduced percentage of younger dancers I have seen at recent events. While it seemed, prepandemic, that there was a nascent resurgence in the popularity of contra among the current twentysomethings, few of the young dancers I used to see are showing up to dances post-covid. When I go to swing and blues, there are lots of younger dancers. I am certain that if we required masks at my college contra dance, students would just go to ballroom, salsa, or swing. If we want to get contra going again, and especially if we want to attract many new younger dancers, who are not worried that getting covid represents a big risk to them and who have plenty of unrestricted options in recreational
[Organizers] Re: Acquired Immunity Policy Examples
In Greenfield, MA we are not accepting recent infection as a substitute for vaccination. The only thing close to that is for the several series that are requiring the bivalent booster, people are being given a 3 month grace period after a recent infection before they are required to have that booster. Otherwise, all series are requiring the initial shots plus at least one booster, and about half are currently requiring the bivalent. Liz Sturgen Sent from the all new AOL app for Android On Tue, Jan 3, 2023 at 4:16 PM, Don Veino via Organizers wrote: We're considering a topic which has been raised to us a few times from prospective participants. To this date, we have maintained a straight vax + boost requirement for our series. I'm interested in examples of group COVID policies providing for participation of individuals who do not otherwise meet published vaccination requirements but have acquired potential immunity due to recent infection. Effectively, having acquired immunity through infection substituting as a form of vaccination. In particular: what are the qualifications and/or proof requirements and the duration of the allowance for vaccination substitution you use, if any? Substitution for any/all vax requirements or simply as a booster equivalent in some form? Thanks in advance for your help and links to any written policies. I'd greatly prefer if we can keep this thread focused on this particular topic and appreciate all civility. Should you wish to raise a tangential issue, please revise the subject line to fork the thread.___ 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] Re: Performer "Testing to Unmask" Policy Timing
Understood, and I am sorry if my tone seemed harsh. It seems that "on the day of the dance" may be the best compromise between giving a little lead time in case a substitute performer must be found, and keeping the testing reasonable current. Some of the Greenfield series do not allow for unmasked performers, or may make an exception for wind players. It is up to the organizers. Liz Sent from the all new AOL app for Android On Tue, Dec 20, 2022 at 1:58 PM, Don Veino wrote: Liz, that makes perfect sense in retrospect. However, many venues do not require testing for folks who remain masked and have had a "test in to unmask" approach for performers while on stage (where they were masked elsewhere and, until receiving a negative result, on stage as well). Greenfield's own central policy states: "Band members may unmask when on-stage for some series, but only if they have a negative rapid test on the day of the dance. Event publicity will clearly state whether performers may be unmasked at that specific event." Note there's no specific timeline stated there for when the testing shall happen other than it be on the day of. That's the point I'm raising from our recent experience. -Don On Tue, Dec 20, 2022 at 1:47 PM lstur...@aol.com wrote: I would have thought that anyone testing before attending or performing at a dance would determine that their test was actually negative before entering the hall and potentially exposing people. Liz Sturgen Sent from the all new AOL app for Android On Mon, Dec 19, 2022 at 9:46 PM, Don Veino via Organizers wrote: For those of you with a COVID policy regarding testing (particularly re: performers "testing in" to be on stage unmasked) - please consider your lead time and possibilities for contingency action. We'll be changing the policy of our dance due to our experience tonight. Our caller (me!) tested upon arrival at the hall. Entered masked, helped get set up going and then discovered a positive result. Thirty minutes to the first dance, folks already en route. Best efforts made, the dance was able to happen without me but just barely. We will be requiring this optional testing now to happen within a specified period which will provide for sufficient time to react appropriately before the event set up commences. ___ 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] Re: Performer "Testing to Unmask" Policy Timing
I would have thought that anyone testing before attending or performing at a dance would determine that their test was actually negative before entering the hall and potentially exposing people. Liz Sturgen Sent from the all new AOL app for Android On Mon, Dec 19, 2022 at 9:46 PM, Don Veino via Organizers wrote: For those of you with a COVID policy regarding testing (particularly re: performers "testing in" to be on stage unmasked) - please consider your lead time and possibilities for contingency action. We'll be changing the policy of our dance due to our experience tonight. Our caller (me!) tested upon arrival at the hall. Entered masked, helped get set up going and then discovered a positive result. Thirty minutes to the first dance, folks already en route. Best efforts made, the dance was able to happen without me but just barely. We will be requiring this optional testing now to happen within a specified period which will provide for sufficient time to react appropriately before the event set up commences. ___ 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] Subscribe
Please re-subscribe me to the list. I have not received any messages since March 2022.Liz Sturgen Sent from the all new AOL app for Android___ Organizers mailing list -- organizers@lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to organizers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
[Organizers] Re: Seeking news on covid infections from dances with vaccination
I am dismayed to hear about any physicians advising people against getting vaccinated. The nation's hospitals are filled with young, otherwise healthy, mostly unvaccinated people dying of Covid. Sunshine and fresh air will not keep you safe. And then there's this:https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/why-you-should-not-use-ivermectin-treat-or-prevent-covid-19 Liz Sturgen -Original Message- From: Walker Sloan via Organizers To: organizers@lists.sharedweight.net Sent: Thu, Aug 19, 2021 2:50 pm Subject: [Organizers] Re: Seeking news on covid infections from dances with vaccination Breathtaking! "Big + for dancing, and singing together is an excellent builder of social capital!" The two MOST EFFICIENT methods possible for spreading COVID. Literally, you cannot invent more efficient activities for mass spreader events. Mac Sloan On 8/19/21 14:09, Weogo Reed via Organizers wrote: > Hi Liz and All, > > I am in no way, shape or form a health expert. At the same time, > I'm reasonably intelligent > and have been reading a lot and asking many questions. > > Harvest Moon Folk Society started back dancing at River Falls > Lodge, Greenville County, SC, in July. > The venue is pretty open air except for winter, with big fans moving air. > I no longer run sound there, but that's a separate thing(too much driving). > > The Old Farmers Ball group dances in Bryson Gym at Warren Wilson > College, outside Asheville, NC. > The College was supposed to say Monday when outside events like dancing > will open again, and > what precautions will be required. Am waiting to hear what they decided. > > The CDC says the biggest risk factor for life-threatening covid is > age. > The second biggest risk factor is obesity. It would be great to see > Public Health helping everybody move toward being healthier. > (Big + for dancing, and singing together is an excellent builder of > social capital!) > I would like to see more information about how Vitamin D can > reduce the risk and severity of covid. > Some evidence points to being poor as being a significant risk > factor. How many of us > on this list are poor? How about we effectively address equity in the US? > > Animals can carry covid. From the CDC: > ) Companion animals, including pet cats and dogs and one ferret. > ) Animals in zoos and sanctuaries, including several types of big cats, > otters, and non-human primates. > ) Mink on mink farms. > ) Wild white-tailed deer in several U.S. states. > We have covid in domestic and wild animals, and vaccinated people > can spread it. > Will covid become endemic? > > My MD says there are a lot of unknowns about the current vaccines. > For anybody who is healthy and under 50, her current recommendation is > don't get it. > Denmark is allowing those who have been vaccinated into the country. > A negative test will also get you in, as well as proof of having covid > and recovering. > Could these be reasonable criteria for dancing and singing? > > I'm lucky in being able to eat well and most days be outside some in > the sunshine and fresh air, and have a supply of Ivermectin. > > Thanks and good health, Weogo > > > On 8/16/2021 4:43 PM, Liz Burkhart via Organizers wrote: > > Hi all, with some dances resuming for the summer, > ___ > Organizers mailing list -- organizers@lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to organizers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net -- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com ___ 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] Re: All Hands In
I am forwarding this to all the organizers of all the Greenfield, MA dances - 9 sets of organizers! - to discuss at the next meeting. Thanks for this great idea! Liz Sturgen On Monday, August 24, 2020 Drew Delaware via Organizers wrote: Hello! I'm reaching out to contra dance organizers, on behalf of the crew here in Toronto. Trusting you are all keeping well. Toronto has been holding a vibrant online virtual contra dance since May. It has been a lovely way for dancers to connect and keep contra dance, and music, in their lives. While it isn't for everyone, it has certainly brought much joy to many homes over the past several months. And it has been a wonderful way for us to provide financial support to musicians during a challenging time. We know other communities have considered launching online dances of their own, but don't have the resources to do so: paid Zoom accounts, tech know-how, etc. Others have done so but found it to be a lot of work on a few shoulders. And so, we are transforming our Toronto Virtual dance into a new project we are calling "All Hands In" - and we'd like to invite your community to join us. Any community that becomes part of the "All Hands In" initiative will be able to welcome their dancers in a private room before the dance, so your community gets an opportunity to socialize and reconnect; and then all the communities will come together for one big dance, featuring fabulous bands and callers. We'll end the dance with a socializing opportunity in small groups, mixing across communities, so people have a chance to make new friends across the continent. We will ask each community to provide one volunteer on a rotating basis once every 1-2 months, along with a moderator for their community room each dance. If you'd like to participate, please send an email to d...@delaware.ca, let me know what community you represent, and we'll be happy to share further details. While we'd all love to be on a dance floor taking real hands four, we hope that All Hands In helps to fill the gap in the meantime, and be something that many will enjoy until we can dance in person again. Let me know if you have any interest in joining us, or any questions. ;) Cheers! Drew___ 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] Re: Maintaining contact with our communities
A lot of folks have been posting such things on the Social Disdance Facebook group. Just a start. Liz Sturgen On Saturday, April 4, 2020 B Fabinski via Organizers wrote: Hi all, We had our monthly planning meeting here in Rochester NY, and were thinking of ways to maintain a connection to our dancers during this hiatus. A thought we had was to try and keep people in the habit of thinking of Contra every Thursday between 7:30 and 10:30, by finding bands who are doingwatch parties at that time. We would use our social capital to email our members to check our website for a passthru link to the events.The dancers would be able to "click thru" to the watch party and donate (some of?) the money they would have spent on the dance, to listen to the band play some contra tunes,via the Tip Jar. patreon, or venmo, whatever is on the watch party page. Does anyone know of a central location for these watch parties, so we can connect with performers who are already picking our time slot, orscheduling with them to plan future events? It would be a great way to get people to hear bands that I would not really be able to book for our small local Thurday night contra.Might be fun to connect with other groups that dance on Thursday nights, too. Any variations on these ideas would be greatly appreciated as well. Stay well, and keep dancing. Bob Fabinski ___ 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
