The VAWSSDC is our area dancers association. We welcome all Vermont western style square dance clubs as members.
We also welcome clubs from bordering states and the Canadian province of Quebec.
Our purpose is to “promote and preserve Square Dancing”. Member clubs get vital information from each other and from national and regional Square and Round Dance Associations, including EDSARDA, our Northeastern regional association.
We publish an annual area calendar (currently available only by mail), and we sponsor numerous other activities.
Travel Award (Good Neighbor Award)
The VAWSSDC sponsors the Good Neighbor Award. This is a special award for dancers who visit most of our member clubs, as well as the Vermont State Convention. You must obtain a Good Neighbor book, (similar to a Century Book), and have it signed by a club officer when you visit any function of a VAWSSDC member club. There is no time limit, and you may omit up to three VAWSSDC clubs, if you choose. The book is available from the VAWSSDC, as well as at many member clubs. Dancers who earn this award will be presented with a special pin at the next Vermont State Convention.
Good Neighbor books may also be obtained by sending US$2.00 to:
Bob Roos
2247 Barnet Center Rd
St Johnsbury, VT 05819
New Graduate Travel Program
We issue, to all new graduates of member clubs, a discount coupon booklet. This booklet contains a half-price coupon for each of our member clubs, good at any regular (i.e. one-caller) Dance, Club night, or Workshop. It also contains a half-price coupon for the Vermont State Convention. The coupons are valid for one year after issuing. We hope to encourage more inter-club travel with this program.VAWSSDC Meetings
Meetings typically start at 1:00pm and are held in different locations.
Delegates should expect to receive the agenda and directions to the meeting at least 3 weeks prior to the meeting. Election of officers takes place at the annual meeting in October.
Meetings for the next year are:
Saturday October 24, 2015 Lyndonville Annual Meeting
Sunday March 20, 2016 Location TBA
Sunday July 24, 2016 Location TBA
Sunday October 23, 2016 Location TBA Annual Meeting
Area Terminology
- Workshops – see US and Canadian Differences below.
- Club Night – see US and Canadian Differences below.
- Class Night – see US and Canadian Differences below.
- Specials – see US and Canadian Differences below.
- Old-timers – used region-wide to refer to experienced dancers, as opposed to those currently taking lessons. A 10-year-old can be an old-timer.
- Banner Raid – Clubs maintain a small banner, or flag, that visiting clubs can earn by showing up with 12 or more dancers. These banners can be later retrieved by the owning club. US and Canadian practices differ on this – see US and Canadian Differences below.
Area Practices
Dances are assumed to be from 8:00 to 11:00pm. Those held at other times are noted on the club’s home page or in our calendar.Dance Halls
The usual locations for a club’s Dances, Workshops, etc, are shown on the club’s home page. Note that locations may occasionally be changed. If you are unfamiliar with the club you are visiting, we suggest you call ahead to the Club Contact before traveling.
US and Canadian Differences
- US and Canadian clubs generally differ in what they call their various functions and may differ in proper dress, etc.
- Clubs in our area of the US usually hold dances at least once a month on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Square Dance dress is requested, refreshments are usually served, and Banner Raids are always welcome.
- Most US area clubs also hold Workshops, usually every week, and usually on a weeknight. Dress is usually casual, there are usually no refreshments. Many clubs alternate teaching tips for new dancers and old-timers. Guests are welcome. Since Workshops are sometimes irregular, or location may change, we recommend that you call ahead before visiting.
- Canadian clubs usually hold 2 to 4 Specials a year, usually on a Saturday. Square Dance dress is requested, and refreshments are served. Banner Raids are not usually allowed, although banners may be retrieved.
- Canadian clubs also hold Club Night, usually every week, and usually on a weeknight. Square Dance dress is usually requested, refreshments are often served. Banner Raids require advance notice, since many clubs have only 2 banners, which may not be available. Some teaching, often at various levels, usually takes place. Since Club Nights are sometimes irregular, or location may change, we recommend that you call ahead before visiting.
- Canadian clubs may also hold Class Night, for teaching new dancers, usually every week on a weeknight. This may or may not be combined with Club Night. Since Class Nights are sometimes irregular, or location may change, we recommend that you call ahead before visiting.
Vermont Square Dance Calendar
Bud & Judy Clifford
PO Box 54
West Danville, VT 05873
802.563.2777
email: budjudysquaremoo@aol.com
Vermont Square & Round Dance Gazette
Peg Tirrell
PO Box 37
Lower Waterford, VT 05848-0037
e-mail dptirrell@juno.com
SQUARE UP WITH US brochure
Bud & Judy Clifford
PO Box 54
West Danville, VT 05873
802.563.2777
email
Twirling Sams
Don Richardson
Loyd & Deanna Wesley
PO Box 114
Lyndon Center, VT 05850
802.626.3670
email
Country Corner Squares
Bob Roos
2247 Barnet Center Rd
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
(802) 633-4395
Paul & Pat Hunt
227 Cross Rd
Bradford, VT 05033
802.222.4253
email
CLUB MASTER BANNER
The Master Banner is a banner suitably designed to represent the name of the club. That banner should be displayed at workshops and scheduled club dances at all times.
TRAVELING BANNER
The Traveling Banner is a specially designed banner, mascot-type box, or object designated by the owner club to be its Traveling Banner and so labeled. It should have some resemblance of the owner club’s Master Banner and have its name upon it.
SOUVENIR BANNERS
The Souvenir Banners are replicas of the club’s Master Banner in a smaller, more easily transportable form. A souvenir banner given as a Traveling Banner substitute should the club not have a specially designated Traveling Banner or in a situation where the owners club’s Traveling Banner is in possession of another club.
1. Club Master Banners should never travel.
2. A Club’s Master Banner should be displayed by its home club, whether or not its traveling banner is in the possession of another club.
3. 8 dancers or 50% of a club’s membership, (minimum of 4 club members), visiting from one club, displaying their badges, and signing the club’s guest book may take the Traveling Banner. The same rules apply for retrieving a Traveling Banner. The 8 dancers or 50% membership must attend to the end of the dance.
4. Traveling Banners may be presented at any regular workshop or scheduled club dance. Class level dances will not be banner dances.
5. A retrieving club can only recover their own club banner from another club and will not be eligible to take that club’s banner on the same occasion unless they have 16 dancers or 100 percent of membership in attendance.
6. A Traveling Banner shall be maintained in the same manner and condition in which it was presented.
7. A club having possession of another club’s Traveling Banner must display them or it at their own scheduled dances.
8. If a club cannot muster enough squares at another club’s dances within a six-month period from its banner presentation, then it may retrieve its banner after that period of time by two (2) visiting dancers.
9. Clubs are encouraged to let another club know they are coming with an eligible number of dancers for the purpose of being presented with their Traveling Banner.
10. In a case where more than one club becomes eligible to be presented a Traveling Banner at a club function, it shall be presented to the club traveling the greater distance, the others to be presented souvenir banners.
11. A club in possession of another club’s Traveling Banner may not award this banner to a visiting club in lieu of their own banner.
12. A visiting club can acquire a total of Traveling Banners equal to the number of open dances of the visiting club.