*       "Meet & Greet" Class Members at the door upon arrival to class.

*       "Make Class Members Feel Wanted" at the class.

*       Do not talk about the "Length of The Class".

*       Keep the class "FUN", especially for Class Members.

*       Make sure Club Members don't do their "Fancies" during class.

*       If the Caller hasn't taught it during Class, DON'T DO IT.

*       Allow more time for "Mainstream" & "Plus" teaching.

*       Need better "Solo Rotation" to ensure All Single Class Members are
dancing all the time.

*       Brief "Angels" on why they are there...To Dance with Class Members.

*       Include Class Members in other Club Activities, ie parties, picnics,
outings and other related Club Activities other than Square Dancing.

*       Try Two Classes an evening after Basics are taught.. 

*       Conduct a "Club" Workshop after the class.

*       Reward Class Members for Perfect Attendance Each Quarter, ie, Free
11th, 21st, 31st, Graduation Dance.. 

*       Rotate Class Instructors Once A Month. Must be coordinated.

*       Have each Class Couple/Single assigned a Mentor Club Member, whose
responsibility it would be to Greet their member(s) each Class Night, call
them during the week to ensure they are going to be at the next Class Night,
Call them if they miss a night to ensure all is ok, and, dance with them
during the class to help them through difficult moves.

*       Coordinate with other clubs to ensure area Classes are on different
nights.

*       Encourage Class Members to attend other classes in their area.. 

*       Provide a list, with directions, to other Classes in the area.

*       After Mainstream, being promoting the Next Class with date, time &
Place. Encourage current Class Members to start thinking about whom they
might be bringing to the next class.

*       Graduate your Class Members into the Club at the Mainstream level,
so you've got them in the Club and they are now part of all club
activities.

*       Once a quarter, go dark to visit another Class in your area.

*       Encourage Association Director's to Visit & Support the Classes (And
Clubs) in their District.

*       Provide "Nice" certificates at Graduation time.

*       Appoint a Sheriff & Deputy from your Class Members to handle fines
during class. Make sure class members know that all monies collected will go
toward "THEIR" Class Graduation Party.

*       Encourage Kids. Offer a special "Family Price" to includes kids in
class, but, make sure parents come with them so you are not providing a Baby
Sitting Service.

*       Screen Your Club Angels, and ensure they are not "Grumps".

*       Callers should be more friendly toward Class Members.

*       Don't push "Square Dance Attire". They will come around when they,
the Class Members are ready.

*       Make sure they "Caller" does not embarrass Class Member Members at
anytime.

*       Ensure Club Members understand the learning process the class is
going through, and don't get upset when Class Members make a mistake.

*       Dedicate Tips for Birthdays, Anniversaries, etc., to Class Members

*       Drop those dancers that are constantly breaking down squares. Don't
hang on to them because you brought them, or, you like them. They will be
more damage to your Class and run others off.

*       Include your Class Members in Refreshment Responsibilities. They
will feel part of the group.

*       Invite Class Members to go out with Club Members after the Class for
Coffee, Pizza, or whatever.

*       Program Hoedowns so as to ALWAYS include Class Members.

*       Encourage Class Members to attend other "Special" Class Level
Dances.

*       Encourage Class Members during Plus to begin recruiting for the new
class.. (Couples For Couples Clubs & Singles For Single Clubs).

*       Reward "Angels" for their Class Support by offering a "Free" Club
Dance.

*       Have the Class at the end of Basics, Mainstream & Plus, vote for
their favorite Angel, and reward that individual or couple.

*       Encourage Single Class Members to look for a "Partner" they can
bring to the next Class.

*       Offer Square Dance Classes at local Community Colleges.

*       Ensure the Caller uses the call he just taught the Class in his next
singing call.

*       Offer rewards to Club Members who bring in the most New Class
Members, after the 5th Week.

*       Make sure that all your Class Night Activities are geared toward the
Class. Keep Club Stuff for Club Nights, so as not to waste Class Time for
Club Level/Member Activity, ie, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Awards, Etc.
 

Note: The above are perhaps completely apparent to all who read
them...but they can never repeated often enough! 

Source: Newsletter #7 from Bill Heyman of Hanhurst's Tape & Record Service

   The ACA "One Floor International Square Dancing" can do the following positive actions

.  Retain and support solid and workable dancing movements that can be taught in as little as fourteen to eighteen weeks of one night a week.
.  Enable a club to have two "New Dancer" programs per year with extended breaks between the lessons. . Reduce and all but eliminate the stress and strain on the dancers.

.  Increase fun, friendship and fellowship for dancers and clubs.

.  Line itself with what perspective non-dancers (baby boomers, generation X, generation Y and generation Z (E) will accept.

.  Reduce further to fit ' the'needs of perspective dancers and keep them.

.  Enable square dancers to build a solid broad based international "pyramid with a broad base of happy new and seasoned dancers."

.  Eliminate the segregation, separatism, and division of clubs and dancers.

.  Confirm and enforce the 'Traditional Core Values" all strive to be equal and accepted and eliminate a "separate and unequal" system dividing the dancers and clubs.

.  Increase the membership of clubs and associations resulting in funds becoming available to be used for advertising, promotion including changing the image of square dancing and corporate sponsorships to promote square dancing.

   It has been reported that country and western star, Wynonna Judd of the Judd's, once told a caller that she used to square dance regularly, and now square dancing is far too complicated to learn. She further stated that square dancing ought to get its act together and adapt to the demands of the market, or like the dinosaurs, square dancing will perish. Her bottom line is that we must fix the problems, which caused great decline in square dancing where the square dancing moved in the opposite direction of changing consumer/dancer needs.

Source: Arnerican SquareDance, January 2003

Square Dancing offers the best low impact aerobic workout combined with brain exercises and mental stimulation to maintain our youthful attributes, building self confidence, networking opportunities and positive social interaction in an atmosphere of friends sharing with friends - talking over the back fence kind of a place. 

We, as an activity, need to back away from "Square Dancing" as our product and see ourselves in a much bigger picture and in much more desirable light!  But those are old and outdated sales lines.  Instead, we need to relate to today's trends, today's lifestyles, today's "needs"!  Sale lines like:

"Having Fun Staying Young ... Today's Dancing!"
"Come join your neighbours over the backyard fence ..."
"Share a smile and some good times ..."
"Recapture days gone by ... Come square dancing"
"Exercise, Network, Share Friends ... Today's Square Dancing!"
"Where Friends Enjoy Friends ... Today's Square Dancing!" 
"Come on Home to Friendlier Time ... Come Dancing!"
"Join Us For Community, For Fun, For Memories ... Square Dancing!"

I encourage you as proponents of the square dance activity to focus less on levels, demands and dress but instead, focus on connecting women and other "not yet dancers" one heart at a time.  Remember, bond with their heads and enjoy them for a little while, bond them with their heart and enjoy them for a lifetime!

Jazz up your fitness rountine with a regular dose of dance.  Dancing pairs you up with more than a partner: 
.  Burn Calories 
.  Cardiovascular conditioning strong bones 
.  Rehabilitation 
.  Sociability

Having a demo or guests attending a special dance?  Be sure to get the names and addresses of those who participate in demos and special dance visitors. This will enable you to contact them about giving square dancing a whirl at your next new dancer program open house dance.

   How is your new dancer program doing these days? Are you running a new dancer program every year? Are you in constant touch with your new dancers during the learning time and after graduation? Are you making sure to include them in the club activities, visitations, and special events? So many things contribute to bringing in our new dancers and keeping them involved that it really takes planningto make it all come together. The most important thing is to keep your new dancer program going.
   If for some reason, your turnout is not sufficient to continue the class you just started, don't just fold it and give up. Make a plan to start another class on the same night and at the same time, as soon as possible. Plan your publicity and have your new dancers bring as many of their friends, co-workers, and family members as they can. Your caller should be able to find ways to bring the skill levels of the two groups together, over the length of the program, and this will allow you to keep it going.
   This method of starting a class more than once a year should be familiar to most of you who read this column. CALLERLAB has actively promoted the Multi-Cycle method of organizing a new dancer program for more than eight years now. We have seen it used in a variety of ways and with varying degrees of success. It takes more effort than the traditional method of starting a class just once a year, but the benefits to your club and to the activity in your area will more than make up for the added work.
   Let's take a look at some of the advantages of running a program that starts several times a year.

1. You make dancing more available to potential new dancers.

2. Your enthusiastic new dancers can bring in their friends several times a year and dance with them immediately.

3. Your new dancers become your primary recruiters.

4. You are asking dancers for a shorter commitment.

5. Having two or three groups on the same night increases class revenue and makes better economic sense.

6. Shorter dance times each night allows brand new dancers to increase their physical stamina and leaves them wanting more in the first part of the program. By the time they build that stamina, they can dance, angel, and review the entire evening.

7. Those who miss new dancer nights, or need additional learning time, can repeat a phase and not wait until next year or be sent elsewhere.

8. The fast learners and former dancers can move ahead without being held back by those needing more review.

   As mentioned above, the one thing that is so important in the Multi-Cycle Method as well as the traditional/once a year programs, is to keep it going. All new dancer programs are more effective when they have the chance to build momentum. The next new dancer program you start will almost always be more successful if the last one you had was successful too. Encourage your newest dancers to talk to their friends about dancing. Give them flyer like information business cards to hand out. Print a one-page sheet that will give your new dancers information on the health and social benefits of square dancing as well as some of its history. Consider having a contest, with an award for the person or couple that brings in the most new dancers. Make it fun!
   The other point that is so important in the retention of your newer dancers is to include them in as many dance and social events as possible. Make sure that your club sponsors or visits dances that are geared to where your new dancers are at that point in time. Don't push and pull them through dances that are over their head. If you end up at a dance that may be a little difficult for the new dancers you've brought, let the caller know that newer dancers are present. Most callers have a few tricks up their sleeve that can make the dance fun and successful for new and experienced dancers alike. By dancing and including your newer dancers in as many events as possible, you will be more successful in keeping them as members of your club.
   Appoint an "Angel' or "Mentoring" couple or person for each new dancer or couple. They can keep contact with them by phone or emall, invite them to various events, and even offer transportation to make it easier to attend. This one on one contact can make a big difference in making sure that everyone is personally invited and included.
   With a little extra care and attention your Continuing New Dancer Program will help your club increase in size. Many clubs are growing because they are, focusing their attention on their new dancers. Make the effort, have lots of fun, adjust things as necessary, and enjoy your new dancers and club members!

Source: American SquareDance, January 200)'

   With Spring just around the corner, most of our clubs is in the process of finding and electing new officers for the new year starting anywhere from June through September.  These new officers will then be in the process of finding people to chair and work on committees.  If you are asked to serve on a committee, please think about saying "yes" and help work within your club.  With more new people getting involved, you will get new ideas for having more fun in your club. 
   This is also the time of the year when most clubs will be graduating their new dancers and bringing them into the club atmosphere.  What a good time for all officers and committees to plan and get ready for your next session of new lessons.  Speaking of lessons, I have ten steps that maybe helpful in recruiting new dancers.

Step # 1.  Call the entire club membership together for an advertising party meeting, potluck, picnic, etc.

Step # 2.   Determine the time and place for your class and a starting date.  The advertising party must be at least 5 to 8 weeks ahead of the starting date.  Also hold the advertising party in the hall where the class will be held.

Step # 3.  Prepare the advertising material, handouts, posters, a list of planned demos, and most of all, "Who Do You Know?" forms. 

Step # 4.   Dance a tip or two while waiting for all to arrive at the party.  Then have dinner and dance one quick tip to wake everybody up.

Step # 5.  Sit everyone down and explain that lessons will be held in this very hall, the date they will start, and that the instruction will be 1-1/2 hours or 2 hours long with two breaks.

Step # 6.  Then explain the club needs everyone's help.  Pass out the handouts and give posters to the people who know where they could be displayed.  Next spend some time trying to partially fill out the "Who Do You Know?" forms."  Now I know a lot of your dancers are going to say that all of my friends are already square dancers.  Yours truly has been guilty of saying this.  When you really look at this situation, this is nothing more than just a cop out.  We all know a lot of people who don't dance. Some examples are the person who sacks your groceries, cuts your hair, sells you cars and recreational vehicles, tax advisors, financial planners, doctors, dentists, gas station attendants, dry cleaners, neighbors, etc.  You name it, the list could go on and on.  Everyone can write these suggestions down on their form.  They then take it home and add to the list by getting phone numbers and addresses for everyone listed. 

 Step # 7.  Make plans to meet in two weeks to complete all of the "Who Do You Know?" forms." You could meet at one of the malls for lunch and your first demo.

Step # 8.  Mail invitations out to everyone from your "Who Do You Know?" forms" and then again about three weeks later.  Sending letters or making phone calls to your members to remind them to make contact with their prospects is a must. Might be nice to go pick them up the first night, if at all possible.

Step # 9.  When the first lesson is held, require the new dancers to pre pay a month in advance.  Some people do not think this is a good policy.  I have seen this work well in several clubs.  It does commit that new person.  Naturally if a person can not afford to pay for a month at a time, you can make different arrangements with them.

Step #10.  Before the first month is up, repeat steps 1 through 9 with your new dancers.  We all might be surprised as to the new prospects that might be brought in by your new dancers in the first month of recruiting.

    Hopefully these steps will be a stepping stone to many of you who are interested in building your clubs.  Many of you will ad to these steps in your approach to advertising and selling square dancing.  When it really comes down to it, I do feel everyone wants to see their clubs grow.  But a lot of us run out of ideas of how to help make this come true. 
     Speaking on making our clubs grow, I was disappointed to hear what a couple new dancers still in class had to say. At a recent level dance, these new dancers mentioned that during this club's announcement break, they took it on their own to get up and plug other level dances within the area.  They were told sarcastically, "Who are you? I don't have you on the list." The new dancers were embarrassed and it gave them the impression that they were not wanted.  I feel this was a great move on the part of these new dancers.  With clubs acting like this, will the new dancers remain in our activity or drop out?  Is this the way to build our clubs?  Something to think about.

To Be Honest With You.

You can go where you want to go, do what you want to do, have what you want to have, and be what you want to be.

Happy Dancing & Hugs! 
Jim & Polly Burnside

With permission of the Authors and as published in Footnotes, The Square & Folk Dance Federation of Washington, USA -

   Hopefully we all have our square dance halls full of new dancers this year. If not, then what can we do differently next year to attract more people? How did the new dancers we attract hear about us? What part of our "promotion" convinced them to come and try square dancing? These are questions that every club should ask every new dancer that walks in the door. If we don't know what we did that convinced them to come, then we cannot repeat it. This may also tell us what things we want to avoid when promoting! 
   OK - chances are we don't have as many new dancers as we were hoping for so let's think about retention of the new dancers we have while we plan a better promotional scheme for next year. Promoting your club's "new dancer" introductions should be a very high priority and include every single club member. Start planning now for next year! 
   I have a couple of questions for you to ponder regarding retention of new dancers (call them students or beginners if you must). I know I ask a lot of questions in these articles but I believe questions give rise to answers, so here goes: 
   Why do we make new dancers wait so long to join our clubs and get a badge? 
   Why can't they come to ALL our dances and we can do at least one tip they can join in before they "graduate"? 
   How can we make new dancers feel like they belong to the club sooner? 
   Do you have a class coordinator that calls the new dancers when they miss a dance? 
   Have you called new dancers from previous years that didn't finish to brush-up and rejoin? 
   If you have "drop-outs," do you know why they quit? 
   Can we call them dancers right away instead of "students" (at least new dancers)? 
   Is your caller making it fun to learn - how can "angels" help this happen? 
   Should we do a social activity besides square dancing with them once in a while? 
   Have your new dancers been told how many clubs are in the area? 
   Have they been told about all the State and National conventions they can attend not to mention the hundreds of festivals available every year? 
   Did you mention all the other great callers they can dance to? 
   Would it be a good idea to have a night when they can bring their friends to a quick introduction and show off their new dancing skills while introducing their friends to square dancing? 
   Is your caller teaching "etiquette" including proper handholds and twirling techniques etc... to make the dancing smoother and more enjoyable?

   In my humble opinion, we have a far greater chance of keeping new dancers if they feel that they belong and are wanted as "members" of the club right away. They must also have fun while they learn. It is also our responsibility to let them know about all the great dancing opportunities they'll have to a variety of callers. Each of us has an effect on how new dancers are introduced to our activity so lets be friendly, encouraging and informative about the activity we love. 
   Some of you do not "angel" for new dancers anymore, you've done your time and it's now someone else's turn to do it. I would encourage you to at least stick your nose in the door a minimum of once a month to share your knowledge, experience and enthusiasm with the new dancers. People want to be a part of something popular, in other words the larger you can make your club look, the better. So please attend your club's "classes" as often as you can. 
[Dan is the Executive Secretary, Minnesota Square Dance Callers Association]