FROM THE CHAIRMAN’S CORNER

Welcome to the London Canada Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society!

We are a group of regular folk who have a passion for Scottish music and for the Scottish dance traditions espoused by the RSCDS.  We are members of a worldwide society, which is based in Edinburgh, Scotland.  Some of our dances are hundreds of years old and we dance to wonderful music-tunes old and new-mostly Scottish but with a few Irish and Anglo thrown in.

By joining our Branch you will have the opportunity to learn about this wonderful dancing- the technique and the figures.  Come to our social dances and be sure to attend the highlight- our annual May Spring Ball.  Be warned that SCD becomes a passion for many people, and not without good cause.  We hope that you will soon share the passion and joy of dancing and that you will participate and contribute as an active member of the London Branch.

Classes start at 8:00 pm Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at Carling Heights Community Center, London.  Please try to pre-register by mail. The full application form must be completed and signed by you.

This is my first column as your new Branch Chairman.  I would like to thank Marel Fielding, the past-chairman for the leadership that she has provided to the Branch and the Committee of Management (COM) during the past two years.  I would also like to thank our out-going COM members – Gail Reid for serving as newsletter editor during this past year, and Joe Craigan who leaves the position of past chair.

I would like to congratulate all the members of the COM who were acclaimed at the May 2007 AGM.  I look forward to working with each of them during the coming year, and am grateful that as Branch Chairman I can rely on their collective experience for guidance. In each of the four newsletters published each year are listed the members of the COM and contact information.  If you have questions about your Branch, issues or ideas for the betterment of the Branch, please raise them with your COM.  Jean Cameron has rejoined the COM as Editor of The Reel News.  Items for the newsletter should be directed to her.  The Reel News is an important source of information about the Branch activities and dance programs, and should be read and retained for continuing reference during the dance year.

Important Branch information, as well as notice of out-of town events and newsletters are posted on the bulletin board which is set up in the Room C at the Wednesday night classes; pertinent announcements are also made weekly at the beginning of class.

We are all volunteers here and I encourage each member to look for ways to help your Branch and Branch events to run smoothly.  In my opinion we together are one of the finest groups around and we need to focus on what we can do to make our Branch run efficiently.  The primary goal of the London Branch is to have fun Scottish Country Dancing, and to eat well.

I have observed that the operation of the Branch and the planning of the events in the Branch calendar are always balancing acts.  The COM endeavours to keep the Branch solvent and in good financial health while keeping fees as low as possible.  Financial commitments to hire bands and rent halls are made in the expectation that our members as well as out-of-town guests will support our Branch events.

The COM struggles with the balance of keeping the prices of ticketed events moderate (so as to be accessible to the greatest number of Branch members and out-town guests) and with providing a good dancing and social experience.  We invite constructive suggestions from the membership.

At our 2007 AGM it was decided to form a member premises committee to search out venues where future ticketed events and Branch classes might be held.   The COM has prepared a form for the premises committee to assist it in gathering information on potential dancing locations.  The premises committee will report to the COM.  If you know of a hall which might be suitable for a Branch event or our classes please give the details to Alasdair Campbell.

At the AGM it was decided to deal with the proposed amendments to the Branch Constitution at a Special General Meeting of the Membership to be held on
Friday September 28, 2007 at 7:30 pm.  Dancing will follow.  Please try to attend this meeting.

Brian Campbell, Chairperson 2007-2008

---

NOTICE OF SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING TO AMEND THE BRANCH CONSTITUTION

Notice is hereby given to the membership of The Royal Scottish Dance Society London, Canada Branch of a Special General Meeting to be held on Friday, September 28, 2007 at Elmwood Presbyterian Church, 111 Elmwood Ave. East. London, Ontario at 7:30 pm.

AGENDA

It is moved to amend the London Branch Constitution in accordance with the proposed draft constitution previously distributed to members.  Please review carefully and bring that copy with you to the meeting as additional copies will NOT be available.

Dancing will follow the meeting if time permits.  Don’t forget your ghillies.

Janet Schreiber, Secretary

Top of Page

On a Personal Note

The sympathy of the Branch members is extended to Doug Kinsella and Leah Pisani. Doug’s father died in May.

Also the sympathy of the members is extended to Elfriede Rollo on the death of her mother and to Jim Rollo on the death of his brother in July.

Marian Duncan, a former member and dancer died in April.  We extend our sympathy to her family.

Congratulations to Peter and May Hegarty who celebrated fifty years of marriage on July 27^th.

To Rosemary Telles - Langdon, Dorothy Sample and we send our best wishes as they celebrate ‘Special Birthdays’

Friends of Janet Lawson are thinking of her especially at this time. 

As well we remember our Windsor friends John Dey and Terry Murphy at this time.

Friday Social Class

Helen’s social class will be held once again on Friday evenings at Elmwood Presbyterian Church, 111 Elmwood Ave., East, London commencing Friday, September 21.  This class will concentrate for the most part on well known dances, along with those on upcoming programs.  A minimum of one year  Basic Level to obtain knowledge of basic steps and formations is required for this class.  For further information contact Helen Bell at 519-471-0623

The schedule for these classes is as follows; 

• September 21,
• October 12, 19,
• November 2, 16, 23, 30,
• December 7, 14.            

2008:

• January 4, 11, 18 and 25,
• February 1,8,15,29,
• March 7, 14, 21,
• April 4, 18, 25. 

All classes commence at 7:30 sharp.

Top of Page

Call for Volunteers

The branch is run by volunteers for the enjoyments of all members and the Committee of Management would appreciate as many "helping hands" as possible over the 2006-07 dance year. An organization such as ours has room for everyone to participate regardless of the time commitment. It is the collective work of all our volunteers that determines our success and we ask you to consider our invitation to become involved in a small or big way...whatever is right for you.

If interested, please approach one of the individuals on the Committee of Management. Thanks!

NEWSLETTER

 If you have an item of interest to the group, please contact me at jeancameron2004@hotmail.com.  The next deadline for The Reel News is October 9, 2007.

A REMINDER OF OUR COMMEMORATIVE BOOK OF DANCES

The COM is encouraging any of our dancers to write a dance in honor of the Branch’s 50th anniversary which we will celebrate in 2011.   The criteria for submission are the dance must be original, danceable and enjoyable.  The committee will choose the dances to be included in the book.

A SUCCESSFUL AFTER THE BALL BRUNCH

Heartfelt thanks to Bill and Marie for once again hosting the ‘After the Ball Brunch’.  The weather, food and friendship was par excellence.  Thank you to all who made the event a success.

SUMMER PICNIC

To Bob and Linda Watson who once again hosted a successful Branch picnic on July 22nd a heartfelt thanks.

SIGNING IN AT CLASSES

Please initial the insurance register at every class that you attend.  This will provide verification should an issue arise under our group liability insurance policy.  Our Alasdair Campbell voluntarily co-ordinates the group liability insurance program for many SCD groups across Canada.

WORKSHOP  FOR BANNER MAKING

Would you like to make a clan banner?  Marel Fielding has graciously offered to run a workshop in the near future.  The only cost will be for the materials.  If you are interested phone Marel at 519-471-3229 or speak to Brian Campbell.

WEBSITE <WWW.RSCDSLondonCanada.org>

Paul Martin, our volunteer webmaster, maintains our Branch website.  Application forms for London Branch events, The Reel News, dance programs for our dances and links to other Scottish Country Dance sites are posted.  Also see the headquarters website at www.rscds.org The Members Area may be accessed with the username “Monymusk” and the password “Petronella”.

Top of Page

BRANCH TEACHERS

Top of Page

Top of Page