Board of Directors Election Results |
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From the President
Dear NASSPDA Members!
A big ‘Thank You!’ to those who have cast their votes in the 2021 election of NASSPDA’s Directors of the Board!
The terms of Board Members Emma DiFrancesco, Susie Hoskins, Erik Jaeger, Jo Popadynetz, and myself, Benjamin Soencksen, had expired and all agreed to stand for reelection. Rufi Oswaldo from Calgary, Canada, had been nominated this year in addition. As in past years, about 33% of NASSPDA’s membership participated in the election casting almost all votes for all six candidates standing for election. With Rufi Oswaldo joining NASSPDA’s Board of Directors, the Board has now for the first time reached its maximum number of Directors of 11. This should help sustain the future of this organization as well as addressing all issues brought forward from its constituency and the community at large.
Following the elections in May, the Board confirmed on Sunday, June 6, 2021, its officers and committee chairs as follows:
President: Benjamin Soencksen
Vice-President: Debbie Esparza
Treasurer: Lee Fox
Secretary: Erik Jaeger
Co-Chairs of the Competition Committee: Eddie Alba & Lee Fox
Chair of the Finance Committee: Lee Fox
Chair of the Membership Committee: Lee Fox
Chair of the Promotion Committee: Kalin Mitov
Chair of the Scholarship Committee: Benjamin Soencksen
Chair of the Website Committee: Horace Luong
Each committee has more than one additional member from the Board of Directors, with the Competition Committee also having two additional non-Board members. Please feel free to contact the committees (https://nasspda.org/contact/) or members of the Board (first initial plus last name @nasspda.org) directly with any questions, comments and/or issues you might have.
Some of what keeps the Board currently busy:
A working group has been formed by the Sports Director of the 11th Gay Games, in order to help organize Dancesport in 2022, and a new Head of Dancesport has been assigned. This group is joined by members of IFSSDA, which includes two NASSPDA Board members, members from ESSDA and IAGLCWDC, the Hong Kong DanceSport Association (amateur organization), individuals that are connected to Dancesport and live in Hong Kong and members of the FGG that are directly connected to Dancesport. Aside from having a team on the ground and support from IFSSDA in selecting officials for the event and regarding compliance to its rules, concerns from the community regarding the political landscape in Hong Kong are part of the exploration by this working team.
The Promotion Committee created a new program of annual Ambassador(s) for NASSPDA, which seeks individuals and/or couples that will spread the word about and impart the values of NASSPDA at events other than sanctioned by NASSPDA. This ambassadorship comes with a stipend to cover some expenses and the provision of promotional material. With competitions coming back soon, the Board is planning to intensify its search for suitable candidates. Should you know of anyone being interested or qualified, you can find more details on NASSPDA’s website along with the application form (https://nasspda.org/nasspda-ambassador-program/).
Since last year, the Board sought also actively to fund some online workshops during the Pandemic, open and free to all members and non-members and partially funded by NASSPDA’s Activity Grant. Two teachers, supportive of our community, stepped forward so far, which resulted into a workshop series by Alexis Massey (California) in February and Julianne DiBacco Daniells (Arizona) in April, which both were well received and attended. The Board is hoping to fund more such or other opportunities for its community (https://nasspda.org/grants/).
And, of course, the Board is thrilled that NASSPDA’s first sanctioned competition will indeed take place in Needham, MA, the New England Championship, on October 9, 2021, organized by Board Member Kalin Mitov and his team from ‘Boston Open Dancesport’ and which will also host the 2021 North American Championships (http://www.bostonopendancesport.com/new-england-open.html) .
If you have written and/or want to write about something or come across an interesting bit of news that might be of interest to our community of dancers, please don’t hesitate to share and email us (email address: newsletter@nasspda.org ).
Please stay well, safe, sane and healthy!
HAPPY DANCING and KEEP SMILING!
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Take Pride in Your Dancing! |
Report to NASSPDA
Juliane Daniells and DanceWise Dance Studio sincerely thanks NASSPDA for their generous sponsorship of the “Take Pride in your Dancing” online workshops.
Each workshop was introduced live by Debbie Esparza, the Vice President of NASSPDA
Although the actual online attendance during the live workshops was lower than hoped, we have very positive feedback on the content and delivery from the attendees.
We have made a second chance for NASSPDA members to see the workshops if they were unable to attend. The Zoom meetings were recorded, and the DanceWise team edited these, and added section listing and titles (to enable easy location in the 50+ minute videos). These videos have been posted to the DanceWise YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch-DanceWiseAZ
Thank you for this opportunity to help everyone enjoy their dancing, and make people more aware of the great work that NASSPDA does. The video recordings of the workshops will remain available for all to see.
Julianne Daniells
NASSPDA member
Owner, Dance Wise Dance Studio
Phoenix, AZ
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Scholarships for 2021 Events
Six Scholarships are available to anyone that is planning to attend a NASSPDA sanctioned competition taking place in 2021, in support of covering expenses related to participating.
Each one is in the amount of $400 plus a one-year NASSPDA Individual Membership.
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Ambassador Program
In need of broader visibility, better promotion in the DanceSport world and advocating for same-sex competitive dancing, NASSPDA is looking to engage Ambassadors.
As many North American DanceSport organizations have changed their definition of a dance couple, we are witnessing interest and participation of newly formed same-sex, reverse role, and gender-neutral couples at their events. Many of those couples haven't been introduced or exposed to NASSPDA as an organization; hence, they also do not know the benefits of being a member of NASSPDA.
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Membership Directory
This is a resource to allow NASSPDA members to connect with others in the community. Please contact Horace Luong (hluong@nasspda.org) if you'd like to be added to the directory (being added is a privilege available to NASSPDA members only).
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Donation
A Big Thank You!
The Board of Directors would like to sincerely thank all the individuals and businesses who have donated to NASSPDA in our recent fundraising drive. Through the generosity of our community, we’ve exceed the match offered by NASSPDA Vice-President Debbie Esparza and have raised a total of over $4,100 !
The funds will be used to support programming, scholarships, maintaining our presence in the dance community and beyond and to help further our mission to expand.
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Competition Calendar
Competition Committee
NASSPDA sanctioned competitions
New England Open ballroom dance Championships hosting:
2021 North American Same-Sex Championship
Boston - Needham, MA
In person, October 9th 2021
NON sanctioned same-sex competitions in USA
Dance Fiesta
New Mexico, Albuquerque
September 24-27
ESSDA sanctioned competitions
Eurogames 2021
In person, August 17- 20, 2021
Copenhagen, Denmark
IFSSDA sanctioned competitions
The XI Gay Games
Hong Kong
November 13 to 17th, 2022 (for the DanceSport section)
pre-registration is open
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Connecting with Our Community |
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We aim to grow back from the pandemic with a stronger community. Therefore it's more important now than ever where we want to make sure our membership and community can freely communicate with the NASSPDA Board.
If you have ideas to share, questions for us to address, or a concern to raise, please submit your thoughts to info@nasspda.org.
We look forward to hearing from you.
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