Foggy Future
Sep. 5th, 2008 11:45 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rickpsI've been silent on LJ over the past few months, somewhat intentionally as I do some personal regrouping. But some subjects call for commentary regardless...
As some know, I served as President of FCD for several years. It was a growth experience as they say. But we (and it was a "we" effort not a "me" story) kept the club going despite some significant challenges. We had fun. FCD was financially solid at the time with class sizes highly variable but sufficient. It was evident that the square dance 'baby boom' of the 1990's, was in transition. We now had to work to find new class members rather than having them flock to our doors (most often by referral from the then current FCD faithful). Volunteerism is a fickle beast but we got it all done somehow. Our teaching callers were, I thought, among the best. FCD class graduates were strong in the basics and fared well at conventions. We had well attended dances with some great callers.
It was with a sinking feeling that I read an Email a few minutes ago from Richard, the current FCD President, announcing that Mainstream classes were being canceled for the second consecutive time. I find myself fearing that unless some miracle should drop from the skies, this is the beginning of the end for Foggy City. The club seems on life support. A quick yank of the cord and it will be over for one of the first gay square dance clubs in the US.
I am in no way pointing a finger at the current FCD Board or membership. The club has some wonderful caring folk who donate their energies and time without any hope of direct thanks. To them I say "THANK YOU!". Although I am taking a break from dancing (after 10 years it was overdue) and am no longer a San Francisco resident, my square dance roots will always be with Foggy City.
So what's wrong if it's not the Board or the club membership? Time and again at conventions I'd hear about the closure of one IAGSDC club or another. I'd hear that club memberships in general were shrinking. Hands were wrung. "This isn't good" was mumbled by those who had the long view. Yet we all danced on, convinced that it would never end. In the Bay Area, clubs would rarely network together perhaps because of ego, perhaps merely that such ideas were not ranked highly enough despite the fact that we were less than 50 miles apart. And yet we danced on. In San Francisco itself, many folks (and I was hardly the first) lamented that three square dance clubs in one city was at least one too many. Efforts to consolidate were rejected, sometimes bluntly. Short sighted? Yes, in my view, very much so. And yet we danced on.
Cannibalism, square dance style? Yes, I fear so. And yet we continue to dance on.
Sad
As some know, I served as President of FCD for several years. It was a growth experience as they say. But we (and it was a "we" effort not a "me" story) kept the club going despite some significant challenges. We had fun. FCD was financially solid at the time with class sizes highly variable but sufficient. It was evident that the square dance 'baby boom' of the 1990's, was in transition. We now had to work to find new class members rather than having them flock to our doors (most often by referral from the then current FCD faithful). Volunteerism is a fickle beast but we got it all done somehow. Our teaching callers were, I thought, among the best. FCD class graduates were strong in the basics and fared well at conventions. We had well attended dances with some great callers.
It was with a sinking feeling that I read an Email a few minutes ago from Richard, the current FCD President, announcing that Mainstream classes were being canceled for the second consecutive time. I find myself fearing that unless some miracle should drop from the skies, this is the beginning of the end for Foggy City. The club seems on life support. A quick yank of the cord and it will be over for one of the first gay square dance clubs in the US.
I am in no way pointing a finger at the current FCD Board or membership. The club has some wonderful caring folk who donate their energies and time without any hope of direct thanks. To them I say "THANK YOU!". Although I am taking a break from dancing (after 10 years it was overdue) and am no longer a San Francisco resident, my square dance roots will always be with Foggy City.
So what's wrong if it's not the Board or the club membership? Time and again at conventions I'd hear about the closure of one IAGSDC club or another. I'd hear that club memberships in general were shrinking. Hands were wrung. "This isn't good" was mumbled by those who had the long view. Yet we all danced on, convinced that it would never end. In the Bay Area, clubs would rarely network together perhaps because of ego, perhaps merely that such ideas were not ranked highly enough despite the fact that we were less than 50 miles apart. And yet we danced on. In San Francisco itself, many folks (and I was hardly the first) lamented that three square dance clubs in one city was at least one too many. Efforts to consolidate were rejected, sometimes bluntly. Short sighted? Yes, in my view, very much so. And yet we danced on.
Cannibalism, square dance style? Yes, I fear so. And yet we continue to dance on.
Sad
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no subject
Date: 2008-09-05 08:00 pm (UTC)Although I concur with the wringing of hands feeling, especially after getting emails like you got from the club prez, I remember similar sentiments as far back as 1990.
That discussion was the same--few new dancers coming into classes and a muddying of the waters by having two clubs offering the same product. And that was before the "huge" boom in the other bay area clubs.
I have no doubt that at some time, most or all of the gay clubs will have gone away and there is no association left. For me, it's like riding the wave, hoping it'll stay high and that feeling of exhilaration will stay forever. But I know it won't.
There are clubs that have folded that no one remembers any more. Anchorage, Calgary, Dallas #1, and on and on. And life goes on.
Stay perky!
no subject
Date: 2008-09-06 03:10 am (UTC)Hugs from Texas ...
no subject
Date: 2008-09-06 04:34 pm (UTC)I've only recently found out about some of the historical rancor between clubs, and I find it appalling, given the proximity of all of them. I share your sentiment to consolidate, especially in such lean economic times, but I'm just a small voice that no one listens to anyway, and that's another issue entirely. :) HUGS
no subject
Date: 2008-09-07 12:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-07 02:22 pm (UTC)