On Jul 9, 2009, at 4:17 AM, Tina Fields wrote:

>  I really like Greg MacKenzie's question,
>
>>> The real question is: What is your purpose?  And what is the  
>>> purpose of the
>>> majority of those who attend?
>>>
>>> What is the purpose of our event and what is the caller's job in  
>>> realizing
>>> that purpose?
>
> I agree - this is indeed something I've never heard discussed. I've  
> also never heard any particular stance on our purpose shared with  
> dancers by boards, or with callers & bands by dance managers when  
> booking. We have just sort of been each taking our own individual  
> ideas of what we're up to for granted, I guess. Building community  
> is another aspect we might throw into the pot. But who should be in  
> on the deciding? Further musing: is it even a matter for deciding,  
> or does the purpose of any ongoing activity sort of grow and shift  
> organically to suit the times and those co-creating it?

Larry Jennings books shed light on these questions. Check out Give- 
and-Take, available from CDSS, for his essay on "Pathways to Contra  
Nirvana" which can be summarized as "have a vision" but you should  
read the whole thing to get Larry's take on it. Chrissy Fowler's  
Belfast ME dance is a wonderful example of a series that has a clear  
vision, consistently implemented.

Lisa