News from Coates Crescent

Branch Anniversaries in 2020

Congratulations to the following Branches, who celebrate significant anniversaries this year: Aberdeen 95 Cape Town 70 Dundee 95 Castle Douglas 70 Perth and Perthshire 95 Forres 70 West Renfrewshire 95 Monklands 70 London 90 Newcastle and District 70 Hamilton and Clydesdale 85 Sacramento 40 Manchester 85 Cornwall 30 Boston 70 Orlando 30

RSCDS Subscriptions

The AGM in November 2019 passed the motion to reduce the annual subscription paid to Coates Crescent by £2 per member (subject to age and address related variations). With effect from 1 July 2020 the new rates are:

Sub HQ Category fee Members

Adult single £18.00 £30.00 (25+) Adult joint £29.00 £48.00 (both 25+ and same branch and address) Youth £9.00 £20.00 (12-17) Young adult £14.00 £26.00 (18-24) Half year membership for new members only between January – June 2021 would be 50% of the relevant category. The Board recommends that Branches increase their local fee by £2 per member, so that members pay the same as last year but Branches would have more funds available to support local SCD initiatives.

Board and Committee membership for 2019-20

As a result of voting at the AGM and subsequent appointments to fill some vacancies, membership of the Board and Committees is as follows:

Management Board

Andrew Kellett (Chairman) Lorna Ogilvie (Chairman Elect) Bill Cant (Treasurer) Anne Taylor (Convenor, Education and Training) Peter Knapman (Convenor, Membership Services) Joana Stausberg (Convenor, Youth Services) Linda Gaul, Theresa MacVarish-Clark, Sue Ronald, Roy Bain, Gary Coull Appointed for 1 year: Neil Copland

Education and Training Committee

Anne Taylor (Convenor and Schools Director) Deirdre MacCuish-Bark, Mervyn Short, Anne Robertson, Chris Ronald, Deborah Leary, Sue Porter, Muriel Bone, Deb Lees

Membership Services Committee

Peter Knapman (Convenor) Ian Muir (Music Director) Peter Avery, Angela Young, Alan Ross Appointed for 1 year: Ainslie Dunnett and Keith Rose

Youth Services Committee

Joana Stausberg (Convenor) Moira Korus, Olga McIntosh, Aymeric Fromherz Malin Altenmüller, Philippa McKee, Margaret Lambourne

Vacancies and appointments in 2020

The list of management positions due to be filled at the AGM this November is below. Nomination forms are available from the office or on the website: rscds.org/volunteering In addition to completing the form, members must submit a profile outlining the skills and attributes they have to offer. Guidelines on the reverse of the form give an indication of what should be included, but those considering standing for election are strongly advised to read the role descriptions for Board and Committee members. Please contact julia.parr@rscds.org if you have any questions. Nomination forms, profiles and photos must be received at the office by Saturday 12 September 2020.

Management Board

Chair Elect + 7 members (3 for 3 years, 3 for 2 years, 1 for 1 year)

Education & Training

2 members (both for 3 years)

Membership Services

Convenor Elect + 5 members (2 for 3 years, 2 for 2 years, 1 for 1 year)

Youth Services

Convenor Elect + 2 members (both for 3 years)

Deadline for AGM motions:

Motions from Branches to the AGM in November should be sent to Coates Crescent by Saturday 15 August 2020.

New Music Director

Luke Brady has been appointed as the next RSCDS Music Director. He will take over from Ian Muir in November. Luke has been a champion of Scottish music for over twenty five years. He leads his own band, plays at Summer School and has coordinated both Spring Fling and Winter School. Reflecting on his appointment, Luke commented, “The Music Director position is a big responsibility and one I am tremendously honoured to accept. Ian Muir will leave behind some very large shoes. I hope to bring an enthusiasm and energy to the role and am open to new projects and ideas. To that end, I will be setting up a Music Sub-Committee to make sure I have a wide range of experiences, talents and views feeding in to the musical future of the Society.”

Scrolls of Honour 2019

Scrolls were presented to Jim Stott and Mervyn Short by RSCDS President Jean Martin at the AGM in November 2019.

Jim Stott (left) and Mervyn Short (right) with Jean Martin

Catherine Elliot Shaw (on the left) from London (Canada) Branch was presented with her Scroll by Marie McLennan (on the right) at the Branch Christmas Dance.

What’s new in the Archive?

Exhibits from the Society’s Archive were on display at a reception for partner organisations held at 12 Coates Crescent. Items on display included old books and manuscripts, some of which were the sources for many of our dances. Perhaps the most unusual exhibit was Jean Milligan’s record player, dating from the 1950s. She used it at some of her classes. It is still in good working order and it provided background music at the reception. Explore the archives at archive.rscds.org

RSCDS Centenary 2023

Since April 2019 the Centenary Working Group has brainstormed the many exciting ideas put forward for the 2023 celebrations. Very useful feedback on a number of these suggestions was contributed by RSCDS members who were present at the Open Forum during the Autumn Gathering weekend in Perth in November. During the coming months the viability of some of the most exciting high-profile suggestions, involving other organisations, will be investigated. Full details will be shared when we have the ‘go ahead’! Following the March Management Board meeting a start has been made in delegating responsibility for events and activities to Committee Convenors, and other individuals. They are being asked to focus on how to manage and deliver the practicalities of running both Scottish and worldwide celebrations. Branches and Affiliated Groups could, in the interim, start thinking ahead as to how they might celebrate individually, or in local groups, during 2023. Further details will appear over the coming months.

RSCDS Website News

On the website you can now find even more information about some of the dances and people included in our recently published Thirty Popular Dances, Volume Two. There is more to read about Miss Johnstone of Ardrossan and The Dancing Master as well as background information on James Coutts and his Scottish Dance Band, who recorded one of the two CDs. rscds.org/learn/resources-dancers/thirty-popular-dancesvolume-two

Errata

Revisions for the Imperial Book 4, 5 and More can be viewed on the website: rscds.org/learn/resources-dancers/publication-updates It was noticed by many of you that the Thirty Popular Dances Volume 2, Part 2, tracks 10 and 11 are in the opposite order from that in which they appear in the list on the cover. We apologise for any confusion.

RSCDS Shop

All newly qualified RSCDS teachers can now redeem their £5.00 off coupon online. Please visit:

rscds.org/shop/