Letters to the Editor

Strategic Plan 2010-2013

Dear Editor,

In the last issue of Scottish Country DancerI

was heartened to learn that our new Executive Officer, Elizabeth Foster, had taken the time and trouble to produce a new strategic plan which has been endorsed by the Management Board. There are six main action areas but, “much also depends upon the active engagement of local branches and members”. Looking in the rest of the magazine this last point should have been in very large letters and underlined. The following are some examples of where we require that active engagement. The Dance Scottish dance programmes in Ayr and Aberdeen were hardly for (potential) new members and might have included an Eightsome Reel or Festival

Sadly missed . . .

Isabelle MacPherson, awarded the Society’s Scroll of Honour in 2009. Isabelle first danced in Edinburgh in 1953. She was a founding member of Toronto Branch, gaining her Teaching Certificate in 1961. Since then she taught classes and workshops all over North America. She also tutored examination candidates and led a demonstration team for several years. Nancy McLaren, highly regarded SCD teacher in the Falkirk area. Under her guidance teams from Larbert High School represented Scotland at international festivals in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s. John Morris, danced throughout the UK and compiled the Vallin Suite of dances and music (reviewed in Scottish Country Dancer 6).

Jean Morrison, a regular at Summer School, teacher and chairman of Harrogate (England) Strathspey and Reel Club. Pat Olson, long time dancer and musician with Sacramento Branch. Ann Skipper, served on the Los Angeles Branch Teachers’ Committee in the 1970s and 80s, and helped to form the San Gabriel Branch in 1986. She directed the Clan MacLeod Dancers (USA) for many years. Interceltique. We might have stopped the subscription book system but still want to launch a book (No 46) of new dances what ever the consequences. I have considerable reservations about the effectiveness of branches, but if we must have them and we have allowed an International Branch to be set up, why are Membership Services not looking into having branches for reelers, members of affiliated groups, life members, young members, ceilidh country dancers etc? And a few final thoughts: our Executive Officer has been appointed after the objectives of the Society have shifted and the point of the Society is being lost; there is no point in having standards if they are not the right ones and if the Strategic Plan is to get anywhere we must have a Society with a culture that is open, flexible, broad-minded and less arrogant. Yours, John Carswell (Linlithgow)

Children’s Colouring Competition

Dear Editor,

Oh dear, oh dear! For shame.

We speak everywhere of encouraging the young to dance. Yet in issue 10 you announce winners of the children’s colouring competition in four categories from ages 8 –11 and say, “Sadly there is only room to show the 11 year old’s entry.” Pages 12 and 13, News in Pictures, shows what the other three disappointed winners will regard as endless boring pictures of stuffy adults. It was a grand edition, though, with many interesting articles, not least Alastair MacFadyen’s on the Hill Manuscript,as well as some interesting facts about Tom Flett. Thank you. Yours, Junella McKay (Renfrewshire)