Edinburgh Swing Dance Society

News

2019 Annual General Meeting review

The ESDS 2019 AGM was held on 24 January 2019 at LifeCare Centre. Here’s a rundown of what was covered in the meeting.

What we did in 2018

Classes and workshops

We had 6 terms of our regular Thursday classes, including tasters and open practice sessions. Our Beginners classes were regularly around 80 people, topping out at 100 some weeks.

There were extended socials with live music at our band nights at the end of each term. One band night was moved to a Saturday to coincide with our teacher training weekend with David and Cátia.

We ran a selection of beginners, improvers, and intermediate/advanced workshops throughout the year.

After the summer break, we decided to experiment with our Thursday class schedule and level names based on member feedback. We are currently running our Level 3 class at the same time as Level 1, with Level 2 remaining after the social, but downstairs to allow more space.

Teachers

We have a lot of new teachers and a growing team, and in order to continue to give you the best classes we possibly can, we’ve invested a lot in teacher training and team building this year.

We had a whole weekend with David and Cátia from Portugal, and we also had voice training with Kira Emslie. Our more experienced teachers continue to be super helpful with training and advice.

We also had lots of great guest teachers:

  • Shell and Tim
  • Cee and Stig
  • Norman
  • Katie and Jamie
  • Anne and Vlad

Events and other stuff

We have updated our Code of Conduct thanks to Highland Swing and Sam from Swing Dance Sydney. The Code of Conduct is on the website and also available at the registration desk on Thursdays and at events.

We’ve invested in storage space for all the stuff we own so it’s no longer spread out across various peoples flats and cars. Some ELX equipment also lives in this space.

Katie and Paddy spearheaded a zero-waste approach to our events, and we now have reusable plastic cups for water and a selection of charity shop mugs for our tea dances.

We ran a few big events, including the David and Cátia teacher training and workshop weekend and Winter Swing Weekend. Our member and new Teaching Coordinator Lottie organised a new event, Hogmanay Hop, for New Years Eve, which was a big success. We also ran a free workshop for our volunteers at the end of the year.

Membership

We had 132 members in 2018!

Volunteers

ESDS runs on volunteer power. Our committee, all of our teachers, and everyone who takes money on the door, DJs, and refills water does everything for free because they are awesome. It takes a lot of time and energy to keep the society running, and we’re always looking for more volunteers, so speak to a committee member if you’d like to help out!

We had lots of regular volunteers this year, many of whom have transitioned to the committee for 2019.

If you want to geek out about music, our DJs in 2018 were Minna, Eva, Valerie, Paddy, Lottie, Michael, Nick, Niall, and Kate.

Treasurer’s report

Starting balance: £4302.80
End balance: £4284.65

Thursdays & workshops income: £14,840.78 (10% up on 2016)

David and Cátia Teacher Training and Advanced Workshop
Spent: £3,368.54
Income: £947.00
Subsidy: £2,747.13 (or £161 per teacher trained)

Winter Swing Weekend
Spent: £12,708.41
Income: £10,014.76
Subsidy: £2,693.65 (£30 per workshop attendee)

Hogmanay Hop
Spent: £2,016.14
Income: £1,496.00
Subsidy: £6.25 per person

Donations/charity
Serenity Cafe: £105

Other expenses
Storage unit: £787.00
Web hosting: £215.28

2019 Committee

Four of our members have stepped down this year. They include Kate Amann (Chair), Chris Woodall (Treasurer), George Young (Teaching Coordinator) and Migle Petruskeviciute (Ordinary Member). George and Migle will still be teaching, and Kate and Chris will still be around to dance. Thanks to all of them for their hard work over the past 2 years!

We gained quite a few new committee members, and some of the remaining members have taken new positions. So our committee is now:

  • Valerie McIntosh – Chair
  • Vicky McMurray – Secretary
  • Rhona Davies – Treasurer
  • Lottie Avery – Teaching Coordinator
  • Niall Davies
  • Cristina Rubio Ramon
  • Scott Inglis
  • Will George
  • Pippa Clark
  • Emma Crowther

Join the ESDS Committee

Our AGM is coming up on Thursday 24th of January, and we want you to join our team!

Our weekly classes, socials, workshops and events are a result of a fantastic team working together and volunteering their time to bring you the joy of Lindy hop.

If you have a New Year’s resolution to try something new, learn/enhance a skill, get involved with the community or spread joy into other people’s lives, join our committee!

If you’re looking for a new job this year, employers love volunteers because it demonstrates to them that you are passionate, have a growth mind-set, use your time proactively, you have more than just job related skills and broadened your connections.

What’s in it for you

You get free access to classes and socials all year round, as well as events you volunteer at.

Required skills, qualities and experience

Enthusiasm about swing dance, self-motivation, a team player, takes initiative.

As long as you have been a member this past year, anyone is free to run for whichever position they want.

To submit your interest in a role please email info@hopscotch-swing.co.uk before Monday 21 January.

Role descriptions

Chair

Ensures the smooth running of the ESDS in line with the agreed Constitution and Values. Responsibilities include:

  • acting as the main point of contact for the society
  • supporting and motivating the committee
  • delegating tasks where appropriate
  • chairing meetings and facilitating communication
  • overseeing progress of the committee
  • making the final decision on matters

Secretary

Supports the Chair and Treasurer in ensuring the smooth running of the ESDS in line with the agreed Constitution and Values. Responsibilities include:

  • all things administrative, from sending out newsletters, overseeing meeting logistics and keeping minutes
  • sharing important information with the committee
  • booking rooms as and when required
  • monitoring membership
  • dealing with any incoming or outgoing correspondence
  • Additional duties may include social media and website updates.

Treasurer

Responsible for the finances of the society, including:

  • budgeting for the year
  • dealing with receipts and invoices
  • monitoring membership
  • making sure the money is going to the right places and people
  • updating the committee on financial matters

Ordinary Member(s)

Help out with all aspects of running the society. Includes helping with admin, logistics, communication, planning, organising, and delivering our classes, workshops and events.

All committee members are expected to attend up to 6 meetings over the year.

What is the AGM?

The AGM (Annual General Meeting) is where we elect the new committee who will take the society into the following year.

What happens at the AGM?

On the night, we will run a joint Level 2 and 3 class upstairs in The Gallery from 7:30-8:30pm. Level 1 will run as normal.

The AGM will follow downstairs before an extended social. It should only take about 20 minutes.

We will firstly go through any official business before we get to the electing of each position as listed. (If you can’t make it on the day, then send an email/message with what you would like said on your behalf and we will read it out on your behalf.)

If you have any questions, feel free to ask us, whether it be a specific member about what their role entails, or just something about how great being on the committee is in general.

Please come along and vote!

Ali Affleck and Bedlam Swing

Summer Saturday Band Night with Ali Affleck and Bedlam Swing

Saturday 2nd of June
8.00-11.30 LifeCare Centre

£9/£7 Members, Students, Concessions

We’re doing a special summer band night on Saturday 2nd of June. Due to some schedule changes, we’ll now be swinging out to the lovely sounds of our pals Ali Affleck and Bedlam Swing!

As always we will provide some treats, and you can BYOB.

Tickets will be available on the door. If you’ve reserved yours ahead of time we’ll have your name on the door too.

 

We are also running a small Advanced workshop on Sunday the 3rd with David and Cátia as part of a training weekend we’re running for our teachers. Find out about the workshop.

2018 Annual General Meeting review

The ESDS 2018 AGM was held on 25 January 2018 at LifeCare Centre. Here’s a rundown of what was covered in the meeting.

What we did in 2017

Classes and workshops

We had 5 terms of our regular Thursday classes, including tasters and open practice sessions. Our Beginners classes got as big as 120 people some weeks!

There were extended socials with live music at our band nights at the end of each term. Some of these were free of charge.

Beginners workshops also ran at the end of most terms.

Teachers

We have a big group of new teachers this year who we’ve also been investing in training so we can continue to give you the best classes possible. Our more experienced teachers have been super helpful with training and advice.

We also had lots of great guest teachers:

  • SwingPatrol in February
  • Ellen and Rob
  • Rebecca and Adam
  • Katie and Jamie
  • Lauren and Peter from Los Angeles in December

Events and other stuff

We have introduced our Code of Conduct and ongoing commitment to Safer Spaces. The Code of Conduct is on the website and also available at the registration desk and DJ table every Thursday and also at events.

We’ve bought a few new very useful things, including an iPad and music for the teachers to use in classes and planning, a portable speaker (which is the same model as Edinbop’s, so we have the potential to team up for massive impromptu outdoor Lindy Hopping), and storage space for all the other equipment we have.

The George Young Hall in LifeCare Centre got a very awesome new floor with help from the Aviva Community Fund, which many of you helped vote for. We also contributed to the ongoing renovation of the hall which includes structural, lighting and sound improvements.

Our two weekend events – Swingin’ Spring and Winter Swing Weekend – were big successes, and more importantly loads of fun. And at the end of the year, Vicky organised a group to dance at the vintage fair in the Assembly Rooms.

Charity and donations

We donated £500 to Maggie’s in memory of our member Yvonne Pryor.

£2300 went to LifeCare Centre towards the hall renovations, which was from 2017’s excess funds.

And we were also a supporter of the Big Band Revival: Jimmie Lunceford Transcription Indiegogo campaign. We fully funded the transcription of Whatcha Know, Joe. All transcriptions were performed live for the first time at Lindy Focus 2017. The recorded livestream is on YouTube. Here’s a link directly to the song in the set. The charts from this project will soon be available to big bands all over the world!

Membership

We had a whopping 145 members in 2017! We also recognised our Lifetime Members with shiny new gold cards, and we made our founders and longtime committee members Lifetime Members as well.

Volunteers

ESDS runs on volunteer power. Our committee, all of our teachers, and everyone who takes money on the door, DJs, and refills water does everything for free because they are awesome. It takes a lot of time and energy to keep the society running, and we’re always looking for more volunteers, so speak to a committee member if you’d like to help out!

If you want to geek out about music, our regular DJs in 2017 were Paddy, Moira, Nick, Niall, and Kate.

 

Treasurer’s report

Starting balance: £9,521.00
End balance: £2,796.00

Thursdays & workshops income: £14,300

Swingin’ Spring
Spent: £7,033
Income: £4,937
Subsidy: £2,096 (30%)

Winter Swing Weekend
Spent: £12,410
Income: £7,342
Subsidy: £5,068 (41%)

Donations/charity: £3,147

IT expenses: £459

 

2018 Committee

Nick Harrison stood down from the committee this year. Huge thanks to Nick for all his work and help over the years! And he will still be teaching for us.

We gained one new committee member, Vicky McMurray, and all other members were re-elected for the same positions. So our committee is now:

  • Kate Amann – Chair
  • Valerie McIntosh – Secretary
  • Chris Woodall – Treasurer
  • George Young – Teaching Coordinator
  • Niall Davies
  • Rhona Davies
  • Vicky McMurray
  • Migle Petruskeviciute

 

Plans for 2018

We’re planning more weekend workshops this year for all levels. Beginner and Improver workshops should be running at the end of each term, and Intermediate/Advanced workshops will also be a regular occurrence after a very successful one in January with Shell and Tim.

We will be investing more in teacher training throughout the year, including a weekend event from 1-3 June with David and Cátia from Portugal, who you may remember from Swingin’ Spring last year. Registration should open for that in late March/early April.

Winter Swing Weekend will be 23-25 November this year, so get those dates in your diary! Registration will open sometime in the summer, and we’ve got some awesome teachers in store for you so you won’t want to miss it.

We’ll also be sending out a link to a feedback survey to find out what you’d like to see this year, so please let us know!

Last band night of the year with Tessa Smith & The AppleJacks

Thursday 14th of December
7.30-10.30 LifeCare Centre

£5/£4 Concessions
ESDS Members FREE

Come celebrate an awesome year of dancing with us!

We’re excited to have Tessa Smith & The AppleJacks coming up from Leeds for one last party before the break. There will be no class on the night, just lots of social dancing to an excellent band!

As always we will provide some treats, and you can BYOB.