We would like to start this article by saying how much we enjoy all of our Square Dance Friends that we have in the Northwest District, we are very bless with your friendship.
Also again it is an honor that you let us know about reading these articles.

This month we want to discuss a subject that we have heard over and over again, that being how our hobby of Square Dancing is not what it used to be and that it is really going down hill.

We know and understand the feelings of where this is coming from, because in some areas there is a reduction in both club members and new dancers. This seems to give the active membership a very negative attitude toward way to change this. They only bring up how it used to be as being the positive and how it is now as the negative. The talk is how we used to fill the halls and how we used to have big groups of new dancers taking lessons. Then the discussion turns to now and the remarks are very negative because they feel that everyone they know either, have dropped out of Square Dancing, or the people they know are too old to begin learning to Square Dance. So they have only negative ideas of way of changing what is happening.

So what would happen if instead of looking at the problem negative we turned around and tried a positive approach? Instead talk about ways that we can contact those members that are still healthy and approach them as to how really missed they are at the dances. Let them know they are being missed, get the current club members involved in calling these individuals, so that the ones that are being contacted, are being contacted by more that one member of the club. We know that just doing this much will let those past healthy members that quit coming know how much they are being missed.

Second, get all the active club members together and positive brain storm as to locations that may be available in the clubs community, where the possibility of new dancers might be. Don't, repeat don't, make negative excuses for ideas, such as we've tried that or we've done that, and it didn't work. Take all suggestions as being positive and accept them as they will work. Then as a group decide on the direction everyone is in agreement to proceed, which we hope that will be in a positive direction. Then work out a program and get everyone involved in completing the program, don't leave anyone out.

In closing this article on a positive note we know that some clubs are growing and are continuing to be active both in existing membership and in lesson participation.
Again they are doing this with a positive attitude and not a negative one.
The bottom line of the whole situation is not accentuating the positive.

Sincerely
Cecil & Barbara Burton