USADance-LA Board of Directors

You Never Know Who You're Dancing Dancing With

somebody — Mon, 4 Aug 2008 14:01:46 -0700

We recently, or rather, I recently posted some discussions on the importance of our (USADance LA) dance hosts smiling and being affable.

I was at Camp Hollywood this past Friday. It's a big Swing/Lindy Hop conference. I saw Rusty Frank there, from Rusty's Rhythm Club and asked her to dance. It was a slow Swing tune, so I started doing my Parker Walk (Ballroom a la Fred Astaire). Just as we began dancing, she abruptly stopped and grabbed a little old lady and told me to dance with her.

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Group Page Layout

somebody — Wed, 9 Apr 2008 13:15:09 -0700

When you go to the USA Dance LA Board home page http://www.centralavedance.com/usadancela you will see three columns of information:

Left Column

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Creating a User Account

somebody — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 23:08:04 -0800

In order to use the Online Board Meeting Application, you must first create a user account to be able to log into the USA Dance LA Group located on the Central Ave Dance Ensemble web site. There is no cost involved in creating an account on this system.

To create a user account, please go to either:

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Email Notifications

somebody — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:19:03 -0800

By default, when an item is posted to the USA Dance LA group, you will receive an email notification of this post.

Email notifications sent from the web site look something like this:

USADance-LA Board of Directors

USA Dance - Los Angeles Chapter 4031 Dance Calendar

somebody — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:16:16 -0800

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Polls

somebody — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 12:56:38 -0800

A Poll allows users to vote on an issue, and that vote is maintained for all to see (all, that is, who have access to the Poll).

This mechanism can be used for things as simple as Board members voting on the next meeting date to things as important as voting on agenda items or resolutions.

View Polls

To list existing Polls, click on the "Polls" link which is located in the right side column Group menu.

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Poll Results - Please Register Your Vote!

usadancela — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:04:38 -0800

There are now 11 of us signed up online. Thank you!

If you are having a problem figuring out how to vote in the polls, please read the documentation here: http://www.centralavedance.com/node/3938 or send email to me.

The polls are located here: http://www.centralavedance.com/og/ogpolls/3647

The current poll results:

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Polls Re-Set: You Must Vote Again

somebody — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:37:33 -0800

Sorry, folks, but I just discovered that when I edited the existing polls to insert the word "Poll" to make it easier for everyone to recognize that they were, in fact, polls, it appears that action deleted the vote associations. We no longer know who voted what. I had no reason to believe that this action would have that result. I know better now.

So, I re-set all the existing polls to 0 votes. This means EVERYONE needs to RE-SUBMIT your votes on the following issues:

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Please Register for USADance-LA Online Board / Please Vote for Next Meeting Date

somebody — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 22:38:35 -0800

If you have not already registered to use the USADance-LA Online Board application, please do so as soon as possible. The URL to begin the registration process is: http://www.centralavedance.com/usadancela

Instructions for first time registration are here: http://www.centralavedance.com/node/3913

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED, but have not voted for the next meeting date, pleae do that here as soon as possible: http://www.centralavedance.com/node/3931

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Adding Comments

somebody — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:24:30 -0800

Comments allow you to create a discussion thread under posts. If you have a question or comment or wish to add more details to posted content, you add a new comment, or reply to an existing comment. The discussion grows as others reply to your comments, and still others reply to those comments.

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Creating a Forum Topic / Listing Topics

somebody — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:08:48 -0800

The USA Dance LA group has it's own discussion forum titled "USA Dance LA Board Discussions". This forum consists of forum topics and comments posted to the topics. You create a new forum topic to begin a new discussion. The discussion itself will consist of comments posted to the topic by other users.

New Forum Topic

To begin a new Forum Topic, click on the "Group Forums" link in the top right navigation menu (or alternately, in the bottom left navigation window).

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Online Board Meeting Application

somebody — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 15:04:50 -0800

OK, I've completed documenting the online application here: http://www.centralavedance.com/node/3913

What everyone who has not already done so needs to do is this:

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Agenda Items

somebody — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 14:29:02 -0800

Board Meetings are considered Events in this system. To create a board meeting, you must create an Event. See Create an Event / Meeting .

The list of topics to be discussed during a board meeting is normally referred to as an Agenda. If you have a simple or small agenda, you can enter it into the into the Body field of the Event you are posting for the meeting.

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Creating an Event / Meeting

somebody — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:04:50 -0800

In order to enter an Agenda, you have to have a board meeting. A meeting is an event, due to start on a specific date at a specfic time. This event should also contain the overall details for the meeting, such as location, direction, and general topics of discussion.

To create a meeting post, you must enter an Event. To enter an event, first go to the USA Dance LA Group Home Page: http://www.centralavedance.com/usadancela .

In the navigation menu on the left side, you will see a link to "Create Event".

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Posting / Viewing Meeting Minutes

somebody — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:37:44 -0800

Enter MInutes

In order to post Minutes to a Meeting (Event), you must first create the event.

Minutes can only be posted to existing Events, so you must first navigate to the Event to which you wish to post Minutes.

First, go to or "View" the Meeting event to which the Minutes are to be posted. To locate the event, you can click on the "Group calendar " link or the "Events " link located in the group's navigation menus.

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Quick Start

somebody — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:35:15 -0800

The USA Dance LA Online Board Meeting Application is a private group that requires a user account and a subscription. You must be a member of the USA Dance LA group in order to access this application.

Enter Agenda

In order to enter Agenda items:

Create a user account

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Using the USA Dance LA Online Board Meeting Application

somebody — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 23:02:36 -0800

The Online Board Meeting Application is designed to keep track of board meeting agenda items. See the original proposal here .

This application is currently limited to use by USA Dance LA Chapter Board members. This document is designed to provide instructions on the use of the Online Board Meeting Application.

USADance-LA Board of Directors

II. Online Board Agenda Application

somebody — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 18:46:45 -0800

Start: 2 Jan 2008 - 9:00pm

End: 2 Jan 2008 - 9:30pm

Discuss Ron's Board Agenda Application:

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Dance Dimensions Studio

somebody — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 22:47:14 -0800

Description:

This is where the monthly "Dancing In the Hood" with Chester Whitmore and his Opus One Big Band is held.

If you want to learn how to dance, then Dance Dimensions is the place for you. They offer all different types of dance classes everything from swing to hip-hop. They also offer instruction videos for every type of dance that are simple and easy to follow. The instructors are top notch and very friendly. Also, their prices are pretty reasonable.

USADance-LA Board of Directors

How To Dress For Dancing

somebody — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 22:49:14 -0800

Description:

Pssst . . .Wanna see my dance scars? Wear whatever you like, but be aware that there are some things you can do to make it easier and/or more comfortable to dance with you . . . — Marshall@*.edu It doesn't matter [what we wear]. We aren't there to show off our fashion sense. We are there to dance. — RMiller@*.net

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Blacks in Ballroom (God Bless The Child)

somebody — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 11:09:36 -0700

There is a whole generation of folks who believe R Kelly invented Steppin' and there weren't any (good) ballroom dancers until Emmit Smith came along on "Dancing with the Stars". The truth is, Blacks have been ballroom dancing in this country as long as anyone else.

This clip is from the second half of the "2010" scene from a recent Los Angeles production of "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel?". This is a Hip Hop opera, but I jumped at the opportunity to present a ballroom style of dancing to the audience.

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Arm Tone

somebody — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 22:35:26 -0800

Description:

Attached is a section from the "Lead and Follow FAQ". This section is on Arm Tone. This is one of the most critical issues with beginning dancers, particularly female followers. We (leaders) simply can NOT lead ladys with "Spaghetti Arms" (i.e., loose arms).

URL: http://www.randbsalsa.com/node/76

USADance-LA Board of Directors

I Feel Pretty (Viennese Waltz)

somebody — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 01:56:18 -0800

Ron Parker and Michele Wolpe perform a Viennese Waltz to Sarah Vaughn's "I Feel Pretty".

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Software Creations

somebody — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:17:27 -0700

Dance-orientated web-based applications and web-site development.

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Use It or Lose It: Dancing Makes You Smarter

somebody — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 15:35:32 -0800

Description:

Musings by Richard Powers

USADance-LA Board of Directors

Minutes from "First Board Meeting" on 2 Jan 2008 - 8:00pm

somebody — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 15:05:18 -0800

Hey, forgot that we can also post minutes to past meetings here as well!

USADance-LA Board of Directors

I. Appoint Nominees

somebody — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 18:41:22 -0800

Start: 2 Jan 2008 - 8:15pm

End: 2 Jan 2008 - 9:00pm

Appoint specific nominees to the four required positions of President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary, plus other voluntary roles.

USADance-LA Board of Directors

USA Dance Subgroup

somebody — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 19:45:29 -0800

This subgroup has been created to test the Online Board Meeting application I am presenting at the next board meeting. It has not been officially sanctioned by USA Dance-LA and will be immediately removed if requested. The whole purpose was to demonstrate how the application could be used to streamline the whole board meeting process.