Banner Raids and Retrievals: Who, When, Where, What, Why, and How *.
Who? Any open square dance club which
holds regularly scheduled square dances may participate. The square dance
club must have an official banner, and must be a member in good standing in the
Greater Cleveland Federation of Dance Clubs, Inc.
When? Any open square dance club
meeting which meets the above qualifications may raid or be raided at any
regular open square dance. Raiding will not be allowed at any
specifically-advertised, closed, or ticket dance.
Where? A raid may be either planned or
spontaneous by the formation of a group of common club members appearing at a
host club dance. The host club president must be advised of the raid at
the scheduled dance and at no time prior to the dance.
What? The grouping of individual club
members to form a raiding party whose object is to either retrieve their own
banner or capture a host club's banner.
Why? To aid and assist other clubs
financially and socially, and to preserve the group harmony between dancers and
clubs.
How? Members of qualified clubs who are
documented with their club's official badge and attend a host club dance,
announce to the host club's president their intent to retrieve or capture a club
banner and pay regular admission to the host club at a regularly scheduled
dance, and also register in the host club's guest book as a raiding party.
* Rules adopted by the Greater Cleveland Federation of Dance Clubs, Inc., as printed in Tip Topics,
March - April 1998, and September - October 2001.
The 10 Commandments of Banner Games
- Members required to constitute a raiding party are four or more couples
attending a regularly scheduled, open square dance of the host club with the
intention of retrieving their own banner or capturing the host club's
banner.
- If two or more clubs desire to raid the same host club at a regularly
scheduled dance, either the club having the most members present or the club
that came the farthest will be entitled to the host club's banner.
This decision will be left to the discretion of the host club.
However, to retrieve its own banner, only four couples need to be present.
- A club can capture a banner or retrieve a banner on a visit to the host
club, but not at the same time. It takes a visit to retrieve, and a
visit to capture. If the raiding club's banner is exhibited at the
host club dance, the raiding club may only retrieve its own banner.
- Couples who may be members of the raiding club and the host club, will
not be able to represent more than one club on a given date. The badge
of the members will determine the status, and it will be required that
general admission be paid to the host club's dance. If you are a
paid-up member of the host club, you must pay an extra admission to be a
member of the raiding party.
- Banners are not to be reserved for any visiting club. NO
reserving whatsoever.
- Clubs may not call ahead to find out if the host club banner is
available.
- All clubs should have but one traveling banner each.
- A raiding member must wear the raiding club's badge and pay regular
club admission to the host club. He/she must also register as one of
the raiding party in the host club's guest book.
- If you are going to be a thief, be a good one and abide by the
rules. The raiding party is responsible for the care of the host
club's traveling banner.
- "Take it (square dancing), enjoy it, and keep it wholesome.
The activity is yours to protect - not just for the present, but for future
generations who will love and enjoy it as you do."
Dr. Lloyd (Pappy) Shaw
FROM THE (Federation) PRESIDENT'S CORNER
(Tip Topics, July/August 2000)
On Banner Raiding: Recently, I was asked some questions regarding
Banner Raiding and gave my opinion. At the next Federation Meeting, I
brought it up for discussion. Each club can make its own standards and
decide whether they want more than one banner, how far they will go to retrieve
a banner, and how to decide who gets the banner when two or more clubs visit
with an equal number of dancers.
I have been to a club that had only one banner and didn't give a
substitute banner to a visiting club with a large number of dancers, because
"they hadn't gotten around to retrieve their banner." I remember
another that was upset when their singles club was denied the banner because
they had eight people (not four couples). while some clubs are very
ambitious about retrieving banners, others are lackadaisical. Indeed, some
clubs have difficulty in getting four couples together for a visit.
The prime purpose of Banner Raiding is not to get a banner, but to
foster friendship and visitations between clubs. However, a club that
does not visit may not get many visitors. These visitors may make the
difference between breaking even financially or suffering a loss. Besides
visiting, there should be some interdiction between clubs. You never know;
someone may have a great idea for your club or its program.
Is it permissible to raid across Federation boundaries?
Certainly! It is not impossible that a club in a neighboring Federation
may be located closer than some clubs in your own Federation.
Most clubs award the banner to the club that visits with the greatest
number of dancers. Sometimes in a tie, they draw cards to see who gets the
banner, or award it to the club that came the furthest. Sometimes when a
single banner is out, a substitute is given, such as the president's tie.
It is not unreasonable to set limits ("no banner raids over 50 miles")
or to award more banners when the numbers of visiting dancers exceeds a minimum
level (one square). Personally, if I knew a club had only eight or ten
members, I would bend over backward to reward them for attending with a high
percentage of their club.
Allemande Al and Martha Wolff
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