July 2011

We want to let you know that we have formed a new organization called the Fit and Fun Square Dance Association (FFSDA). This association will support square dancing, line dancing, and round dancing. It is our intent to serve dance clubs, dancers, callers, and cuers in such a way that will bring much benefit to their clubs and as a result help them flourish. We realize this is a tall order to fill, but we want to do this for the sake of the square dancing community. We feel that we have everything to gain and very little to lose.

Now you may be asking yourselves, "Why do we need another square dance organization?" The answer is simple; the solution is not as simple. As you know there are a number of clubs that are having trouble. We do not claim to have all of the answers, but we believe we are taking a fresh look at dancing as a whole and have some new ideas to try. Even though we are launching new ideas, one of our goals is to work in harmony with all square dance related organizations. For example, one of our goals is to direct members of our organization to the wealth of information that is already available within the USDA and many other organizations. The creators of the USDA and those who have come before and after have worked long and tirelessly to make square dancing what it is today, and we applaud those efforts.

This excerpt is taken from our organizational documents and reads "Code of Ethics and Conduct: We, the Members of this Association, are dedicated to the well-being of the group as a whole and pledge to treat each other at all times with respect and courtesy. All persons and groups that support the Association's goals and objectives are welcome. Our desire is to work together in fun and friendship with a positive attitude towards each other. We also encourage our Members to follow the USDA Codes of Ethics and Conduct." Additionally, our mission is "to provide a unique organization that actively drives the growth of and supports all aspects of square dancing and its related activities by uniting clubs, dancers, callers, and cuers."

Our approach to the problems that square dancing currently has would best be described as one that is "hands on". Although we want to work closely with the clubs, this organization shall do nothing that will interfere with the way member clubs wish to operate.
We would greatly appreciate your support as we work together to make square dancing the fun activity that it can and should be. We are scheduled to launch this endeavor by late summer and be ready for the 2011-2012 dance season.

We will have a free informational meeting followed by a dance on September 18, 2011. The meeting and dance will be held from 4 to 6:30 pm at The Point, located at 5600 Blue Ridge Cutoff in Kansas City, Missouri. We would love to see you there. Please feel free to contact us if you have questions or comments and check out our web site (www.fitandfunsda.org) for more details about the Fit and Fun Square Dance Association. A flyer is attached to this message that provides all of the details for this meeting. Also attached to this message is a copy of the FFSDA "Organization and Goals".

We encourage you to share this information with other members of the square dance community.

The Fit and Fun Leadership Committee:
President: Mike & Carol Richey
Committee Chair: Marvin & Diane Knoche
Secretary: Jim Wright
Treasurer: Karen Kelly

The Fit and Fun Association discontinued in 2016.