Hello everyone,

The first set of meeting minutes for the new board are now posted.  We discussed several issues for the upcoming term/year.

Minutes 7/17/11

Schwartz

Members,

We are proud to announce your executive board for the 2011-2012 school year!

President: James Hammond
Recruitment Chair: Daisy Howlind
Publicity Relations Chair: Janine Roffle
Treasurer: Lydia McMullen-Laird
Home Competition Chair: Karen Ye
Away Competition Chair: Julia Wang
Technology Chair: Matthew Schwartz
Curriculum Chair: Malinee Noreen
Practice Coordinator: Derek Fedeson

Hey everyone, posted below are the UMBDT Executive Board Candidate platforms. As we prepare to usher in a new leadership body, please take the time to read through each platform and get to know the candidates that are running for the various positions. Elections will take place on April 15th, 2011 at the End-of-Semester Party.

**Candidates – Please submit your platforms as soon as possible. Platforms are limited to 250 words. If would like to run and are not listed below, send a nomination to ballroom-exec@umich.edu!

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President

James Hammond

My goal as president is to enable this team to continue to reinvigorate itself. To that end, I intend to focus the board’s efforts on three critical areas:

1) Recruitment

As always it is critical to cast our net wide in order to recruit those people who will have a truly profound impact on this team. However, we should now shift our goals from recruiting the most people to recruiting the most dedicated members.

2) Development

It is not enough for us to simply recruit the most members; we need to teach them. This responsibility falls on us all to create a community the enjoys being together and dancing together, but it falls most heavily on our upper level team members, whose success is because former team members helped them and who now have a responsibility to help the next generation.

3) Competition

Competitions generate our team’s social life. They create lasting friendships between members of all levels. They allow us to publically display our love for dance. They inspire us to become better; to strive for more; to reach for what seemed impossible. Attending competitions, particularly OSB and Arnold, must become a priority for all of our members. To that end, I propose that the bulk of the excess money we have gathered this year be directed towards incentivizing attending competitions. We could completely subsidize registration fees; subsidize hotel costs; maybe even appropriate competition apparel. Regardless of how we decide to create this incentive, however, we will direct that money towards rewarding members who represent our team at competitions.

Treasurer

Cathy Liu

I can hardly believe how fast and hard I have fallen in love for dance and our team! In two semesters, I am pleasantly surprised to have developed both a passion for this wonderful sport as well as a network of diverse, fun, and talented teammates. To give back to the team, I would like to contribute the following strengths and talents as treasurer:

· Excellent quantitative background: From my economics studies and experience working as an assistant consultant for Baker Strategy Management Consulting, I am excellent in problem solving and analysis requiring mathematics and numbers. My strong math skills allow me calculate and budget the team finances with accuracy.

· Knowledge in Accounting and handling finance: knowledge of accounting principals as well as proficiency in business computing is essential for precise balancing of the budget. I have acquired these skills through coursework at a business program at Cornell University and have applied them when handling the finances of my clients as an Accounts Executive at The Michigan Daily.
· Persuasion and Strong communication skills: As a University Tour Guide and entering external consultant for Procter and Gamble, I am equipped to communicate ideas and suggestions in a convincing manner, allowing me to draft persuasive requests when petitioning for additional funding from MSA and LSA at the beginning of the semester and secure additional funding for our team.

· Consciousness and Reliability: I am a responsible and goal-oriented individual who works relentlessly in pursuit of visions and goals. I accomplish things.

· Vision: I seek to obtain more money in our accounts without raising membership dues through effective fundraising and donations. As a former Relay For Life team captain, I have raised over 3,000 and acquired strategic fundraising methods and ideas. I seek to share these experiences with the team to execute successful fundraisers and increase our budget. Furthermore, working at the Daily has given me connections with various local businesses run by generous management, including NYPD, Cottage Inn, Bivouac, Van Boven, Willowtree Apt, CMB Property, Raja Rani. I seek to share these connections with the team to receive benefits like team discounts as well as potential donations.

Thank you for your time and consideration—Go Blue!

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Lydia McMullen-Laird

Dear Friends,

I am very excited for the opportunity to run as treasurer this year. I believe that my strong background in the financial aspects of various student organizations as well as my experience on the team board for two years has prepared me well for this position.

As a founder of a student organization, and a board member of several others here at the University of Michigan, I have a wide range of experience with the financial resources available to student organizations. Additionally, I have worked for non-profits in the Ann Arbor area for more than five years and have many ties to local businesses and sponsorship opportunities. The role of treasurer requires precision and accuracy in order to keep the team budget balanced. My job as a budget analyst through the political science department and grant reviewer through the Graham Institute has given me the skills to accurately execute these aspects of the position.

However, to me this position requires much more than the responsibilities of the treasurer alone. I believe that being a member of the board includes a larger responsibility of ensuring that we continue to provide a supportive and inclusive community to all of our members.

My vision for this team is to first and foremost maintain the financial stability and organization of the team. However, I hope to go beyond that and provide the team with new and innovative ways to access funds that will allow our team to create a fun, rewarding and exciting dancing experience.

I would be honored to serve as treasurer for this team!

Thanks,

Lydia

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Ashley Mo

I already enjoy attending team events and would be thrilled to do so as your treasurer! To hear more about my plans, please come to the end-of-semester party .

Sincerely,

Ashley

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Peter Ung

Mission:

To maintain the financial health of the UMBDT to allow maximum team activity

About me:

-been with the UMBDT for the past 2 years
-dedicated dancer and seek improvement
- participated in most of the UMBDT events
- on the 2010 Team scholarship committee ? helped in the evaluation and selection processes of applicants to receive the scholarship
- was the treasurer of a healthcare organization when attended community college

Goals:

Transparency – I believe it is essential for an organization to be transparent about its leadership decisions and financial status. Hence, as the treasurer of the UMBDT, I will present and make clear to the Team members the current financial status of the team at the end of each semester

Financial management – healthy financial status and reliable transactions allow an organization to operate in its optimal state. As the treasurer of the team, I will be managing the balance sheets and cash flow statements of the team

Bureau – Executive members need to understand the current team?s financial status in order to make adequate decisions for the team, such as competition registration/room-and-broad subsidization, outreach, event organization and recruitment. To that end, I will work closely with the elected Team president and executive members to maximize the effective use of the team budget

Recruitment Chair

Daisy Howlind

The Ballroom Team is more than an association I am a member of. It is more than an activity, hobby, or ‘something to do’ here at the ‘U.’ For me it has evolved into something far greater; a group of friends, best friends, a support network, a stress reducer, and a passion ever-growing. I am drawn towards DTS most nights of the week. Even when I know I should probably take a night off, I cannot resist going to “take a break” to get a quick practice in, or just to meet with some of my favorite people from miles around. The energetic and positive vibe is alluring to me, which is one reason I believe I would be a positive addition as Recruitment Chair for this next year. I am very outgoing, approachable and easy to talk to, traits I am proud of.

Recruitment is not a job just at the start of the semesters; it is a yearlong process of engaging the community, drawing in members and developing lasting friendships with such a great group of fun and diverse people through our shared desire to express ourselves through beautiful movement! I will be at Saturday lessons, and I will continue to spend my nights at DTS answering questions and socializing. This year we had difficulty finding enough male partners and I will dedicate myself to help with more partnership assistance, as well as continue and expand the mentorship program established by our team member Matthew Schwartz.

I think the individual friendships and memories we create with our members and alumni is the true cement of our team. The steps are great, and fun when no one is stepping on your feet, but the steps we may forget, but the memories of the team bonds are the ones that will stick with us together for a long, long time.

Publicity Relations Chair

Marisa Pacella

My name is Marisa Pacella, and I am running for the 2011-2012 Publicity Relations Chair.

This past summer and fall, I served as the Marketing & Advertising Chair for the team’s first-ever charity ball, driving an hour from home on several occasions to attend meetings; maintaining frequent contact with the planning committee and potential sponsors; designing templates for various print media; communicating with printing companies for donations and discounts…and the list goes on. It was certainly not a simple task, though the challenges of the position made the outcome only more rewarding. With this experience behind me along with 4 memorable semesters on the ballroom team, I feel I am qualified to serve as next year’s Publicity Relations Chair.

Observing the success that both Dan and James have had as PR, I believe I can continue the tradition, bringing enthusiasm, reliability, and commitment to the board and team community. Some of my goals include:

• working with the Recruitment Chair to organize successful Welcome Week events to kick-start the semester and get new members excited to be a part of the ballroom family

• ensuring reasonable prices on apparel with distribution prior to OSB and Arnold; possibly bringing back the yellow track jackets and offering a choice based on team interest

• maintaining positive relationships with the club and other community contacts

• planning memorable Semester parties to celebrate the team’s growth and competitive success

As Publicity Relations Chair, I can promise a positive attitude, a strong commitment, and most of all, a drive to show off the Michigan Ballroom Dance Team!

Thank you for your consideration,
Marisa Pacella

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Victoria Marchenko

As Public Relations Chair, I want to uphold our team’s high value standards and improve our team’s public visibility.

I will start by developing a plan for advertising the welcome week events. We can distribute flyers as usual but also chalk the sidewalks and enter
the lottery for the diag boards and banner poles. This will build awareness about our team and attract potential new members.

Another goal is to strongly publicize our team’s successes. I will try to help our team accomplish this by requesting articles and interviews on our
participation at important competitions like the Ohio Star Ball or the Arnold Classic. This will stimulate interest in our team by the community and bring recognition of our team’s efforts.

Lastly, I will reinforce our name. I will make sure that the newcomers have their team apparel before their first competition in the fall. This will
not only further promote our ballroom team around the university and at the competition, but it will also make the newcomers feel more involved and
secure the dynamics of our team.

I have a strong passion for our ballroom dance team at the University of Michigan. I hope to help bring in new members, keep our current members
excited for our team, and show off how great this team really is to the rest of our community. By being the Public Relations Chair, I only hope to
further share the love I have for this outstanding team and my passion for this wonderful sport.

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Jesse Lee **** changed to run for PR Chair

When I think about recruitment, I always think back to how I first joined the team. I could easily say it was the welcome week events, or the idea of learning to dance, or even the community. But the truth of the origins of my obsession with ballroom goes deeper than simple interactions or events. It was, to state simply, inspiration.Thanks for your time,Jesse Lee

Home Competition Chair

Karen Ye

Dancers,

In a year full of great successes, I am thrilled we had the chance to cap things off with an outstanding competition. Pushing our comp from mid-February to spring has enabled us to give a warm welcome to a record number of competitors. Additionally, bringing in a showcase couple has set MichComp apart from all the other collegiate competitions this year. These two things have been key ingredients for a great comp, and 2012 should be no different.

Some items to perfect the recipe for success:

• Better organize rides & hotels for judges and showcase couple
• Get an earlier start on housing requests
• Shift canvassing focus from guerrilla style to donation centered approach
• Reach out to more vendors to come to the comp (i.e. jewelry)

Some goals for MichComp 2012 we can strive for as a team:

• Increase the number of attending schools
• Increase the number of spectators
• Obtain more freebies from organizations such as Vitamin Water and Ben & Jerry’s
• Increase media exposure (newspaper, TV) across Michigan
• Run on schedule
• Bring back fun dances

As I enter my fourth year on the team, I’m excited to work with our team members to plan MichComp 2012. Together, we will continue our legacy as the best collegiate competition of the Midwest =)

Away Competition Chair

Julia Wang

Hi Everyone,
My name is Julia Wang and I am currently the Practice Coordinator of our ballroom dance team. I am running to be your 2011-2012 Away Competition Chair! The past few competitions have made me realize how much I enjoy being among my fellow ballroom team members. I love representing maize and blue with all of you, and I hope to make away competitions fun and successful for everyone.

I am organized, responsible, and dedicated to the Michigan Ballroom Dance Team, and here are some goals I hope to accomplish as the Away Competition Chair:

• Have rooms/rides lists ready at least five days before the competition date.
• Work with the executive board to provide snacks for our team at the away competitions
• Coordinate more team spirit from the sidelines
• Maintain, organize, and publicize the team stash
• During week leading up to competition, answer my phone 24/7

I can see myself procrastinating on schoolwork in order to put together a happy rooms/rides list for the team :-)

I have been to all but one ballroom competition offered since joining the team in Winter ’10 and hope to continue to attend them all (despite my wallet’s disapproval). This has given me a good sense of how the Midwest teams coordinate their competitions. I hope you vote for me as your next Away Competition Chair!

Thanks,
Julia

Curriculum Chair

Eva Yokosawa

Hi Everyone!

My name is Eva Yokosawa and I am running for Curriculum Chair for the 2011-2012 Executive Board. It has been three semesters since I first joined the ballroom team yet it feels like the blink of an eye. There is so much I value about our team, especially the relationships I have formed with fellow teammates. This team has created an incredible atmosphere of support and camaraderie that makes me feel as though I am a part of a new family. My ballroom experience has been truly unforgettable and I would love the opportunity to make my own contribution to a team that has already given me so much.

What appeals to me most about curriculum chair is the behind-the-scenes aspect. While the curriculum chair remains mostly out of sight, it would be my job to guarantee that the lessons I help setup and schedule throughout the semester run smoothly. The workshops held each semester are very important for our team so it is imperative that they are successful. I have the dedication and work ethic to make sure this is accomplished. I would like to work closely with the technology chair to post lesson cancellations on our website so that team members have easy access to updated schedules. I am organized, flexible and do not miss deadlines. I feel that this position requires these traits to ensure early planning and accurate scheduling. I am responsible and posses the certain level of communication skills necessary for negotiating teaching times with fellow teammates.

Thank you for your time!

Eva Yokosawa

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Martin Gruca

Many ballroom teams exist, but none of them embody the idea of a team as closely as UMBDT. It is this group’s collective persona that teaches people how to interact closely with others from diverse backgrounds. I feel this describes the largest improvement I’ve made to
myself since arriving to the team two years ago. What’s more, this organization has also given me countless treasured memories. So, I think it’s time that I give back. Given the team’s support, I plan on doing this by running for curriculum chair. The curriculum chair serves an essential role on this team.

It is the curriculum chair’s goal is to keep lesson schedules in order, and to notify the team of any changes or possible American lessons. It takes someone really organized to take care of these responsibilities; I am a very systematic person by nature, I know that I would be able to fufill these duties effectively. I also believe that communicating efficiently is one of the most important requirements of the curriculum chair. I emphasize communication greatly in all that I do, be it in a class project or a ballroom partnership. Therefore, this is where would be my main focus for improvement. I want to send out notifications earlier, and to listen closer to team members’ ongoing feedback about the state of affairs. In addition, I hope to establish online calendars for each team, so as to improve the availability of updated information. These measures would be only beginnings; I would work tirelessly to help streamline the team’s activities any way that I could. This like any endeavor, though, needs your support; so vote for me as your curriculum chair!

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Malin Noreen

Practice Coordinator

Derek Fedeson

As Practice Coordinator I want to maintain the high standards that this team has had since day one and make improvements where possible. I want to make sure DTS remains a great place to practice and socialize by keeping our relationship with the Durbins a positive one and by making sure that everyone who visits respects everyone else and the practice space. I want to encourage the use of the Thursday dance space by increasing awareness and by ensuring that there is music available as soon as the doors open. In that same vein I will compile a list of all available spaces that are not directly controlled by the team, i.e. when the mirror room is open for people to practice in or when the racquet ball courts are usually free for practicing.

The ballroom experience is more than just dancing, it’s getting to know the great people who share the same passion for dancing and so I would really like to get team members to come together before, after and during practice.

As a board member it is my goal to be an active participant in all discussions, focusing on how to help everyone get the most out of the UMBDT experience. I will do what it takes to guarantee the best result for the team. Help me give back to the team that has given me so much. I hope you’ll vote for me to be your 2011-2012 Practice Coordinator.

Thanks,

Derek Fedeson

Technology Chair

Matthew Schwartz

What does the Technology Chair do? Having served in the last two boards, I know that it has changed over the years and I understand better than most anyone else what is needed for the position now.

The primary responsibilities being:

- Getting out videos to the team so everyone can check their dancing and see how they need to improve
- Making sure the website and online media are up to date and accurate.
- Handling a myriad of different issues that crop up with technology

I may not be a stellar programmer but my skill set is more than adequate to fulfill the responsibilities of the position. I have always had a knack for technology, I’m skilled in filming, able to organize people to get things done, anything I’m not proficient at I can quickly learn and have connections to those who are more adept, & I grew up fluent in both PC & Mac

Thus I am qualified for the position but even more important then that is that I’m experienced with both the team and board. When electing your board you should note that at least as important as having the best person for the position, is having the best person for the board. It is crucial for everyone on the board to be involved, lead the team, and be able to handle the multitude of issues that come up every year.

Of course I have plans for Tech Chair and things I would like to accomplish with the position… come to the End-of-Semester party to find out!

Thanks to each and everyone one of you, MichComp 2011 was an enormous success!  Whether you assisted in the setup, served as deck-captain, manned the front desk, or ran judges scorecards, UMBDT came together as a team this year to throw an unforgettable event. MichComp 2011 was truly a student-run competition.

To give you an idea of our accomplishment as a team, MichComp 2010 was considered to be a successful competition, with 311 registered dancers. In comparison (and I’m sure as you’ve already heard), MichComp 2011 had 448 registered dancers, with over 428 showing up. Not only was this year’s competition the largest ever in team history, it was even larger than the Arnold DanceSport Classic just a few weeks before (358 dancers)! Additionally, the increase in registered dancers and their associated fees allowed us to run the comp budget comfortably in the green, even after getting an awesome showcase couple. This means that we’re positioned to throw a comp just as great, if not greater for next year.

So once again, thank you to everyone who had a hand in making MichComp possible: the comp board, the alumni volunteers, the competitors, and of course the UMBDT members! Be proud of what you’ve done and remember it as we plan for another great MichComp in 2012!

UMBDT with Valentin & Daria

Photo credits to Dane Hillard, Sydney Fine, Peter Ung and Carey Goenka

Hey dancers,

We discussed some important things at our meetings in the last two weeks.  I encourage you to read about it!

Mark

3/11/2011 minutes

3/19/2011 minutes

Hey guys, here are some MBDT Exec Board Meeting Minutes.

-Mark

Hey team! This is Mark, your home comp coordinator.

Skip down to the numbered part of this post if you hate reading

After an exciting semester of recruiting, competitions, halftime shows, and a milestone charity ball, it’s time to turn our sights on the new year.  2011 looks promising for our team.  Not only are we in first place for the College Ballroom Dance Team Challenge (VOTE TODAY!), but preparations for our 11th annual Michigan Ballroom Dance Competition are underway.

Our goal is to host the most convivial, romping, merry competition in the Midwest.  We are in the process of securing an outstanding showcase couple (to be announced soon!) and are proud to bring back night finals for all of our competitors (standard too! =]).  Our April 2nd date will (hopefully) allow Michigan Winter to recede so we can welcome our guests warmly and have a MichComp to remember.

There are many ways to become formally or informally involved in planning, funding, and executing MichComp.  While the Competition Committee assists the Executive Board as an fairly autonomous group that takes care of everything from facilities to judges, we need your help to make our competition a success!

Here are several ways to get involved in MichComp:

1. Help raise money through canvassing.  Hosting a competition costs MONEY. Judges, lights, sound equipment, the facility, the programs…it all adds up to $10,000+.  Though registration and spectating fees covers much of this, we need sponsorship to ensure a balanced comp-budget.  This is so important that the team is offering free lessons for a month to the couple who raises the most, and 1 free lesson to the team that raises the most! Stay tuned for an announcement about canvassing soon after winter break.
2. Offer to host competitors from visiting schools for a night or two.  This is a great way to help make our competition affordable and show our guests some Mitten Hospitality.  It’s also a great way to give back I’ve you’ve ever stayed at someone’s house when attending an away comp.  Karen will send out a survey in the next few months through email – please respond!
3. Help set up the night before.  Since everyone will be at the April 1st welcome dance to pick up our competitor’s packets, it will be fun and quick work to set up the tables, chairs, and decorations.  Everyone will be assigned into groups with a manageable task to perform, so we’ll all be able to finish setup speedily and do some last-minute practicing.  Sam C will send an email about this later in winter semester.
4. Help out during the comp. Greet our spectators at the welcome desk, videotape a few heats, and keep the facility clean!
5. Help tear-down. Same as set-up, we’ll all be assigned into groups with a manageable task.  The quicker we finish, the sooner we can…
6. Celebrate our successful MichComp at the after-party!

If you have any questions or would like to get more involved with MichComp, shoot us an email at ballroomcomp@umich.edu.  Check out the Comp Committee Meeting Minutes to see what kind of stuff we talked about at our last meeting!
That’s all for now! Happy holidays!

Mark

Teammates,

If you would like to view the meeting minutes taken from our 11/5/2010 board meeting, please click here.

Happy Dancing,

Your board

Thanks to everyone for your support for our first charity ball!

Tickets have now sold out. However, if you would still like to contribute to Make-A-Wish, please visit here for more information.

Thank you!

Michigan Ballroom Dance Team