GET ON [the] BOARD

Our Annual Membership Meeting will take place on Friday, May 12, during the break (approximately 9:30pm) at the Albany Contra Dance, at the Elks Lodge in Albany. All DFO members are welcome to attend and vote on the slate of Board and Officer nominees for the term beginning on June 1, 2023. The official slate and online advance voting will be available to members by April 28.


Join the DanceFlurry Organization Board!

The DanceFlurry Organization (DFO) invites you to join the Board of Directors for the upcoming term starting on June 1, 2023. 

What does the DFO Board do?

  • Oversee budgets, policy, and staff for sponsored events, including the Flurry Festival
  • Support volunteer DFO dance organizers and promote their events
  • Participate in outreach activities to engage the community and recruit new participants
  • Run grant programs to support traditional music and dance events
  • Promote respect, safety, inclusivity, and accessibility for our events

You should join us if…

  • You are invested in and want to help promote traditional music and dance 
  • You are interested in developing leadership or governance skills
  • You enjoy teamwork and problem-solving

What can you contribute?

  • Your feedback, personal experience, and judgment to guide the organization by making decisions as a Board member
  • Your ideas and the energy for implementing our programs
  • Your leadership skills, if interested in a committee chair position
  • Any special knowledge, skills, or experience you may have
  • Your time, to work on volunteer projects or special work groups of the Board

What’s expected of you?

  • A three-year initial term of service, and membership in the organization
  • Attendance at monthly evening Board meetings, either in-person in Albany or remotely
  • Regular engagement with Board email communications
  • Active participation on at least one committee

Elections will take place at our annual meeting of the membership in May, 2023. To apply, please send a bit about yourself and your interests to nominations@danceflurry.org by April 1, 2023. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at president@danceflurry.org

Shira Love, DanceFlurry Organization President


DanceFlurry Committees

Current committees include Standing (or Board) committees and Organization committees.

Standing Committees

Budget & Finance Committee, which reviews and recommends event budgets for Board approval, brings financial concerns or considerations to the Board, and tracks the organization’s income and expenses;

Executive Committee, comprising the officers of the Board: the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary; 

Nominating Committee, which develops a slate of new board members each year and conducts onboarding.

Organization Committees
Program — works with groups outside the DFO who have proposed dance programs or events and need help with organization and/or funding.  An annual budget provides Program grants for community events and DFYO! (Dance Flurry Youth Outreach) grants to support events for youth and the developmentally disabled. 

Liaison – Each series or event has a board liaison, who provides support for event organizers and facilitates communication with the board. 

Community Culture — works to create an environment of comfort, safety and DEAI (diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion) at all DFO events by developing policy and guidelines for organizers and participants and sponsoring training sessions.  

Outreach – Builds broader public awareness of DFO activities by participating in events like farmers markets and health fairs, or hosting special music, dance or educational programs.

Media – Monitors and updates information and communications through our website, social media, and newsletters.


Our Sponsored and Affiliated events are run by volunteer organizers, under the supervision of the Board. Currently active events are listed below. See the full events list at www.danceflurry.org/attend-an-event/

EVENTS

Flurry Festival

Cajun/Zydeco & Swing Dances
Albany First Friday Capital Swing Dance
Cajun and Zydeco Dance

Contra, Community, & Family Dances
Adirondack Dance Weekend 
Albany Contra Dance  
Buhrmaster Barn Contra Dance  
North Berkshire Community Dance
Tri-City Folk Dancers (International)

English Country Dances
Adirondack Dance Weekend 
Capital English Country Dance  
Stockade Assembly 

Instrumental Music and Singing
Albany Sacred Harp Singing
DFO Megaband
West African Drumming and Dance

DFO BOARD MEMBERS

Shira Love, President
Will Anderson, Vice President
Noel Kropf, Treasurer
Marie Bruschi, Secretary
Ken Fisher
Rindle Glick
John Guay
Cindee Herrick
Lauren Keeley
Jordan Knicely
Kevin Musick
Juliana Post-Good
Harvey Raufman
Jessica Schatzel
Amanda Stickney

Board Members, Emeritus

Past Presidents:  Jen Brown, John Guay, Bill Matthiesen
Pat Melita, Founding Member
Paul Rosenberg, Founding Member

Staff:  The DFO’s Treasurer and Bookkeeper manage all fiscal tasks, and the DFO’s Administrator handles many of the day-to-day details for the board and event organizers and assists with publicity.  Six part-time Managers and administrative staff run the Flurry Festival.