Minutes from Spring 2005
 
January 18
January 25

February 3

March 22

May 10


January 18

People who braved the cold for a half-hour meeting (and food, I guess):
Ben Wright-Heuman
Brendan Cox
Valerie Schmidt
Marta Evans
Scott Brown
Peter Catlin
Allyson Whipple
Jeff Force

First, a plea for more of your hard-earned money. Second semester dues are
due. Give these to Brendan, the new treasurer. Fees fund parties, shirts at
the end of the year, and something called a "slush fund" which our lawyers
have told us not to talk about.

Brendan mentioned that the cafeteria brownies taste "like ash in [his] mouth."
This prompted speculation on who he has killed lately. Ben: "Who haven't you
killed lately?" Scott: "Everyone alive."

We will try to get Igor to come on Sunday nights at eight from now on. People
(Jeff) think this is a good idea.

However! We do not have nearly as much money this semester as last, so we need
to have a fundraiser to pay for more Igor lessons. Suggestions are welcome.

Lessons this semester will focus more in-depth on the dances we already know
and we will learn the Viennese Waltz.

Peter is going to learn how to use Photoshop to update the website. He has
offered to put up any pictures submitted.

Clarification: Ballroom pictures only. Scott was "witheringly" stared at on
demand after this clarification.

February 26 is the competition at University of Michigan. OSU is April 23.

In other news, “Scott is the official music-man” and Allyson is “too vain to
wear hats.” Please act accordingly.

Valçte!


January 25

In attendance:

Ben Wright-Heuman
Peter Catlin
Brendan Cox
Valerie Schmidt
Allyson Whipple
Marta Evans
Scott Brown
Lindsey Randol
Jeff Force (eventually)

After wondering why Jeff was missing, Ben became honorary secretary.
(I think, I can't read his handwriting. -Jeff)

A discussion of Frogger followed. Some people had never heard of the game except
from Seinfeld.

[Meeting begins]

Valerie confirmed that there will be no Boston competition.

Again, dues are due. $10 non-competitive, $15 for competition. You can always
pay the extra $5 later if you're not sure now. Get this to Brendan ASAP or
he'll do something bad. We're not sure what yet. It may or may not involve,
(What does this say? -Jeff) ah, yes. "Giant robots."

On Sunday, February 12, we are trying to co-sponsor a Caribbean Dance Party with
SOCA. Specifics are still being discussed and will be decided at the meeting on
Thursday, February 3. Valerie is in charge of this.

Peter is excited about a Lord of the Rings concert that same night. Lindsey and
Jeff are also involved in that.
(What? Why did no-one tell me about this?! -Jeff)

Supplemental budget hearings are coming up, we need to determine what we can use
more money for. Allyson commented that she got a new magazine about dance music
and equipment, and then shouted "Buy me pretty!" and "Capitalism makes me
happy!" All questions about the supplemental budget should be directed to John
Lesjack.

[minutes paper was taken away from Ben by Jeff]

The dance catalogue prompted talk of a contraption that keeps dancers' arms in
the correct "frame". All those who were at Star Ball and saw the device
commented positively about it. Suspicious, Ben asked if it was actually a
torture implement...
"It's true, we want to torture you horribly." -Marta
"Thanks for blowing my cover." -Valerie

On that note, we need more members to start attending practices, especially
girls. The new rule is that everyone must bring a woman. This rule does not
exclude anyone. Take note!

Off topic, on February 19th, Scott will complete his transformation into a
palindrome.
Allyson: "What?" Scott: "Twenty two... no, physically I become a palindrome."
There may also be a movie or game night or some kind of internal club event.

[Meeting ended]

As we were leaving, Allyson announced: "My boyfriend's getting married on my
cousin's birthday."

First, this proves Jeff's long-held concept that "the better English class
you're in, the more you can abuse the language."

Secondly, as Allyson tried to correct her verbal typo, Marta declared: "We'll be
an escort service!" Expect a vote next meeting on this, if anyone remembers.


February 3
In attendance:

Allyson Whipple
Marta Evans
Scott Brown
Lindsey Randol
Jeff Force
Ben Wright-Heuman
Peter Catlin
Brendan Cox
Valerie Schmidt

The Phling Committee was meeting in the side room off Lower Dempsey - somehow
people just aren't as funny when they're in a noisy, crowded room. Sorry,
folks, but this meeting was all business.

[Meeting begins]

Peter received an email from Becka, and the website should be fixed soon.

Newscope still lists our open practices on Sundays and Tuesdays. Allyson will
talk to them about changing that.

As for the SOCA Caribbean Dance Party, they would prefer to minimize our
involvement. We should attend the event, but just go and have fun. There is no
organized contribution from Ballroom members at the event. We will send a
representative to the Kenyon After Dark meeting Tuesday when this event will be
discussed.

We would like to have a non-practice night sometime for publicity and possibly
new members. "Something Ballroom sponsored that doesn't look like Ballroom."

Valerie is filling in for Marta at the supplemental budget hearings this week.
Allyson and Brendan are looking at this semester's budget and deciding on
detailed requests for more funding. We will need money for competition vans,
among other things. Ksenia has also agreed to look over our budget proposal
before the hearing.

February 26 is the University of Michigan competition. We will leave on Friday,
Feb. 25, after classes end for the day. This will be coordinated after Sunday,
Feb. 6, practice. Make sure you are there if you plan on going to the
competition.

March 26 is the tentative date for a KCBDC internal event, probably a game
night. More information will follow.

[Meeting ended]

Oh, a few things were heard over the general din of Lower Dempsey that may or
may not be relevant.

...if you haven't paid your dues, you might want to...
"I will hunt them down and pin them to cards until they prove they're not
butterflies." -Valerie
"What?" -Marta
"It was a metaphor that got out of control." -Valerie

...why Allyson should stay away from plate glass windows, or strip Twister, or
both...
"We can put you in a couch fort." -Scott, to Allyson

That's all for this week, meeting time this week is on Tuesday, as normal.


March 22
In attendance:

Allyson Whipple
Marta Evans
Scott Brown
Jeff Force
Ben Wright-Heuman
Peter Catlin
Brendan Cox
Valerie Schmidt

Our options for a replacement Historian include Valerie taking on a second job,
Ben doing the work, or all the officers working together.

Don't forget! April 23 is the OSU meet.

We may be going to Notre Dame on April 10, depending on interest. For the
newcomers, it's beneficial to dance at as many competitions as possible, and
Notre Dame is another small meet like Michigan was. However, there will only be
American-style dancing there (Smooth and Rhythm). The other obstacles, including
this late notice, a long drive on that Sunday night at 7 pm or so, and possible
funding shortages can be overcome if people really want to go.

Expect more information regarding the ND meet from Valerie very soon, and please
respond to this email or her email if you want to go. We will only go to the ND
meet if people are interested!

April 17 is the Student Leadership Dinner, and we are pleased to be sending
Scott Brown, Brendan Cox, and Valerie Schmidt.

Scott is assured a fancy wall plaque and somesuch reward for his hard work, and:

"[If Brendan and Valerie don't win something] it means I am a horrible English
major."-Allyson

We'd like to congratulate Scott, Brendan, and Valerie, and ask them to keep in
mind that they have good reason to go to the dinner, since:

"You get the choice of food or that other food."-Allyson

In other news, the Ballroom Fun Games Night with Food and Possibly DDR Amongst
Other Things Maybe will be on April 9 or 16, depending on whether we go to
Notre Dame or not. That should be decided by Thursday or so, and Allyson will
be reserving some space for the Games Night Etc Etc.

That’s all for this week folks, have a great spring break, and we’ll see you in
two weeks!

*whisper whisper*

What? That was the last two weeks? Why didn't anyone tell me? I stayed here and
wondered why no-one was at class! ...




May 10

In attendance:

Marta Evans
Ben Wright-Heuman
Peter Catlin
Allyson Whipple
Scott Brown
Jeff Force
Brendan Cox (later)

While we wait for people to arrive, it is divulged that Brendan is catatonic
(i.e. asleep). Peter mishears this as "canatonic" and assumes that we're
discussing canonizing Brendan. There is some confusion over whether this would
involve getting shot out of a cannon.

The meeting begins. Some miscreant attempts to continue non-ballroom
conversation, but the great and powerful Marta interrupts with "Hey. Hey, I'm
talking here!" It seems that our mild-mannered friends is already being
corrupted by absolute power.

- Henry Spiller, one of our two faculty advisors, is leaving Kenyon. We still
have our other advisor, Patrick Gilligan. Do we need two advisors. Allyson
vouchsafes that many clubs have only one advisor. We decide not to worry about
it.

Allyson: "I don't use the technical meaning, I use the Allyson meaning."

- We advise Scott to not graduate. He says that by this point, it's up to his
professors. We all secretly hope he fails all his classes and has to stay here
another year.

- Do we need a new stand-up poster? The one we've been using is nice, but the
photos are getting a bit outdated as more and more dancers graduate. We'll have
to think about this one.

- Events at the beginning of next year: Activities fair and swing dance, as well
as filling out a bunch of forms and getting people certified to use the sound
system. We feel ready and energized for all of this.

- Marta asks what we'd like to emphasize or work on next year. Ben points out
that the people from the Naz have been a tremendous addition to the club, and
that we should work to support them, encourage them to come, and so on. We all
agree. Yay for Nazzies!

At this point, Brendan arrives, having slept for some time (after having not
slept at all last night).
Allyson: "Good morning, Sleeping Beauty!"
Brendan (understandably surly): "I'll sleep you!"

We digress for a few minutes about the relative merits of hyperbole and irony as
grammatical techniques. Discussion closes after we realize we've covered this
topic already.

- Marta: "Does anyone here have good music capabilities, as in 'burn stuff'?"
We need music to play while we dance. Peter suggests buying a commercial
ballroom compilation with club funds. It's pointed out that Ksenia has bought
many such compilations in the past, and been dissatisfied with all of them.
Scott suggests going to libraries in our various hometowns, checking out
ballroom CDs, and ripping them to our computers. We mull the idea.

Allyson: "Oooooh, RAM!!!" (once again, she is excited by computer parts)

- Marta asks who will be doing the teaching next year. (She says "I'm trying,
this summer, to learn better how to be a guy." This comment is met with a
moment of silence, followed by people falling into their soup (metaphorically)
with laughter.) We discuss teaching briefly, and decide that people will be
assigned days of the week, just like this year.

Allyson (to Ben): "If you ever try to have us do samba to 'Sweet Home Alabama',
hoo boy -- I guarantee you won't be having children." (She makes threatening
gesture with silverware.)
Ben: (wisely protects self from attacks of jealous ex-president)
Scott: "Technically, he outranks you."

- Meeting adjourns, although no one realizes it for several minutes.

Marta: "Don't go kvetching about your bleugkh." Spelling on that last word,
anyone?

Finally, Allyson stabs self in nose with fork. This is either karma for her
earlier attacks (threatening gestures) towards our noble Vice President, or
else a signal from the gods that we should adjourn for real.

- We adjourn for real.



Return to Minutes
 
This page maintained by the Kenyon College Ballroom Dance Club. Send questions and comments to Rebecca Helton.
Last updated May 10, 2005