Role Terms Taskforce
Philadelphia area contra dances have traditionally used the role terms Gents and Ladies. Since 2015, the dance board has made it clear that everyone may dance any role with any partner. Some people in our community would like our dance to use gender free role terms, such as Larks and Ravens. Some people in our community have reservations with changing role terms.
The PATMAD Board established the Role Terms Taskforce to guide discussion and identify options for the future. The Taskforce members are Sheryl Neckritz, Mark Moore, Jim Rice, Jim Kitch, Jennie Walsh, Donna Hunt and Chris Deephouse (chair). The Taskforce represents a range of views on the topic and seeks to include everyone in the discussion.
Membership Vote
COVID-19 Cancellations and Role Terms Vote: Revised Procedures
The cancellation of the March 12th [2020] dance, which was
scheduled to be the second week of voting on role terms,
necessitates some changes to the voting procedures. Since all dances
through the end of March have been cancelled and it is impossible to
know when dances will resume, the revised voting procedures are as
follows:
All ballots that have to date been issued, including absentee
ballots, are null and void. Those ballots that have already been
cast will be destroyed. Any member who has already cast a ballot
will need to re-cast a ballot when the vote is conducted.
The board reaffirms that the vote on role terms will be
restarted with a fresh set of ballots when we
return to in-person dances. We are aware, however, that
the original plan we composed for restarting the role terms vote was
made at a time when we had no idea how long the dance would remain
dark or what reopening the dance would look like, and that many
aspects of this process will need to be re-evaluated.
We realize the particular difficulties that the present public
health crisis creates for our community, and we appreciate our
members’ patience and understanding as we strive to take care of
each other in light of these challenges.
On March 5 and 12,
2020, the members of PATMAD will vote on proposals
that set policy for the role terms used at the Thursday contradance.
The vote will follow procedures used for board elections set in the
PATMAD Bylaws. To be eligible to vote you must become a member or
renew your membership between
August 1 2019 and February 6 2020. Members will vote on the
following two questions:
| PATMAD membership vote |
||
|---|---|---|
| How many regular Thursday dances each month should have gender free role terms? |
Pick one | |
| None | O | |
| One | O | |
| Two | O | |
| Three | O | |
| All | O | |
| The median vote will be used to set the schedule. | ||
| Which gender free role terms should we use? | First choice Pick one |
Second choice Pick another |
| Larks and Ravens | O | O |
| Larks and Robins | O | O |
| Other _____________ | O | O |
To understand why the Taskforce recommended these questions:
- Read the Taskforce Recommendations, which includes a summary of responses to the online questionaire conducted in late November and early December.
- Come to a community meeting at 7:00pm before the dance on February 6 [2020].
- Contact Chris Deephouse, the Taskforce chair, in person or He will share any concerns with the Taskforce and the Board as appropriate.
Community Round Tables
On October 10 and 24 [2019], the Role Terms Taskforce conducted round table discussions where community members learned about, discussed and contributed to the decision about the role terms to be used at our dance. Fifty people attended the sessions; some of them attended both sessions.
| These materials were used during the round table discussions |
|---|
| Role Terms Round Table discussion sheet |
| Role Terms Round Table moderator guide |
| Living Room Conversation Agreements |
If you wish to express your views and you were unable to attend either session, please and let us know when and how you would like to participate.
Why Change? Why Not?
The Mt. Airy dance community has identified several benefits of and concerns about changing to gender free role terms. Some significant themes are listed here. Which do you agree with?
- Some dancers prefer dancing with opposite gender partners and neighbors.
- Gender free terms will encourage more same gender dancing.
- Some dancers enjoy dancing both roles. Gender free terms make it clear that this is normal.
- Traditional gendered terms make it easier to teach most beginners.
- By using gender free terms, dancers learn to dance by position, which makes them better dancers.
- Ladies and Gents are more appealing to most straight people.
- Gender free terms make LGBTQ+ dancers more welcome at our dance.
- All local callers should be able to participate using role terms they are comfortable with.
| Taskforce discussion and dancer comments |
Click on a thumbnail to see the full size image. |
|
|---|---|---|
| Taskforce brainstorming July 25 | 
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|
| Dancer comments March 7 |  |
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| Dancer comments July 25 |  |
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| Dancer comments September 5 | Dancer comments typed up |
Timeline
| March 7 2019 | Maia McCormick calls with Larks and Ravens after the break |
| April 17 | The PATMAD Board authorizes trial dances using Larks and Ravens and establishes the Role Terms Taskforce |
| May | Phil Baumgarten, board president, appoints Sheryl Neckritz, Mark Moore, Jim Rice, Jim Kitch, Jennie Walsh, Donna Hunt and Chris Deephouse to the Taskforce |
| June 20 | Scott Higgs coordinates the callers with Larks and Ravens after the break |
| July 25 | Will Mentor calls a full evening with Larks and Ravens |
| September 5 | Donna Hunt calls a full evening with Larks and Ravens |
| October 10 October 24 |
Community Round Table discussions at 6:30pm in the Commodore Barry room |
| October 31 | Dave Rupp coordinates the callers with Larks and Ravens after the break |
| December 18 | The Task Force submits recommendations to the PATMAD Board. The board approves these recommendations with a couple small revisions. |
| January 16 2020 | Rick Mohr cordinates the dance with Larks and Ravens called full evening |
| February 6 | Community meeting before the dance to discuss the upcoming
vote. Last day to become a PATMAD member and be eligible to vote in March |
| February 20 2020 | Anne Lutun coordinates the dance with Larks and Robins called full evening |
| March 5 & 12 | PATMAD members vote on the policy for role terms going forward |
| May 2020 | The policy decided by the membership is in effect starting with the May through August booking period |