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NFDI News

2013 Fundraiser for NW Folklife

NFDI's benefit dance for Northwest Folklife is coming up on March 9, 2013, from 7 to 11 p.m.! We will have fabulous music by three bands—Allspice; Laurie Andres and friends, with Karen Shaw calling contras; and Folk Voice Band! Sound provider and technician Allan Swensson will help all the bands be heard. Dance to international favorites, contras, English, waltzes, and a variety of other dances that everyone can do. Look for there to be door prizes, and snacks to keep you fueled for dancing. A $10 donation is asked at the door; all proceeds go to benefit NW Folklife. Thanks to the bands, Allan, Cedar Valley Grange, and Sno-King International Folkdancers, for making this event possible! Download the flyer here.

2013 Board Members

In the 2012 election, Karen Shaw and Diane Vadnais were re-elected, and Ken Bartanen joined the board. We bid a fond farewell to outgoing board member Tali McGill.

Here is a photo of the 2013 board members.

2012 Fundraiser for NW Folklife

NFDI's benefit dance for Northwest Folklife on March 31, 2012 was a great success! Over 90 people enjoyed fabulous music by two bands—Allspice, and Hank Bradley, Cathie Whitesides, and Laurie Andres, with Tony Mates calling contras—and we raised $2000.25 for NW Folklife! Great door prizes and abundant, tasty food added to the fun. Thanks to the bands, sound provider and technician Allan Swensson, Cedar Valley Grange, Sno-King International Folkdancers, and the NFDI board members, as well as all the attendees, for making this a memorable and successful event!

We are looking for young dancers who want to attend Stockton Folkdance Camp this summer. NFDI will provide a partial scholarship, and the camp will provide a partial scholarship. More information on the Youth Fund page.

2012 Board Members

Our 2011 election has concluded and the following new members will be joining the board: Larry Reinert and Sarah Huntington. Sally Jacky was re-elected. Their terms begin in January of 2012. Our appreciation goes out to outgoing board members Erika Dehm and Denis Murphy.

Here is a photo of the 2012 board members.

2011 Fundraiser for NW Folklife

NFDI will again hold a fundraiser dance for NW Folklife. Join us on March 19, 2011, at the Cedar Valley Grange in Lynnwood, Washington. Dance to the fabulous live music of Folk Voice Band, Allspice, and Orkestar RTW, with contra dances called by Karen Shaw during the band changeovers. We are grateful to the bands and to Allan Swensson, who will provide sound equipment and the talent to run it. The Cedar Valley Grange is donating the hall rental, and Sno-King International Folkdancers are donating their dance night to the cause. NW Folklife staff will be on hand, and all proceeds will be donated directly to Folklife. Tell your friends! Hand out the flyer! Plan to come!

2011 Board Members

Birgit Ages, Kathy Bruni, and Judy Robare were re-elected to the NFDI Board in the 2010 election. Their three-year terms started January 1. Congratulations!

We also passed one bylaw change. The current bylaws are on this Web site.

Here is a photo of the current board members.

2010 International Folk Dance at NW Folklife

The international dance at Folklife was a great success! We had a packed room, two wonderful bands, and lots and lots of fun! Thanks to MC and community coordinator Patrick McMonagle for putting it all together and making sure everything went smoothly!

2010 Fundraiser for NW Folklife

On March 13, NFDI held a very successful dance at the Cedar Valley Grange to raise funds for NW Folklife. The fabulous live music of Allspice, Folk Voice Band, Orkestar RTW, and La Famille Léger, was donated for the event, as was the sound support and equipment from Allen Swensson. The Cedar Valley Grange donated the hall for the evening, and Sno-King International Folkdancers donated their dance night to the cause. Thanks to all these very generous people, all proceeds from the event went directly to NW Folklife. $1435 was contributed that night, and another $235 came in after the fact, for a total of $1670 that NFDI's fundraiser brought to NW Folklife. Thanks to all of the wonderful people who contributed to make that happen! Photos are on Facebook at this public link.

2010 Board Members

Karen Shaw, Tali McGill, and Diane Vadnais were elected (or re-elected) to the NFDI Board in the 2009 election. Their three-year terms started January 1. Congratulations, and welcome!

Elections (2009)

In 2009, we welcomed three new Board members: Denis Murphy, Sally Jacky, and Erika Dehm. Three current Board members will complete their terms at the end of December 2009: Robert Butler, Diane Vadnais, and Naphtali (Tali) McGill. Thanks for your service on the Board! Diane and Tali have agreed to run again, and we have two additional candidates: Karen Shaw and Bernice Maslan. NFDI members: Please vote in our 2009 election! Ballots will be distributed by November 1.

Revisions to the NFDI Bylaws were approved by the members in the 2008 election.

Scholarships awarded in 2009

NFDI members can apply for a scholarship to help them attend a dance camp or festival of their choice! Find the scholarship application here.

One scholarship has been awarded to Sonia Connolly of Portland, Oregon. She attended Mendocino Balkan Camp. Congratulations, Sonia.

A second scholarship was awarded to Jamie Lynn Webster, who attended Stockton Camp.

November NFDI Benefit Dance for NW Folklife (November 2008)

NFDI's benefit dance for NW Folklife on November 15 was a rousing success. We raised over $1000 for Folklife, and everyone had a lot of fun. Thanks to our wonderful volunteer bands—Allspice, Folk Voice Band, Druzhba, and Orkestar RTW—and our sound technician, Allan Swensson. The Sno-King International Folkdancers donated the cost of the hall rental, allowing us to hold this event in lieu of their regular Saturday night dance; many thanks to them! Please support these great bands by hiring them, and the sound technician, when you have a paying gig! See our Resources page for contact information.

New NFDI Newsletter Co-Editor (July 2008)

Welcome to Noel Wannebo, the new NFDI co-editor. Thea Huijgen retired from the position of newsletter editor in January 2008, and Noel graciously volunteered to replace her. Noel's first issue was the July 2008 issue, and she did a great job. Thanks, Noel!

"Best of Stockton, Part II" (April 2008)

The NFDI "Best of Stockton" (Part II) workshop on April 18, 2008 went very well. Despite snow—Again! In April!—we had a good turnout, including three participants who came over from Richland, WA. Thea Huijgen, a master teacher originally from the Netherlands, taught more dances from 2007 Stockton Folkdance Camp.

NFDI Benefit Dance for NW Folklife Festival (March 2008)

The benefit dance for the NW Folklife Festival on March 15 garnered a great turnout, and raised a substantial amount of money for Folklife. Many thanks to Folk Voice Band, Skandia Kapell, Druzhba, and Orkestar RTW, who donated their playing for the evening. Thanks, too, to Sno-King International Folkdancers for paying the hall rental at Cedar Valley Grange, and to Allan Swensson for donating his time and use of his sound equipment for the event. It was a lot of fun! Here are a couple of photos: Birgit and Phil Ages dancing (photo by Gloria Barello), Skandia Kapell (photo by Kathy Bruni), and dancing to the music of Druzhba (photo by Kathy Bruni).

Past news items are archived here.