All Mecda Members

All Mecda Members Message

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 09:48:00 GMT

http://www.mecda.org/IndexHapps.html

Our Happenings editor has a NEW look for the NEW "Going Green" Happenings, August edition!

http://www.mecda.org/IndexHapps.html

Click on the link, or cut and paste this URL into your web browser and see what is in store for you.

http://www.mecda.org/IndexHapps.html

Once you land on the home page, Click the small Blue square in the upper Right "News & Bulletins"
to get you to all the familiar events, fliers and information in your regular "Happenings"
THEN
Use the upper Right "Next" button to scroll through the pages.

If you like the New Happenings, be sure to let your friends in the dance community know they should join MECDA, or check to see if they are still a current member!

www.mecda.org
We are having some technical difficulties getting the NEW website all hooked up with membership info, so
click "previous site" to get there. We are updating, so remember we are phasing out the Print Happs (So don't click it, it is no longer an option!)

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All Mecda Members Message

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 09:43:00 GMT

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MECDA - Guide/Nominate/Reason to Belong

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 06:39:00 GMT

3 MECDA Items for Summer, 2008:

~ The MECDA Guide is now ONLINE! Check it out at:
http://www.mecda.org/directory.html
We believe this is a MUCH better benefit to our members who have listings, as it is now out there and available to ACTUAL potential dance students/customers to see.
Remember that it will come up MORE in a search engine the MORE it is used and looked at, so DO have a look!
As you know, everyone is making and effort to "GO GREEN", and MECDA is, too! Think of the trees we are saving.

~ Nomination form/important financial disclosure AND what it means to YOU, our members!
For Both financial and environmental reasons, the PRINT version of the Happenings is on it's way OUT soon!
The Costs of running MECDA is more per-member than the Membership fees that MECDA has been charging!
Due to many factors this year, our annual fundraising event is not able to cover our yearly costs.
Open the "Nomination Form" here and see the details.

~ Here is a letter from our Happenings Editor, after someone asked about the benefits of belonging to MECDA:
A REASON TO BELONG TO MECDA
The reason I joined MECDA, and the point I think that everyone is forgetting, is to belong to an organization that links belly dancers together as a sister hood. The reason I give to our members to belong is that not only does MECDA strive to put on belly dance events for fellow dancers, but we also strive to work together as a unit in the belly dance world. MECDA began as a sort of "union" for belly dancers. A group that all agreed not to undercut, undermine, or hurt other dancers. It's a sister-hood. I think rather than people questioning, "what do I get?", they should be thinking, what can I *give*. How can I help support the belly dance community? How can I make working conditions better for myself and other dancers? The best reason to join MECDA, even in it's current state, is to keep the organization going that helped dancers begin to make belly dance a legitimate endeavor. They have made leaps and bounds in these areas, I think we all just forgot what the goal was.

Unfortunately, the past officers (over the long haul), paid for things blindly and didn't pay attention if we were losing money. Now, the current officers are in a constant state of flux, trying to do the best they can to keep things afloat. Yes, they have had to cut some of the freebies we were giving membership, but that is because they were freebies. Most organizations charge a lot more money to belong if they include things like publications, magazines, etc. because those things cost so much. For example, there is an art organization that I would like to join that charges $360 per year for membership and that just includes a one page newsletter via email once a month. The reason to belong to the organization is that it gets my foot in the door in places where I could not do it myself. Also, for the opportunity to purchase insurance at a group rate. MECDA offers insurance to it's chapter's events, as well as a lower cost for the facilities in some cases. Without these thin
gs, our events couldn't happen out here. Our chapter isn't in it for the money, we just want to put on an event that allows dancers the opportunity to dance on stage, shop with vendors, and have the opportunity to network with other dancers in person. If we break even, that is the goal, so that we can put it on again next year.

Sorry to give a long explanation. And I totally understand your feeling of desperation. It's hard when you don't have a lot of help. There are about 4 of us out here that run all of our events, so I get it, it's hard. For me, it's also rewarding to see that new student troupe on stage or to see a seasoned troupe inspire other dancers. I love hearing at the end, that the event was fun. Because really, for me, it's all about having fun... even if it is hard work sometimes.

This is why I would like to open up the communication between all of the chapters, so that we can help each other, inspire each other, and share ideas. I think that the lack of communication at the same time we were growing so large, was a huge mistake, but that it's also a mistake that we can all fix. We can heal if we all care about each other as dancers and want to make things work.

Thank you for your time and dedication.

~Blume Bauer

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MECDA Carnival forms now available on-line

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 07:31:00 GMT

MECDA Carnival Page: http://www.mecda.org/mecda-carnival.php
Carnival Volunteer form: http://www.mecda.org/Volunteer08.pdf
Carnival Performance Info: http://www.mecda.org/Perform_Info.pdf
Carnival Performance Application form: http://www.mecda.org/Ent_App_08.pdf
Carnival Program Ad form: http://www.mecda.org/Ad_Program_08.pdf

Happy Dancing,

James McMechan

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Remember to vote for MECDA officers

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 02:18:00 GMT

Please remember to vote for your chapter officers and to send your votes in.
December 15th is coming up rapidly.

James McMechan

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MECDA Events for December

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 18:13:00 GMT

************************
MECDA Events for December
************************
Sunday, December 2nd, 12-6pm
San Anselmo, CA
San Francisco/Bay Area MECDA presents
2007 Greater Bay Area Studio Tour
Hafla and Workshop with Leyla Lanty
@ the World Dance Fitness Studio
40 Greenfield Avenue, 415.457.8787
MECDA Members $5/Non-Members $10
Admission includes cane workshop with Leyla Lanty!!
Info at info@sfbamecda.org or 408.363.0110
www.sfbamecda.org

Thursday, December 13th, 7-9pm
Palmdale, CA
"Jingle All the Way: Babes in Toyland"
Palmdale (Chimbole) Cultural Center
For more details, visit Desert Communities website
www.freewebs.com/dcmecda
See flyer http://www.mecda.org/images/flyers/dcmecda-121307.jpg

The entire MECDA Happenings can be downloaded as a 5.6MiB file at
http://www.mecda.org/happenings/happs-2007-12.pdf

or it can be viewed online
http://www.mecda.org/happenings/dec07/index.html

if you need acrobat reader, it can be found at
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Happy Dancing,

James McMechan

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MECDA - Message from the Webmaster

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:13:00 GMT

November 7, 2007

Dear MECDA,

As of this date, I hereby resign my appointed position as Webmaster of MECDA. I expect to receive my October honorarium shortly, since it is already November.

Marta has been my friend and inspiration for many years and I took on this job as a favor to her.

I feel you have all treated her very badly. The friction and animosity currently running rampant within the organization has created an atmosphere of hostility not conducive to group harmony. This is not an organization I wish to be a part of. Please cancel my membership as well.

I encourage every member to carefully examine all of the facts and to determine individually what course of action you feel compelled to take. Marta Schill has my full support in whatever endeavors she may choose to be involved with in the future.

Peace and Love to you All.

Penny Stewart

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MECDA - Message from the Vice President

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:52:00 GMT

November 7, 2007

My Dear MECDA Members –

It is with great regret that I announce my resignation from the position of Vice President of the Central Board.

MECDA has experienced great division and much animosity within the past year and a half. I have done my very best to mediate and bring unity to our dance community – reflecting the enduring effort and true love of my life.

In April 2007, preceding a very contentious and divisive Central election, President Janet Thomas and I discussed the possible jeopardy that this (and any) election could bring to the Cairo Carnivale – if individuals who lacked the understanding to successfully produce the Carnivale were placed in power. It was agreed that I should trademark the Cairo Carnivale. This was done.

In the post-election July budget meeting, I discovered that MECDA was in financial crisis and facing lawsuits. Instead of discussing other fundraisers, donations, or other ways to continue our services, it was determined (in spite of my strong objections) that we should discontinue the Cymbal Digest within the Chronicles magazine, and also to have NO Central Anniversary celebration …for our 30th year!

As our services decline, so does our membership.

In response to these actions, I devised a proposal to keep the Central Board free of any threat of lawsuits stemming from the Carnivale, as well as ensuring that funds raised from the festival would fund MECDA for years to come, no matter who was on the Board, and despite the decline in attendance and vendors. As the creator and director of Cairo Carnivale for the past 18 years, I have ideas to reverse these trends. No communication or information has been forthcoming from the rest of the MECDA Board.

As a result, I am bringing the materials relating to the office of Vice President to the November 11, 2007 Central Board meeting and will be concluding my service. This may result in a delay in the currently ongoing Chapter elections, a very lengthy process that I have nearly completed.

MECDA has mutated into an entity I barely recognize. I was a MECDA co-founder 30 years ago, and I am still fully committed to the causes and endeavors that were there at MECDA’s foundation: To communicate, unite, educate and inspire one another, wherever we may be. To this end, I pledge take the Carnivale around the USA so all may enjoy it, and to create a Cairo Carnivale website where all information, features and reviews will be available to all for no charge.

Please write marta_schill@yahoo.com with questions, concerns or comments. I hope to see each of you soon, moving together into a bright new future!

Lovingly,

Marta

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MECDA MEMBERS - MESSAGE

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:50:00 GMT

Hi, Everyone,

Just a couple of things FYI . . .

DOO-DAH DON'T:
NOTICE: DOO-DAH PARADE CANCELLED/RE-SCHEDULED!!! NOT on November 18, now is scheduled for JANUARY 20, 2008.

HAPPENINGS NEWS:
Message from the Happenings Editor: Don't forget to turn in your Happenings Submissions! We are now accepting articles, poetry, creative writing, and more!! Let's all get involved and share our thoughts.

You can turn in your submissions via email to happenings@mecda.org

Also, we now have the new option of having your flier printed directly into the Happenings!! No more making copies and having to mail them in. Save time, and hassle by emailing the original file of your flier to me at the above address. MECDA events are only $35 per month and non-MECDA events are only $90 per month! (add $15 for a double sided flier). All fliers are black and white only at this time.

Want to get more involved? Contact me at the above address and we will put you to work. We need volunteers from all over the country... so write us and help out our wonderful organization!

Blume Bauer, Happenings Editor.

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MECDA Nominations for Chapter Elections AND Directory Submissions

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:41:00 GMT

NOTICE: All MECDA Members

NOMINATIONS: Attached is a copy of the Nomination form you should use for nominating officers for your current chapter. You may send the forms via snail mail, FAX or Email (instructions are on the form). The deadline is August 30, 2007, so please do it now. - Thanks. Marta Schill, chapter-elections@mecda.org.

DIRECTORIES: The Teachers and Business Directory submissions must be received by September 10, 2007 (deadline has been extended). Please use the attached form for Teachers submissions, or go online for more information. - Thanks. Janet Thomas, directory@mecda.org.

NOTE: If it's not already on your computer, you will need to download Adobe Acrobat to view the Nomination Form. Many of you probably already have this program on your computer.

IF YOU NEED TO DOWNLOAD ADOBE READER: Click on the link below and follow the instructions - Thanks!
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Sincerely,

M.E.C.D.A.
Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association

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MECDA Request to All Members

Fri, 11 May 2007 23:52:00 GMT

Statement Clarification & RAQ THE VOTE!

There is increasing evidence that MECDA's mailing list was stolen by the "Concerned MECDA Members" committee with the intent of attempting to convince members to send their BLANK ballots to the "Committee" so they could vote instead of you!

These people can write whatever they want. Please refer to the letter from Helen Kelso below for the response to the financial issue. MECDA promises all members full confidentiality regarding personal information given to us. Each Board member signs a pledge not to sell or give away MECDA's lists. This pledge has been betrayed by some individual.

We have a request for you: If you received the so-called "Concerned Member" letter, and have kept the envelope in which it was sent, please note whether the label has unique similarities to your official MECDA label such as identical abbreviations, family memberships, discrepancies in address, etc. If you do discover any of these factors leading you to believe they have the same origin, please EMAIL mecda@earthlink.net, call 626/836-0337 or send MECDA the envelope to P.O. Box 946, Rosemead, CA 91770.

This is an extremely important issue. We are working toward determining who is at fault, and wish to correct this betrayal of your trust. We appreciate all the help you can provide.

THANKS!

The MECDA Board:
President, Janet Thomas
Vice President, Marta Schill Kouzouyan
Secretary, Rosemary Humbert

*************************************

The following should clear up the mystery of the $40,584 alleged missing from MECDA's Treasury.

"To Whom It May Concern:

I served as MECDA's Treasurer for four years: 2002 - 2006. I personally submitted MECDA's Income Tax Returns for the third and fourth of those years. Per my reporting, MECDA's Income Tax Returns were NOT INTENDED to match MECDA's Revenue and Expense Statements for the following reason.

MECDA's Fiscal Year is May 1 - April 30. Between January 1 and the Fiscal Year closing on April 30, much income is received from vendors, and some also from performers and attendees, for the Cairo Carnivale which will take place in June of the next Fiscal Year.
In filing our Income Tax Returns I decided to report these monetary receipts in the Fiscal Year in which we physically received them.

However, it would not have been proper to report these advance Cairo Carnivale receipts in the Revenue and Expense Statement for the Fiscal Year prior to the Cairo Carnivale which generated them. They should be reported in the same Fiscal Year as the Cairo Carnivale which generated them.

So:
MECDA's Income Tax Returns (filed for information only, as we are Tax Exempt) for the Fiscal Year 5/1/05 - 4/30/06 show some of the advance Gross Revenue from Cairo Carnivale 2006.

MECDA's Revenue and Expense Statement for the Fiscal Year 5/1/05 - 4/30/06 shows as Revenue from Special Events the Net Revenue from Cairo Carnivale 2005 less the loss from the Anniversary Party 2005." --- Helen Kelso

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