Facilitator / Convener: Helen
Scribe:  John Birnel until Lesley arrived.
Voice of Peace: Jamil

Members present:  Brian, Jamil, Helen, Martha, Murad (Phil), John, Lesley (arrived late).

Opening Dance: Shanti Prad Shanti

Meet Up – Brian set this up in December 2010 – would be helpful for dancers to join and then RSVP to dances as that would show intention of larger turnout. meetup.com/Dances-of-Universal-Peace-Puget-Sound/

  Discussion of status of the dance circle 
What is emerging, what needs to happen, how shall we listen.

Discussion of what is working (requested by Helen)

• She notes at the last dance that many people came that we hadn't seen in awhile.  Several dance leaders were there. The energies of dances were light, fast, & deep, the musicianship rich, the voices full/rich.
• Generally, the room is beautified (gratitude to Sundari especially)
• Further conversation re: low census at dances:

 Dwindling numbers for awhile, about 6 months 

• Others not worried re: small groups during the holidays.  
• We draw on a large area (ie Bothell, islands).
• We do get young people but they do not always return
• Rumi night drew a lot of people
• Suggest correlate $ received to attendance as attendance is not generally taken.
• Suggestion of contacting people that have not been to dance in a long time.
• Be welcoming to new attendees.
• Special events seem to work – celebratory, deeper
• Web presence (we have some already) MeetUp, Twitter, Facebook.
• It was stated that Tasnim Fernandez says that as she went deeper the circle became smaller.
• Circle is sensitive to unspoken energy.

 Discussion Wrap up 
In attempts to get feedback as to why people are not coming:

• Possibility of taking a survey on DUP listserve.
• Possibility of online public discussions.
• Email addresses of dupnw members are available on the dupnw yahoo site if we want to contact members individually.
• Looking at etheric  vibration (i.e., attunement with originating spirit of dances – resonate this more strongly)

 Treasurers Report – year end review 

• Murad (Phil) – Funds have been hovering at approximately $1500.00
• 1/1/2010 the peak from Indianola was $3351.00.
• Currently we have $1820.00, has been trending down over last few years.

Northwest Harvest

• Brought in $100.00
• Discussion to have another evening or add to this from our treasury.
• Will not do another evening at this time, will add to donations below from our Treasury.
• Plan:  Along with donation of $100.00 to Northwest Harvest
• $100.00 will go to DUPNA
• $100.00 to DUP International.

 Discussion – Arrival time at church 

• Concern expressed that people are arriving before 6:30PM on Wednesdays at Keystone, to set up etc., our actual rental start time is 6:30PM, in the past this has been requested to adhere to strictly.
• Phil has discussed this with the Keystone caretaker, is best to not come before 6:30PM as it may interrupt others who may have activities ending as we begin.  Phil will put notice out to all musicians, beautifiers and leaders to please arrive no sooner than 6:30PM.
• Phil sent the following email to DUPNW on Jan. 9, 2012

 Meeting was adjourned 
Dance: Neessa Neessa

 Next Meeting 
Date: 2/2/2012
Location: John Birnel's
Convener: Martha
Scribe Jamil

 Location: John Birnel's

 First Dance: Jewel in the Lotus

 Present: Martha (Convener), Jamil (Scribe), Phil (Voice of Peace), John, Brian, Helen,Tasnim, Leslie

Announcements: On Saturday, March 24th, at 7:00pm, Murad Phil and Hafiz Lu will lead an Aramaic Dance at Trinity Cathedral in Portland. They encourage early arrival to allow time to walk the Labyrinth. An announcement will go out soon.

Treasurer's report: $1,568.00. On average, donations to Seattle DUP during the month of January broke even with regard to expenses.

 Attendance: Weekly attendance, aside than special events, seems to be stabilizing in the high 20s. Tasnim and John will work up a short questionnaire to use as a tool to survey members' needs and desires vis a vis the Dances. They will come back to the Planning Circle with proposed questions as well as a plan for soliciting responses from the DUP community.

 Attunement: There was a general discussion centering on attunement, both before dance, by the dance leaders during practice, as well as attunement throughout the evening. An ongoing challenge for leaders is to find a balance between attunement and practice during the 'practice hour' of 6:30 and 7:30pm.
Other comments related to the desire for more evenings with silence during the break and a suggestion of a 'long dance' once a quarter or more often.

 Global Peace Dance Video: Hayra has a video of the Global Peace Dance on a flash memory card. Jamil said it needs to be edited. Sometime in the next 6 months Jamil, Hayra and Martha will view the footage and determine what to keep and whether (or how much) can be placed online for general viewing or be used for other purposes.
Cost of space for Imbolc: To prepare for the Imbolc Dance evening, Keystone church was rented for one additional hour at the cost of $25.00. The dance leaders for that evening will be asked if they feel that having the additional time to prepare was worthwhile.

It was determined by consensus that the extra charge be absorbed by the organization rather than by the evening's dance leaders. Going forward, dance leaders will be asked to make a request to the planning circle for advance consideration of extra expenses.

 Feedback to Dance Leaders: Notes, comments, and feedback placed in the basket by members for dance leaders are given to the dance leaders to whom they refer. Brian will add a note to the 'comment form' to the effect that all notes will go to all the dance leaders unless the note specifies that it is intended for a particular leader only.

 Meet-up:  Brian is requesting the more people sign up for Meet-up
  ---and---
that they also RSVP on Meet-up each week
  ---and---
they reply to the "How was Seattle Dance" follow up emails.

 Fundraiser inquiry: An inquiry was received from Hayra asking whether DUPP wished to host another fund-raiser for the hungary on the evening of March 7th when she will be leading with Elizabeth and Aziza. Since DUPP just made a donation to

NW Harvest in December, it was decided not to do this at this time.
Anahata's Guitar Project: Anahata Iradah, a highly renowned, international DUP leader, musician, composer and educator is in need of funds to support her project of making musicianship training materials available to students of the Dances all over the world. These materials and teaching aides will provide effective learning tools to the beginner as well as advanced students.
A request by Hayra (via email) to make a contribution to Anahata's project was postponed for consideration later this year. We wish to take time to monitor our financial situation over the next several months as well as gather more information and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the project. There is definite interest in making an offer of financial support.

 Action Items:

1. Tasnim and John: Draft questionnaire survey for dance community and plans for getting the message out.
2. Jamil, Hayra, Martha: (between now and summer) View video of Global Peace Dance and determine uses for it, as well as archival footage.
3. Brian: Add note to "comment form" ( see above, under "Feedback" etc) DONE!
4. ALL: Please sign up on Meet-up and RSVP for dance events and reply to "How was Seattle Dance" emails.

 Next Meeting:
Date: March 1st, 2012
Convenor: John Birnel
Scribe: Helen
Location: Phil & Helen's home

 Final dance:  Shalom (was sung)

Dance Business Meeting – March 1, 2012
John (facilitator), Lelsey (Voice of Peace), Martha, Brian (Scribe)

===ANNOUNCEMENTS================================
Nada

===TREASURY======================================
$1518 in treasury
$130 at Keystone 2 weeks ago (Feb 22)
$72 at Keystone last night (Feb 29)

===CENTERPIECE DECORATIONS===========================
Dance leaders seem to prefer:
~Electric candles
~Silk flowers -or- water vases with solid base/low center of gravity
~Decorations below eye level of the musicians.
The concerns are spillage of wax or water, and musicians and leaders being able to see each other.
There can be EXCEPTIONS. Decorators are encouraged to check with dance
    leaders when they wish to do something different.
Brian will touch base with Sandra - DONE!

===BELLEVUE DANCE=========================================
It may be dead. Brian’s not sure if it will continue.
But he has scheduled Bellevue dances for March 11 and April 8
Lesley has printed up fliers and distributed them to some eastside locations

===CAMP BURTON===============================================
John, Martha and Lesley will be on sub-committee to choose leaders.
Martha will ask Jamil if she also wishes to join.

===TIMLINESS====================================================
Scribe will send out email immediate announcing the interim committee for the next month.

===CONDITION of the DECORATIONS SUITCASE=========================
Sandra took suitcase home. All the items are still there.
She washed the items. The suitcase is a bit moldy. It will take a couple of days to
see if the anti-mold treatment works.
Options, in order of preference:
(1) Suitcase is OK (it’ll be a few days before we know this)
(2) Maybe Hayra has a bag she can donate (Brian will call Hayra)
(3) Yolanda’s Insurance
(4) Sandra will eventually find a bag at a Thrift Store
She is authorized to spend up to $50
Brian will call Hayra and Sandra about this. - DONE

===The DECORATION SUITCASE STAYING at KEYSTONE=====

• The suitcase stays at Keystone.
• Only selected items should be taken for outreach (and NOT the multi-faith centerpiece).
• The exceptions are for Camp Burton and when Sandra wishes to do maintenance with the suitcase and assorted items.
• Sandra does NOT need to ask for permission to do this. We only request that she inform
     us (i.e. a whole bunch of folks)  so that we don’t think the bag was lost or stolen.
• Brian will touch base with Sandra to see if she wishes to set up a check-out system
      for items in the suitcase – SHE DOESN’T
• If not, Sandra will send the inventory list to Lesley and Martha, who will then set up the system for check-out.

==MEETUP.com====================================================
Brian has asked people to:
(1) Sign up (2) RSVP (3) Reply to “How was Seattle Dance?” emails.

===ACTION ITEMS==============================================
1. BRIAN will touch base with Sandra concerning centerpiece decorations – DONE
2. QUESTIONAIRE – Tasnim/John
3. MARTHA will ask Jamil if she wishes to join sub-committee to choose leaders for Burton.
4. BRIAN will call Hayra and Sandra regarding a new decorations bag – DONE
5. BRIAN will touch base with Sandra to see if she wishes to set up a checkout
    system for items in the suitcase - SHE DOESN’T
6. MARTHA/LESLEY will get the inventory list from Sandra, and then set up the system for check-out.

From Previous Meeting (Jan 5, 2012) See http://seattledup.org/minutes_2012.htm
7. BRIAN: will notify leaders---and others---about NOT arriving at Keystone before 6:30pm.
    He will resend Murad’s email of January 9, 2012.
    See http://seattledup.org/minutes_2012.htm to view the email. DONE

===NEXT MEETING=====================================================
DATE: April 5
LOCATION: John’s House
FACILITATOR: Martha
SCRIBE: Helen (Brian will be backup)
INTERIM COMMITTEE: John/Lesley/Martha