Nu Delta Alpha The National Dance Honor Society
Last month, I began telling you about Nu Delta Alpha, the national dance honor society under the auspices of the National Dance Association - a division of AAHPERD, the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (www.aahperd.org/nda, nda@aahperd.org, 1-800-213-7193).
A quick recap - while teaching in both high school and college, I began looking for a way to extend students' experience in the arts while not losing sight of their academic requirements. I had hoped my undergraduate dance honor society could help, but they worked only with four-year colleges and universities at the time. I was already a member of AAHPERD, found Nu Delta Alpha through them, and began the not-always-smooth steps of starting local chapters. Be diligent and press onward. It is worth it.
Ask questions of your school and organization immediately. What are their rules for adding a new student club to their rosters. At Tidewater Community College, Nu Delta Alpha's by-laws had to be approved and adjusted to follow TCC's. It was difficult to get a copy without paying the one-time chapter fee upfront, but TCC would not approve the organization without information first. Several calls and explanations later, we had a copy of the by-laws to begin working with in the spring of 2005.
Once NDA's by-laws were approved and adapted by TCC, we could tackle the next level - recruiting.
This can take time. Students may happily sign every club's sheet at Club Day, then never appear at any meeting
or rehearsal. Students' records also need to be checked to ensure they are legally enrolled and have accurate proof of their GPA.
Then there's the money. Minimum dues of $30 are year are suggested,
but one Texas university has $500 a year dues. Your dues are set by your
chapter- by your needs and your students' ability to pay them. Check with your financial advisor here, too, on the proper procedure. Expect forms
and more delays as you work through
this process. Be patient and make sure
all is legal through your supporting institution. TCC's officers and advisor had a lesson in receipt books,
collecting funds, requesting funds
and proper accounting. No detail
is unimportant if your chapter is to have credibility.
We are past that process now and as of this column have paid our one-time national dues and are fully legal
with NDA and TCC. That validity
creates a good feeling in the chapter. All this time, TCC's students have been working to elect officers, recruit
other students, attend rehearsals for repertory work and work on fund-raising ideas. Waiting does not mean
sitting still. Over their winter break,
they were working on fund-raising ideas for Valentine's Day; a fashion show (with dancers, of course); a mini-2-hour dance marathon as a stress buster before spring finals with prizes for the best costume; most energetic couple; and a 50/50 cash pot and the Dance for Health project in the fall.
Because TCC is a community and therefore a commuter college, we
have meetings and rehearsals during the week as well as on Saturdays so
working students have equal chances to attend and participate. That does
create some double duty and
challenges for the advisor especially
during rehearsals, but the students' enthusiasm are energizing and
make the extra effort and time more than worthwhile.
At TCC, any currently enrolled TCC student with a B average is eligible
for membership whether or not he/she is enrolled in dance classes. If you have an interested and talented student whose GPA is not that high, that
student can be accepted on probation. That is a good incentive for that
student to work on his or her grades. NDA states that students must earn 30 points within the year to be a full
member. Points are earned by attending dance classes at the approved institution, by taking after-hours dance
classes, and by attending or participating in dance performances. The constitution and by-laws list over 12 ways students can earn their points, plus chapters are allowed to create additional projects for points. Once students have earned their points, the NDA will have pins and certificates for them that can be awarded at an end-of year banquet or reception that are covered by their $30 dues.
The handbook suggests an induction ceremony for officers, among other activities, that can be rewritten to suit your chapter's needs. Little has
been left unplanned or overlooked by the National Dance Association.
NDA requires an annual Dance for Health fundraising event, with a
portion of the proceeds to go to the
national chapter. I met Colleen Dean, NDA's Liaison to the Board, at an NDA conference in November. When we are ready, she said the national organization is there to help us with publicity and other details.
There is much to be gained for you and your students under the auspices of the National Dance Association. Begin now at www.aahperd.org/nda.