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Help Save Gerlinger!!
- Author:
- Antonia Maurer (ballroom@uoregon.edu)
- Date Published:
- January 10, 2008
Dear Oregon Ballroom Dance Club Community:
I wish I didn’t have to write this letter, but these are hard times. We have come to a point that our attendance is so low that we are not generating enough revenue and will have difficulties continuing to bring you music and dancing after this term. In order to save money we have cut an hour of open dance time off the end of the dance (we will now conclude at 10:30pm). We have also raised the community member entrance fee to $6. While we do not wish to, other things may also be cut after this term including lessons, summer dances, or if all fails the weekly dances entirely.
We have a strong dance community in Eugene and it would be a shame to see the Friday night Gerlinger dances disappear. We have begun planning an advertising campaign that will include tabling in the Erb Memorial Union, demos at dining halls on campus, and a demo at Valley River Center on Feb.2, 2008. Our music director, Kirby Fling, has also started the OBDC Performance Team which will be able to get the word out about ballroom dance through its performances. If you are interested in joining the performance team, it meets every Friday from 6:30-8:30pm in Gerlinger across from the bathrooms on the second floor.
We will also begin working more closely with the Djs to ensure a balanced variety of music which mixes regimented classics with contemporary playfulness. We hope that if you have any suggestions as to what would bring you and your friends back to Gerlinger, please do not hesitate to e-mail (ballroom@uoregon.edu).
Please realize that the purpose of this letter is to move you to action because we need your help to keep Gerlinger alive. Who do you know? Bring them and yourself to a Friday night dance. Tell everyone you know. You can also help by volunteering; come to an OBDC meeting (every Monday, 6pm EMU Century Room E), or e-mail for more information. Remember you can get information on lessons and the winter formal “Dance Me to the End of Love” online at http://ballroom.uoregon.edu .
I have faith in the Ballroom Community of Eugene to help us bring Gerlinger dances back from the brink and make them the best they have ever been. Thank you to all who continue to support the Oregon Ballroom Dance Club and the Gerlinger Dances. Well wishes to those of you who cannot because you are too far away.
Thank you,
Antonia Maurer
OBDC President 2007-2008