Roundalab

One final piece of business for this convention is one bylaw change. This is detailed below. Please send your commends to [email protected].

BYLAWS

The following Bylaw change will be presented at convention for a vote.

VII. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1. NUMBER – The Board of Directors shall consist of 9 Full Member Units or Honorary Member Units and 1 Advisory Chair.
VII. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2.
a. The Advisory Chair (Former chair) will serve as a non-voting member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee only 1 year from March 1 to February 29.

VIII. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1. MEMBERSHIP – The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Corporation and their partners, if there are partners, and two (2) additional Board Member Units elected by the Board of Directors and the Advisory Chair.

XI. ADVISORY CHAIR

1. The Advisory chair is a past chairman and/or his/her partner that will not serve more than one year consecutively in this advisory position.
a. Responsibilities: The Advisory Chair shall serve in an advisory position to the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

b. The Advisory Chair will receive all communications from the Board of Directors and Executive Committee as a non-voting member.

2. In the event of a vacancy in the Chair AND the Vice-Chair, the Advisory Chair will serve as General Chair through the next annual Convention.

All following numbers increase by 1.

There will be an Operating Procedure written to include more details in how the Former Chair will be appointed and rotated.

Rationale:

The current By-Laws has a simple succession plan in case of an emergency. But with the times like they are, we do need to think more aggressively. If we had a Chair that couldn’t serve their term, it goes to the Vice-Chair. But what would happen to the corporation if the Vice-Chair could not fill that term.

And with the numbers of new members to Board of Directors without experience (they do provide a great insight for new ideas), we do not have that voice of experience.

The primary role of the Advisory Chair is to advise the Board of Directors and Executive Committee by providing background information and context for issues that they are working through.

Regarding why the term go from March 1 to February 29, this would allow the Advisory to overlap between 2 administrations. The Advisory Chair would start their term in March; they would be able to gain valuable insight into what work is being completed leading up to convention and what work will be passed on to the next Board. This will allow them to serve as a link between the Boards and the ECs. This is especially helpful when the current General Chairman is leaving the Board at Convention, such as what happened in 2024. When the new Board met on Wednesday after the final General Assembly, there wasn't a strong link between the ECs to be able to help provide context for continuing work.

This could become even more of an issue with 3 member units leaving each year and only 4 member units as part of the EC. Potentially, all EC members of a current Board could either leave the Board or not run for EC in one year. This would leave a new EC without any valuable context on continuing issues. The Advisory Chair would fill this role and help the new EC/Chairman feel supported as they address the business of Roundalab.

CONVENTION

Final stages of convention preparation are underway. Meals have been ordered, packages sent with members, boxes to ship (so many boxes) are packed and waiting for pickup.

This convention will be our best attended convention in a long time. This celebration of 50 conventions promises to be memorable. I will see many of you in less than two weeks and I hope those of you who cannot attend this year will join us next year in Colorado Springs.

The RAL office will be closed starting Thursday, June 18 and will open again on Monday, June 29 (after both RAL 50 and NSDC 75).

VOTING

Thank you all who participated in our online ballots this year. Your participation ensured that quorum requirements were met and each ballot exceeded quorum minimums (meaning to re-vote!). Results of these ballots will be reported at the RAL 50 Waco convention.

To all RAL 50 Waco registrants:

In April, I sent a request on behalf of Roy Gotta for help with sound equipment for our upcoming convention. Many of you have generously agreed to help, but we are still in need, especially for 2 speaker stands.

If you can help with any of these, please send an email to

[email protected]
or the home office.

I have had many questions about the RAL 50 Waco schedule. This year IS different than previous years.

Sunday June 21
– Board meetings starting at 9:00 am
– Opening Reception 5:30 pm
– Dance Wizards User Group 8:00 pm

Monday & Tuesday June 22, 23
– Business meeting in the morning
– Education Workshop all day
– Evening Dance

Wednesday June 24
– Business meeting in the morning
– Education Workshop all day
– Award Dinner
– Evening Dance

In previous years, the schedule started on Saturday and ended Wednesday after the morning business meeting. This year there is no half-day schedule as there is no need for time to travel to NSDC.

A detailed schedule will be posted at the website and forwarded with the electronic syllabus prior to the convention.

The Wednesday evening dance will run concurrently with the NSDC Trail End dances. NSDC dancers will be welcomed at all three night’s dances ($10/dancer).

WEBSITE UPDATE

There is a new Member Directory available. Please update your profile by selecting “My Profile” under MY PROFILE once you have logged on.

At the bottom is an option to add files. This is where you may add photos and documents including flyers. I have added a Help Video for updating your profile.

UPCOMING EVENTS – additional details about these events can be found at “Find a Dance” at our website.

June 21-24 RAL 50 Waco, Waco Hilton, Waco, Texas. Contact Al Hipkins at [email protected] or 207-904-0220 or 1-888-Y-I-DANCE

June 25-26 NSDC 75, Waco Hilton, Waco, Texas. Visit https://75nsdctx.com

July 8-11 ICBDA 2026, Dixie Convention Center, 1835 S. Convention Center Drive, St. George, Utah. Visit https://www.icbda.com/home-public/2026-convention/

Other events:

May 15-22 Round Dance Cruise, Queen Mary 2

June 5-7 Butterfly Ball, Western Dance Center, Spokane Valley, Washington. Contact Name: Linda Bailly Email: [email protected] Phone: 509-342-9912. Levels: Phase II, Phase III, Phase IV, Phase V

July 12-16 Goss Choreography School, Bob and Mary’s Home Studio, St. George, UT. Contact Name: Bill Goss Email: [email protected] Phone: 858-822-9981

ICBDA | 2026 Convention ICBDA Convention . George, UtahJuly 8 – 11, 2026 High Steppin’ in the High Desert Register for the Convention Register online by Credit Card or Paypalor use the registration form on the flyer and send with checkmade payable to “ICBDA #50 Convention” to our Registration Chair: Mike and M...

CONVENTION NEWS

There is still time to register for RAL 50 Waco. There are currently 118 registrants including members from Germany and Australia! Four out of Five registrants are also signed up for the comradery and fellowship of the meal plan. If you have not yet signed up for the meal plan, you may add this to your registration by June 1. Meal plan price is $185 by check (or Zelle) or $194 online or by card.

LOGO APPAREL

The 50th Anniversary Logo (as seen on the top left of our website) is now available for Logo Apparel. Apparel options include shirts, hoodies, hats, sweatshirts, and more. Check out the options at SHOP / Logo Apparel.

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!!! VOTE !!!

As of this morning (May 15), only 80 ballots have been cast for Board of Directors. This does not meet quorum requirements. Voting closes on June 1. Please go to VOTE / Board of Directors and cast your ballot. Be sure to select 3 different candidates. Invalid ballots will be deleted.