PURPOSE
To encourage visitation between clubs and to stimulate interest and enjoyment of square dancing. In applying rules, these purposes must be kept in mind.WHAT IS A BONA FIDE SQUARE?
Any eight members of a visiting club (including host club members, callers, HSRDC, state, and or national officers) who register and donate, may be counted to make the necessary eight members.WHO QUALIFIES TO ACQUIRE THE HOST CLUB'S BANNER?
Any bona fide square signing the guest register and asking the host presiding officer for the banner qualifies. They can take possession of the banner at the end of the dance provided:Clubs may negotiate their own more favorable agreements for banner acquisition and retrieval by agreement of both club representatives. e.g. capture with fewer than eight members. If the outflow of banners is excessive on any given night, the host club may limit the number of banners given. HOW MANY BANNERS CAN A CLUB ACQUIRE FROM ANOTHER CLUB?
- The visiting club does not already have the host club's banner; or
- If the host club has the visiting club's banner:
- The visiting club must first have a bona fide square retrieve its banner.
- A second bonafide square from the visiting club may then acquire the host club's banner.
No club is required to relinquish more than one banner to any club.WHO QUALIFIES TO RETRIEVE AN ACQUIRED BANNER?
Any bona fide square signing in is qualified to retrieve its banner at the end of the dance. Clubs may negotiate their own more favorable agreements for banner retrieval by agreement of both club representatives. e.g. retrieval with fewer than eight members.AT WHAT DANCE CAN A BANNER BE ACQUIRED OR RETRIEVED?
Any dance held by a club is included under banner acquisition rules. This includes those dances held on different nights or at locations other than normal except as in (next paragraph below). Clubs may exclude two dances a year from the banner rules. Exempting clubs must give written notice in the "Where n' When" of the exceptions one month prior to and the month of the dance exempted.WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR CLUBS DANCING ON THE SAME NIGHT?
(i.e., a 1st & 3rd Saturday club visiting an every Saturday club). The banner can be acquired only by prior agreement of the officers of the two clubs.IF THE BANNER HAS ALREADY BEEN ACQUIRED, ARE SUBSTITUTES IN ORDER?
Substitutes are required if a host club does not have a banner to give upon request. Substitutes are considered the same as banners and the same retrieval procedures apply.WHAT ARE THE TIME LIMITS OF KEEPING AN UNCLAIMED BANNER?
- If a banner has not been retrieved after 6 months, one couple can retrieve their club's banner.
- If a banner has not been retrieved after 12 months, it is the responsibility of the club affected to pick it up in any way possible.
It is the responsibility of the host club to get the banner to the visiting club as soon as possible.WHAT IF A CLUB IS NOT DANCING ON THE NIGHT OF AN ATTEMPTED BANNER ACQUISITION?
It is the responsibility of the visiting club to ascertain that the club is dancing before going there. If, however, the visiting club checks with the club president and is told that the club is dancing, and the visiting club arrives to find no dance, the visiting club is entitled to the host club's banner, or its own, whichever is appropriate.HOW ARE DISPUTES OVER THE RULES HANDLED?
All disputes are to be handled between the presiding officers of the two clubs. If the presiding officers cannot agree but both agree to outside arbitration, the president of the H.S.R.D.C. will make the decision.WHAT ABOUT CLUBS NOT AGREEING TO BANNER ACQUISITION RULES?
Any club not agreeing with banner acquisition rules shall notify the council in writing and publish their exemptions in each issue of the "Where n' When."CAN A DANCER BELONGING TO MORE THAN ONE CLUB CHANGE THEIR CLUB AFFILIATION AFTER SIGNING IN?
Dancers that are not members of the host club should determine the club they will represent before signing the register.