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Bootstraps

In the past, we have been fortunate to receive private donations from parents and Body Talk alumni to help send kids to dance workshops, conferences and competitions.  As you know, these events aren’t cheap and with the economy taking a major fall, many people can no longer make these generous donations.  And as much as these contributions are appreciated, it is more important for the kids to know the efforts made for them and how beneficial their involvement is to their future dance education.

Bootstraps is a new program being introduced by fund-raising in an effort to help Body Talk kids achieve their goals in their dance experience.   The term bootstraps indicates, "to promote and develop by one's own initiative...self-sustaining...with minimal outside help...by (one's) (own) bootstraps."   The following details outline the Bootstraps Program:

·         The program is open to all Body Talk or MAD members and will benefit any dancer willing to take the initiative and do the work required to achieve their goals.

·         Each dancer works directly with fund-raising to develop a funding plan.

·         Dancer may do any type of fund-raising they have approved through fundraising and/or the Artistic director.  Examples of Bootstrap fundraising are: babysitting at the studio – Parent’s Night out events, privates, jobs within the company structure (assisting classes), selling food at Windsor, Research or at any approved location in Austin, and set-up/clean-up duties at recitals.  These are just examples of many possible options.

·         Jobs within the company structure will be the decision of the Artistic Director. 

·         Seniors will have priority over internal jobs and scholarships due to seniority and skill level.

·         Dancer's will work for merit hours rather than dollar amounts.  Merit hours are defined as: each ½ hour of work is equivalent to 1 merit.  Merit hour value will be based upon the cost of each dance event and funds raised. 

·         All money and merit hours earned will go towards future conferences, conventions, and workshop.

·         No money will exchange hands between dancer and money raised.  All funds will go directly to fundraising and be allocated by fundraising and the Artistic Director.

·         Any donations made to Bootstraps from inside or outside sources will be placed in fundraising’s general account and be distributed as merit hours are accrued and/or at the discretion of the Artistic Director.

·         Dancer's can expect fundraising to help; however, fundraising will NOT do all the work for them.  For example: In a Saturday sausage wrap sale, the dancer will work before rehearsal and during breaks and fundraising will cover for them as needed.  The dancer will be expected to help with set-up and clean up.

·         The dancer may ask the Bootstraps coordinator at any time their merit hour balance.

·         Dancer's may combine their efforts - do group Bootstrap work.  Merit hour values remain the same.

·         Dancer may recruit family & friends to help with their fundraising.

·         Information on dollar amounts needed for future dance events will be provided by the Convention/Competition Chair.

·         Bootstraps will not compete with other fundraising efforts because we are dedicated to operating by the fundraising calendar.  No event will be scheduled for the same day at the same location.

·         A dancer’s privacy will be respected at all times.

·         This program is effective immediately.

As with all operations of Body Talk, Bootstraps will rely on volunteers.  An example of volunteering would be helping with a food sale at the studio, recital sales, and gift card sales.

Monita Henley

Bootstraps Coordinator