NOMINATION OF JANICE FENDALL FOR
ALBERTA ROSE AWARD
If you have danced in zone 3, you probably know Janice Fendall. She began Square Dancing as a single at the Edmonton Singles Club. Not long after joining, she became their President and remained in that position for several years before the club folded.
When the EDSDA (Edmonton and District Square Dance Association) received approval from the AGLC for a casino license, Janice took on the position of the volunteer coordinator for their first casino and organized the required positions needed. She continues this responsibility and has successfully enabled the CDCDA to receive casino funding for the organization and member clubs. She took on the secretary position of the EDSDA board and eventually became the President of the (re-branded) Community Dance Capital District Association (CDCDA) board.
Over the past few years, she has encouraged board members and representatives of the member clubs to work together to continually build the Square Dance, Cued Ballroom and Clogging dance community. Janice encouraged all the clubs to send a representative to each monthly executive meeting. This means more information is shared club to club, along with special dances and any other club-specific information. She has also steered the board in a number of interesting directions including initiating summer Try-It events at various clubs in August and early September. This encouraged dancers who may have been hesitant to visit other clubs to do so during the summer dance season and also provided an opportunity to invite the public to try square dancing and cued ballroom. These Try-It events have become very successful, offering fun evenings meeting new folks and learning how enjoyable our activity can be.
Janice has done an excellent job in her role as President of the CDCDA, serving as an all-around ambassador for square dancing, cued ballroom and clogging in our zone. She encourages dancers to visit other clubs, become more involved and continues to seek new methods (e.g., social media) to reach out to the community at large while building our square dance base in Zone 3.
The distribution of AGLC funds is an important part of the CDCDA’s role. Janice streamlined a system that addresses the AGLC’s requirements and prioritizes the needs of clubs and other activities in Zone 3. This has enabled the clubs to continue in a financially viable manner.
During covid, it was hard to keep dancers and callers focused on square dancing when everything shut down for almost 2 years. Janice kept the excitement and the promise of future dancing adventures alive. No small task for any leader.
Janice Fendall is the type of quiet, hardworking square dancer who comes through when you need her. We are thrilled to see an Alberta Rose Pin as part of her square dance attire. We cannot think of a more deserving dancer, promoter, leader and square dance friend.
