OSCTA President Article:
Hello All OSCTA Members:
I hope that everyone has had a Merry Christmas and a great start of the New Year.
The newly elected board and I are really looking forward to the upcoming year. We
have lots of events in the works and are excited to get things rolling.
As some of your are aware, T.A.C.T. has been dissolved as of the first of the year,
we hate to see the loss but surely understand the decision with the decline in numbers
that we are all experiencing. This unfortunately puts the OSCTA at a loss for state
callers training for 2012. We have contacted the two remaining district caller’s
organizations and together they have decided to host a joint callers training session
for this year. With such a short notice, it was decided to utilize the local pool
of talent to instruct the training session, and to target the training around the
new caller. All the details are still in the works and we will get back to everyone
as more of the details unfold.
By the request of the OSCTA Executive Board and the OSDF Executive Board, we are
going to change the way that we have been doing some things this year, one of which
is the member licensing issue that always arises at the OSDF State Festival. It
appears that we are still having non-licensed callers perform at state functions.
As per our code of ethics and at the request of the OSDF, we cannot allow this to
continue. In order to insure that this is no longer an issue, the Executive Board
has decided to require that all members submit a current copy of their license to
the OSCTA Secretary to be kept on file, and to submit renewal copies at each time
of renewal. (Usually March 31 of each year). Anyone that does not have copies on
file WILL NOT be allowed to perform at any OSCTA or OSDF function until the requirement
is met. Furthermore, if the copies are not on file prior to programming these functions
(i.e. OSDF Festival) you will not be programmed to perform.
The other issue is allowing associate callers to perform during the evening dances
at OSDF functions. In the past few years the OSCTA has been allowing Associate Callers
to perform during the evening dances due to the shortage of regular callers in attendance.
This has affected the overall dance level and fun of these dances. For 2012 we have
been asked not to program Associate Callers during the evening dance, however, all
Associates are welcome and encouraged to perform in all clinics, fun dances and
after parties.
I think that most of you will agree that these are some changes that have needed
to be made, and should help make these events operate more smoothly.
Thanks for all your help and support.
Bobby Willis
OSCTA President 2012