The Morris Federation

I am not a Morris Dancer but I did hear Lord Coe answer the question “What will London do to equate with the Chinese Opening Ceremony” He said “Have 5000 Morris Dancers!” He was not being serious but the more I think about it the more I think it is not only a fantastic idea but it:

A. Involves a truely British Idea which would be colourful and spectacular
B. Involves a cross section of our Society
C. It embraces all ages.
D. Rehersals would be minimal (or better still not necessary!).
E. The cost could be minimal – no new uniforms or Dancers provide their own
F. Travelling and accomodation costs could be born by those taking part or subsidised
G. et al.

Hiya,
All Fed teams have been circulated with the AGM details, I think at least twice now, so a team contact (maybe Sect’/Bag) should have had the information.
We should have put it up on the Website, I agree, but not everyone has access so we rely on team contacts to pass the ‘postal’ info on.
If your team contact hasnt received the info package, please contact Fee our sect’ who will get it out to you.
See you there,
Cheers Trefor
Fed Pres.

Helen Hopwood asks “where is the AGM?”
As a member of the hosting side, and webmaster of our official site for more than ten years I have to express my utter astonishment that the Fed failed to publish such vital info on its website. Even more astonishing is the reply: “nobody reads our web and we send everything out by snail mail”. Even yet mightily more than ever gobsmacking: even is the reply: Trefor Owen remains silent on the details. Even an email link to our side would have made the info available.

Was the location a secret?

I haven’t noticed any comment from the Federation in response to the Ring’s dire pronouncement about the ultimate demise of Morris dancing; maybe we could let people know that in certain areas of the country, like here in Shropshire, that Morris is alive and well. Sure, we could do with a few more dancers coming in, particularly those with sound knees and a good sense of rhythm, but I don’t think we present as a bunch of pensioners nor as a group that young people would refuse to join out of embarrassment As a rule young people tend not to join any community group; most of them can’t wait to leave their local community and seek their fortune elsewhere. One of the things that attracts people to Morris dancing, it seems to me, is the sense of being at the very heart of a local community, whether it be a village, small town or neighbourhood, part of its traditions, a celebration of its heritage. Our team has a tradition dating back at least to the early 19th century of dancing on the Iron Bridge on Boxing Day (and more recently New Years day as well); it is something that many local people make part of their seasonal festivities and it is a happy throng that gathers to watch us. I don’t think the Ring is doing us any favours by presenting the image of a bunch of old guys struggling to hang on to the “old ways”.
And on the theme of Morris dancing being a pure celebration of British culture (well, it is, isn’t it?) is Lord Redesdale getting any active support from the Federation for his suggestion that Morris dancing be part of the opening ceremony for London 2012? If not perhaps he should be. I know that several people in Shropshire have actively canvassed Lord Coe on the subject and on a recent visit to New York I was asked by several people (not in a tongue-the-cheek way) about the prospect. “Carpe diem” guys?

Recent Publicity: If anyone would like to stand as a PR rep let me know… I know the previous sounds flippant, but it based on the last 2 weeks worth of phone calls/emails etc to most of the National Press and TV plus Radio in refutation of the Exticntion Claims.. strangley enough when presented with an up beat report/interview the story doesnt have the same catchyness in news/press terms as “EXTINCTION of MORRIS”.
I have been trying to find time to write the internal Fed broadcast on just this subject but have spent more time talking to the press instead……
Our Fed Treasurer came up with some stats which I have been using when speaking to the Press etc: Last Yr, the Fed had approx 400 member teams, of which over 300 ie Three Quarters had under 16′s dancing. This is obviously brilliant but it doesnt make news.
When I get time to write the broadcast I will give a list of TV and Papers contacted.
Whilst we have not gotten National coverage for our good news, I’ve helped a number of teams get local coverage where I could, and indeed where local teams have had local press/TV enquiries they have managed to turn it around and achieved successful good coverage.

Olympics: Yes, myself, other Fed Officers and indeed other Morris Orgs officers have been lobbying, attending meetings, working with Folk Arts England to get Dance in there somehow for the last 2 and a half years now……. I did even put something in the Newsletter not that long ago suggesting all teams should be lobbying locally and contacting their regional Olympics reps to make sure such reps knew of their existence and availablity.

I look at this blog as and when I can make time from other duties and when our web editor reminds me I should!
What the (Volunteer) officers do for the Fed is the best they can – one reason I am standing down at the end of this yr (my 6th in office) is that I realise it takes more time than I have got to do the job properly and I need to hand it on to someone else… any offers?
Trefor Owen (current) Fed Pres