Country Dance and Song Society Become a Member! Individual/Family Group Affiliate

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Photo by Stephen M. Spinder

Please join us!

Printable(PDF) Membership Forms: Individual/Family or Group Affiliate.
Membership can also be added to a sales order.

Would you like to give the gift of CDSS to someone else? Order a gift membership or certificate!

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• Newsletter, the bimonthly newsletter, CDSS News, available with full memberships or by subscription
  
• Group directory, an annual compilation of groups that support and sponsor English and Anglo-American folk dance and music events
  
• Members list, snailmail and email addresses and phone numbers of CDSS members
  
• Advance notice and priority admission to our summer sessions
  
• Price list and 10% discount from our sales department
  
• Dues are tax deductible
• Voice in the governance of CDSS
  
• Liability insurance for callers

• Publicity
  * A detailed entry will be in the annual Group Directory, listing your regular and special events, location(s), times, contact person, address, phone, email and website.
  * Our website will include a link to your group.
  * Your special events will be listed in the CDSS News and on our website. (Please put us on your mailing list so we get copies of your flyers, calendar, newsletter, etc.)
  
  
• Discounts
  * A 50% discount on ads in the newsletter and the directory.
  * A 50% discount on mailing labels from the CDSS mailing list, in zip code order. Group Affiliates pay 3¢ per label $30 minimum charge, plus shipping. (Approved nonmember groups pay 6¢ per label, $60 minimum plus shipping.)
  * A 10% discount from the CDSS Store.
  
  
• Financial Assistance
  * Small loans and grants are available from the May Gadd/Phil Merrill Fund to help groups start major new events (weeks, weekends, festivals), leadership training and publications. For additional information: Guidelines, Application.
  
  
• Other Benefits
  * Designated leaders of your group receive priority for acceptance into CDSS summer programs.
  * Some matching scholarships are available specifically for group leaders or potential leaders at those weeks.
  * Items from the CDSS Store are available for resale on consignment.
  * Ritual dance equipment (swords, hankies, bellpads) is available on short term loan for a modest fee.
  * Advice on programming, group organization, financial reporting, bylaws writing, registration procedures, sound equipment and staff suggestions are available from CDSS.
  
  
• Nonprofit Status (Group Affiliates in the USA only)
  Federal nonprofit tax exempt status is available through CDSS for affiliates who meet certain guidelines. This is useful for nonprofit bulk mail permits, tax exempt donations and may be necessary for the rental of some halls or camp facilities. The application fee is $125; thereafter, the annual fee is $75. (This is in addition to the membership dues.) Please contact us for application form, etc. (Sample Bylaws)
  
  
• Group Insurance (CDSS Group Affiliates in the USA only)
  We currently have two liability insurance policies for CDSS Group Affiliates. Neither policy is a perfect fit for all groups, but each is good in its own way. The insurance year for both policies runs April 1-March 31 and you may join at any time. Please allow at least 3 weeks to process your application.
  
  PER EVENT INSURANCE -- The first policy is underwritten by Nautilus Insurance. This policy covers contra, English country and similar dance and song events, whether they are monthly, weekly or occasional, regular dance and song series, concerts, performances, balls, workshops, festivals, holiday dances, week or weekends, residential or not, and as long as attendance is under 500 participants per event. Coverage is $1,000,000 per occurrence, with an aggregate limit of $3,000,000 for the CDSS policy; fire damage is limited to $100,000, and there is a $500 deductible per item per claim whether or nor a claim is paid out. Premiums are $35 per calendar day. Additional insureds (see explanation below) are $30 each.
  
  Here is an application for Nautilus Insurance. (You must be a CDSS group affiliate, and your activities must include English and/or Anglo-American folk dance or song, in order to obtain this insurance.)
  FLAT RATE INSURANCE -- The second policy is underwritten by Essex Insurance and covers fewer types of events. It covers regular monthly and weekly dance and song events only, and does not cover what the insurer considers "special events" (workshops, balls, festivals, seasonal holidays such New Year's Eve dances, residential and nonresidential weekends), and it does not cover performances (coffeehouses, in-house sings, concerts, morris and sword performances, dance demonstrations); however, you may insure these special events with Nautilus (see above). Coverage is $1,000,000 per occurrence, with an aggregate limit of $3,000,000 for the CDSS policy; fire damage is limited to $50,000, and there is a $500 deductible per item per claim whether or nor a claim is paid out. The annual premium is $430 (for full year coverage, April 1- March 31) and $215 (for the latter half of the insurance year, October 1-March 31); neither fee is refundable after your coverage begins. Additional insureds (see explanation below) are $30 each, regardless of when you add them.
  
  Here is an application for Essex Insurance. (You must be a CDSS group affiliate, and your activities must include English and/or Anglo-American folk dance or song, in order to obtain this insurance.)
  
  NOTE RE: "ADDITIONAL INSUREDS" -- An additional insured is a building or location, not a person; some hall owners require that the site be listed on the certificate as an additional insured. Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance and terrorism coverage are not included with either policy.
  
  
• Caller Insurance
  * Through our affiliation with Callerlab, we're able to offer inexpensive insurance for callers who are members of CDSS. If you have the group insurance, you don't need this since your callers will be covered, but if you only need to insure your caller and hall, consider this option. The policy provides for general liability, bodily injury and property damage in the combined amount of $2,000,000.
  * The insurance fee is $48 (this is in addition to your CDSS membership). The Callerlab insurance year runs from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009. You may apply any time of year but rates are not prorated. Please allow four weeks to receive the certificate of insurance.
  
  Here is an application for the Caller Insurance.
  

Printable Membership Forms: Individual/Family or Group Affiliate.
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