Etiquette
Banner K'napping increases club and dancer interaction and improves clubs finances.
Purpose
The primary objective is to promote harmony between dancers and their clubs while having fun. For new dancers the intention is to expose them to a wider range of dancing experience. Remember that fun, friendliness and common sense take precedence.
Participants
A Club should decide beforehand if they are going to participate in Banner K'napping. NOTE: There is no requirement to participate. It suffices to say no.
A club that wishes to participate must acquire a club banner and may appoint a Banner K'napping Director to organize K'napping events or allocate this function to the person designated as the club contact. Please note that effective banner K'napping can be a significant organizational task.
The Victim club is the target and host of the Banner K'napping. They must possess a club banner, which they are willing to lend. Smaller versions, known as Travel Banners, or tokens may be substituted.
The Challenger club sends their dancers to perform at the host club and becomes the target and host of the Banner Retrieval. They possess the Victim club’s banner, which they are willing to return.
Process
The Banner K'napping Director of the Challenger club must contact the Victim club ahead of time to arrange a date suitable to both clubs. The Banner K'napping Director of the Challenger club shall advise the Victim club of the anticipated number and names (if possible) of the visiting dancers.
The Victim club agrees to lend their banner to the Challenger club after their dancers perform at the host location under the direction of the host club’s caller.
The Challenger club gives back the banner to the Victim Club dancers after they perform at the host location under the direction of the club’s caller.
The Host club treats the visitors as special guests and provides some treats or finger foods and drinks in celebration of the event.
Examination of Success
Since the objective is FUN, any laughter or smiles and a valid attempt to dance the moves are sufficient to pass the test.
Guidelines
Number of Dancers
In order to K'nap or retrieve a banner, one or more squares shall attend the whole dance. A smaller number may be permitted exceptionally. Substitute dancers are permitted by agreement. Any dancers belonging to both clubs may participate by wearing the K'napping or Retrieving club's badge.
Dance Level
A club may challenge a participating club at the host’s normal dance level. A club that K'naps at a lower level than their normal dance night level shall provide a dance at the victim’s dance level for the purpose of retrieval at a date and time that is mutually agreeable.
Payment of Fees
All K'napping or Retrieving dancers shall should pay the regular fee for that dance. The visiting club may pay the fees on behalf of their dancers or the host club may waive them.
Eligible Dances
Normally a banner may be K'napped or Retrieved only when the host club is dancing on their regular night in their usual hall with their own caller. K'napping at theme or ticketed dances or at special times or locations or other callers is permitted by prior agreement, especially if this contributes to the event.
Similarly, do not K'nap a banner from a Club that dances on the same night as your Club, because it could disrupt either club's dance night. Small clubs are especially vulnerable. In this case, you might be able to take the whole club. Mutual agreement is the key. Widen your scope of clubs beyond the favourite few.
Eligible Banners
Only the Travel Banner of the club being visited may be taken.
Substitute Banners
If more than one club arrives for the intended K'napping, the farthest-away club shall get the banner. A token may be presented to any other club(s). The choice of token would be at the discretion of the host club.
Tokens
The intention of a token is to avoid the need for use of the main banner when a travel banner is not available for whatever reason. A token is just that ... it could be anything reasonable, e.g. a promissory note on a scrap of paper or something more substantial. There is no need to purchase dangles or anything in particular.
Double Duty
Retrieving and K'napping at the same dance is not permitted, unless two separate teams without any substitutes are sent. Retrieval takes precedence.
New dancers shall have reached the halfway stage (move 31). The home club caller should be consulted to choose dancers that are making good progress. Furthermore the Caller of the host club shall be notified of the dance level reached, if any, by the new dancers who are involved in the K'napping or Retrieval. New dancers shall not be taken away on their regular dance night, as this will disrupt their training.
Damage or Loss to K'napped Banners
This is the responsibility of the Challenger Club and banners should be displayed at all club dances. The Challenger Club shall make good any damage done to them to the satisfaction of the Owning Club.
Retrieval
Napped banners shall be retrieved within the same dance year of September through May. If conditions prevent retrieval, the banner shall be returned by year-end. The dance fee for the retrieval square shall be paid as if they had danced, unless the nabbing occurred in the last month of the dance year.
Explanations
Remember ... Do not be Rule-bound. Seek out the fun in this activity.
K'napping Team
Normally a full square from the challenging club shall attend. They should stay for the whole dance because the objective is to visit and have fun. The full square allows the host caller to setup a spectacle. Rural and smaller clubs may have difficulty getting eight dancers to go Banner K'napping. In the interest of getting Banner K'napping going, a smaller number may be permitted. In this case substitute dancers will be needed. Dancers belonging to both clubs are always eligible. Sometimes last-minute substitutes will be needed, because of events, such as illness.
New Dancers
The main concern is not to damage their confidence or interrupt their training. Choose dancers that are making good progress and advise the Caller of the host club of the dance level reached. The benefits are great. Their view of square dancing is greatly expanded and can greatly increase their enthusiasm and confidence.
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