15 of the 16 member clubs took part in the 72nd ordinary delegates' meeting of the Swiss Dancesport Association (STSV) in Aarau on Saturday 18 April, representing 98.6% of the total of 421 member votes - a record turnout, as President Walter Vogt was pleased to note. In the first part of the three-and-a-half-hour meeting, the Board of Directors was granted discharge for the past association year without dissenting votes; in the second part, the three strategic priorities and the budget were approved and motions were discussed.
The numerous delegates came to Aarau because they are increasingly concerned with association topics and are interested in the overall development of Swiss dance sport. The noticeably more active engagement with relevant topics, numerous questions and inputs testify to the fact that a new overall view may have opened up. Following the adoption of the new statutes last December, which involve the STSV clubs more actively, a great deal of commitment was evident. While the detailed annual reports were adopted unanimously, there were a few questions to be answered about the annual accounts. The discharge for the overall performance of the Executive Board was ultimately unanimous with a vote of 415:0 and confirmed those responsible on their path.
Three strategic priorities
The Executive Board outlined three strategic priorities for the future. Due to Swiss Olympic's adjusted funding models, the STSV must structurally develop grassroots sport by 2029 if it wants to continue to benefit from support funds from Ittigen. This obligation is a challenge for the STSV, but also a great opportunity - it is therefore launching the „Dance sport for all“ strategy project. In this project, the clubs - led nationally and supported by a project group - are to develop new dance sport programmes outside of competitive sport in their area. The second priority is the further training of coaches; this free training programme in cooperation with the ÖSTV has already started and is also open to members of the national squad. And the third priority is the transition phase of the squads towards 2029, because competitive sport must not lose its legitimacy.
In particular, the new „Dance sport for all“ project prompted numerous comments and raises hopes that many clubs will participate with great commitment. The strategic priorities and the 2026 and 2027 budgets (provisional) were clearly approved by the delegates.
Curbing the flood of applications
The clubs had received various motions from Happy Dancers Baden, Dance Unlimited Zurich and the STSV board with the invitation to the delegates' meeting. The HDB President withdrew his motions, which aimed to make numerous amendments to the statutes adopted five months ago, one week before the delegates' meeting.
The five motions submitted by the DUZ had been rejected by the Executive Board in due time because, according to the existing regulations, their topics do not fall under the responsibility of a DM. The applicant had lodged an appeal against this, which is why a vote had to be taken at the DM on the Board's rejection. In the spirit of constructive dialogue, the club representative was nevertheless able to explain his proposals. The vote confirmed the Board's approach, but also brought to the surface issues that the Board responsible for these topics would like to include in its work, or which have already been dealt with.
The Board's proposal for a planning credit of CHF 20,000 for activities to mark the ’75th anniversary of the STSV„ in 2029 was narrowly rejected by the delegates. The Executive Board is to work out the overall scope of this anniversary by the Presidents“ Conference on 27 June and what this planning credit should be used for.
The Board of Directors was elected for a two-year term at last year's AGM. The delegates approved the Board's proposal to reappoint BlueAudit GmbH in Pfäffikon/SZ as external auditors.
Text + pictures: Martin Zinser
