Friendship Badge - its History and Rules
Roswitha and Hans Beil, former EAASDC Vice President

The Friendship Badge was created back in 1970 following a suggestion of Jim and Jean Cholmondeley in order to promote visiting other clubs. At first there was only one version of this badge planned (white and red), the first of which was awarded to Lynn Sandström at the Fall Round Up 1970. Very quickly it turned out that this idea was so good that dancers had been visiting more than the 13 clubs for which this white and red badge had been devised. At the Summer Jamboree 1971 consequently the white and gold badge for visiting 26 clubs was created and this was followed in 1983 by the black and silver badge for 52 clubs and the black and gold badge for 104 clubs. The blue and silver badge for visiting 208 clubs meanwhile was awarded to many dancers. The badge for 13 clubs was discontinued in 1996.

The rules for these Friendship Badges essentially remained unchanged all the time. The only essential exception is that originally there was a limitation that only visiting European clubs counted. This limitation has since been cancelled and consequently now visiting a square (or round) dance club anywhere in the world counts for the badge.

Proof of the visit is the signature of a board member of the club visited. Ask your board members, where you can get your friendship booklet.

The basic idea for the Friendship Badges was and is to promote visiting other clubs and this means that one can only obtain a signature from a club one is not a member of. Another important rule is that one has to dance at least two-thirds of the dances of the club night.

Reprint from Bulletin

Editor: For more details about the handling of Friendship Book compare Bulletin Nov 2010 page 23ff