Found below are the statements for the candidates for the current Board of Directors election. Board members elected here will serve on the board for the years 2027-2028. Online voting will open on November 10th and will remain open through 11:59pm on November 30th.
The following statements are in order of application:
Eli (Elizabeth) Perea
I have a longstanding love of folk and especially contra dance, and am keenly interested in learning about the management and administration that keeps these dances running. Any vision I have at this moment in time focuses mainly on learning how to keep these dances running smoothly and regularly.
Ben Werner
I’m running for the FolkMADS board because I want to help revitalize our community and build a vibrant, sustainable dance scene for the future. I’d like to see FolkMADS make greater use of its resources to sponsor free dances, expand advertising and outreach, and partner with other organizations to help our community grow. I’m also a big fan of our family dance and would love to help create a pipeline from family dance into contra, giving families more opportunities to grow with the community. I’m passionate about making FolkMADS a more inclusive and welcoming space for everyone and will continue to champion ways that we can be a safe space for all.
We have a rich history in old time music and I’d like us to continue to support that aspect of FolkMADS as well through regular jams and special gatherings.
As a former board member from the mid-2010s, I bring a deep understanding of our community and familiarity with the organization’s inner workings. I’ve also remained actively involved by continuing to manage the FolkMADS website and help with the Callers Collective. I want to build on that experience and ongoing commitment to help FolkMADS grow, reach new audiences, and strengthen the connections that keep our dance community thriving. Most of all, I care about FolkMADS’s long-term success because I want my children to grow up with a lively, welcoming dance community of their own. I hope to help reinvigorate an organization that not only sustains what we love today, but makes it possible for future generations to enjoy it, too.