"Although the 39th AMSOV Biennial is more than a year away, your Kansas City host team is hard at work planning a conference rich with ideas, insights, and innovative practices that you can take back to your local organization," reports Conference Chair and Vice President Mike Minor. "There will be plenty of opportunities to network and share ideas with leaders from other symphony volunteer organizations."

Photo by Kevin Sink

The Shirley Bush Helzberg Garden of Stars Fountain is one example of the many Kansas City fountains that inspired the 2013 Conference logo.

The Kansas City host team is pleased to announce the first presenter,
Kirk Hardcastle. His presentation,

Kirk Hardcastle

Leadership that Inspires Action: Culture, Cooperation and Commitment will include ideas, such as:

It is always a challenge to inspire high performance, motivation and commitment - even among paid employees. The challenge is even more difficult when working through the efforts of volunteers. This dynamic presentation provides simple steps that will show you exactly how to:

• Attract people who care about your cause.
• Focus people on the things that truly matter.
• Correct dysfunctional interpersonal dynamics.
• Create a culture that inspires positive action.
• Gain tremendous engagement and commitment.
• Build high-performing, cooperative teams.
• Inspire people to eagerly do "whatever it takes."
   

The best volunteers contribute their time and energy willingly and eagerly. They find their own motivation for doing what must be done. You can inspire this in others, using just a few simple tools. People will accomplish remarkable things, achieving more than you - or they - ever thought they could!

Kirk Hardcastle is president of LeaderPoint, a Kansas City management development company. As a consultant, course instructor and executive coach, he has worked with more than 2,000 senior managers representing over 800 companies - in virtually every industry sector - including many not-for-profit volunteer organizations. He was the first male volunteer to join the Kansas City Symphony Alliance (formerly the Junior Women's Symphony Alliance), and he is a member today.

Mike Minor, pictured at a Hollywood Bowl picnic during the Los Angeles AMSOV February board meeting, shares ideas about the 2013 Conference. AMSOV board members voted to keep the same price for the Conference as in past years - $525. 

"We look forward to seeing you in Kansas City, Missouri, May 16 through May 19, 2013, and we will keep you posted as additional details become available," said Minor. If any AMSOV member would like additional information about the Conference, has questions, or would like to share an idea for the Conference, please
e-mail: AMSOV2013@amsov.org. Members can visit the AMSOV web site for more 2013 Conference details: www.amsov.org and a newly created web site for the Conference: http://amsovkc2013.org/.

By Mike Minor

Helen Shaffer

It is an AMSOV goal to see that symphonic music thrives and sustains us. We do this through:

• Member networking
• Sharing best practices
• Planning our biennial conference
• Developing and enhancing volunteer leadership skills

It is our desire to connect with you.  At a recent Board meeting, we spent a significant amount of time discussing ways we could better connect with our member organizations. Each of our nine board members has an assignment to connect with your presidents. I know that they have made an effort to reach you. Please communicate and let us know how we can be of service to your organization.

We want you to share with us your best practices for projects and events. In this issue of eNEWS, you will be seeing many ideas on membership recruiting and retaining members. In the following issues, we will request articles on education and service. Be prepared to share with fellow members who experience the same issues as you.

 In all issues of eNEWS, you will find updates on the conference to be held in Kansas City. These conferences require an endless amount of planning and work. There are numerous rewards from this effort. You have the opportunity to network with fellow members from like orchestras, develop leadership skills and keep up-to-date with what is going on in the orchestra world.

 By attending, you reward the Conference Committee for their hard work. A report on the exciting conference to be held in Kansas City on May 16 through May 19, 2013 will be included in all issues of eNEWS. The Conference Committee would appreciate your input. If there is a special topic you would like to see placed on the agenda for discussion, please let us know. It is essential that at this time you determine how you plan on sending representatives from your group. This is the time to allocate funds. One of my goals is to see our attendance increase substantially.

I congratulate each of you for your commitment to keeping our orchestras alive. As professional and talented volunteers, you are providing leadership to see that the mission of your orchestra is achieved. Through your efforts, future generations will be able to learn and thrive on our great musical heritage. It is my belief that this is a responsibility one must assume for the benefit of those future generations so that the blessing of music will continue to enrich the human spirit. 

Helen Shaffer

LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC AFFILIATES HOST AMSOV BOARD FEBRUARY 2 - 5 

A tour of Warner Bros. Studios greeted early arrivals Mary de Tray, Arlyss Burkett, Jim and Helen Shaffer.

The Board weekend kicked off Thursday evening with a dinner in the home of Wendy Kelman, co-hosted by Sue Clauss and Joan Callanan with entertainment by a piano student from the Colburn School, Los Angeles.

Gathering in the Los Angeles Philharmonic Center prior to a backstage tour of the Walt Disney Concert Hall are AMSOV Board members Charles Cagle, Nashville Symphony Orchestra; Debora Brown, Dallas Symphony Orchestra; Arlyss Burkett, Los Angeles Philharmonic; Helen Shaffer, Houston Symphony; Marjorie Saulson, Detroit Symphony Orchestra; Mary de Tray, National Symphony Orchestra (Washington, D.C.); Sally Bullard, The Philadelphia Orchestra; Mike Minor, Kansas City Symphony; and Iris Harvie, The Cleveland Orchestra

Saturday found the board at the Volunteer Cottage on the grounds of the Hollywood Bowl where the AMSOV archives are housed. After a presentation on the archives by Co-Archivists Ginny Cushman and Sue Clauss of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Affiliates, the AMSOV Board voted to convert the archives to an electronic format.

The downtown Los Angeles historic Shrine Auditorium with its large stage and seating for 7,000 patrons was the selected venue for a  performance of Mahler's Symphony No 8, known as the "Symphony of a Thousand." The Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela performed with 15 choruses, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel on Saturday evening, February 4th, to a sold-out house.

The AMSOV officers and several Los Angeles Philharmonic Affiliates enjoyed dinner together before they traveled to the Shrine Auditorium for the Mahler concert.

Board business concluded on Sunday with a list of action items and assignments.

Marjorie Saulson

IS IT TIME FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

SERVICE ON THE 2013-2015 AMSOV BOARD?

Serving on the AMSOV Board is an honor, a responsibility and a joy. A new Board of Directors will be elected to serve for the 2013-2015 biennium at our biennial Conference, which will take place in Kansas City on May 16-19, 2013. Will you be finished with your presidency before or around that time? Maybe you should consider service on the AMSOV Board.

By way of background, the AMSOV Board consists of nine members, six of whom will be elected to fill the following positions:

 ♪ Secretary

♪ Treasurer

♪ Membership Database Chair

♪ Membership Directory Chair

♪ eNews Editor

♪ Website Editor

To be nominated, it is necessary to plan on attending the Kansas City Conference and be presented to the membership. Candidates need to be nominated by their own orchestra and seconded by another orchestra. Those elected are expected by plan on remaining the day after the Conference ends in order to attend the turnover meeting from the prior Board of Directors to the new one. Eligibility requirements and the election process specifics are stated in the bylaws, which you can find in your current AMSOV Membership Directory starting on page 53.

The remaining three positions on the AMSOV Board are specified as follows in the bylaws. The chair of the next Conference (in 2015) becomes vice president, the chair of the current (2013) Conference becomes president, and the current president (who chaired the 2011 Conference) becomes immediate past president. This trio of positions provides for the continuity of AMSOV, as well as the institutional memory of the organization.

If you are interested in finding out if an AMSOV Board position will be a good fit for you, please contact AMSOV past president Marjorie Saulson at amsov09@earthlink.net.

By Marjorie Saulson

Membership recruitment, development and training is featured in this issue. You will find a variety of successful programs reported by AMSOV members across North America.

This is the story of a change in the membership base of the volunteers with the Buffalo, New York Philharmonic Orchestra and the successful re-emergence of the volunteer organization.

Established over 70 years ago, the volunteers of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra were originally organized as the Women's Committee. It existed as one of the most prestigious women's volunteer organizations in the region. Over time, it developed financial and administrative problems, changed its structure several times, and a few years ago, it dissolved when the volunteers could not fill their slate of officers.

Several volunteers, who could not stand to dissolve such a prestigious and historical organization, formed a Steering Committee. Its members organized the group in a totally different format. They had no Board and no fees. Volunteers provided time as drivers, ushers, office workers, and help on a project-basis with special events. They could use the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra's web site to publicize the positions and recruit volunteers. Find it at www.bpo.org.

With these changes, the organization attracted professional, working women who love music. They changed the name of the organization to Friends of the BPO Volunteers.

Joshua Bell is an artist who may receive a ride from Friends of the BPO Volunteers when he performs later this month with the Buffalo Symphony Orchestra.

Today, Friends of the BPO Volunteers number about 200 members. Most importantly, they are a very active group of volunteers. They hold scholarship luncheons as part of the Young Musicians Scholarship Program. Annually, the volunteers give a total of $5,000 in scholarships. To make music come alive in the community, they hold The Joy of Music and Wine Festival. Guests enjoy tasting wine with food samples catered by local merchants, and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra musicians are introduced and play some music, to get to know each other better beyond the limit of "performers and audience." At the end of April this year, Friends of the BPO Volunteers will hold a Champagne Brunch Fashion Show featuring BPO musicians and management personnel as models.

By Takako Michii, Chair

Steering Committee of Friends of the Buffalo Philharmonic Oorchestra Volunteers

Pianist Lang Lang performs with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra this season.

The Cincinnati Symphony Volunteer Association's mission is to strengthen public appreciation of the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras' contribution to the cultural and economic life of the Cincinnati and Tri-State area. Through volunteer services, members engage in activities and projects that are designed to enhance the public relations and financial strength of the Orchestra.

The Board is comprised of five audience engagement committees and three event planning committees.This article discusses the audience engagement committees.

Encore

The mission of Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Encore is to reach and cultivate the next generation of patrons by creating opportunities for a diverse group of urban professionals to get introduced to the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras and to engage with the orchestra and with people who share their interests. The Encore committee organizes four to five events each year, aligned with performances. Nearly all events have exceeded participation expectations, with the most recent event (Chinese New Year - Lang Lang Concert) reaching a capacity of nearly 200 attendees.

Friends of the Pops

Friends of the Pops was formed by the late Cincinnati Pops Founder and Conductor Emeritus Erich Kunzel in 1991. Since then, this group has grown to over 200 members and continues to provide Pops music lovers from all walks of life an outlet where they can have fun, meet fellow concertgoers, and support the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, all at the same time. Friends of the Pops offers exclusive opportunities to interact with the Pops conductor and orchestra members, pre-dinner concerts, and fun social events including day trips, tours, and performances.

Lollipops/Young Families

The Cincinnati Pops' Lollipops Family Concerts are interactive, creatively-themed programs specifically designed for children aged three to ten and their families. These Saturday morning concerts offer a fun-filled introduction to the symphonic experience. We hope to expand this base of concert-goers and offer more family-friendly social and fundraising events. A structured Lollipop committee was established in 2011 with the goal of identifying and engaging more young families to support the CSO.

Multi-Cultural Awareness Council

The Multicultural Awareness Council is a group of diverse, community volunteers whose mission is to foster and increase awareness of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra programs through cultural and diverse music programs, educational and community partnerships, scholarships for talented minority student musicians and building diverse audiences and artistic development.

Pride/LGBT Community

Pride Night is an annual fundraising event surrounding a Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's Saturday evening concert, offering cocktails and desserts after the concert. The annual Pride Night engages the LBGT community and we hope to engage this audience throughout the year by offering more social and fundraising events. In 2011, the Pride Committee was formed to transition this annual event into an ongoing community of supporters who can plan and execute events throughout the year.

By Ryan Rybolt, President

Cincinnati Symphony Volunteer Association

Iris Harvie, an AMSOV officer and Chair of The Volunteer Council of The Cleveland Orchestra's Musical Arts Association recently wrote to volunteers. She explained that the purpose of The Volunteer Council is the recruitment, retention and recognition of volunteers. It is also a major goal of the Council to find ways to further engage and enhance the volunteer experience, both for the volunteer and for the Orchestra.

With these things in mind, she engaged the volunteers by including forms for the volunteers to complete. One was an announcement that the Orchestra is establishing an Orchestra Speaker's Bureau, and it offered volunteers the opportunity to apply. A Guide to Becoming Involved with The Cleveland Orchestra offered the volunteer an opportunity to host a tour of Severance Hall where The Cleveland Orchestra performs in Cleveland or a tour of Blossom where The Cleveland Orchestra, and other orchestras, perform every summer, among other opportunities. 

The Blossom Festival  operates in a park-like venue.

The third enclosure was A Skills Bank Inventory. Harvie wrote, "We would like to know more about you, your interests, your skills, so that we can better determine the opportunities to make your Orchestra-involvement even better. The information from this form will be combined into a data bank or talent pool which you will be able to access. Your privacy is very important to us, and you can be sure that any information received will be used appropriately." She concluded by providing contact information of email addresses and telephone numbers.

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra Volunteer Council created Fun-Raisers, to foster camaraderie (not funds) among current members and to encourage guests to join as new members.

The first one, Spring Garden Party, was held on May 5, 2011 in the lovely home of the Volunteer Council President. While limiting the number of reservations to 50 at a very reasonable $35 ticket price, the event sold-out. This event successfully attracted members whom we had not seen in some time. We had a local garden purveyor, Bordines, demonstrate how to create beautiful container gardens. Our attendees enjoyed a delicious sampling of Mediterranean-inspired appetizers accompanied by delicious Sangria that disappeared quickly. Once all attendees had an opportunity to mingle, the hostess split the group into two smaller groups to listen to a presentation on container gardening. The evening could not have been more delightful! The weather was perfect and the atmosphere was outstanding. As a parting gift, each attendee received a pair of garden gloves which were donated by a Volunteer Council member. By printing our own invitations and providing our own catering, the net profit for this event was a little over $600. We received many compliments on a wonderful evening and on a very reasonably priced ticket.

The second Fun-Raiser, Bubbles and Beauty, was held at Neiman Marcus department store on September 12, 2012 and hosted by the Neiman Marcus Public Relations Department. Neiman Marcus underwrote $2000 of the event and donated a percentage of cosmetic sales for the day to the Volunteer Council. Once again the ticket price was reasonably priced at $50. Forty-seven guests attended,  and they were mostly non-members, as guests of current members.  Net profit was more than $1,300 for essentially a turn-key event. Following a brief beauty runway chat and door prize drawing, attendees were free to sample the hand-passed hors d'oeuvres and champagne, and they could learn about the latest beauty treatments and cosmetics from the 20 participating cosmetics vendors.

Our third Fun-Raiser will be held on April 25, 2012 at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar. This evening will feature a wine tasting.

Based on the popularity of these events, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Volunteer Council Board decided to host at least two Fun-Raisers each fiscal year.

By Janet M. Ankers, President

Detroit Symphony Orchestra Volunteer Council

Recently, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Affiliates held a Membership Workshop for volunteers and guests. Speakers were three panelists from Los Angeles. 

The topic, How to Attract and Retain New Members in Our Committees, was of great interest to everyone in attendance. The Los Angeles Affiliates have a membership of 900, organized into 16 committees. The Affiliates have had to deal with a declining membership in recent years and are still engaged in a Five-Year Membership Campaign, which they named Over the Top at 1,000.

The Membership Workshop featured guest speaker Scott Mory, CEO of the University of Southern California Alumni Association. Since he recruits younger people for the Alumni Association, he has become an expert on the Millennials or the Millennium Generation, those young people born in 1982 or more recently. He listed the trends with which they have grown up, events that have shaped their lives, and their particular defining characteristics.

Speaking about the characteristics of the young people in their 30's and 40's were Michelle Kezirian, Esq. and Catherine Barnes, Human Resources Consultant.

Seated are two of the panelists, Michelle Kezirian and Catherine Barnes. Standing are Los Angeles Affiliates Membership Coordinators Marilyn Kezirian and Katherine Dagermangy and Affiliate Chair Aida Gaona.

The Affiliates and panelists identified, discussed and found solutions to their concerns as they learned the demographics of today's volunteers and potential volunteers. Following the panelists' presentations, round table discussions brought the Membership Workshop to a successful conclusion.

One concrete follow-up is an interest in the use of social media.  Members are looking forward to a June workshop on how to develop a Facebook page. 

By Marilyn Kezirian, Membership Co-Coordinator

Los Angeles Philharmonic Affiliates

The Montreal Symphony Orchestra volunteer's web site page opens to display BECOME A VOLUNTEER followed by the photo shown below. Find it at www.osm.ca.

The web site is the most popular and successful tool for recruiting new members, according to the Montreal Committee. Another popular site is the Montreal Volunteer Action Centre. Each has brought the Committee 10 new members this season, and recently four more requests for membership information were received through the web site.

Other tools used are a brochure with an attached return coupon. It is deposited on display shelves in the Place des Arts complex in the concert hall area and at the box office. Telephone calls and emails also serve the purpose with two requests received since January, 2012. Another source is people who are referred by our volunteers. Montreal's new concert hall attracts new volunteers, but unfortunately, retention of those new members is a low percentage.

The volunteer who is responsible for the welcoming and orientation of new members answers each request for membership information by means of a brief interview over the phone.  The next step is to invite interested volunteers to a group meeting. it offers an opportunity for new people to receive more information about the whole Committee, become acquainted with the Committee volunteers, and decide which activities would best match their qualifications, interests and availability. "We want to make sure that every new member registers for at least one of the activities of the Committee," Prevost says. Once registered, an Excel list of the new members and their preferences is transmitted to all coordinators of activities, for their respective use.

Many of the Committee's activities require training. Coordinators are responsible for the training and the follow-up. Mentors for new volunteers are very appreciated and successful, reports Prevost.

Year-round, current Committee members are encouraged to join different teams. The Committee's newsletter is used to call upon volunteers to help in different fields of activities. The Committee's representtives never miss an opportunity to emphasize the Committee's needs at General Assembly meetings and at the Committee's socials. 

By Suzanne Prevost, President 

Comite des benevoles de l'Orchestre symphonique de Montreal

Volunteers of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra League carry the responsibility to greet first-time concertgoers and encourage them to return. The process starts at the Symphony's box office. From the first-time patron's credit card information, the Nashville Symphony Orchestra Marketing Department uses the contact information to write each first-time patron a letter, inviting the ticket  holders to a post-concert reception. Held in a small room near the front of the Laura Turner Concert Hall in the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, the reception is hosted by the Nashville Symphony Orchestra League. The Symphony provides appetizers, wine and coffee.

Charles Cagle stands by door leading to reception.

At the conclusion of the concert, League volunteers move quickly to the reception to be on-hand to greet the new patrons. The reception offers an opportunity to talk about the orchestra and the concert series. Volunteers can answer any questions. If someone asks about an Education program of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, the volunteer who is a docent in the program provides the answer. If a guest asks about volunteer opportunities, a League volunteer is present to explain the activities of the League and the benefits of belonging. The reception typically lasts 20 minutes.

This community outreach has been very successful and shows the trust that the Nashville Symphony places in its volunteers.

By Charles Cagle, AMSOV Officer and Past President

Nashville Symphony Orchestra League

In the past, the Tononto Symphony Volunteer Committee had problems attracting new members. The Board decided to have the website revamped, and we are now flooded with responses, reports President Teresa Lasiuk. "Obviously, the way to attract new, young members is through the internet." When members and visitors reach the "tso volunteer committee" web page, the folowing three images greet the user. Each image, when clicked, leads to information about a specific program or project. Find it at www.tso.ca.

To keep members active and interested, the Committee produces several fundraisers, and it encourages members to participate. They include the Wine Auction, Bridge with lunch and a guest speaker, and the Holiday Open House.

As perks to our members, we have the Orchestra Liaison luncheons and the Interludes program, explains Lasiuk. For the Orchestra Liaison luncheons, offered three times during the year, the Toronto Symphony Volunteer Committee members gather in the Studio at Roy Thomson Hall during rehearsal breaks to enjoy time with musicians, staff and other guests. The volunters cater the luncheon and absorb the costs. Each volunteer adopts a musician for the year, offering an opportunity to visit and become acquainted. Both volunteers and musicians like this arrangement.

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Interludes is a series of lectures accompanied by music and musicians, food and wine, and held in a private home. The fee is $40 for each Interlude..

To keep members informed, the Volunteer Committee publishes a newsletter twice a year, and in addition, this year the Committee started a monthly electronic newsletter to remind members of upcoming events, meetings and requests for help. The Volunteer Committee publishes a yearly Red Book listing of our members, committees and meetings for the year.

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By Teresa Lasiuk, President 

Toronto Symphony Volunteer Committee

UTAH SYMPHONY ORCHESSTRA GUILD

Continuing this thrust, Guild members send each new member a welcome letter and invite the new member to attend an event specifically for new members. Board members then contact new members and extend a personal invitation to them. In addition, the Guild arranges for new members to attend a rehearsal of the Utah Symphony. At the rehearsal, each new member is greeted by the Utah Symphony Director Thierry Fischer and the Utah Symphony CEO Melia Tourangeau. Afterwards, lunch is served, and orchestra members are invited as well. 

The Guild Board decided to create a brochure that explains the goals and objectives of the Utah Symphony Guild, and this brochure has been used extensively this year in our recruitment of new members as well as in our fundraising efforts. Information regarding membership sign-up is included in the brochure. We have found this to be a useful tool for Board members to provide as they are talking about the Guild to members of the community.

Finding ways to reach out to the community in these ways has been a productive and worthwhile project this year. The Utah Guild Board has enjoyed meeting new members and reconnecting with current members this year.

 By Kathy Sargent, President

Utah Symphony Orchestra Guild