League of American Orchestras Conference

Betty Herron, ASOG President, and Camille Williams, First Vice President, attended the League of American Orchestras in Minneapolis, MN June 6-9, 2011.  The best part of the conference was the networking  among volunteers from Guilds across the country.  The conference scheduled Dine -Arounds 2 evenings where a small group had dinner in a restaurant near the hotel.  They had the traditional networking Pizza lunch as well as volunteer sessions where attendees moved from group to group with a leader highlighting an activity of their Guild.  The Minnesota Orchestra hosted a concert led by Osmo Vanska and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra led by Thomas Zehetmair ended the conference on Thursday evening.  The biggest news at the conference was the critical financial condition of many orchestras around the country.  A plenary session was held to address "Getting Beyond Break Even" and a study that provided insights and tools that could lead not only to sustainability but to vitality was presented.  Our ASO Board, staff and musicians should be commended for making the necessary adjustments so that our Symphony remains a vital part of our community.  The ASOG has also made significant financial contributions to assist in keeping our ASO in the black and all ASOG volunteers are to be congratulated for their efforts.

 

Finance Committee Report

Speaking of the contributions of the ASOG, the Finance Committee met in May and reviewed receipts from the Symphony Designer House XXI (SDH).  Not all the bills were in at that time so the Committee recommended giving $50,000 from the SDH proceeds and another $5,000 from the Guild's general account.  In June, after all the bills were paid for SDH, the Finance Committee recommended an additional $10,000 to the ASO, the amount needed to allow them to end in the black for the second year in a row.  The Finance Committee also recommended a $5,000 payment to the Tympani Chair Endowment.  Because of the wonderful volunteers of the ASOG we were able to give the ASO a total of $65,000 to the general account and an additional $5,000 to the ASO Foundation.  Thank you everyone for your contributions of time, money and talent. 

 

Nancy Pfeifer Memorial

As you know, Nancy's family designated the ASOG to be the recipient of donations made in her honor.  To date, we have received $2100.  This is a wonderful tribute to one of the founding members of the ASOG and past President of the Board.  I also wanted to share with you that 3 members of the ASO, Diane McVinney, Susan Leon and Beth Wheeler played at Nancy's memorial service. 

 

Membership Task Force

Meeting of Membership Task Force at Phyllis Barrier's home:  Left to right:  Phyllis Barrier, Mary Wildgen, Clair Norman, Susan Marsh, Mary Fine, Marcia Safirstein, Kim Montez.

 

 Phyllis Barrier, Chair of the Membership Task Force held the first meeting at her home on June 29, 2011.  Joining Phyllis were Kim Montez, Susan Marsh, Mary Wildgen, Clair Norman, Mary Fine, Marcia Safirstein and Betty Herron.  Everyone agreed that recruiting new members should be an all year activity with everyone participating.  Committee members gave the following reasons why people join the Guild:  someone invited them, they were told they were needed, ASO is a good cause, to make friends, have fun and feel appreciated.  Reasons discussed as to why people do not join: don't know anything about ASOG, "bunch of old ladies" and elitist group.  The task force discussed breaking down the tasks into new member recruitment, retention and involvement.  Asking a friend to a Guild meeting was the number one recruitment method discussed.  Extending an invitation to join ASOG to Symphony Designer House volunteers was another action item.  Providing information about the Guild to real estate companies, Welcome Wagon, Junior League, retired teacher groups was listed as a recruitment tool.  The task force needs additional people to serve on the 3 sub-committees as they explore new avenues for recruiting members, retaining members and how to involve new members.  You can contact Phyllis Barrier or Kim Montez if you would like to volunteer.  The next meeting of the Task Force is July 25 at 4:00 p.m. in the Fitzgerald Hall (directly across from Byrne Hall). 

 Mary Fine, Marcia Safirstein and Kim Montez

 

 

Children's Concert

Please mark your calendars for the annual Children's Concert at Robinson Auditorium, Friday, October 21 at 10:30 a.m.  The theme is Symphony Safari and the Chair is Sharon Robinette assisted by Francine Del Giacco. 

 

Fall Meeting of ASOG is Sept. 8, 2011, 11:30 a.m. at the LR Country Club.  Invite a friend to join you!

 

Sincerely,

Betty Herron