VOL. 9 NO. 2     The Roundtable Newsletter for Orchestra Volunteers      November, 2013
In This Issue
Quick Links
RONDO
Southeastern Orchestra Volunteer Association, Inc.
 
19825-B North Cove Rd. #112
Cornelius, NC, 28031
 
www.sovaonline.org

A Non-Profit Publication for Orchestra Volunteers
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Officers
Carol Lou Yaeger
President
Martha Long
 Vice President
Gwen Gilmore
 Secretary
Betty Seifert
 Treasurer
Liz Wheeler
Immediate Past President
Directors
Emmala Barnett
Nancy Epting
Ann Meredith
Pat Moye
Nancy Stanton
Melissa Woolf
CALENDAR OF  EVENTS
November

Mother-Daughter Holiday Fashion Show
November 16
 in conjunction with the 
Festival of Trees
November 16-December 8
The Symphony Guild of Charlotte
for tickets and bidding information click here

Retreat to Dewees Island
November 17
Charleston Symphony Orchestra League
for information and tickets, click here

December

Unleash Your Inner Artist
December 3
Charleston Symphony Orchestra League
for information and tickets, click here

Festival of Trees
Through December 8th
The Symphony Guild of Charlotte
for bidding information click here

January

SOVA Directors' Meeting and President's Luncheon**
Note Change of Date
January 16, 2014
The Peninsula
 Yacht Club
Cornelius, NC

February

Valentine Soiree
February 15, 2014
Symphony League, South Carolina Philharmonic

Black and White Ball
"An Evening of Magic"
February 22, 2014
Guild of the Greenville Symphony

March

Symphony of Kitchens
March 15, 2014
Augusta Symphony Guild

37th Annual Symphony Designer Showhouse
March 20 - April 19
Charleston Symphony Orchestra League

4th Annual Luncheon & Fashion Show
March 26, 2014
League of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra

SOVA Directors' Meeting
March 27, 2014
Charleston, SC

April

37th Annual Symphony Designer Showhouse
Through April 19th 
Charleston Symphony Orchestra League

A Spring Garden Reception
April 27, 2014
Symphony League,
South Carolina Philharmonic

May

Downtown Condo Rondo
May 10, 2014
Guild of the Greenville Symphony

SOVA Directors' Meeting
May 15, 2014
Columbia, SC


This column is reserved for SOVA member organizations to promote their fundraising events in support of symphonic music. For infomation contact sgcmelissa@aol.com
NEW LIAISONS

Carolyn Witte

Charleston Symphony Orchestra League

 

Carolyn Witte grew up in Iowa, where she received a degree in journalism and public relations from the University of Iowa and bachelor's in education from Cornell College. 

Her career included writing advertising for a department store chain, working as an account executive for an ad agency, editing an insurance magazine, working in marketing for the Grove Park Inn and the Grand Bahama Hotel, and serving as director of public relations for a prep school, a college and a university. She also taught first grade in Iowa for 15 years before moving to Charleston. 

Retired for the past six years, Carolyn volunteers in her church office, is active in her church circle and her PEO chapter, plays an indentured servant/cook at Charles Towne Landing, and serves as PR Chair and SOVA liaison for the CSOL.

Mary Princing

League of the Hilton Head Symphony

 

Mary is originally from Michigan where she was an official on the Board of Directors for both the Saginaw Symphony Orchestra and the Michigan Orchestra Association.  She has served on the 
League of the
Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra board as a volunteer working on the Fashion  Show/Luncheon, Sunday Musicales, Newsletter Editor, and this year a secretary of the board and liaison to SOVA.
Doni Jordan
Symphony League of the South Carolina Philharmonic

Doni Jordan loves music and art. She is the SOVA Liaison and Education Chair for the South Carolina Philharmonic in Columbia, SC. She also serves on the Fundraising and Education Committees of the South Carolina Philharmonic and on the Gala Committee for the Columbia Museum of Art. Jordan is an avid tennis player and loves to travel. One of her favorite musical memories was hearing Itzhak Perlman perform with the South Carolina Philharmonic but she also melted when she heard the Vienna Boys Choir perform. To her, music is transformative.

MEMBERS' CORNER
Welcome SOVA  New Members

Helen Barnett

Heather Corneliusen

Ann Rostafinski

Long Bay Symphony Guild

 

Elizabeth Stephens

Rebecca Schlosser

Greensboro Symphony Guild

 

Carolyn Beckie

Guild of the Greenville Symphony

 

Bobbie Greenebaum

Carolyn Witte

Charleston Symphony Orchestrea League 

 
Carol Lou Yaeger

A Note From Our President 

 With one toe on the beach (for early morning walks) and the other in the wonderfully comfortable Marriott Resort and Spa, Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach, we experienced our 1st day-and-a-half Roundtable!   We listened to your requests and comments from the Augusta Roundtable and tried out the new format.  What a success it was!  We had time to be together (so important!), we had time to absorb the many new ideas from the Technology Fair that would help us be more productive in our individual positions or jobs in our home organizations, and we had time for more Roundtables.  Yes, we had more time for everything - what a treat that was!  We were not so rushed, but far more relaxed and able to be more receptive of all that was offered to us by the presenters.  Laura Deaton, with her wonderful wit and exceptional insight, gave us so many good ideas and left us wanting more!  And Michelle Hamilton was the perfect person to introduce the Technology Fair and then to answer follow-up questions the next day, as well as doing a Roundtable, herself.  What cannot Michelle do?

 

A huge thank you from us all goes to Chair, Nancy Stanton for pulling off such an interesting and practical Roundtable in that new format.  Kudos, Nancy!  The evaluations were exceptional.  And also a huge thank you to Marilyn Grigas, President of the Long Bay Symphony Guild (and former rock star!), and to Diane White and her Local Arrangements Committee:  Ann Rostafinski, Ann Palmer and Heather Corneliusen, for all those wonderful touches that made our stay so comfortable and pleasant - beautiful flower arrangements, wonderful gift bags, breakfasts, chocolates and even live musical performances.   We certainly felt cared for and special!   Thank you, Long Bay, for hosting us so beautifully.   

 

Now on to Columbia and our 10th Anniversary Celebration next October!  Did you know that Liz Wheeler, who is chairing this 10th Annual Roundtable, also chaired the very first one in Charlotte?  That has perfect symmetry, and Liz is the perfect one to do it.  Thank you, Columbia, for those recorders!  What next?  We will just have to wait and see.  You will hear more in the months to come, but save the dates:  October 6th and 7th for Columbia.  It promises to be a very special celebration!

  

Carol Lou Yaeger 
President
Michelle Hamilton discusses communication and technology.
Keynote speaker, Laura Denton speaks about communications.


Liz Wheeler and Emmala Barnett


Welcome to Myrtle Beach and SOVA
SOVA Secretary, Gwen Gilmore

Roundtable Chair, Nancy Stanton

(L-R) Ann Rostafinski, Local Arrangements Committee, Nancy Stanton, Carol Lou Yaeger, Diane White, Local Arrangements Chair, Heather Corneliusen, Local Arrangements Committee, Gwen Gilmore, Sallie Moody, Liz Wheeler, Betty Seifert and Martha Long

SOVA: A Newcomer's Experience

 "Message in a Bottle"
Ninth Annual SOVA Roundtable, 2013
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
by Carolyn Witte

  

When Carol Lou Yaeger asked me to be the Charleston Symphony Orchestra League's (CSOL) Liaison to SOVA this year, I admit I was a little sketchy about SOVA.  Attending their October Roundtable in Myrtle Beach cleared all that up. I quickly discovered this is an amazing organization that enables volunteer groups like ours to share a wealth of information about our successes as well as our challenges, all with the common purpose of "supporting music in our communities, in our schools, and in our hearts." (This phrase is a direct quote from keynote speaker, Laura Deaton, and one I plan to steal.) 

 

It was an inspiration to meet so many dedicated and talented women who have come up with a variety of fundraising events

 

 

To Read More of Carolyn's Experience 

 CLICK HERE

Your 2013 -2014 SOVA Liaisons!

 

Greetings from the SOVA 2013-2014 Liaisons

The 'link' between our Member Organizations!

 

Pictured are (L-R)

Back Row

Kate Davis, Salisbury-Rowan Symphony Society; Josie Gibboney, Greensboro Symphony Guild; Martha Long*, Augusta Symphony Guild; Sue Fisher, The Guild of the Greenville Symphony; Betty Seifert*, The Symphony Guild of Charlotte.

Front Row

Carolyn Witte, Charleston Symphony Orchestra League; Diane White, Long Bay Symphony Guild; Doni Jordan, Symphony League, South Carolina Philharmonic.

Not Pictured

Sue Alexanderson, Friends of the Symphony Orchestra Augusta and Mary Princing, The League of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra

*Board Member

Bold SOVA member

 

Keys to Success

 

KEYS to SUCCESS   #18

"Communicating through Technology"

 

Are you among those who run to their young grandchildren for answers to the mysteries of computer or phone? 

Even if you're not . . .

 

SOVA's Annual ROUNDTABLES are for you! They . . .

 

  • share new things with us as well as reconfirming what we already know or have been thinking about exploring. 
  • are filled to overflowing with suggestions and tips for helping us manage things in a simpler, more organized and effective way;
  • fill us with ideas that instruct, clarify and prepare us to take advantage of the most up-to-date technological information.
  • even offer ideas we can "steal" with impunity, because it's OK!  

It is no longer in question that learning and using the latest in technology is the right step for all non profits today. The process of using technology, though somewhat foreign to those of us who have long been active in the leagues and guilds up to now, is not at all so to those who are younger and now coming into this arena.  It is, rather, the process by which to encourage as well as to welcome a younger generation to our ranks in the nonprofit world, a world already transformed by its use.  

 

But how do WE go about it?   

 

 

Read More About the Keys to Success

 

Communication Through Technology

 

 

Michelle Hamilton anchored our first Technology Fair, encouraging all SOVA members to explore the world of technology. 

 In her presentation, she said, 

"There is a wealth of technology available to volunteers and volunteer organizations.  With thoughtful planning and good management, these tools can empower your organization and your members to do more!"

 

 

For Michelle's Guide to Technology, click here!
Spotlight On Charleston Symphony Orchestra League!

 

Charleston Symphony Orchestra League's 

First Ever Golf Tournament is a Rousing Success

 

After a year of planning, the "Swing for the Symphony" committee took a collective breath and prayed for good weather. The forecast was not good. With a hurricane brewing in the Gulf of Mexico, it looked like we were in for clouds and rain, with a chance of thunderstorms. Morning skies were dark, but miraculously, as tee time approached, the clouds parted and the sun shone on what proved to be an extremely successful event.  

 

Arriving at the Kiawah Island Club's River Course, players were greeted by the rousing strains of a piper, all decked out in his kilt regalia. After a creative and amusing golf clinic set to classical music, players were off for 18 holes of golf.  They enjoyed freshly made lunches on the course. Late afternoon, our players and their spouses gathered at the clubhouse for last-minute bids on silent auction items and chances on the $100 gift bags, plus cocktails and dinner, set to the festive sounds of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra's Brass Quintet.

 

Finally, the winners were announced, both of the tournament, and of the silent auction. As the day concluded, it seemed that we were all winners - golfers, committee members, sponsors, donors, and the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, as they all played a part in an extremely successful event.   While final figures are not yet in, we estimate the event raised $55,000 to $60,000.

 

 

 

by Carolyn Witte
Spotlight On The League of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra!

 

League of the Hilton Head 

"Kitchens of Note" Tour 

a Sellout Success 

 

Over 60 volunteers staffed six beautiful homes on
Hilton Head Island for the League of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra's first Kitchens of Note Tour September 29.  League president 

Lois Wilson expressed gratitude to the Committee for their dedication and

hard work.  The Low Key Piano Group, and delicacies prepared by six HHI restaurants added to a beautiful Sunday afternoon for 400 attendees.

Nine ladies from Seattle planned a trip to HHI and Kitchens of Note was a priority!

Community support of Kitchens of Note including 25 sponsors will benefit the HHSO and its Youth Programs with $18,441 in new contributions.  Mrs. Wilson added this support is indeed an inspiration and said, "Look for Kitchens of Note next year on Sunday, September 28, 2014."  

SAVE THE DATE FOR ROUNDTABLE 2014
Celebrating A Decade of High Notes
 
  
Courcelles@en.wikipdia
Come hit the High Notes in celebration of the 10th anniversary of SOVA and its Roundtables.  The Symphony League and the SOVA Roundtable 2014 Committee invite you to Columbia, SC for the 2014 Roundtable to join in Celebrating A Decade of High Notes.

 

L-R Emmala Barnett, Doni Jordan, Nancy Epting &Liz Wheeler, Chair

The 10th Roundtable will be held on October 6 & 7, 2014 at the First Presbyterian Church, 1324 Marion Street, Columbia, SC 29201 - a lovely old section of downtown Columbia. 

Liz Wheeler, SOVA Founding Member and Immediate Past President and Symphony League member is the 2014 Roundtable Chair. Liz also chaired the first Roundtable in Charlotte in 2005 as well as the third one in Columbia in 2007.    

Other committee members are SOVA Directors Emmala Barnett and Nancy Epting, SOVA Board Alumna Lynn Hodge and SOVA Liaison Doni Jordan.  

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