News & Notes - May 2012

MEMBERSHIP

We’re Counting on You! 
Click here to complete our SVA membership profile and skills survey—we still have 250+ members who need to respond. Thank you to the 123 members who have already participated! Contact Becky Brown with any questions.

Spring KeyNotes is in the Air
Did you receive your spring issue of the SVA print newsletter KeyNotes? Project leader Helen Hume and her team have completed another beautiful edition complete with color images and updates on membership, education and fundraising committee activities. 

Still Counting…
SVA members are an active group! Our members have now contributed 5,117 hours of service to support the STL Symphony since September 1, 2011. Stay tuned to learn more about a special volunteer recognition program planned to begin this fall.

Be a Mentor
As our membership continues to grow, so does the need to match seasoned SVA members with our newest members.  If you can volunteer to be a mentor for new members, please contact Penny Bari or Edith Wenzel.

SVA Membership Directory Updates
Please download an updated addendum for your 2011-2012 SVA Membership Directory. (please refer to newest version)

Last Call for Youth Orchestra Tickets!
Sunday, May 20, 2012 at 3pm
Ward Stare, conductor
Shelby Nugent, French horn
      Winner St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra concerto competition

There are a total of eight free tickets available for the concert on Friday, May 20. If you are interested in attending, please call Amee Colvin no later than Wednesday, May 16 at 314-286-4153 to obtain your free ticket…first come, first served! Please limit one free ticket per SVA member. Additional tickets are available online and at the Powell Hall Box Office (314-534-1700).

SVA BOARD NEWS

SVA Board Announcements
The last SVA Board meeting for the 2011-2012 season will be held at noon on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 in the Laclede Conference Room on the AEC Level at Centene Center. Please note the change in date from the original schedule.

New SVA Board Members
Check back in the June edition of News & Notes for the announcement of the 2012-2013 SVA Board.

We’re on a Mission!
The mission of the St. Louis Symphony is to enrich people’s lives through the power of music. The SVA will support this mission by focusing on three key goals through 2013:

  • Increase SVA membership to 500 with 50% participation rate (current tally is 397 members with > 45% participation)
  • Increase SVA fundraising revenue to exceed $250,000 (check back this summer for an update following our key spring fundraisers)
  • Increase direct contacts of SVA education projects and tours to 25,500 community members (current tally is > 20,000 direct contacts)

FUNDRAISING

Pick a Party! was a Wonderful Party 
The Parties of Note committee, led by Chair Linda Lee and Vice Chair Anne von der Heydt, hosted an exciting preview event for the 2012-2013 season of parties on April 22 at Plaza Frontenac’s Center CourtGuests enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres, drinks, including “partinis,” and purchased reservations to 30 different parties while enjoying the musical styling of the Jazz All Stars from Jazz St. Louis. Although some of the parties are sold out or nearly sold out, remaining reservations will go on sale May 15.

Calling All Gypsies!
Our biggest fundraiser of the year, Gypsy Caravan, is quickly approaching! Can we count on you to help for a few hours? Thousands of shoppers will descend upon the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis. We’ll need an army of volunteers to make this another successful event for the SVA. Contact Genie Wilhelm to learn about a variety of volunteer opportunities.

We are All Friends of Gypsy Caravan
Once again, SVA members answered the call to become Friends of Gypsy Caravan. Members that donated $10 or more by April 23 will have their names printed on a special acknowledgement page in the 2012 Gypsy Caravan Shopper’s Guide. This year 76 SVA members contributed $1,422. Thank you!

SVA OFFICE

Lost and Found
Missing some personal items?  Please come to the SVA office to claim the following:
1.   Turquoise scarf with silver trim
2.   Red plastic serving plate
3.   Beige multi-compartment Tupperware container

SVA Office Location and Directions
Centene Center for Arts and Education
3547 Olive St., Suite 370
St. Louis, MO 63103
Office Hours: Tues, Thurs, and Fri; 9:00am–5:00pm 

SVA committee meetings can be scheduled at the SVA office with Director of Volunteer Activities, Amee Colvin. For these pre-arranged committee meetings, parking is available in the SLU lot just east of the Centene Center. Please obtain a parking sign from your committee chair prior to the meeting and place it on your car’s dashboard. This will indicate that you are with the SVA and you will not be charged. All of the parking spots have numbers, but none of the spaces are reserved.

A member of your SVA committee should be available in the Centene Center lobby to let you into the building. If you arrive late and no one is there, use the call box at the street entrance. Scroll down to “Symphony Volunteer Association,” hit the call button, and Amee will respond. You may also call the office directly at 314-289-4168 for building entrance.