News & Notes - June 2012

MEMBERSHIP

The Survey Monkey is Waiting for You! 
There’s still time to take part in our membership survey. In order to better understand the composition of our membership, identify future SVA board members and leadership roles, and focus our efforts on improving all committee activities, we are counting on all members to participate. Contact Becky Brown with any questions.

Committee Signups for 2012-2013 Season
Check back for details about how to sign up for all the SVA committees you’d like to volunteer with during the next year. We’re planning a placement day later this summer as well as some other interesting activities.

SVA Membership Directory Updates
Please download an updated addendum for your 2011-2012 SVA Membership Directory.

Still Counting…
Our members have contributed 6,116 hours of service to support the STL Symphony (since September 1, 2011). Please remember to report your spring volunteer hours; a special volunteer recognition program is planned for this fall. 

SVA BOARD NEWS

SVA Board Announcements
The last SVA Board meeting for the 2011-2012 season was held on June 5 with Anna Kuwabara, VP of Orchestra Operations and Facilities for the STL Symphony, as our featured speaker.

As part of changes to the bylaws approved at the May membership meeting, the SVA board will now meet four times during the 2012-2013 season. The board meeting schedule will be announced later this summer. Click here to view the latest version of the bylaws. 

New SVA Board Members
Welcome to the following SVA members who will assume the following responsibilities on the SVA board for the 2012-2013 season:

Barbara Sprick, Chair - Express the Music
Kathryn Snodgrass, Vice Chair - Express the Music
Libby Weinman, Chair - Regular Membership
Stephanie Jones, Vice Chair - Regular Membership
Dan Gogel, Vice Chair - Gypsy Caravan
Marilyn Holmes, Chair - Instrument Playground
Kitty Pearl, Vice Chair - Instrument Playground

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 403 members with 49% 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 > 21,000 direct contacts)

FUNDRAISING

Off to a Great Start
Pick a Party! results are in and it’s clear that 2012-2013 Parties of Note will be another fundraising success for the SVA. Over $42,500 in party reservations were sold at the kickoff party in April alone. Ten parties are already sold out and another ten are over 75% to capacity; however, it’s not too late to join the fun! Click here to purchase remaining reservations or call 314-534-1700. 

Gypsy Caravan 40th Anniversary Celebration
Fun venue, delicious food, tasty libations (including the signature Tipsy Gypsy) and silent auction…oh my! Over 100 friends and fans of Gypsy Caravan attended a fabulous soirée at the Norman K. Probstein Golf Course Champion’s Room on May 4 to celebrate 40 years of Gypsy Caravan. Thanks to the dedication of Jarmaine Migala and her committee, more than $5,400 was raised to support the Symphony.

Schnucks Shopping Supports the Symphony
Do you shop at Schnucks? If so, you can support the STL Symphony every time you pay your grocery bill.  Get a free eScrip Community Card at the store and designate the St. Louis Symphony as your preferred organization by registering your card online or by calling 1-800-931-6258. (Group ID 500006368) When you check out, just give the card to the cashier and a portion of your grocery bill will be donated to the STL Symphony.

EDUCATION

It’s Not about Cookies
Instrument Playground committee members will work with Girl Scouts again this summer, participating in “Taste of the World” at Adams School on June 26-28. The Scouts will have a chance to try out a variety of musical instruments under the guidance of SVA members.  

SVA OFFICE

Lost and Found
Missing a turquoise scarf with silver trim? Please come to the SVA office to claim it.

SVA Office Location and Directions
Centene Center for Arts and Education
3547 Olive St., Suite 370
St. Louis, MO 63103
NEW! Summer Office Hours: Mon, Wed 8:00am-5:00pm; Tues, Thurs, 9:00am-6:00pm; Fri, 8:00am-Noon

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.