News & Notes - November 2012

MEMBERSHIP

10,041 Reasons to Say Thank You
Final results are in! SVA members contributed 10,041 hours of service to support the STL Symphony from September 1, 2011–August 31, 2012. From our total membership, 187 members reported their volunteer hours this past year which equated to 53.7 hours per volunteer. Congratulations!

M-O-R-E Volunteers Recognized 
A new volunteer recognition program was launched at the Fall Membership Meeting on October 11. All volunteers who contributed and self-reported 50 or more volunteer hours during the last fiscal year were acknowledged for their extraordinary accomplishments. This special group of M-O-R-E volunteers received a bright red tag to add to their SVA name tag which lists their hours in increments of 50 from this past year.

Be sure to start recording your volunteer hours so you can be part of this program for the 2012-2013 season. Report your hours when convenient to the appropriate committee chair or vice chair…monthly, quarterly, annually or whenever it makes sense for you. 

Calling All Friends
Do you have a friend that you think would be an excellent volunteer for the SVA? Please invite them to an upcoming New and Prospective Membership Party at the home of Kathy Ryan on December 3 from 5:30-7:30pm. They will have the chance to meet members of the SVA Board and learn about some of the exciting projects of the SVA. To RSVP, contact Penny Bari or Edith Wenzel.

2012-2013 Membership Directory Now Available
The Communications Directory project team led by Susan Pribble delivered a new membership directory in October. Initial distribution of the booklet began at the Fall Membership Meeting. If you weren’t able to attend, please make plans from one of these options to pick up your copy soon:

  • Make an appointment with Amee to stop by the SVA office at Centene.
  • Contact the committee chair of your choice to bring your directory to an upcoming committee meeting.
  • Planning to attend a concert at Powell Hall? Contact Amee by Thursday of that week and your directory will be waiting for you at the Boutique on the weekend.
  • Stop by one of our “pick up” points out in the community. Watch for an upcoming e-blast with more details.

The SVA Membership Directory is also now available online here! (please refer to newest version) It is password-protected, so contact a member of the SVA Board for assistance. The directory will be updated with new members and corrections each month so you will always have the latest contact information for each member. Please be sure to notify Amee of any changes for your listing.

Future Volunteer Opportunity: Help and Learn
Where can you volunteer for the STL Symphony and attend a national conference at the same time? Please start thinking about your volunteer availability when the Symphony hosts the League of American Orchestras’ (LAO) 68th Annual Conference June 17-20, 2013. The meeting will offer a variety of seminars and sessions to more than 800 attendees aimed at strengthening orchestras across the country. The STL Symphony and Youth Orchestra will have featured performances. 

Approximately 100 volunteers will be needed to help with the success of this important conference, so watch for more information later in the year. 

SVA BOARD NEWS

2011-2012 Year in Review
Click here to learn all about the achievements of the SVA during this past year including financial results and key accomplishments from Membership, Education, and Fundraising committees.  

We’re on a Mission!
The mission of the STL 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:

  1. Increase SVA membership to 500 with 50% participation rate (FY12 result = 356 members with 52% participation)
  2. Increase SVA fundraising profits to exceed $250,000 (FY12 result = $219,253)
  3. Increase direct contacts of SVA education projects and tours to 25,500 community members (FY12 result = 25,662 direct contacts)

FUNDRAISING

Have You Made Your Reservation?
There is still time to purchase tickets to attend some upcoming fabulous Parties of Note this year:

PARTY #22: CHAMBER MUSIC JAMBOREE
Friday, November 16, 2012, 7:00pm
$100/person

Rosin up your bow—here’s your chance to jam with members of the STL Symphony! 

PARTY #26: NOTES FROM BACH
Sunday, December 2, 2012, 5:30-7:30pm
$90/person

Spend an inspirational evening at Concordia Seminary, featuring a performance of J.S. Bach’s Double Violin Concerto.

PARTY #27: TEDDY BEAR TEA
Saturday, December 15, 2012, 2:30pm
$40/person 

Children six years old and over—parents and grandparents, too—are invited to a delightful holiday tea at the Old Warson Country Club.

The Parties of Note Committee has begun planning the next cycle of parties for the 2013-2014 season. Ten parties are already confirmed with many more to follow. The preview event, Pick a Party, at Plaza Frontenac on April 21 will be another evening you won’t want to miss. New this year: win two free tickets to one of five select parties! 

To join this group or share your ideas for a party, please contact Linda Lee or Anne von der Heydt.

The Gypsy in You
The Gypsy Caravan team kicked off its planning activities in late October. The SVA’s biggest fundraiser needs a committed corps of volunteers to be part of the steering committee. Can you help with contracts or help organize the volunteers needed on Memorial Day? Do you have other special talents that can assist the team? Contact Chair Janice Seele today to volunteer your services for the 41st Gypsy Caravan. 

EDUCATION

Oh Say Can You Play?
Instrument Playground committee members continue to delight children by giving them the chance to try out selected instruments at On Stage at Powell concerts, Adopt-A-School programs, Family Concerts, and special events like the upcoming November 24 “Baby Got Bach” program featuring renowned pianist (and wife of Music Director David Robertson) Orli Shaham.

Join the fun! Contact Chair Marilyn Holmes to become part of the IP team.

SVA OFFICE

SVA Office Location and Directions
Centene Center for Arts and Education
3547 Olive St., Suite 370
St. Louis, MO 63103
Office Hours: 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.