News & Notes - April 2013

MEMBERSHIP

Subscribe to Support the Symphony
SVA members show their support of the Symphony through countless hours of volunteer service supporting key education and fundraising projects that promote the Symphony’s mission to enrich people’s lives through the power of music. In addition to devoting personal volunteer time to the Symphony, please consider making a commitment to financially support the Symphony by buying season tickets for the 2013-2014 season. Purchasing season tickets is even more appealing to all SVA members and supporters of the Symphony with such benefits as significant savings over single price ticket purchases, free exchanges made by phone in case your plans change, discounts on additional tickets purchased, invitations to exclusive events at Powell Hall, and more. When you are a season subscriber, you know you are playing your part to ensure the continued growth of the STL Symphony.

First Call for LAO Volunteers
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 STL 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 nearly 1,000 attendees aimed at strengthening orchestras across the country. The St. Louis Symphony and Youth Orchestra will have featured performances on June 18 that you will not want to miss.

The conference has not been held in St. Louis since the 1960s, so this is an incredible opportunity to spotlight the STL Symphony as well as the city of St. Louis. Approximately 100 volunteers will be needed to help with the success of this important conference. Volunteers working at least one shift of four hours will have the possibility to attend one of the conference seminars.

Contact Becky Brown to schedule your volunteer time for the following days and shifts:

• Sunday, June 16: 1:00-4:00pm
• Monday, June 17: 8:00am-12:30pm and 12:15-6:00pm
• Tuesday, June 18: 7:00-11:00am, 7:30am-12:45pm, 10:30am-3:00pm, 2:30-6:00pm, and 3:00-4:30pm
• Wednesday, June 19: 7:45am-12:30pm, 9:45am-2:00pm, and 12:15-5:00pm
• Thursday, June 20: 7:45am-1:45pm, 9:45am-2:00pm, and 11:30am-3:00pm 
  
  

Volunteers will be assigned duties based upon availability and skills required for the various volunteer job descriptions.

Volunteer Hours Climbing
The SVA has recorded 2,442 hours of volunteer service from 118 members. Be sure you are part of the 2012-2013 M-O-R-E Volunteer program! M-O-R-E Volunteers (contributing 50 or more volunteer hours) receive a bright red tag to add to their volunteer name badge as a special acknowledgement of service. Report your hours when convenient to the appropriate committee chair or vice chair—monthly, quarterly, annually—or whenever it makes sense for you.

Directory Dilemma
Several SVA members have yet to pick up their 2012-2013 SVA Membership Directory. Please choose 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.

Each member may now access this informative resource online. Contact a member of the SVA Board or Amee Colvin for the password to access this file. 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 to your listing.

BOARD NEWS

SVA Board Meeting
Wed, June 5, noon
Centene Center-Laclede Conference Room

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:

• Increase SVA membership to 500 with 50% participation rate (FY13 result through February = 380 members with 20.3% participation)
• Increase fundraising profits to exceed $250,000 (FY13 result through January = $35,963)
• Increase direct contacts of education projects and tours to 25,500 community members (FY13 result through February = 20,413 direct contacts)
  
  

FUNDRAISING

It’s Not a Party without You
Have you made your reservations? The Parties of Note Pick a Party! will be held Sunday, April 21 at Plaza Frontenac. Be the first to sign up for some of St. Louis’ most unique parties before they go on sale to the public. General admission is only $30 and patron level admission is $60 ($30 tax deductible, includes recognition on event signage). Enjoy great hors d’oeuvres, drinks and entertaining music from Jazz St. Louis All Stars, Java Jived, and St. Louis Sirens. Invite your friends to join us by calling 314-534-1700 or order online.

Following last month’s sneak preview, here are a few more of the 31 special parties planned for 2013-2014:

• Private dinner and tasting at Six Row Brewing Company complete with a custom sample to take home
• Rooftop herb tasting and tutorial at Bowood Farms and Café Osage
• Cocktails and a cappella music from Java Jived in an elegant 19th century mansion
• The secrets of cake decorating from the pros at The Cakery
• A dynamic duo at Centene headquarters in Clayton: Slatkin & Halen!
  
  

Want to volunteer to help at Pick a Party? Contact Jean Saunders to sign up for a shift.

Last Call: Step into the FOG
Be a Friend of Gypsy (FOG) and support the 41st annual Gypsy Caravan. Project Leader Sara Fabick challenges all SVA members to join this team for the SVA’s #1 fundraiser supporting the STL Symphony. You can become a FOG by making a minimum contribution of $10 to help raise money to defray expenses for the fourth annual Gypsy Caravan Shopper’s Guide.

All contributions that SVA members make will be listed on a special acknowledgement page in the Guide. The Shopper’s Guide has been a big hit with our vendors and attendees.

Click here to find out how to make your donation. Sign up today and be proud to be a FOG!

The SVA’s #1 Fundraiser: Gypsy Caravan
Now in its 41st consecutive year, Gypsy Caravan has raised over $3.4 million for the STL Symphony. This fun St. Louis Memorial Day tradition will bring thousands of shoppers to the UMSL campus in search of all kinds of finds and bargains.

Treasure the hunt! Besides great shopping, you’ll enjoy tempting food treats and kids of all ages will have a wonderful time. An expanded Children’s Corner will have crafts and the opportunity to make music with members of our Instrument Playground committee.

Dierbergs Markets is partnering with the SVA to sell discounted wristbands for entry to this year’s event ($8.50 vs. $10 general admission from 9:00am-5:00pm; $17.50 vs. $20 early bird admission from 7:00- 9:00am). Whether you are an early bird shopper or prefer to come later in the day, consider buying your ticket at Dierbergs. You’ll save money and avoid waiting in long lines to get into the event!

We need you! Volunteer a few hours on Memorial Day to support our largest fundraiser. Contact Chair Janice Seele to sign up today.

EDUCATION

Some Expressive Evening
Join us tomorrow evening at 7:00pm for the Express the Music Awards Ceremony at Powell Hall. From nearly 500 entries, 32 Junior Division (grades 6-8) and 22 Senior Division (grades 9-12) writing submissions were submitted to an esteemed panel of five judges for final review and selection. In addition to the finalists, the top three winners in each division will be recognized. Adam Crane, Vice President of External Affairs at the STL Symphony, will serve as master of ceremonies. An Express the Music booklet will be available to all the finalists as well as their teachers.

Chair Phyllis Traub would be glad to have your volunteer assistance for student check-in, handing out programs to guests, helping the students organize for the procession to the stage, assisting the photographer, and more. Contact Phyllis if you can help.

Don’t Miss This Exhibit
There are only a few more weeks to view the 100 spectacular pieces of art from this year’s Picture the Music finalists at the following venues:

• April 2-16: St. Peters Cultural Arts Centre
• April 17-25: The Magic House
  
  

Thanks to the entire Picture the Music committee for extending our community outreach with this wonderful program.

Instrument Playground Interacts
Can you imagine introducing 300 preschoolers from Grace Hill to musical instruments at Powell Hall? Four intrepid members of the Instrument Playground committee did just that in March and reported an enthusiastic response from the children. Later in the month, volunteers visited North Side Community School and invited the children to sample the various musical instruments.

Come see the IP committee members in action. Before or after finishing your volunteer shifts at Gypsy Caravan, stop by the Children’s Corner from 10:00am-2:00pm to join the fun with IP members.

New committee members are always welcomed. Plans are already underway for the next IP workshop in August that will feature updates from Dacy Gillespie, STL Symphony Education Programs Manager, and Symphony musicians. Contact Marilyn Holmes to get involved.

SVA OFFICE LOCATION & 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.

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.