News & Notes - October  2013

From the SVA President

A new steering committee for Membership is in the planning stages because “Membership really matters!” We now have 385 SVA members. Twenty new members and hosts attended our New & Prospective Member Event in September. Spouses and friends of current members are joining the SVA. We want all SVA members to be aware of the variety of opportunities there are to do worthwhile volunteering for the STL Symphony and to have adequate training to do the jobs well.

Read about dynamic changes being planned under Membership, and consider joining the group to be a part of the transition. Have you submitted your Committee Sign Up Form? Click here to complete it online right this minute—it will take you just a minute to do it! Find out how easy it can be. You’ll help us reach our goal of 200 completed forms.

Thanks to all of you for your continuous support of the SVA. As the saying loosely goes, “It takes a whole village to keep the SVA humming along and enriching people’s lives through the power of music.”

Many thanks,

Sara Fabick
President
St. Louis Symphony Volunteer Association
p: 314-822-1183

MEMBERSHIP

In Regular and New and Prospective Committees, more volunteers are needed to work at Placement Day Events, the Forest Park Concert, and Subscriber Appreciation Day. Membership will be asked to assist with orientation programs for new members, leadership training for current SVA board members and team leaders, and special membership concerts. To get involved, contact Anne Carman.

Join us for a Coffee Concert and Luncheon on Fri, November 8 at 10:30am. Twenty Orchestra Level tickets will be available for $25 to SVA members without previously purchased tickets.

Members purchasing these tickets are invited to attend an SVA Luncheon in the Met Bar following the concert. Twenty box lunches will be made available for $10/each.

Box lunch tickets not already sold (up to a maximum group of 40) will be made available for purchase on Friday, November 1 to other SVA members already ticketed or volunteering for the concert.

The purpose of this event is to encourage our volunteers to experience a live concert at Powell Hall. The Concert and Luncheon will give new and veteran volunteers the opportunity to meet and greet each other and just enjoy being together—as we always do. RSVP by Friday, November 1: Amee Colvin at 314-286-4153.

Communications needs more volunteers to assist with KeyNotes, Playbill, Photography, Membership Directory and website monitoring for updates. To get involved, contact Helen Hume.

One and Done continues to be a vital key in getting new members involved in SVA activities immediately. Veteran volunteers are drawn to this committee because they can do helpful work for the Symphony in a 2-3 hour period. To get involved, contact Linda Seibert.

FUNDRAISING

Expect announcements next month, as the Gypsy Caravan Steering Committee gets ready to roll. To get involved with the SVA’s largest fundraiser, contact Janice Seele.

The Parties of Note Kick-Off Meeting was held on Tues, September 17. Chair Anne von der Heydt has meetings scheduled through the end of the year to work on party procurement, party coordination, marketing, and Pick a Party! PON could use more committee members to help with the SVA’s second largest fundraiser. To get involved, contact Anne von der Heydt. Click here to view remaining 2013-2014 parties available for purchase.

EDUCATION

Instrument Playground is planning training sessions for leaders and presenters so this successful program is not dependent on just a few people to transport instruments and to introduce presentations on school outings. VP Gerry Frankenfeld and an IP training committee are working closely with STL Symphony staffers Berakiah Boone and Jessica Ingraham. To get involved, contact Marilyn Holmes.

The Express the Music’s Kick-Off Meeting to create a Steering Committee was highly successful. The former teachers in this group are busily working on the addition of core competency standards to the program description, so teachers can justify the educational value of student participation. The committee has defined specific tasks that need to be done in the entire Express the Music program and are lining up volunteers to help. To get involved, contact Kathryn Snodgrass.

Powell Hall Opportunities just can’t get any busier. Thank you to Chair Marilyn Gordon for nurturing her five important Powell Hall teams.

Volunteers assisting with buses at Education Concerts will be called “Bus Hosts.” The Bus Hosts will serve as ambassadors of the STL Symphony as they greet teachers and students, and help to assure their safety as they enter Powell Hall. The first series of training sessions have been completed. At least eight more volunteer Bus Hosts are needed, and additional training sessions will be arranged. To become a Bus Host, contact Dan Wells.

Team Leaders Dennis and Ellen Brommelhorst seem to have the Symphony Boutique well in hand. Boutique dates are scheduled through December. To get involved, contact Dennis and Ellen Brommelhorst.

Our annual Tour Guide training was held on Tues, August 6. This devoted group of volunteers serves a very useful purpose to the Powell Hall staff. Their first tours were on October 1 and 2 following education concerts. To get involved, contact Alan Fiddleman.

Coffee Concerts are still very popular volunteer assignments. Volunteers serve Krispy Kreme doughnuts, serve coffee, warmly greet concertgoers and attend the STL Symphony concert. What a beautiful Friday morning for all concerned! To get involved, contact Marge Jurgenson.

SVA BOARD

The SVA Executive Board, with assistance from Membership, will host Leadership Training on Sat, November 2, 9:00am-noon, at the Centene Center. The invitees will be Committee Chairs, Vice Chairs, and all Team Leaders. If there are still openings available, general members will be invited to attend. There will be presentations and small group sessions; the agenda will include:

• Continental breakfast
• Effective communication suggestions
• Leadership tips
• Emphasis on training for all committees and teams
• Tour of Centene Center for Arts and Education office and building

RSVP by Friday, October 25: Sara Fabick or 314-822-1183

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 Amee Colvin, Director of Volunteer Activities.

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.

SVA OFFICE

SVA Office Location and Directions
Centene Center for Arts and Education(link to Google maps)
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 Amee Colvin, Director of Volunteer Activities.

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.