January is a month of great hope. It marks a new beginning, a fresh start. It enables us to think new thoughts and, if we allow it, January permits us to envision the best that we can become. As volunteers, we have a chance to create ideas for new and better ways to support our orchestras, to set new goals, develop new plans.

The League of American Orchestras Volunteer Council exists to help symphony volunteers do just that—to inspire you in support of your orchestra by connecting you with like-minded volunteers all across the country.

Many of you participated this month in the Volunteer Council’s first webinar of 2021, and we hope the ideas on “Traditions Reimagined: Resiliency Unveiled” sparked your creativity in setting goals for the coming year. We hope, too, that it has already launched your organization into planning for tremendous success! Two additional webinars are being coordinated this spring and early summer under the leadership of the Volunteer Council’s Conference Chair, Beth Wise of Alabama. We invite you to make it a priority to join with other volunteers for these valuable learning opportunities.

2020 was a difficult year as we dealt with the uncertainties of a worldwide pandemic. So, we welcome turning the calendar and celebrating the arrival of 2021. Although we may not yet be able to meet as usual, the day is coming soon when we will be able to gather. In the meantime, it is important that we prepare now with well thought-out goals and an effective plan of action to propel our organizations forward. After all, the best is yet to come!

Our orchestras need us, and we need to help in every way possible to get our symphonies back on stage, filling our communities—and the hearts and souls of all who live there—with the treasured sounds of live symphonic music.

Wishing you all the best in 2021!

Volunteer Point of View Represented on Recent League Webinar on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

By Janet Cabot

Volunteer Council Member Sharon Hatchett was one of three panelists on the League’s webinar: “EDI as an Imperative in Stakeholder Engagement and Fundraising.” Ron Schiller and Angelique Grant, both with the Aspen Leadership Group and co-authors of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Strengthening Engagement and Fundraising through Inclusion, led the panel with a presentation. To ground the discussion, they shared these statistics: 94% of orchestra executive directors and CEOs are White; 12% of orchestras have done a diversity audit, and 30% have a diversity plan. They noted: “Diversity is counting heads. Inclusion is making heads count.”

Sharon concurs, using this analogy: “Diversity is inviting someone to the dance. Inclusion is asking them to dance.”

By Laurie Skjerseth and Camille Williams, Webinar Chairs

On January 26, the Volunteer Council presented its first webinar of 2021. This session looked at how volunteer organizations are tweaking traditions and holding firm as they continue to support their communities during this time of uncertainty. Special emphasis was placed on ways these organizations have changed and adapted with respect to holding meetings, fundraising, and engaging and communicating with their members.

The Volunteer Council received 24 entries to be considered for the coveted Gold Award of Excellence this year. Especially timely were those submitted under our new category for the pandemic year: Flexibility/Adaptability. The submissions exceeded our expectations and reinforced our core belief in the power of volunteers. These projects made clear the lengths that orchestra volunteers are willing to go to reimagine their traditional activities in order to continue to support their orchestras and members in uncertain times.

These volunteers know their communities and the resources available to them, and show remarkable resilience and ingenuity in unlocking these resources to better help their orchestras. We celebrated the remarkable ability of these organizations to reimagine their traditional activities to be viable and successful in a changing world. We salute those in the process of forming new traditions to carry on the mission of what is important to each group situated in each community. The resiliency of old and new inspires and awes us. The future is bright and adaptability is the key to success!

The League of American Orchestras has recorded the session. You can watch it here on the League website.

Re-Energizing Membership Webinar – April 27

By Beth Wise, 2021 Conference Chair

Members are the lifeblood of any volunteer organization. As we exit the pandemic, learn how volunteer leaders across the country are working to invigorate their members. We will examine innovative ways to involve volunteers in fun projects, gain new members, and keep volunteers’ energy flowing.

Our co-leaders are Sally Bullard (Philadelphia Orchestra) and Ginny Lundquist (Detroit Symphony Orchestra).

This virtual meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 27 from 3-4:30 pm Eastern/12-1:30pm Pacific. The webinar is free, but you must pre-register to receive your invitation to the event. Registration will be available two to three weeks ahead of time. Watch for email from the League for details.

2020-21 League Volunteer Council

Our Mission-The purpose of the Volunteer Council is to support the mission of the League of American Orchestras by providing leadership, communication, and a resource link between the League and orchestra volunteers.