The League of American Orchestras' Volunteer Council leads, advocates, and champions volunteer organizations in their efforts to support their orchestras' community outreach and civic partnerships to advance the experience of orchestral music.

SPRING 2020 EDITION

Bruce Colquhoun, Volunteer Notes Editor | bcolquhoun@comcast.net

Past President, Spokane Symphony Associates

Message From Our President

Terry White

In a “normal” year, the Volunteer Council would be working on PowerPoints, organizing networking opportunities, and finalizing our speakers for the League Conference in June. But, as you know, this isn’t a normal year and we don’t know what the new normal will be when the pandemic ends. We do know that communication is vital to help sustain our symphonies and volunteer groups.

Even though the in-person Conference has been cancelled, our online Conference will help us navigate the issues that will arise as our communities emerge out of the stay-at-home orders. The Volunteer Council will present three 1 ½ -hour Peer-to-Peer sessions where we can discuss issues and help each other prepare for the new normal. The first two sessions will have a theme; the Council will make a short presentation and then we will all discuss, ask questions, and offer advice. We don’t have the answers, but together we can start a plan for the future.

The third session will present tools to strengthen our communications. Emily Green will introduce us to applications that will help our organizations communicate better and operate more smoothly. She will discuss virtual platforms for meetings, file sharing, and ways to collect dues and payments.

The League Conference this year is more vital than it has ever been as we prepare to slowly emerge into a new world that will probably be different from our old normal. The League recognizes the importance of communicating and preparing for the change, so we are offering this online Conference for free to member organizations. Take some time today and go to the League Conference website, at www.LeagueConference.org and register for Conference.

League of American Orchestras’ Volunteer Council Peer-to- Peer Conversation Conference Sessions

By Tresa Radermacher, Conference Chair

The League of American Orchestras’ in-person Conference in Minneapolis-St. Paul, scheduled for June 10-12, has been canceled. In its place, an extended on-line Conference will be presented from May to June.

Join the Volunteer Council on Mondays- May 4, May 18, and June 1- to share, discuss, ask questions, and determine key takeaways from the following sessions:

Session 1: Monday, May 4, 2020 at 3:00-4:30 p.m. EDT/2:00-3:30 p.m. CDT

Peer-to-Peer Conversation: Figuring out together how to handle fundraising in this difficult time.

This session is facilitated by Tresa Radermacher of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, Cindy Kidwell of the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, Terry White of the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra, and Beth Wise of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra.

Session 2: Monday, May 18, 2020 at 3:00-4:30 p.m. EDT/2:00-3:30 p.m. CDT

Peer-to-Peer Conversation: Idea exchange regarding volunteer support of our board, musicians, volunteers and the community.

This session is facilitated by Tresa Radermacher of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, Tiffany Ammerman of the Marshall Symphony, Bruce Colquhoun of the Spokane Symphony, and Julie Meredith of the Utah Symphony.

Session 3: Monday, June 1, 2020 at 3:00-4:30 p.m. EDT/2:00-3:30 p.m. CDT

Ways to Connect with Our Members

Join our Volunteer Council Networking chair, Laurie Skjerseth of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra; Janet Cabot of the Madison Symphony Orchestra; and guest, Emily Green, who is the Program Coordinator of the Minnesota Music Educators Association and Head Music Librarian of the Minnesota Youth Symphonies, for a PowerPoint Presentation entitled

"Virtual Virtuosos: How Apps Can Strike a Chord with Volunteer Work."

Following the presentation there will be a time for questions facilitated by Volunteer Council board members that will include these categories and other apps to help your organization and orchestra move forward:

Video Conference Calls for Meetings: ZOOM.US and Hangouts

Team Communications Apps: SLACK and SignUp Genius

File Sharing: Dropbox and G Suite

Collecting Payments: Venmo and Square

Social Media: Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Award Winners

We wish to acknowledge our award winners in the following categories:

Six Gold Awards of Excellence

MSOL E-News: Reaching Members in the Digital Age - Madison Symphony Orchestra League

A Change of Seasons for "The Four Seasons"- Women's Symphony League of Tyler

A Southern Savour Supper Club - Dallas Symphony Orchestra League

Lunch and Listening - Amarillo Symphony Guild

Orchestrating Excellence Luncheon - Oklahoma City Orchestra League

Utah Symphony Youth Guild - Utah Symphony Guild

Eight Spotlight Awards

Baubles and Bubbly for Beethoven - LPO (Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra) Volunteers

Behind the Scenes at Severance Hall Tour Guide Program - Friends of The Cleveland Orchestra

Bucket Brigade - LPO Volunteers

Follow the Music to Paris- Women's Association of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra Society

Hollywood Happening - Las Vegas Philharmonic Guild

36th Second Fiddle Sale- Volunteers for Symphony of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra

Second Fiddle Shoppes - Baltimore Symphony Associates

Volunteer Appreciation Party - Madison Symphony Orchestra League

One Classic Award

Kansas City Symphony Designers' Showhouse 2019- Kansas City Symphony Alliance

Due to the online Conference format, we will not have the traditional presentations we would normally have at an in-person Conference, but you will be able to read all about their wonderful projects on the League of American Orchestras’ website in late June: www.americanorchestras.org.

Information About Conference and a Link to Registration: Register Here

Registration is FREE to those whose orchestras are League members.

To participate you will need to: 1) register for Conference and 2) watch for follow up emails with instructions on how to access the Conference, including an invitation to an orientation webinar on April 29.

League of American Orchestras’ Conference Update for 2020 from President Jesse Rosen

The choices we make as the pandemic progresses will define our orchestras and their relevance in the years and decades to come. How do we retool for new economic realities, patterns of audience engagement, and donor motivations? And how will we continue to deepen our engagement with the diverse communities we serve?

At this moment in time, it is more important than ever for us to come together as a community. To that end, I am proud to announce that we will be holding Global Stages, Local Stories, an extended online Conference in May and June. The League will provide an array of online resources, webinars, and virtual gatherings designed to deliver the information orchestras need to navigate the global pandemic and its aftermath; to continue advancing the imperatives of equity, relevance, innovation, and creativity; and to unite and inspire the orchestra community.

Global Stages, Local Stories will include:

• A continuation of critical webinars for real-time decision-making, including accessing federal relief, cash management and scenario planning, and raising more money in a crisis

• Sessions exploring audience behavior in a post-pandemic world, building community amid social isolation, meeting mission in a crisis, and how the pandemic highlights existing disparities and affects different communities

• Keynotes and performances with thought leaders and artists

• A fully interactive online portal for delegates to interact with essential business partners.

• Robust peer group engagement including facilitated group discussions, mentor and buddy networks, and networking events

• Convening of Catalyst Fund grantees, the National Alliance for Audition Support Advisory Committee, and Futures Fund Grantees

Advance registration is required to access these events. Specific event details and a schedule will be announced via email and on the Conference website as they develop. In addition, recordings of elective and keynote sessions will be made available to all registrants.

Membership Opportunities

The Volunteer Council is made up of recognized volunteer leaders who have demonstrated outstanding support for their orchestras and who are committed to the goals of the League of American Orchestras. As a Volunteer Council member, one uses one’s leadership to provide representation, support, and professional development to fellow volunteers throughout the country.

If you are interested in learning more about joining the Volunteer Council, please contact Sharon Hatchett at sharon.d.hatchett@gmail.com.

The Volunteer Council

Your Volunteer Council works to bring together the best ideas, projects, and practices from volunteers around the country to share with you at Conference and through various resources.

Leadership

Terry Ann White, Amarillo Symphony, TX | President

Cindy Kidwell, East Texas Symphony Orchestra, TX | President-Elect

Tiffany Ammerman, Marshall Symphony, TX | Immediate Past President

Tresa Radermacher, Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, IN | Conference Chair

Beth Wise, Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, AL | Conference Chair-Elect

Members

Janet Cabot, Madison Symphony Orchestra, WI

Bruce Colquhoun, Spokane Symphony, WA

Sharon Hatchett, Chicago Sinfonietta, IL

Charlotte Lewis, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, LA

Kathy Leibrand, Kansas City Symphony, MO

Ginny Lundquist, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, MI

Julie Meredith, Utah Symphony, UT

Laurie Skjerseth, Quad City Symphony Orchestra, IA

Irene Sohm, Santa Rosa Symphony, CA

Ex-Officio Members

Marena Gault, AMSOV President, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, TX

Wanda Kanwischer, 2020 Conference Liaison, Minnesota Orchestra, MN

Debbie McKinney, Sustainer Liaison, Oklahoma City Orchestra, OK

Marylou Turner, Sustainer Mentor, Kansas City Symphony, MO

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