Portland, June 24th. Oregon Symphony supporters gathered to honor their beloved “Pops” conductor, Norman Leyden. The benefit at the Nines Hotel featured Pink Martini’s China Forbes in a duet with Norman Leyden. (Photo Credit, John Rudoff, M. D.) The Oregon Symphony also announced the creation of, The Norman Leyden Award saying it, “Recognizes outstanding individuals or groups who bring exceptional creativity, innovation and leadership through music to the community. The Award will be presented only when merited and is inaugurated by honoring its namesake.”
Oregon Symphony President, Elaine Calder, who announced earlier this month she is leaving her post.
For over 35 years, conductor Norman Leyden helped make the Oregon Symphony one of the most subscribed-to orchestras in the nation. Explained Symphony leaders, “In his 95th year, we honor his 75 years of performing, conducting, arranging, music directing, and composing for artists such as Glenn Miller, Arthur Godfrey, Gordon MacRae, Jane Powell, Sarah Vaughan and Tony Bennett.”
The evening included musical entertainment and dancing.
The event featured a special performance by Pink Martini lead by Thomas Lauderdale.
Pink Martini’s performance was sponsored by Janet & Richard Geary. Other donors included: Connie & Carl Clark, Kristine & Josh Collins, Bill & Karen Early, Barbara & Jerry Giesy, Robert & Janis Harrison, Clayton & Sudee Hering, Gretchen Holce, Allison Howard & Sarah Seitz, Renee & Irwin Holzman, Jerry & Beth Hulsman, Thomas Lauderdale & Philip Iosca, Lynn & Jack Loacker, Louis & Judy McCraw, Laura Meier, Arlene Schnitzer, Karl & Peggy Smith, Larry & Dorie Vollum, Walter & Nancy Weyler, and Jack & Ginny Wilborn.
From the Oregon Symphony: Since the Oregon Symphony was established more than 100 years ago, it has been recognized for its internationally acclaimed music directors, skilled performers, diverse programs and outstanding community services in education and regional touring. The Oregon Symphony now ranks among the largest orchestras in the nation and as one of the largest arts organizations in the Northwest, with an attendance of more than 225,000 people annually and 76 full-time musicians. Tickets for the 2012-2013 season are now on sale.
Portland, June 14th. Terrence R. Pancoast, chair of the board of the Oregon Symphony, announced that he has accepted president Elaine Calder’s resignation, effective August 31st. Calder will return to Canada and the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake to assume the position of executive director, a position she held earlier in her career, from 1990 to 1994.
In his announcement Pancoast said: “We are sorry that Elaine will be leaving the Symphony, but we are enormously grateful for her leadership, dedication and service as president. During her tenure the Oregon Symphony has achieved substantial growth in its financial stability, organizational strength, and artistic excellence.
“Her accomplishments during her almost-six-year tenure have been truly extraordinary. She leaves an incredible legacy—a thriving organization that is debt-free, attracting a growing avid audience who appreciate the strong artistic performances of the orchestra, and poised to finish its third consecutive season in the black. Simply stated, we are much stronger now in all areas than when she first joined us in 2006.
“And while it will be difficult to say goodbye to someone who has made such an extraordinary difference to this organization, we understand and respect her reasons for leaving. We wish her all the best in her new position with the Shaw Festival.
“Elaine leaves us in the enviable position of being able to mount a careful and considered national search for her replacement. The organization that she leaves behind possesses the kind of artistic and administrative strength that will attract a very talented pool of candidates, the best of which will lead this organization to its next level of excellence.”
Calder said, “I have personal family reasons for returning to Canada at this time in my life, and I do so with considerable regret. Portland is a beautiful place to live and my husband and I have been warmly welcomed in this community. There are many things and people we will miss, with the music made by Carlos and the musicians chief among them.
“I’m tremendously proud of this orchestra and the small team of managers and staff who support it. We’ve reached a point where we are working very effectively together – and with the board of directors – and the sense of shared purpose and mutual respect is very strong. Portland is lucky to have our brilliant Carlos Kalmar as music director of its professional orchestra, able to attract supremely talented musicians every time we hold an audition.
“We’ve accomplished a lot over the past six seasons. The management team in place now is very strong, as is the entire administrative staff. I think I’ve achieved most of what I was hired to do and I think the organization is ready for a different kind of president – one who can now be less focused on operational reorganization and able to work with the board and the broader community to ensure a brilliant future for this dazzling orchestra.
“I will be working hard over the next three weeks to ensure a successful conclusion to this fiscal year, and then for two months with the management team and staff to put effective programs in place to support next year’s exciting programs. I intend to leave with full confidence that the Oregon Symphony is well positioned for the short-term, and that it will be able to attract strong new leadership for the future.”
Calder first came to the Symphony in November 2006 and worked for eight months as a consultant before being appointed president in July 2007. During her tenure the Symphony has seen a dramatic improvement in its financial strength, including:
A 38% increase in revenues from ticket sales
An increase in average paid attendance from 54% in FY 07 to 74% in FY 12
The elimination of $7.2 million in bank indebtedness and the subsequent ability to operate without external financing
A steady reduction in the annual operating loss from $1.6 million in FY 07 to small surpluses in FY 10 and 11, with a further modest surplus anticipated in the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2012.
In addition, her tenure has seen the orchestra’s Carnegie Hall debut, the resumption of radio broadcasts on All Classical FM and an agreement with the Dutch recording company PentaTone which launched the highly successful CD “Music for a Time of War”.
PortlandSocietyPage.com, the free public platform for nonprofit news, is excited to be a part of the on-line communication workshop: “Communicating for Good: From Goals and Strategy to Brave Authentic Stories.” The workshop, presented by Meyer Memorial Trust, is on Thursday, July 19, 2012. Join us! Here are all the details from Meyer Memorial Trust’s Director of Communications & Learning, Marie Deatherage.
Meyer Memorial Trust, NTEN and PAGATIM are joining forces to offer up resources and tools that can help nonprofit organizations make the most of online opportunities for reaching audiences. You might well be amazed at the wealth of resources available locally that can help you map out a communications plan and tell your stories like you’ve never done before. This gathering will feature keynote presentations by Amy Sample Ward, currently at NTEN and formerly NetSquared, and Laura Mansfield, Co-Founder Chief Visionary Officer at PAGATIM. In addition to these great speakers, we’ll have a resource fair where you can learn about related services and products and meet the folks offering them.
8:30 to noon
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Elliot Center, 1226 SW Salmon St., Portland
Space is limited, registration is required. Register HERE
Meyer Memorial Trust is covering nearly all the cost of the event, but we are charging a nominal $5 registration fee to cover the cost of refreshments. [In addition, we’ve had problems in past events with so many folks enthusiastically signing up as soon as an event is announced that all spaces are taken, we have to turn people away, but then a sizable enough number of people don’t show up and seats end up being wasted. Nothing we’ve tried has worked in the past, this is our next experiment.
Laura Mansfield has an award winning background in broadcast journalism, documentary filmmaking, non-profit management, and social entrepreneurship. Laura and her aura is a power to be reckoned with as her ability to connect with people and capture their story is like no other. She is determined that ‘brave authentic stories will change the world’.
Amy Sample Ward is NTEN’s membership director, blogger, facilitator and trainer having worked with groups and spoken at events in the US, UK and around the world. In 2009, she co-authored Social by Social, a handbook in using social technologies for social impact, and has contributed to various other publications about social media. She is a conversation-starter and thought-leader, writing about strategic uses of new technologies for communities and organizations on her blog and the Stanford Social Innovation Review.
Portland, June 19th. Supporters raised their glasses to salute the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter at its annual membership meeting. The event included a celebration of key Red Cross partners and volunteers. Cassy Martin from Fred Meyer, John Prescott, incoming chair of American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter, and Judy Robinson from Fred Meyer joined in the festivities. (Photo Credit, Andie Petkus)
The celebration was held at American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter headquarters on North Vancouver Avenue.
Leading up to the event, which recapped the year’s accomplishments, Oregon Trail Chapter leadership sought to recognize local businesses that support the mission of Red Cross through direct philanthropy, training employees how to save a life, allowing employees to volunteer and encouraging individual preparedness by sponsoring blood drives.
John Prescott, incoming chair of American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter, with Jason Redding, owner of Horizon Restoration. Redding, a member of Red Cross board of directors, was awarded a board leadership award and the organization’s Philanthropist of the Year Award for his personal and professional dedication to Red Cross services.
“This full-circle support – training, volunteerism, philanthropy and blood donations – is a 360 degree partnership and one to which only a handful of companies in metropolitan Portland have committed. We are very grateful.” said Maree Wacker, chapter CEO.
John Prescott, incoming chair of American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter, with Don Pearson, regional President of Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo is one of 16 companies to receive the full-circle award.
John Prescott, with Intel executives Elisabeth Zeller and Tripp Robinson. Elisabeth Zeller is senior finance and operations manager, Intel Foundation; Tripp Robinson is emergency manager at Intel and is a board member for American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter.
Lauren Woodward, volunteer services, and Laura Reese, donor relations coordinator, welcomed guests to the event.
Anne Kinnaman and Lindsay Pour support American Red Cross health & safety services.
In 1917, concerned community members joined together and opened the Portland Red Cross. Their mission was to assist their neighbors during one of the world’s greatest disasters: World War I. For almost a century, the community has relied on the Red Cross during times of both conflict and peace.
For more than 90 years, thousands of Oregon Trail Chapter volunteers have provided disaster relief, blood and blood products, health education and services to military families in Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Multnomah, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill counties. Our chapter responsibilities now include Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa and Baker Counties.
We count on the generosity of our donors and the commitment of our volunteers to ensure our history continues well into the future. Clara Barton once said, “It is not in its past that the glories of the Red Cross lie, but in the possibilities it has created for the future.”
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