THE CHORISTER April 2017

Issue 23 THE CHORISTER April 2017

TABLE OF CONTENTS Notes from the Chair, June Interns, Concert Survey Results ��1 What does the Oregon Chorale Board do?, Matching Gift Opportunity, April Birthdays ��2 Annual Meeting Slides ��3 & 4

Notes from the Chair Interns for June in the Chorale, several topics were mentioned multiple Happy April, Concerts times: improved sound, meaningful repertoire, technique Please look at the slides in this The Oregon Chorale will host four improvement, Jason’s conducting, newsletter that were presented at interns for the June Concert series. and the concert experience. the annual meeting. Your board Avesta Mirashrafi comes to us desires to be as transparent as from Hillsboro High School and Items that members would possible as we move forward with will join the Tenor section. Isabel like the Board to look at for a five year, and beyond, vision. We Fisher attends Liberty High School improvement include making sure appreciate your support and input where she is a junior. Anna Culver, we end at 9:30, more musical as we continue to implement steps from Century High School, will sing variety, no talking or i-Phones towards achieving each of these in the Alto section, and Tristan during rehearsal, making sure goals and opportunities. Thank you Hoefer, from Glencoe High School, voicing decisions at rehearsal to each of you for all you do to will also sing Tenor with us. take into account placement at support the Oregon Chorale. Please welcome our new interns concerts, and considering a break during rehearsal, not just for – Silverna Scott, Board Chair at rehearsal! Thank you to Ralph Helzerman and Chris Massey for announcements. organizing our intern The Board was pleased to see program. that commitment to the Chorale remains very high. 26 of 38 votes Concert Survey indicated commitment of 4 or 5 Results on a five-point scale. Only four members put their commitment at 38 people responded 2 or 3, and no one indicated one. to the survey about the March concerts. The The Board really appreciates the Board took a look at the “awesome” or “thanks” messages results and summarized given by 14 members! Other the learning. We are suggestions included keeping St. gratified that members Matt’s as a venue and applying for support the direction grants. we are moving. Among Jason also received many the positive aspects accolades from members. Eleven the members see Jason with baby Lilia members wrote “keep it up” or

1 “thanks” to Jason. A few cautioned 5. The Board reviews and approves “Benevity” to match gifts their him not to overextend himself and the operating budget. employees and retirees give to asked him to slow down on giving 501(c)(3) corporations, like the directions. 6. The Board approves non- Oregon Chorale. If you have given budgeted expenditures over $100. a gift to the Oregon Chorale and We really appreciate the time you Specifically, the Board divides you work for a major company, took to fill out the survey. There please check with your Human will be one final survey after the its duties among the members of the Board. The duties of the Resources Department to see if June concerts. Next year, the Board you can access that gift matching anticipates sending out only one officers (chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer) are set out in benefit. The Oregon Chorale has survey in the year, prior to the been registered with Benevity and Annual Meeting in April. You are the Bylaws. The Board has also also welcome to contact a board created job descriptions for each is eligible to receive matching gifts. member with your thoughts any role, which are (in addition to time! the officers) venues, publicity, Happy April Birthday advertising, membership, and to . . . What does the Oregon organizational development. What was a special birthday gift The job descriptions are lengthy, Chorale Board do? you received? but for example, the Vice Chair is in At the Oregon Chorale Annual charge of surveys, fundraising and Silverna Scott Meeting, Diego asked a very good the newsletter. The organizational question, “What does the Board “My dad loved Black Hills Gold, development board member is in and I cherish the necklace he and do?” As Allen explained, we are charge of grant writing. The venues the skeleton that holds up the my mom gave me when I was in board member arranges all details high school.” body that is the Chorale. Here are and contracts for our concert some details: venues. The membership board Susan Gentry The Oregon Chorale is a non-profit member takes attendance, keeps “Let’s see...April 1st is an organization that is governed and track of member information and interesting day to have for a managed by a volunteer board. arranges new member packets. birthday... We conduct the business of the When we have our new website A VERY special gift that I received corporation, using the Bylaws and up and running, Chorale members was from my sister, CHRIS MASSEY, Articles of Incorporation. will have access to all the board when I was in grade school. A box in a box in a box in box, opened 1. The Board recommends job descriptions, the “org chart” which shows the tasks assigned to the last one that had a note inside new Artistic Directors to the that read, “Ha ha, gotcha this time! membership. each board position, the bylaws, and the organization’s policies Happy birthday! “ 2. The Board decides on and procedures. In the meantime, Isn’t she sweet?” compensation and is responsible if you have questions about the Jeff Ericksen for paying the Artistic Director and board, please continue to ask! “Two years ago my family got me the Accompanist. – Karen Stratton, Vice Chair a DNA test kit for genealogical 3. The Board has power to create purposes. Besides confirming the policies and procedures with only Matching Gift known German, Danish, Dutch, three limits-- setting dues amounts, and Irish ancestry, it found some amending the bylaws and nominating Opportunity surprising smidgens of ancestral committee responsibilities. Major corporations, such as Intel DNA from Finland, southern/ and Nike, have started using a Mediterranean Europe, and the 4. The Board creates and manages Middle East.” committees. gift matching company called

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