Mayflower Choral Society
And
Mayflower Community Chorus
Focus Descriptions
Winter 2009
Joni's Angel Fund
We provide financial aid to members who might have difficulty paying the $70 dues and music fee each season, and depend on extra donations by other members to keep this "Angel Fund" going. Those who use the fund show their appreciation for the consideration given them by volunteering time to the Chorus, thereby contributing to the well-being of the entire organization.
Board of Directors—Mayflower Choral Society
The Mayflower Choral Society governing body is the Board of Directors. The board meets four times a year to hear from the various committees that do the major work of the chorus, as well as financial reports and new programs or ideas. The board consists of current chorus members, as well as local business members.
The current Board of Directors is listed under Who's Who.
The Executive Committee is made up of the following:
Board
President—Kristin Whitley
Vice President—Carol Randall
Board Treasurer—Amy Koenig
Board Secretary—Gretchen Klein
Board meetings, unless otherwise noted, are open to all, and members of the Chorus are encouraged to attend.
Chamber of Commerce Networking Mixers
Every member of the Mayflower Chorus has the opportunity to attend San Rafael Chamber of Commerce’s “After-5” Networking Mixers to have fun and help promote the chorus. The mixers are part social gathering and part business networking events. They are a fantastic way to keep local business people abreast of the many services our chorus provides to and for the local community in a very timely fashion. The mixers occur 5:30pm-7:30pm on the second Wednesday of every month at various business locations in San Rafael. (During rehearsals our back table always has a sign-up sheet with mixer locations so you can plan ahead.) There are always free finger foods available and drinks can be purchased for a nominal price. Dress is casual business attire.
We aim to have at least one major focus for each mixer – such as promoting our scholarship program, looking for new members, selling tickets to our shows, etc. If you are ever unsure what the focus is you should check-in with the Chamber Liaison before or during the mixer. You should come prepared with a basic working knowledge of the chorus and stay informed of any upcoming chorus activities. (The chorus has a blue folded flier on the back table with a fantastic synopsis of our history and purpose.) You should also bring a stack of business cards (also on the back table) to hand out as well as any new promotional fliers we may have. You will need one business card to make a mixer name-tag and a second tag to drop in the mixer raffle box; our chorus is a notably lucky lot at winning the raffle!
We aim to have 3-5 people attend each mixer. An informal survey done last season indicated that more than half of our chorus members have attended more than one Chamber Mixer. You are welcome to come to any or all mixers – whether or not you have RSVP’d ahead of time – though we prefer if you do so we can keep an eye out for you. You are welcome to either “work the room” by yourself or couple-up with another chorus member to shmooze and meet new people. All of our chorus members have attractive individual styles and we would be fortunate to have you represent the Mayflower Chorus at any Chamber Mixer!
Development Committee
The Development Committee is a Choral Society Committee open to all members of the Choral Society and chorus. The functions of the Development Committee are:
1. To maintain and develop the financial stability of the Mayflower Choral Society and its subsidiaries. This is done through grants, corporate strategy/business support, endowments , strengthening The Friends of the Chorus program and developing new fundraising strategies.
2. To expand the community awareness of/and increase participation in Mayflower Choral Society programs.
The committee works in conjunction with the other choral society/chorus committees to achieve this goal.
We are always looking for new members and new ideas. We meet four times a year. Please contact a committee member if you wish to join us. Current members are Michael Ingerman / Chairperson, Juanita Chase, Brian Eagleson, Carolyn Hew, Gretchen Klein, Ken Klein, Mary Sellers and Kristin Whitley.
Benefit Gala—Committee and Event
Our annual Benefit Gala held in November is the Choral Society’s major source of income, raising almost $100,000 in 11 years. It is a year-long effort, culminating in an event that includes live music for listening and dancing, delicious dinner, entertainment, live and silent auctions, and raffle. Over 100 people attend the evening, returning year after year to vie for such items as George Sumner art, a weekend at The Lodge at Sonoma with spa, wine tour, progressive dinner, gift certificates and designer baskets. Funds raised support Chorus operations and Choral Society Scholarship Program.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee is composed of the Board Treasurer and at least three (3) other persons, one of who must be a Board member, who is appointed by the Board President annually in June. It is the duty of the Committee to prepare a budget for the fiscal year beginning the first day of September, and it must be submitted to the Board of Directors at its regular meeting in September. The Finance Committee receives the recommended budgets from each of the other committees for analyzation and inclusion in the overall budget and meets quarterly to review the Society’s balance sheet and make any decisions about financial institutions, interest rates, etc. From time to time, supplements to the budget can be submitted for the current fiscal year. This ensures that the financial health of our organization is protected.
Current committee members are: – Amy Koenig Chairperson, Linda Allen, Juanita Chase, Lilli Dreyer, Mary Kanney, Gretchen Klein – Chorus Treasurer, Ken Klein and Carol Randall. If you are interested in seeing current or past year’s financial statements, please see a committee member.
Larry Vargo Dress Circle Award Selection Committee
This committee considers nominees for the Larry Vargo Dress Circle Achievement Award. This rare award recognizes outstanding and lengthy service to the Society. Each year, the committee receives and considers nominations from Choral Society members and reports its recommendations to the Board.
The Membership Committee
The membership chair is the liaison between the Director/Chorus Administrator and members regarding musical and management issues, concerns, suggestions, recruitment, etc. (Any requests for confidentiality are honored.)
The committee is responsible for welcoming new members, informing members about upcoming seasons, distributing telephone lists and preparing change/addition data for the chorus database. When requested, the chair prepares and distributes member surveys for feedback regarding chorus operations.
Scholarship Committee
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The Mayflower Choral Society Scholarship Fund's mission is to benefit people from all walks of life who have exhibited a talent or a strong interest in music and who either want to increase their knowledge, develop that talent to their fullest potential, or achieve both of these goals. The Scholarship Committee accepts applications once each year for three to four grants given in three general categories. The categories generically represent the broad spectrum of current and former members of the Chorus, especially those in whose memory donations have been made to the Scholarship Fund over the years. Grants are tno less than $250. Grants are available to all, regardless of Chorus Membership, but are limited to those 16 years of age and older. The categories for scholarship awards are vocal performance, arrangement and composition, and choral direction. Scholarship auditions are announced on the Scholarship Page. Show Committee/Show Production
The Show Committee is
made up of Linda Allen, Chairperson, and any Chorus member who wants to be
involved.
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Show idea/music
suggestion forms are submitted continually throughout the season by chorus
members and the committee reviews the submissions, selects an idea, makes a
list of music suggestions and begins to collect music to be given to Daniel
for evaluation and selection.
(This process happens up to 12 months before a show).
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A chorus member or
outside person writes the script.
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75-100 pieces might be
gathered to find 12-13 choral pieces for the chorus to perform.
Music samples are pulled from Chorus files or preview copies are
purchased. Once Daniel makes
his final choices, the music is ordered.
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Section recordings are
made.
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Sign-ups for solos and
small groups and also for speaking parts begin.
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The set committee
begins designing and painting the set.
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The publicity photo
shoot is scheduled.
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Singing and speaking
parts auditions are scheduled.
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Musicians are
selected.
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Choreography and show
attire are planned.
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Script rehearsals are
held.
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Performance volunteer
positions are filled.
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Show videotaping is
scheduled.
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Publicity is arranged.
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Program advertising
and show sponsors are solicited.
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Flyers and post cards
are designed, printed and distributed.
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Tickets and programs
are laid out and printed.
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Extra blocking
rehearsals are held as needed.
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Show week arrives we
move into the theatre for set up and dress rehearsal with musicians.
Theatre performances run Thursday through Saturday, with striking of
the set following the Saturday performance. Sunday is the church concert.
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We enjoy a cast party
following the close of the church concert and then prepare to start all over
again for the next season!
(rev. 8/2009) Sunshine Person The main purpose of the Sunshine Person is to send caring cards to any chorus member or family member, in regards to any special health concerns, as well as cards in regards to very special occasions.
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