SPRING NEWSLETTER – 2012

Spring, the season of renewal. A time when we look forward to our gardens coming to life, summer vacations with family and friends, the fourth of July, ice cold watermelon and so many other wonderful things.

Spring is also the season of renewal at the Yavapai Symphony Association. It is the time of year when we renew our season tickets, say farewell to our honored outgoing directors and welcome our new directors.

You will soon be receiving your ballots via either email or if you do not use email, by regular US mail. Using email saves YSA a considerable amount of money not only in postage, but also in paper and envelopes. I hope you will all feel comfortable with this new process.

YSA is so fortunate in our Board of Directors. It is my pleasure to work with such talented, experienced, creative men and women. Each director brings a wealth of knowledge to our organization. It is amazing that when new directors come on board how many new ideas they offer. You would think after 46 years, directors would have thought of everything. But with ever changing technology and the directors coming from vastly varied backgrounds, they are always coming up with great new ideas for YSA.

It is always with a bit of sadness that we say good-bye to our outgoing directors. They have given so freely of their time and their talents, and we will miss their presence at our board meetings and the social events of YSA. We always wish them the best as they get back into their favorite activities after faithfully serving on the board. Our board is a very hard working board!

Around the same time you receive your ballot, you will also receive your renewal forms for next year’s concert season. If you have not done so, I urge you to look in the April concert program or on our website, www.yavapaisymphony.org, to see the programs scheduled for the 2012-2013 season. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the beautiful selections to be performed.

Along with your renewal, will be our request for your donations. Many people don’t realize that the price of your ticket pays for only 75% of the cost of presenting the concerts. The generosity of our donors allows us to hold ticket price increases to a minimum. If you’ve attended a PSO concert in Phoenix you realize what a bargain tickets in Prescott are, plus you don’t have to fight traffic and pay for parking! We all must evaluate how to spend our discretionary income, but a donation to YSA enables us to continue to bring this world-class orchestra to you.

If you are able to donate at the Sponsor level or above, you are invited to go on our annual rehearsal bus trip and to our Sponsor’s dinner held after the final concert of the season. These are two perks for our donors as a way of saying a big thank you!

Since we’re asking for your donations, I’d like to tell you that we have tightened our belt to the point of some discomfort, and are proud to do so. Every committee has come in under budget this year, in part because at every board meeting our treasurer reminds all of us to be mindful of our budget! We’ve made a major effort to sell single tickets since our season ticket subscriber numbers are down. This has been a very successful program for YSA this year. You can be assured that we spend your money wisely and only after giving every expenditure considerable thought.

If you are able, consider attending our Hail and Farewell June 17th at 3:00 p.m. at the
Phippen Museum. You can meet our new directors, get a copy of our Annual Report, and share refreshments with the old and new board directors. Just let Pat know if you plan to attend by calling 776-4255.

On behalf of the YSA Board of Directors, I’d like to wish you all a lovely spring and fun-filled summer. We want you to all have safe vacations and come back to see us September 23 for some Bernstein, Beethoven and Brahms.

With warmest regards,

Carol Sundberg
President, YSA