JAVS Summer 1998

76

AVS CHAPTERS Editor's Note: Each president ofthe various AVS chapters is requested to send chapter news to the editor ofJAVS.

At the first meeting a chapter dues struc ture was created. Marlow Fisher came up with the designation of C-string (Patron) $75+, G-string (Sponsor) $50+, D-string (Member) $25+, and A-string (Senior/student) $15. Naturally the C-string had to be the patron level! We also determined that everyone who joined before the 24 May event would be des ignated as Founders. Our excellent treasurer Janet Lakatos opened an account and reported on the gradual rise in balance from month to month even before May. It was marvelous to have so many people involved from the very beginning. Meet ings had a partylike atmosphere (lots of work got done, too!), and besides ourselves, Kazi Pitelka, John Scanlon, and Marlow Fisher hosted meetings. The actual workload to stage the inaugural event was divvied up and com mittees were formed. Early in the process a wonderful logo was created by Vicki Miskol czy. Mailing lists were compiled by Ralph Fielding and Robin Ross. Ralph Fielding also volunteered to make up the mailer (a flyer that contained a multitude of information on one sheet and then was folded with origami cleverness), and Laura Kuennen-Poper created a premailer postcard. These were eventually sent to almost 500 people. Various people spearheaded aspects of the event. Ray Tischer took care of the many logis tics of the location, a recital space donated by Occidental College. He also put together the Jazz Forum lecture/demonstration portion of the event. Vicki Miskolczy and John Scanlon were the dessert and beverage committee (since it started in the morning and concluded in the afternoon, a lunch break was included). Jennie Hansen created the program booklet on her computer and did a beautiful job. It was a classic journalistic experience for her,

~ Inception and Inaugural Event ~ r'll!> by Valerie Dimond It all began when I had a lunch meeting with Pamela Goldsmith, AVS Vice-President and Chair of the Chapteriza tion Committee. With Pam's advice and encouragement, I contacted a representative crowd from L.A.'s huge pool of violists: teach ers, free lancers, and symphony musicians. I also called Lisa Hirshmugl and Peter Slowik to get ideas from their very successful chapteriza tion of the Chicago area. Like so many others, I had become an enthusiastic member of the American Viola Society after attending a Con gress. It seemed a great idea to have a mini Congress or a viola day to start a local chapter. This idea was the kernel of the inaugural event. After a flurry of phone calls, a meeting was set up in October, which took place at the Fielding/Dimond residence. At the first meet ing were Karen Elaine (via telephone), Ralph Fielding, Marlow Fisher, Pamela Goldsmith, Laura Kuennen-Poper, Janet Lakatos, Danny Neufeld, Simon Oswell, Robin Ross, and Misha Zinoviev. Not everyone who wanted to was able to attend. Subsequent meetings included Keith Greene, Jennie Hansen, Allan Lee, Donald Mcinnes, Vicki Miskolczy, Kazi Pitelka, John Scanlon, and Ray Tischer. In order to get things under way, officers were chosen at the first meeting. Interim offi cers were Valerie Dimond and Ralph Fielding, Co-Presidents; Pamela Goldsmith, Secretary; and Janet Lakatos, Treasurer. All others were Board Members at large. It was decided that an election would be held at the inaugural event, where we hoped there would be a large membership to vote.