Mission:
To ensure the continued existence of major symphony orchestras in North America through volunteerism.
NEW!
PANEL OF ADVISORS
One of the best things about AMSOV membership is the opportunity to exchange ideas.
The biennial conference is a great place to do that. And between conferences, the "Volunteer Activities" tab on our website lists the signature projects of our member organizations so we have resources to draw on when launching or revitalizing similar projects within our own volunteer group.
Now, AMSOV has gone a step further, creating a panel of advisors with advanced knowledge in their fields. These advisors have volunteered to provide FREE consultation to AMSOV member organizations.
We've only just begun to build our advisory panel but we're off to a great start with the three individuals listed below who are truly experts in what they do. Our panel of advisors is immediately open for business! If the skills they offer are something you're needing, contact AMSOV President Don Dagenais, president@amsov.org, and he'll connect you.
WANT TO ADD YOUR NAME TO THE PANEL?
If you specialize in a field and would be willing to provide consulting services to your fellow AMSOV members, contact Don Dagenais, president@amsov.org.
Don Dagenais
Specialty: Legal Issues
Don is a retired lawyer who specialized for over 40 years in representing non-profit organizations (usually on a pro bono basis) and handling commercial real estate transactions for a major law firm. He has been on the board of a number of non-profit and volunteer auxiliary organizations, often serving as president. These include symphony orchestras, chamber music ensembles, opera companies, theater companies and dance companies. He has served on the boards of the Kansas City Symphony, Kansas City Lyric Opera, Summerfest Chamber Music, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, Opera in the Ozarks and many other groups. He is the current president of AMSOV.
Don will be happy to advise you in the areas of non-profit incorporation, qualifying for federal and local income tax exemptions, bylaws, organizational structure, contract review and other legal issues. Keep in mind that because he is a retired lawyer with an inactive law license, he cannot actually represent an organization or offer binding legal advice but he can supply important legal information which may assist you and your own attorney, if needed.
Melanie Fenske
Specialty: Symphony Balls and Similar Fundraising Events
Melanie has served on the boards of several non-profit organizations, and performing arts groups and their auxiliaries. She has been the chair for several important fundraising balls, including those for her local art gallery, conservatory of music, ballet company and symphony orchestra. She has been the president of the Friends of the University of Missouri-Kansas Conservatory of Music and is the president-elect of the Kansas City Symphony League, which hosts the annual Symphony Ball. Melanie chaired the symphony balls during the pandemic years of 2020 (the "non-Ball") and 2021 which, combined, raised over $1 million.
Melanie is happy to advise you on organizational structure, planning, recruitment of volunteers and other aspects of hosting a successful symphony ball or similar fundraising gathering.
Mike Minor
Specialty: Websites, Internet Payment Systems, Volunteer Management Systems and Other Technical Issues
Mike spent most of his career in the technical field with Verizon, an international telephone and communications company. He has been active in many performing arts organizations, most particularly the Kansas City Symphony where he has served on the board and as president of two of its auxiliary organizations. Mike was on the board of AMSOV for eight years, served as chair of the 2013 AMSOV Conference and was AMSOV president from 2013-2015. He has created websites, managed payment systems and worked with other internet-based projects for over 10 years.
Mike can advise you on creating and maintaining websites, establishing internet payment systems, setting up private access areas of websites, utilizing online volunteer management systems and a host of other technical issues.
Venise Stuart
Specialty: Fundraising Projects
Venise has had extensive leadership and fundraising experience in a long list of volunteer roles: president of the Dallas Young Law Wives Auxiliary; ball chairman with the Women’s Guild of United Cerebral Palsy; president of Junior Group of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League; underwriting chairman of the Junior League of Dallas, raising over $1 million; and president of the Junior League of Toronto.
Most recently, Venise has been the luncheon chairman for the Kidney Texas, Inc. Runway Fashion Show & Luncheon; co-chair for the North Texas Girl Scouts’ Women of Distinction Luncheon; and president of the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum, where she also chaired its signature event, the Mad Hatter’s Tea. She was president of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League in 2021 raising over $1.6 million during the pandemic, and has been chair of the League’s Debutante Ball.
Venise currently serves on the AMSOV Board of Directors, the League of American Orchestras Volunteer Council Board, and the Board of Governors for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Development Committee. But she is not too busy to take your call if you would like to draw on her expert advice as a fundraiser!
Vikki Sung
Specialty: Designer Showhouses
Vikki had a career in advertising and marketing before moving with her husband to Hong Kong in 1997. Since repatriating, she has been an active community volunteer with PTA and parent organizations, and served as Twilight Camp co-director and service unit manager for Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles.
Her current focus is on music and the arts. She has been an ardent supporter of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 2015 when she co-founded the San Marino-Pasadena Philharmonic Committee, an affiliate organization of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. She is currently on its board of directors. Vikki has twice served as president of the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts, a major contributor to the Philharmonic, as well as being its Benefit Chair and serving on the Benefit Leadership Team. She is well acquainted with the ins, outs and challenges of putting on a designer showhouse and stands by ready and willing to provide advice for yours!