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November 17, 2009
Today’s Speaker Michael Pastreich, President and CEO Florida Orchestra
Michael Pastreich became the President and CEO of The Florida Orchestra (TFO) in October of 2007. During the first two seasons of his leadership, TFO signed a five-year contract assuring Music Director Stefan Sanderling’s tenure through 2013, reformatted the Pops programming, and recruited Alastair Willis as Coffee Concert Conductor and Randall Swiggum as Youth Concert Conductor. Mr. Willis’ appointment was quickly followed by an expansion of the Coffee Series, the result of audience demand and TFO’s first subscription series growth in over a decade. Mr. Swiggum’s appointment dovetailed with increased education programming.
To help assure the financial stability of the orchestra, Mr. Pastreich initiated a five-year $30-million Sustainability Campaign, which raised over $14 million in its first year. Through the combination of the Sustainability Campaign’s revenue and $2.3 million in reduced expenses, TFO has balanced its budgets throughout his tenure. In addition, over $500,000 in long-term debt was paid off, the endowment grew by over $3 million, and the Masterworks subscriber base increased in each of the past two seasons. To further assure a solid future for the orchestra in its continued push for ever higher standards of artistic excellence and service to the Tampa Bay area, he continues to engage nationally recognized leaders from the orchestra business to assist TFO staff in its marketing, fundraising, and strategic planning initiatives.
Prior to his arrival in the Tampa Bay area, Mr. Pastreich was Executive Director of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra (ESO) in Illinois from 1996 - 2007. During his tenure with the ESO, he worked with the community, board of directors and musicians to build it into Illinois’ second largest orchestra and the state’s premier regional orchestra. Over that period, the orchestra was recognized for its tremendous artistic growth as well as for being one of the fastest growing orchestras in the nation, with attendance to its Classics and Pops series almost tripling. An annual gala event, featuring such prestigious guest artists as Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Sir. James Galway and Kathleen Battle, was introduced in 1999. In 1997, the ESO began broadcasting on WFMT, the Midwest’s largest classical radio station, making the ESO’s National Broadcasts the longest continuous run in Illinois. Just prior to Mr. Pastreich’s departure, the ESO recorded its first CD on the Naxos label to critical acclaim.
What’s Happening
Holiday Party Date Change
Tis the season for the not always annual Kiwanis Holiday Progressive Dinner. Mark the calendar for December 12th. Cathy Swanson, Mitch Cochran, and Harvey Ford have cheerfully opened their homes for the Kiwanis Club to enjoy the holiday spirit.
Christmas Trees
Support our fellow Kiwanis Club, Sunshine City, who is partnering with Palm Lake Christian Church, by purchasing a Christmas tree from their lot. We will begin selling the trees the Friday after Thanksgiving and the church which is located at 5401 22nd Street N, St. Petersburg.
Veterans’ Day Salute
Dick Koch presented a short film aired by CBS News to honor our nation’s veterans. Dick asked for members of the Club to stand and be recognized for service in all branches of military services. Thanks to all members who have served and protected us.
The following is an excerpt from the History Channel explaining the origin and history of Veteran’s Day.
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as "the Great War." Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.
Though the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, November 11 remained in the public imagination as the date that marked the end of the Great War. In November 1918, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. The day's observation included parades and public gatherings, as well as a brief pause in business activities at 11 a.m. On November 11, 1921, an unidentified American soldier killed in the war was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.; the U.S. Congress had declared the day a legal federal holiday in honor of all those who participated in the war. On the same day, unidentified soldiers were laid to rest at Westminster Abbey in London and at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
On June 4, 1926, Congress passed a resolution that the "recurring anniversary of [November 11, 1918] should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations" and that the president should issue an annual proclamation calling for the observance of Armistice Day. By that time, 27 state legislatures had made November 11 a legal holiday. An act approved May 13, 1938 made November 11 a legal Federal holiday, "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'" In actuality, there are no U.S. national holidays because the states retain the right to designate their own, and the government can only designate holidays for federal employees and for the District of Columbia. In practice, however, states almost always follow the federal lead.
The American effort during World War II (1941-1945) saw the greatest mobilization of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force in the nation's history (more than 16 million people); some 5.7 million more served in the Korean War (1950 to 1953). In 1954, after lobbying efforts by veterans' service organizations, the 83rd U.S. Congress amended the 1938 act that had made Armistice Day a holiday, striking the word "Armistice" in favor of "Veterans." President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the legislation on June 1, 1954. From then on, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
Last Week at Kiwanis
Kiwanian of the Day, Bob Byelick, introduced Stacie Blake Executive Director of Community Tampa Bay, an organization that promotes dialogue and respect among all cultures, religions, and races.
Community Tampa Bay has developed Anytown, a unique state-of-the-art youth leadership and diversity awareness program for high school-age students. The goal of Anytown is to empower young people to create inclusive and just schools and communities, while learning new skills, having fun and making friends for life.
Stacie’s goal for the students of Anytown is to live by their lives by the Platinum Rule: “Treat others as they would like to be treated.” Thanks, Stacie, for promoting goodwill and good relations for all people in the Tampa Bay area.
Attendance Last Week
We had 48 members and 5 guests.
John Lord, guest of Dick Koch
Mike Barnard, guest of Jerry Little
Eric Miller, guest and son of Carle Miller
Harry Benjamin, guest from Birmingham, Alabama
Community Service - Project Save-A-Smile
Dr. Ron O’Neal sponsored “Project Save-A-Smile” for the fifth consecutive year as he and his staff dedicated Saturday, November 14, to helping underprivileged children with their dental needs.
With Kathy Condon shepherding the Kiwanis volunteers, a fun day was had by all those who attended, and a big thank you to them. Take a bow: Mitch Cochran, Peggy & Harry Eisnaugle, Jerry Little, David Abbey, Steve Cunningham, Hunter Booth, Biff Baker, Melissa Kelly, Pat Biscotti, Kevin Carr, Pat Kraujalis, Ron Braun, Karen Van De Putte, Mary Ann Lynch, Carl Miller, Ron & Kathy Scoggins, Kevin Kelso, Markus Mittermayr, Tom Hallis, Candice Nyarkoh, Lorin & Patty Bridge, and Doug Lampe.
Additionally, over twenty Key Club members from St. Pete High School and Shorecrest volunteered their time.
The children were entertained with a variety of activities including games, a bounce house, petting zoo, and the Chick-Fil-A cow. Some of the kids were dancing to music provided by a disc jockey. Former Gator Ed Chester signed autographs, too.
Dr. Ron would also like to thank the following sponsors: Kiwanis International, Contemporary Periodontics and Implant Dentistry, Amiley & Amiley, 4th Street Chick-Fil-A, The Family Dentist, Key Club, Lifestyle Family Fitness, Henry Schein, Acme Air Conditioning, Skyway Animal Hospital, Bay Lending Corporation, Venturi Productions, GFS (Gordon Food Service), Cornerstone Community Bank, Patrick W. Kraujalis, C.P.A., P.A., Publix, Funny Business, Frame Factory, St. Petersburg Police, Bob Piplitz, C.F.P. Merrill Lynch, Big Fish Co. Animal House Naturals, Bond Thomas Chiropractic, Patterson Dental, Wallace, Welch, and Willingham, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Orange Blossom Catering, St. Pete Moving & Storage (Mayflower), and Momma Zine.
Thanks, Ron, for your time and energy for such a worthwhile project.
This Week’s Quiz
- When was the Florida Gulf Coast Symphony (now known as the Florida Orchestra) established?
- What instruments are in the orchestra?
- What is the difference between Masterworks concerts and Pop concerts?
- Where does the Florida Orchestra perform?
- Approximately how many people experience a FREE Florida Orchestra program each season?
Last Week’s Quiz
- The Nautilus was the first Submarine to cruise under the polar ice cap.
- The Orange Blossom Cafeteria opened for business in 1925. They have been in the same location since. In 1955, the Shamas family started Orange Blossom Catering. In 1987, the cafeteria closed for business.
- In 1903 Massachusetts first required license plates for automobiles. Florida was the last to require license plates in 1918.
- There are over 1,000 McDonald’s located in France.
- The countries of South America are: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, Falkland Islands (UK), French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
*** Clarification from November 10 “Last Week’s Quiz”
It was indicated that the Montreal Expos have not been to the World Series. Indeed this is correct. However, the Montreal Expos are now the Washington Nationals, and will not be in the World Series for the foreseeable future.
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