December 13, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … Several prominent business and community leaders have recently been elected to the Oregon Symphony Board of Directors, representing an incredible level of civic commitment to the future prosperity of the orchestra, said Laurie Bloch, Chair of the Board of Directors Governance Committee. In addition, two members of the orchestra were appointed to the board as full voting members for the first time in Symphony’s 107-year history, she said.
“The appointment of musicians, who are the lifeblood of this organization, to the board is something of which we are very proud,” said Bloch. “It is fitting that they should have a voice in policy decisions that affect their musical future.” The election of double bassists Don Hermanns and Ken Baldwin to the board also reflects the Symphony’s ongoing commitment to strengthening internal collaboration within the Symphony family, she said.
Seven business and community leaders also accepted appointments following a vote by Symphony membership. They include Douglas W. Carlson, Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Bank; Craig Froude, CEO of WellMed, Inc.; Barbara Giesy, a long-time civic leader; Larry Helmke, a consultant with MCG Northwest; Stephen D. Lynch, president of Health Net Oregon; Duane McDougall, former president and CEO of Willamette Industries, and Walter Weyler, president of Kinetics, Inc.
These new members bring a wealth of strength, talent and knowledge to the Symphony board, said Bloch. They also have fresh ideas about the Symphony’s role in the community and how they can enhance it. Weyler, who served for several years on the board of the Minnesota Symphony, explains, “The Oregon Symphony provides two important community functions: It offers world-class artistry, which is unusual in a city this size. It also contributes to the community within and promotes Portland’s reputation around the world. As a new board member, I want to make sure the institution has the right resources and that the musicians are recruited and compensated properly.”
Lynch was inspired by the power of music to offer solace in times of crisis. “I have attended symphony events here and elsewhere, but when I saw the Oregon Symphony perform Barber’s “Adagio for Strings” after September 11th, I began to conceive of the symphony as a true community resource, like schools or fire departments,” he says. “It was such a healing event…my interest is to communicate this image of the symphony as a tangible asset to this community.”
Helmke, who served on the board of the Dallas Symphony before moving to Portland, sees a positive and natural link between the business and arts communities. “There’s a business interest in being perceived as a good corporate citizen,” he explains. “Having a world-class symphony is good business practice because it accentuates the nature of the city and what’s important to its citizens. There’s a strong link between good business practices in the city and strong cultural links.”
Giesy, an avid music lover and a current member of the board of the Town Club and Oregon Public Broadcasting, sees herself as a cultural ambassador for bringing music to the community. She has a life-long commitment to volunteer community service and has supported the Symphony for many years. “So far,” she said, “I am very excited about what I see as the Mission and Vision of the OS in the next 5 to 10 years. My role, of course, is to see that that mission and vision unfolds in what makes social and economic sense, and how that mission and vision relates to the plans of other cultural organizations in our city and in our state.”
McDougall, the former president and CEO of Willamette Industries, has been an enthusiastic Symphony advocate and patron for the past 25 years. “I hope to use my business experience to strengthen the board of an already high-quality organization respected throughout the state of Oregon,” he says.
The board also has announced a new slate of officers for the 2002-2003 season: Chair Susan D. Keil; Vice Chairs J. Clayton Hering and Karl Smith; Immediate Past Chair Jack Wilborn; Secretary Jim Dulcich; and Treasurer Maria Pope.
This year the board, whose members serve for three-year terms, will focus on several areas, including: a growth in investment in the orchestra by individuals and businesses; attracting new audiences; celebrating the James DePreist Tribute Season; introducing Music Director Designate Carlos Kalmar to the community; and advancement of the Master Plan for the Arts, a collaborative long-range plan for Portland’s arts facilities.