Friends of the GNSO
A Message from the president
We have important news about the GNSO.
First, we’d like to thank many of you for your wonderful support of our Orchestra over the years! Your consistent, significant contributions have helped us to grow almost exponentially. This concert year we will give 9 performances vs. 5 only eight years ago (despite losing 2 years to Covid). And with Russell Ger at the helm, those performances have been breath-taking.
Now for the news. To recognize the contributions of our loyal donors, we are creating a new group – the “Friends of the GNSO.” “Friends” will be invited to special events – such as pre-concert cocktail receptions -- where Russell will preview an upcoming performance, at-concert food & wine gatherings, opportunities to meet the musicians, and membership luncheons. Friends will also be listed prominently in concert programs and on our website.
Why are we doing this? In addition to providing deserved recognition and benefits to our key donors, it will provide us with a solid annual financial foundation on which to continue to build. We may certainly have future Benefit Brunches to honor local leaders, but they will not be the only arrow in our quiver.
More good news: membership in the “Friends” will not come at a higher price! “Friends” contribution levels will mirror those of the Brunches, with $250/person being the minimum, as it was to be listed on the Benefit Committee of the Brunch. The next levels are $500/pp and $1,000/pp with an opportunity to even go to $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000 or above.
For those who like to plan ahead, we also offer the opportunity to pledge a 3-year commitment at your chosen amount. This provides further recognition as a member of our “Encore Society” and cements the GNSO’s financial foundation. Regardless of the path you choose, you can find a pledge card on our website. We would appreciate your signing and returning it soon and making your donation prior to July 31.
We know this is a lot of information to digest, and we would be happy to discuss any aspect of it by phone or in-person. Please let us know your thoughts, and again thank you very much for the support which enables the GNSO to survive and prosper.
John Bliss
President/GNSO
Phone: 845/561-1618 or john@blissintegrated.com
“ To recognize the contributions of our loyal donors, we are creating a new group – the ‘Friends of the GNSO.’”
Friends of the gnso
(* denotes pledged members of the encore society)
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Betsy McCurdy*
Christopher Kuo
FIRST CHAIR
John & Sue Bliss*
Carole & David McDermott
SUSTAINING PATRON
John & Doris Bjorkman*
Bill Burback & Dr. Peter Hofmann*
Jeff & Rachelle Harmer
PATRONS CIRCLE
Elizabeth Anderson
Jerry & Dot Argenio
Dr. George & Barbara Benninger
Mark Carnes & Mary Elin Korchinsky*
Henry & Suan Christensen*
Vivien Collens
Dallas & Pam Kersey
Pat & Richard Levin
Bob & Ginny McCurdy*
Bill & Mary Murphy*
Carmen & Karl Najork
Peter & Edith Olympia Charitable Trust*
Mona & Ian Rieger*
Ann Whipple & Frank Schaffer
Anonymous*
CONDUCTOR
Janis & Gary Berg
Lou & Cheryl Chappo
Ian & Mary Ann Crawford
Bill & Pat Cummings
Louis & Suzanne Dawes
Monica & Drinane & Mary Ann Hedaa
Dick Ernenwein & Joan Augello
Ken & Barbara Hall
Paul Hoffner
Doug Land & Lynn Peebles*
Martha Leonard
Nancy & Jean-Pierre Marjollet
Alan & Debbie Marks
George & Judy Muser
Paul Pomerantz & Gay Miller
Robert Rich & Judy Girod
Joe & Ellen Rones
Elizabeth Rowley & Bill Fioravanti
Barbara & Jeff Rubin
Gordon Shacklett
Elaine Simpson
Nita Sutton & Neil Fosman
Rose & Maurice Talbot
Tony & Andrea Varano
John & Karin Warner
Pat Williams
Dr. Jerry & Barbara Wittner
CONCERTMASTER
Kathy Barton*
Erik Bjorkman*
Mary Breheney
Lynn Brown
Laura Cormier*
G. Wayne & Pamela Day
Robin DeGroat
Rose Deluca
Judy Grehl
Peter Koepke
Frank Lucente
Bob Martin
Barbara Murphy
Fred Osborn*
Dr. Stephen & Elise Shapiro
Elizabeth & Peter Sosnow
Doug Sturomski*
Jennifer Traverse
SUPPORTERS OF THE FRIENDS
Susan Daly
Doug Duerr
Tyler Etzel
Harry Marshall
Thank you to our generous donors for your support.