Springfield nonprofits roll with changes

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by Jill Henry|ret||ret||tab|

SBJ Reporter|ret||ret||tab|

jhenry@sbj.net|ret||ret||tab|

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Changes are taking place at five Springfield nonprofit organizations, namely leaders in transition and relocation plans in the works.|ret||ret||tab|

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Springfield Symphony|ret||ret||tab|

The Springfield Symphony Orchestra's 70th season has arrived with a new leader at the helm.|ret||ret||tab|

Ron Spigelman began a three-year contract as its music director/conductor July 1. His first performance was scheduled for Sept. 25. Spigelman replaces Apo Hsu, who resigned in mid-2003 after conducting the symphony for eight years.|ret||ret||tab|

Spigelman, an Australia native, is an honors graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London and he comes to Springfield from the Buffalo Philharmonic in Buffalo, N.Y., where he served as associate conductor.|ret||ret||tab|

Spigelman said his leadership style is very hands-on. He strongly values his audience. |ret||ret||tab|

"It's important to recognize the fact that the audience is the reason the orchestra exists," he said. "When a season-ticket holder doesn't wish to renew their ticket, I actually give them a personal phone call. It's not to pressure them to buy, but to get honest feedback as to why they're not renewing. If it's for reasons of health or people moving away, (I'll) actually thank them for all of their patronage in the past," he said.|ret||ret||tab|

Spigelman will commute from his home in Buffalo until he and his family move to Springfield in August 2005. He plans to arrive a week before each concert. "A lot of conductors don't often move to the area of orchestras that they're music directors of," he said. "I feel if I'm going to be talking about how important an orchestra is to a community, I think it's really important for me to live in the community because then it's genuine. I'm actually talking about my community then."|ret||ret||tab|

Spigelman finds a direct correlation between the arts in a community and its economy and he said Springfield is doing well in that area.|ret||ret||tab|

"It's my opinion when the arts in the community are healthy, that's a good sign that the economy is doing well, because the arts are seen as entertainment by a lot of people," he said. "Seeing that the arts are doing well here and they're respected, I find that the city is in a healthy state overall."|ret||ret||tab|

The salary for Spigelman's first year on the job is about $50,000, said Carlana Fitch, executive director of the symphony.|ret||ret||tab|

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CASA|ret||ret||tab|

Judy Doverspike joined Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southwest Missouri Sept. 8 as executive director. She replaces Rhoda Clark, who has joined the Springfield Family YMCA as director of development.|ret||ret||tab|

Doverspike comes to CASA with 15 years of experience in nonprofit administration, most recently as chief transition executive for Tubman Family Alliance in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.|ret||ret||tab|

"My greatest strength in the position is my knowledge and experience in organizational management in the not-for-profit setting," Doverspike said.|ret||ret||tab|

Doverspike leads six full-time staff members and a pool of volunteer advocates, which currently totals about 125.|ret||ret||tab|

She has several items at the top of her to-do list, including administrative issues regarding agency budget and financial reports formats and budget building for next year. |ret||ret||tab|

General Operations Manager Linda Hyde said that CASA has helped 78 children to date this year and served a total of 288 in 2003. About 15 percent of its approximately $250,000 annual budget comes from United Way, with the remainder coming from fundraising, grants and private donations. In its 2003 budget, CASA earmarked about $40,000 for the director's salary.|ret||ret||tab|

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Springfield Ballet|ret||ret||tab|

Springfield Ballet is making plans to move from its current digs at 400 South Ave. to the Creamery Arts Center in Jordan Valley Park. The move will increase the ballet's floor space by about 300 square feet, for a total of 2,500 square feet. The building is currently undergoing renovations to accommodate the ballet's two new offices, three dance studios and a waiting area for parents.|ret||ret||tab|

"We hope our move takes place for our summer semester beginning in June, but knowing how construction schedules usually work there's a more likely possibility it will be our fall semester," said Kay Osborne, who has been interim director since Philip McGuire's departure in August.|ret||ret||tab|

The ballet will share the Creamery building with Springfield Regional Arts Council, Arts Patronage Initiative, Springfield Regional Opera, Springfield Community Center and possibly others.|ret||ret||tab|

Alan Lockhart, president of Springfield Ballet's board of directors, said that the move will help several arts organizations save money. |ret||ret||tab|

"There's going to be some synergies between the arts organizations, which will save. We can consolidate phone systems, faxes, copiers, supplies," he said. "If we go through and work together as a group, as arts organizations as a whole, we can consolidate a lot."|ret||ret||tab|

The ballet also will share a costume storage space and a set design area with Springfield Regional Opera, Springfield Little Theatre and Springfield Symphony.|ret||ret||tab|

"When you save money by doing that, you can put more money back into your programming," Osborne said. "We can present more dance. We can have more teachers. We can keep small class sizes. We can give scholarships to children who otherwise wouldn't be able to dance."|ret||ret||tab|

Neither Osborne nor Lockhart could name an exact dollar figure for the anticipated savings. |ret||ret||tab|

"I'd like to think that overall it could save us in excess of $20,000 a year. That's shooting off the cuff, though," Lockhart said, adding that they wouldn't be sure of savings until the move takes place.|ret||ret||tab|

Lockhart said it is the board's goal to have a new director in place by December. |ret||ret||tab|

Osborne is not in the running for the director position. "They've been very kind to me and asked me if I want to stay and I love this organization, but I have some other goals," she said.|ret||ret||tab|

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Boys & Girls Clubs |ret||ret||tab|

Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield is in transition as well. Cheryl Searcy left her position as community resource director in August to accept a job with the American Red Cross in the state of Nevada. Chris Whitehead, director of operations for the three area clubs, stepped in as interim community resource director.|ret||ret||tab|

"I've been with the organization for 12 years, so I'm pretty familiar with everything that's going on," Whitehead said. "Actually it's been a pretty smooth transition, really, although Cheryl was a phenomenal asset to the Boys and Girls Club."|ret||ret||tab|

Executive Director Pat Gartland said about 25 resumes have been received. "We hope by November 1 we'll have that position filled," he said. In the meantime, he said, things are going smoothly. |ret||ret||tab|

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