Opera Volunteers International

“Long distance look over the shoulder” at someone else’s computer

A free new software program called CrossLoop helps you get assistance or give assistance quickly and easily over long distances by sharing your or your friend’s computer desktop. This program connects your two computers together so that the two of you are looking at one computer.

For example, when I taught OVI President Fern Grauer how to blog, I connected to her computer so that I could watch her blog, as if I were right behind her. In real-time, I watched her every mouse movement and could point out where she should click and what to click. I was in Fort Lauderdale and she was in Chicago. This took a total of 10 minutes.
Continue Reading »

OVI Keynote Speaker, John Hickenlooper, mayor of Denver

Opera Volunteers International opened its 2007 Denver conference with an entertaining, energetic and inspiring speech from Mayor John Hickenlooper, longtime friend of Conference Chair, Nancy Parker. It was very encouraging to hear how much he and his wife support the arts. Normally, the mayor speaks to groups numbering over a thousand so OVI was especially grateful for including us in his busy schedule running a major city.
Continue Reading »

OVI Conference in Denver

As I pack my briefcase, my suitcase and my mind in anticipation of leaving for Denver/Central City and our Conference 2007, I’m excited about the prospect of meeting, greeting and talking to opera enthusiasts who are so interesting and diverse. Our membership represents 32 states (from one coast to the other, from Alaska down to our southern tips), our Canadian neighbors and across to Australia. The capacities of our opera houses range from 300 to 3500 seats; the number of performances our companies present varies from 2 to 40 each year. The dates of our “seasons” cover the calendar. The number of volunteers in our support group organizations vary from 24 to 2000 members; the hours they contribute total all the way from 3,000 to 8,000 a year!
Continue Reading »

Americans for The Arts is an organization every supporter of the Arts should know about. I value it most because it keeps me informed on key advocacy issues as they are debated in Congress, and makes it easy for me to e-mail my representatives and senators urging their support for bills funding the arts (and to thank them after the fact).  On June 27, I received a report as a member, that the House of Representatives had approved a historic $35 million increase to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Americans For The Arts has played an important role in maintaining support for this increase through their advocacy program.

There are many other areas under the organization–research and information, professional development, strategic partnerships, and visibility, but advocacy and policy are its most recognizable features. If you are interested in becoming a member, or just finding out more detailed information, please go to www.AmericansForTheArts.org or www.ArtsActionFund.org .

Gerald Elijah, Vice-president, Outreach  Opera Volunteers International

I’m excited about our conference schedule on Saturday because it is really special! We are taking a bus up the mountain to Central City, an old mining town that that is still beautifully intact. Cornish miners built an Opera House in 1878, and the Central City Opera Company presents an amazing season there every summer. We’re seeing Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Saint of Bleecker Street Saturday evening.
Continue Reading »

Denver welcomes OVI conference

It’s getting closer …… and very exciting…..

I’m thinking about workshops and sessions that the conference is offering this year and how they relate to questions and issues here at home. Lyric Opera of Chicago has multi support groups that all have different rules, different personalities and different ways of serving our opera company. They all find themselves with the same issues that face individual and support group volunteers all over the United States and Canada.
Continue Reading »

OVI Conference in Denver

The direction we’re heading these days is west …… and up. Starting in the Mile High City of Denver and then moving up the mountain to Central City, Opera Volunteer’s International’s Conference 2007 checks into the Westin Hotel/Tabor Center on July 19. We have some wonderfully educational and entertaining sessions planned for the weekend ….. along with large doses of art and opera. We’ll cover topics both interesting and important to all volunteers and we welcome all volunteers and company staff and opera lovers and guests . Why don’t you join us?

President’s Welcome

Hello Opera Lovers,

The premier association of opera support groups, opera volunteers and opera lovers would like to introduce ourselves!

Our membership of dedicated opera and music supporters has been current and connected since 1974, promoting opera awareness and appreciation, interest and participation within our respective communities. We provide a multitude of useful information and services to opera volunteers and opera companies in the U.S., Canada and Australia that we will be telling you about……

This blog, which I am totally new to, is the latest way we will keep you informed about our activities. So check back often!

Fondly, Fern Grauer, President.