Please consider showing your solidarity tonight, with everyone who wants a proper orchestra to exist in this Valley!! Join us in front of Kelowna Community Theater from 6:30 to 7:30 pm, to handout information to concert goers, and display some placards to get the message clear to the OSS Board to #bringbackrose!!!

 

UPDATE OF THE FACTS!

**The new OSS Board of Directors were elected at the AGM on Nov 28th, and the letter of termination provided by the new Board on Nov 30th stated Rosemary’s termination was based on production concerns with the Amplify concert performed on Nov 18th, which was a non-traditional concert which highlighted Indigenous and queer artists. 

o  Concert production responsibilities are shared with the Production Manager and others within the OSS administration and are not the sole responsibility of the Music Director/Conductor. 

o  Therefore, all concerns were not within Rosemary’s areas of responsibility.

**Evidence that actions of this new Board have put the OSO in jeopardy: 

o   Guest Artists have refused to perform.

o   Donors have pulled their funding, and other funding sources have been put in serious jeopardy. 

o   This decision has placed the entire livelihood of the orchestra and its musicians at risk! 

o   Many letters have been published admonishing the Board and demanding reinstatement!

The online petition to BRING BACK ROSEMARY until the end of this season has been signed by over 2,300 individuals supporting reversing this termination!

**Not-for-profit societies are supposed to "belong" to their voting members -- the members of the public who want the orchestra to exist and who have paid the $25/year fee to be voting members.  And the Board is supposed to act on behalf to those members, and to represent their interests.  

o At the Nov 28th AGM, the bylaws of the organization got changed, to put even more power into the hands of the Board.  For example:

o   Previously anyone could become a voting member, but now the Board first must approve new members.  

o   Double the amount of time now must pass before new members can vote or propose resolutions.  

o   Season's ticket holders, who previously were automatically voting members, seem to have effectively lost their membership and need to re-apply and pay an additionally $25.  Many other similar subtle changes were made.  

o   A long string of preceding Board members have already resigned. 

o   The AGM was attended by few enough people that these changes went through without much opposition.  

o   We have to ask ourselves - if everything were above board inside the organization, why would such changes be needed?

o   Therefore, what good can possibly come out of this? Why has Rosemary’s reputation and legacy, and the sustainability of the Orchestra been put at risk??

The truth will eventually all come out -- in the meantime, the OSO may not survive, unless the community demands a reversal of this terrible sequence of events!!

The recent statement issued from the Musicians Association confirms they agree that the “orchestra is a reflection of the people and communities it serves. It is the sum of all of those on stage as well as the administration, the staff, the volunteers, the Board of Directors, the donors, and the music itself. It is the shared experience of live music with our audiences.”

 The Board of Directors need to hear from our many community voices!

You’ve signed this petition, and we are very grateful! Next please consider joining us tonight on the sidewalk in front of KCT!  Also please consider emailing the Board of Directors specifically at the email addresses below, and request they reinstate Rosemary and allow her to finish the season as planned. We believe this is what is in the best interests of the musicians and OSO organization as a whole, and the Board needs to listen to the community they exist to serve!! 

Send your letters to Judy.burns@okanagansymphony.com, and  ed@okanagansymphony.com