GUILD NOTES
May 2020
SYMPHONY DESIGNER HOUSE GARDEN TOURS BEGIN MAY 15-17
The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra will open Designer House XXV Belle Maison for Garden Tours beginning Friday, May 15, through Sunday, May 17.
Designer House Garden Tours are outdoor, self-guided, walking tours in an unconfined space that feature the springtime beauty and meticulous landscaping of Belle Maison's 40-acre estate. Due to social distancing guidelines related to COVID-19, the two homes that showcase the talents of more than 30 of the state's most talented interior designers will not be open to the public at this time. Garden Tour tickets, which are $25 per person, will however grant admission to tour the Designer House XXV homes once tours become available.
Garden Tours will be offered from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 15-16, and 12-4 p.m. May 17 at Belle Maison, 21509 Denny Road, Little Rock.
To help ensure the health and safety of all guests, Designer House Garden Tours will follow all guidelines provided by the Arkansas Department of Health. Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Guild volunteers will manage visitor volume and be present across the estate to encourage proper social distancing, mask usage and other personal safety measures. Additional hand sanitizer will also be available for visitors.
A Celebration of Symphony Designer House (described below at the right) will be available for purchase during the Garden Tour weekend for $29.95.
All proceeds from Designer House events benefit the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.
General Admission Garden Tour tickets are $25 per person and may be purchased in advance here or at Phoenix Interiors, 12315 Chenal Parkway, and Providence Design Ltd., 2314 Cantrell Road, both in Little Rock. Tickets will also be available at the door.


Three Garden Tour special events will also be held where visitors can learn even more about the design and grounds at Belle Maison:

FRIDAY, MAY 15:
  • Wine Walk, 4-6 p.m., $35 per person
SATURDAY, MAY 16:
  • Private Garden Tour with chief gardener Joel Villa and Designer House Chair Larry West Jr., 10 a.m.-12 p.m., $35 per person
  • Wine Walk, 4-5 p.m., $35 per person
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Greetings,
I hope this note finds you safe and healthy. As the Guild year draws to a close, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Guild's Board of Directors for their support during this very different year.
I want to commend Larry West and his committee for their great planning-modify and adjust-as things seem to change daily. We are very grateful to C.D. and Leslie Williams and the decorators who agreed to sit tight and see if we could open later in the summer to the public. The bottom line is that we are hopeful we will be able to meet our commitment to the ASO.
As you will read in Guild Notes , Larry and his committee have planned a Garden Tour of the 40-acre estate this weekend. I do hope you will plan to attend-rain or shine.
I also hope you have purchased your Symphony Designer Book. Thanks to Pat and Jim Wallis for underwriting the project and Larry Floyd for his narrative that captured the heart and soul of this project. The photos are absolutely beautiful.
As you may already know, we have cancelled the Annual Meeting on May 21st and have rescheduled it for September 24th at the Governor's Mansion. We will celebrate this year and prepare for the coming year under Teresa Osam's great leadership. The new Board of Directors and the Committee Chairs are listed in Guild Notes . Thank you to everyone for agreeing to serve.
As my term as President come to an end, I am humbled by the commitment of so many Guild members to support the ASO and music education for Arkansas' children. I wish I could personally thank each one of you and give you a big hug. Alas, that is not to be. Just know that you are appreciated and that I look forward to continuing the wonderful tradition of the ASO Guild. Fifty-one years and counting!!
Gratefully,
Betty Herron
COMMEMORATIVE BOOK NOW AVAILABLE
A beautiful new commemorative book documenting the history of 25 designer Houses in Arkansas since 1975 is hot off the presses and now available for purchase.
A Celebration of Symphony Designer House is filled with stories, histories and photographs of the people and places that have been showcased by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Guild since 1975. The hard-cover, all-color book spotlights the biennial fund-raiser that invites local designers to transform a home that is then open to the public for tours. The book, underwritten by Pat and Jim Wallis, features narrative by Larry Floyd and photographs by Jai Lambert. The cover depicts this year's Design House, Belle Maison, 21509 Denny Road, Little Rock. A Celebration of Symphony Designer House ($29.95) is available for purchase (cash, check or credit card) at two Little Rock locations:
Phoenix Interiors, 12315 Chenal Parkway, (Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; closed Saturday and Sunday) and Providence Design 2314 Cantrell Road (Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; closed Saturday and Sunday). The book is also available for purchase online at http://www.oklahomabooksonline.com/designer_house.
Proceeds benefit the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.
TIME FOR MEMBERSHIP
It is time to renew your Guild membership for 2020-2021. Please click on the link below and print the membership form. After filling out the form, mail it, along with your check to Mary Jo Lewno, whose address is on the bottom of the form. In order to have your name and contact info included in the directory, return the form by June 1.
2020-2021 ASOG Officers and Chairs
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President-Teresa Osam
Immediate Past President-Betty Herron
1st Vice President-Paige James
2nd Vice President- Janice James
3rd Vice President-Susan Marsh
4th Vice President-Ethan Frazier
Recording Secretary-Pat Luzzi
Treasurer-Mary Frances Cotham
Assistant Treasurer-Tracey Rice
Chair of Fundraiser-Tandy Cobb
Members-at-Large-Gail Davis, Camille Williams

COMMITTEE CHAIRS
1st Vice President of Fundraising-Paige James
Rhythm on the River-Tandy Cobb
Bridge Tournament-Gail Davis
Public Relations-TBD
2nd Vice President of Member Services-Janice James
Corresponding Secretary-Alice Pfeiffer
Guild Notes-Ouida Keck
Hospitality-Jane Liem
Membership-Mary Jo Lewno
New Member Mentoring-TBD
Programs-George Keck
Yearbook-Ellyse Frazier
3rd Vice President of Music Education-Susan Marsh
Children's Concert-Camille Williams
Orchestra and You-TBD
Stella Boyle Smith Young Artists Competition-Bob & Jeanne Fitzgerald
Youth Orchestra Liaison-Beth & Paul Nyhus
4th Vice President of Orchestra Services-Ethan Frazier
Artist Hospitality-Scott Mason
Concert Activities (ushers)-TBD
Musician Appreciation-Mary Wildgen

AD HOC COMMITTEES
Historian-TBD
Photographer-Camille Williams

NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Chair (Immediate Past Pres.)-Betty Herron