1957/1958 Membership Campaign

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As campaign week for the St. Catharines Civic Orchestra Association opens today, teams of canvassers are organized to carry out the drive for new and renewal memberships for the community orchestra subscriptions for its 10th season. Here, holding one of the attractive campaign posters displayed in several membership posts in the city, are three happy campaign workers getting ready to go. Centre is Miss Sarah Shannon, a past president of the orchestra women’s committee and now the committee representative on the campaign committee. Left is Mrs. Adam Griffith and right, Mrs. Harry P. Cavers, each head of a team of canvassers of women’s committee members. Teams from the board of directors and of the playing members are also organized. Richard St. Croix is membership chairman, with Miss Ariel Prittie as secretary.

The Women’s Committee was established in 1950 by Mrs. David Wright. At one point, the committee boasted 75 members. Its aim was to raise funds for the support of the Symphony Orchestra and its associated projects as well as to create interest and support for the orchestra. Fundraising activities included Lenten luncheons, tea and coffee parties, bake sales, theatre nights, bridge parties, film nights, supersales, book sales and sale of lemonade at concerts. The committee provided flowers and ushers for concerts, looked after tickets for youth concerts, held receptions after concerts, served refreshments for orchestra members, and given Christmas parties for orchestra members.   The NSO still benefits from their legacy.