commentaries

Good faith? You locked your musicians out and refuse to let them look at the books. You've colluded with boards of other orchestras around the country to get what you want (privative gains, socialize losses). You've developed a take it or leave it attitude; would YOU voluntarily take a 30%-40% pay cut? I think not. No, the ones who need to start acting in good faith here are YOU!

"Publicity stunts won't solve crisis

Crisis? really? this is not a crisis, our economy, debt is a crisis. The Mn Orchestra is just another non profit that cant cover its costs through its revenues

The orchestra is one of few truly great things we have around here. Why you - the board - sought to "renovate" the LOBBY of all things, when you have been running deficits is beyond me. I know that many other tax payers and donors, such as the De Cosses (http://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2012/11/were-locked-out-too-questions-mn-orchestra-management) want-and deserve-to know what your strategy was in 2010 after the economy had tanked?

If Campbell and Davis were speaking for the entire board, they would have all included their names in this Op-Ed. It happens that these two are outspoken. The Op-Ed reads imprudent to me...inciting the musicians. No one cares about who is on the Board of Directors...they care about the art. If these two Directors can't come to terms with that -- they should resign.

Consider the motives of the volunteer members of this board. Why would we link our personal reputations to an institution that we didn't care for greatly? Why would we seek harm for any member of this iconic organization? Why would we have any goal but to protect the future of this great orchestra?***************Your like all people in your position, you want it all big office,credit, success, power and a healthy bottom line and you want the workers to pay for it. And until you show the books no one can believe one word you say. Trust me just won't make it.

If I understand it correctly, when management released the full terms of the contract in September, it was a 'negotiations tactic'... When the musicians spoke out against Henson, it was a 'cheap publicity stunt.' End the lockout before Christmas, and look less out of touch, Mr. Campbell and Mr. Davis. (For those about to comment on money-grasping musicians, check the changed contract. And the changed mission statement. And the strategic (!) reporting of deficits. There's a lot to go through.)

Interesting. A world class orchestra with bush league management and a disingenuous board of directors. What a combination!

We have an orchestra?

Maybe if you keep insulting the leadership and the board,you can get the board and their donors to just leave. That would show them. You don't need their charity...whoops yes you do it makes up the far majority of how you get paid. You really think business and philanthropic leaders of our community got together in some grand conspiracy to take apart the orchestra. Management has been too kind to you so far. They should either take their money and donate to groups that are far more worthy or they should hang up a help wanted sign and start getting the thousands of musicians that are willing to play. Nice to see that Davis and Campbell are the Adult supervison needed at a time like this.

I think that many of the comments confuse 'management' in the sense of management of a for-profit company, with membership on the Board of a nonprofit. The orchestra board members are unpaid volunteers: not only that, they are expected to pay for the privilege in the form of donations, and they do. They may have made some mistakes, but the fundamental problem is: there is no money. Not a single one of their critics above is offering to buy extra tickets or donate more money to the orchestra.