Local 1000 August 2019 Newsletter
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This is our regular monthly email newsletter. It includes reminders, member news and important announcements from the Executive Board and the office.
News from the Executive Board
Fall 2019 Membership Meeting at Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM)
Local 1000 will be at the October FARM conference in Grand Rapids Michigan October 24-27, 2019.
We will host our Show Case Free Zone room each night of the conference and will have a Membership Meeting on Saturday morning, Oct. 26th at 9:00 AM. The membership meeting will have a Zoom link so those not able to attend the conference will be able to attend the membership meeting.
If you will be attending the conference and would like to host one of our SFZ sessions, contact Aaron Fowler, aaron@aaronfowler.org. Our Union sister Tret Fure is the guest speaker at the conference. We hope you will be able to attend. For questions contact Aaron.
Here are the conference details:
Folk Alliance Region Midwest
October 24 – 27
Crowne Plaza Grand Rapids Airport
Grand Rapids, MI
https://www.farmfolk.org
Erin Mae Lewis fills Midwest Rep position on Executive Board
The Executive Board has had a vacancy since 2018 when Amber Rogers had to step down from the board. We have been looking for someone to fill her term. Erin Mae Lewis as agreed to serve as Midwest Rep.
We are super excited to have Erin’s energy, expertise and passion on the board. Read her full bio here.
If you are a member from the Midwest and would like to contact her she can be reached at repmidwest@local1000.org.
Welcome Erin!
August Cyber Union Hall – The Power of Music to Heal Our Nation
The August Cyber Union call will focus on how we can use our music to make in roads to heal our Nation. Reggie Harris and Greg Greenway have been doing incredible work in the area of Racial Healing.
We have invited them to share their work and lead us in a conversation about how we as traveling musicians can add to the work of justice and healing.
Join us on Tuesday evening August 20 for this inspiring session. We will begin at 8:30 PM EST, 7:30 PM CST, 6:30 PM MST, 5:30 PM PST. The Zoom link is below. If you have any questions about using the Zoom platform please contact Aaron Fowler, aaron@aaronfowler.org, 316.207.4715.
Time: Aug 20, 2019 08:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/176355991
One tap mobile:
+16465588656, 176355991# US (New York)
+17207072699, 176355991# US
Dial by your location:
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 720 707 2699 US
Meeting ID: 176 355 991
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/adzpdxaPsJ
NERFA
U.S. Pension Fund Updates
There have been some recent important updates about the state of the U.S. pension fund. You can find the latest updates from the pension fund here.
U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act, also known as the “Butch Lewis Act.” It has now been reintroduced in the Senate, and Congressional leaders are continuing negotiations to find common ground on a bipartisan solution. These negotiations may produce changes to the bill before it can pass both chambers of Congress and be signed into law by the President. The Trustees will insist that any resulting compromise must fully address this crisis and treat our participants fairly.
In the meantime, you can contact your Members of Congress here: https://afm-epf.org/Participants/ContactCongress.aspx
We know many members have questions and concerns, so the board will be hosting a cyber union hall on this topic soon. Please stay tuned for details.
PAYING GIG ALERT! The Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF) and MusicianFest!
Members of Local 1000 can apply to perform concerts under the MPTF program which will pay up to 50% of your union scale fee for performing a free public concert. You are responsible for finding a partner organization to co-sponsor the concert. There is a limit of 3 applications per year, per member.
In addition, the MPTF’s MusicianFest program will fund 100% of your union fee for performances at senior centers such as nursing homes, veterans, and hospitals. Local 1000 has been allotted 5 performances this year under this program. Primarily for solo musicians, you are responsible for finding an appropriate venue. Application deadline for MusicianFest is Monday, December 16, 2019.
For details please email Richard: richard@local1000.org
Folk Alliance International Conference 2020
Folk Alliance International has once again offered discounted registration to their annual conference for members of Local 1000.
If you are planning to attend the FAI conference in February 2020, please contact our office at together@local1000.org for the discount code.
Emergency Relief Fund
Please help your brothers and sisters in need by contributing to our Emergency Relief Fund: https://www.local1000.org/product/emergency-relief-fund
Suspension Reinstatement Fees
Effective this quarter, we will be enforcing a reinstatement fee for suspensions. If you are more than one quarter overdue with your dues, you are suspended. When you are suspended you will now be charged an extra $10 on top of the back dues owed. Please see Secretary Treasurer Vi Wickam’s letter explaining these changes in our May 2019 Newsletter.
Canadian Corner
New Travel Insurance for Canadian Members
Did you know that you can get a great deal on travel insurance through the new Union Savings program offered by CFM?
Visit https://unionsavings.ca and sign up for deals on travel insurance, rental cars, hotel stays, luggage, and more. Contact Cathy Lee, CFM Membership Services Coordinator for more information: clee@afm.org, 416-391-5161 ext. 231(1-800-463-6333).
P2 Processing Times
The CFM is currently advising Canadian members applying for P2 visas to get their application in at least 60 days before the first engagement.
If you are applying, please make sure you download the latest application, which can be found here:
English: http://www.cfmusicians.org/services/work-permits French: http://www.cfmusicians.org/services/permis-de-travail
Please contact Canadian VP Kev Corbett or the CFM for more information.
Member News
Do you have a new album coming out? Did you recently receive an award?
If you have exciting news to share with Local 1000 members, we want to know. Submit Your News Here!
Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer and Sam Gleaves are delighted to announce that the single they recorded, “Maybelle Played Guitar” took first place in the Common Ground on the Hill songwriting competition. Written by Cathy Fink, the song honors Mother Maybelle Carter for her groundbreaking guitar playing. Download at www.cathymarcy.com The trio will perform live on NPR’s Mountain Stage in mid-August, to be rebroadcast nationwide.
August Birthdays
Finally, we would like to wish the following members Happy Birthday! If your birthday falls in August and you don’t see it listed below, or if the date is incorrect, please send an email to our Birthday Bunny, Deborah Van Kleef with your birthdate, current phone number and email address.
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08/01 Teresa Healy 08/02 Jimmy Collier 08/03 Paul Reisler 08/03 Chris Vallillo 08/04 Alana Cline 08/05 Donna Nestler 08/06 Edie Carey 08/06 Jim Page 08/07 Dawson McManus 08/08 Jake Blount 08/08 Ben Whiteley 08/09 Cathy Fink 08/09 Stephen Jenkinson 08/10 Jamar Jones 08/11 Kurtis Cockerill 08/11 Eve Goldberg 08/11 Elyas Isaacs 08/12 Janet Stecher 08/13 Tom Breiding 08/13 Keane Eng 08/13 Matt Warry-Smith 08/14 Mariel Buckley |
08/14 Gary Hermus 08/14 John McCutcheon 08/14 Kalya Ramu 08/15 Carlos Cardozo Fihlo 08/15 Debra Cowan 08/16 Rik Palieri 08/17 Laura Cortese 08/18 Liv Cazzoa 08/18 Sandy Opatow 08/18 Joel Guenther 08/19 Braden Phelan 08/21 Andy Cohen 08/23 Grit Laskin 08/23 Ezra Idlet 08/25 Teilhard Frost 08/26 Peter Blood 08/27 Michael Beauchamp 08/28 Joelson Costa 08/28 Timothy O’Reilly 08/30 Tesser Call 08/30 Miriam Davidson |
In Solidarity,
AFM Local 1000
Songwriting Award + Mountain Stage