December 2023 Newsletter

Dear Union Family,

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

President’s Message

You are never alone!

Happy holidays, union siblings,

I am often asked what value there is to being a union member. This question comes from both potential and current members. I tell them about pension contributions paid by my employers, performance contract protection, and recording contracts that safeguard my work and ensure I’m paid regularly. But it wasn’t until recently that I became aware of another benefit: As a union member I am never alone. I have the support of my Local 1000 family as well as the whole American Federation of Musicians, and even the entire AFL-CIO. You see, together this extended family of workers fights to make a better world for all of us. You can go it alone; you can put money into a 401K and write your own contracts; you can try to safeguard your intellectual property and even buy instrument insurance outside the union. But in the end, you are fighting in isolation.

As a member of Local 1000 we have strength in numbers, as we struggle for better pay, benefits and working conditions. Here’s to winning together!

Here are some actions you can take in the near future. Please: 

• Be sure to put our next membership meeting, February 22, 2024, on your calendar. See link below.

• Take the time to read the committee updates below. Staying up-to-date on the work of our members keeps you connected to the local.

• Are you considering attending the Folk Alliance International Conference February 21-25? As a Local 1000 member you can get a discounted conference fee. To find out more and obtain the registration code, contact the office.

Forward together,

Aaron Fowler

Important Upcoming Dates

Dec 21: Executive Board Meeting

Jan 8: Local 1000 Virtual Coffee Hour

Jan 24: Local 1000 Women’s Coffee and Caucus

Feb 5: Local 1000 Virtual Coffee Hour

Feb 22: Local 1000 Membership Meeting

For more information, view the Local 1000 calendar

Membership Meeting, February 22, 2024

Our first membership meeting of 2024 will take place via Zoom on February 22, at 6 pm ET/5 pm CT/4 pm MT/3 pm PT.

Membership meetings are open to all members in good standing (i.e., members whose dues payments are up to date). Please plan ahead to join us.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84798964349?pwd=SisvVWtlTWhVR3VBTEZJVEdNZ2p2UT09

Meeting ID: 847 9896 4349

Passcode: 799851

Monthly Coffee Hour

Bring your own beverage and join fellow Local 1000 members for an hour of camaraderie, support, check-ins, laughs, connections and more. This is a recurring meeting hosted by Charlie King.

First Monday of the month, (except January, when it will take place on the second Monday)

Topic: Local 1000 & Friends Coffee Hour
Time: 3 pm ET/2 pm MT/1 pm CT/12 pm PT. Upcoming dates:

Jan 8, 2024
Feb 5, 2024
Mar 4, 2024
Apr 1, 2024
May 6, 2024

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83864842750?pwd=Yi9ONGNPZmU2WGY2ODl4ekdtVklRUT09

Meeting ID: 838 6484 2750
Passcode: 478380

Women’s Coffee & Caucus

AFM Local 1000’s Women’s Coffee & Caucus will take a break in December. We hope to see you next year! All women members of Local 1000 in good standing are welcome to join us for conversation, support and ongoing discussion of potential action within our union.

Next meeting: Wednesday, January 24, 2024, 3 pm ET/2 pm MT/1 pm CT/12 pm PT

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82276196970?pwd=RFpiQWdmQXRxQ1hhL2FERVd0VnNuZz09

Meeting ID: 822 7619 6970

Passcode: 288278

Grant opportunity for Local 1000 members still available

In August the Still Small Voice 4U Foundation began offering Artist Innovation Grants exclusively to Local 1000 members for live performances that are free to the public and presented in partnership with community organizations. Three of these $500 USD grants remain, and will be awarded on a first come, first served basis. Applications will remain open until all grants have been awarded. For more information and a link to apply, visit https://form.jotform.com/231444813402144

Communications Committee

The Communications Committee is hard at work on the upcoming issue of our annual journal, New Deal. We are seeking the following items for inclusion:

Local 1000 members: Let us know your 2023 accomplishments. Have you or your group released an album, been nominated for or won an award or competition, published a book, had a gallery showing, or other significant accomplishment in 2023? Due to space restrictions in the print edition, please limit your submissions to 50 words. Include a link to your website and email to Mara Levine at marablevine@gmail.com.

In memoriam: Please help us identify any Local 1000 members who have passed away during 2023, so we can acknowledge them. Send info to Mara Levine at marablevine@gmail.com.

Please submit any of the above items ASAP

NERFA News

If you are a member of Folk Alliance International (FAI) and you live in the northeast region, or have selected it as your home region, you are a member of the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA). NERFA has an important board election coming up soon.

NERFA members who wish to participate in that election should opt in to receive regional communications on their member profile on the FAI website and join the NERFA mailing list on the NERFA website to ensure they receive election materials and information.

Emergency Relief Fund update

Good news! The Emergency Relief Fund (ERF) is now offering grants of up to $500 to members in good standing for emergency medical or unforeseen circumstances that impact their ability to work. This new policy replaces the old no-interest pay-back loan model and will be the norm from now on. We do ask recipients of the ERF, past and present, to “pay it forward” by donating back to the fund whenever they are able so that others can get support when they need it in the future. We are also hoping that many past ERF recipients will join us at some point in the near future to help raise more money for the fund so we can continue to help members in need. To apply for an ERF grant, go to: https://www.local1000.org/resources/emergency-relief-fund/

Committee and Executive Board Work

The bulk of the work of this union gets done through hundreds of hours of volunteer labor by committee members and the Executive Board. The E-Board meets every 6 weeks via zoom and the committees meet regularly. If you want to join the excitement or have a concern that you think we should address, please contact President Aaron Fowler. It takes all of us working together to stand up and fight for our rights. Please consider joining us. You can make a difference.

Conference call: You can represent Local 1000

Local 1000 hopes to be represented at more conferences to reach musicians throughout the independent music industry. Our labor and voices are needed now more than ever, for members and non-members alike. If you plan to attend a conference and want to help spread the word about Local 1000 please contact President Aaron Fowler to see how you can be an ambassador for your union. It’s not hard to do and is a great conversation-starter.

Social media handles

Are you connected to Local 1000’s social media accounts? If so, make sure you like or follow us on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afmlocal1000

X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/local1000afm

Facebook Public Page: https://www.facebook.com/local1000afm

We also have a private Facebook page for Local 1000 members only, to facilitate communication and promote discussion of union issues among our members. Please ask to join this page to connect with your fellow members (Friends of our local are encouraged to like our public page instead.)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/AFM.Local1000

Member News

Tell us your news! Have you released an album, won an award, been involved in an interesting initiative that you’d like to let people know about?

If you have exciting news to share with Local 1000 members, we want to know. Submit Your News Here!

Submissions should relate to significant career events, Please do not submit individual gig or tour announcements. Thank you!

We’ll include your news in an upcoming Local 1000 e-newsletter, and we’ll post it on our public Local 1000 page at https://www.facebook.com/local1000afm

December Birthdays

Finally, we would like to wish the following members Happy Birthday! If your birthday falls in December and you don’t see it listed below, or if the date is incorrect, please send an email to Deborah Van Kleef with your birthdate, current phone number and email address. Thanks to Deborah and fellow Birthday Bunnies, Lydia Adams Davis, Arthur McGregor and Tim Van Egmond.

In Solidarity,

AFM Local 1000