July 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

Dear Union family,

Sitting in the airport on my way home from the 102nd AFM Convention, I am so excited about the future of the AFM and Local 1000. I see so much potential for our Local. Working musicians are a vital part of our society and I am thrilled to be one of them and to be leading this Local with a very talented eBoard.

There is no better time than now to be engaged in this most important work. As members of the AFM there are many resources available to us. Over the next several newsletters I will be talking about ways for you to more connect with resources for working musicians. Stay true to your passions and to the power of music. May you continue to find the strength to bring joy to your audiences and to the world.

Forward Together,

President Fowler

Upcoming Membership Meetings

We have two more membership meetings in 2023. Please mark these dates in your calendar. All meetings will be by Zoom – more details to follow!

Thursday, August 24th 7:00 Eastern

Thursday, November 16th 7:00 Eastern

Important Upcoming Dates

Jul 26: Women’s Coffee & Caucus

Aug 17: E-Board Meeting

Aug 24: Membership Meeting

For more information, view the Local 1000 calendar

AFM Convention Report

John’Connor and President Aaron Fowler represented Local 1000 at the 102nd AFM Convention in Las Vegas at the end of June. The Convention was a powerful reminder of the importance of collective power. President Fowler says, “as a first timer, I was reminded that we are so much stronger because of our connection with the thousands of other musicians around North America. Our collective bargaining power is magnified when we fight together on behalf of all working musician.” Read the full report here.

Local 1000 Women’s Coffee & Caucus

The next “Women’s Coffee & Caucus Hour” will be on Wednesday, July 26th.  We will continue our lively and enriching discussion of feminism and intersectionality, bringing in personal experiences as women in music and in our union. Faith Nolan led us in an incredible conversation on May 24^th, which will continue at this session. Join us for support, sharing experiences, truth, action, planning future events, and amplifying women’s voices in our union.

Wednesday, July 26th.@ 12pm PT/1pm MT/2pm CT/3pm ET

This is a recurring meeting; stay tuned for future dates.

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

Meeting ID: 822 7619 6970

Passcode: 288278

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kyKnWZcFI

The Communications Committee (Comm Comm)

The Local 1000 Communications Committee is looking for new members. We need people with many different skills (writing, editing, digital media fluency, WordPress editing, computer tech skills, creative energy), but if you can read and write, you already meet the minimum requirements!  Here are some of the things we are responsible for on an ongoing basis:

• Under the direction of the Executive Board, oversee general communications of Local 1000
• Maintain and update the Local 1000 website
• Send out the monthly L1K email newsletter
• Publish the annual New Deal
• Post L1K activities on social media (L1K Public FaceBook, Twitter, Instagram pages)
• Personally contact members annually through “Birthday Bunny” phone calls

Can you do any of this, or do you know other members who would be a good fit for this committee?

Get involved, help grow the union, help us keep in touch with a membership that spans the U.S. and Canada. We need YOU! Contact Susan Lewis at repwest@local1000.org if you are interested.

The Comm Comm is also reviewing the website to determine what needs to be updated and/or changed. If you have any feedback on the website, please contact Susan Lewis, your Western Rep on the Executive Board at repwest@local1000.org

Please update your profile! If you are not sure how, there is a video that walks you through the process. You must be logged in to complete your profile. If you don’t know your log-in credentials, contact the office: together@local1000.org

Canadian Corner

One of our Canadian members is in the process of fighting CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) and its attempt to claw back thousands of dollars of Covid support payments due to incomplete accounting of their income. It’s a vivid reminder to keep your finances in order… keep receipts, list your income and the sources, file contracts (that ensures you know your income and you can maintain pension payments)–and don’t forget your work dues!

Arthur McGregor, Vice President from Canada

vicepresidentcanada@local1000.org

For Members Contributing to the US Pension Fund: Learn More About Your Pension Benefit

American Federation of Musicians and Employers’ Pension Fund (AFM-EPF) Trustees understand that your pension benefit is both valuable and complex for participants. As a result, a new effort to assemble some practical, easy-to-understand information is underway. You can access this information now at www.afm-epf.org. For a direct link to the participant information section for quick reference, please visit https://www.afm-epf.org/Participants/ParticipantInformation.aspx. AFM-EPF is committed to providing you with the knowledge and resources necessary to maximize your pension planning and benefits.

Raymond M. Hair, Jr, International President

American Federation of Musicians

of the United States and Canada

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 E-Board meetings

The bulk of the work of this Union gets done through the hundreds of volunteer hours provided by committee members and the Executive Board. The E-Board meets every 6 weeks via zoom and the committees meet regularly to carry out the business of our Local. If you want to join the excitement or have a concern that you think we should be addressing, please contact President Fowler. It takes all of us working together to stand up and fight for our work. We need you! Please consider joining us.

Conference Call – 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 our members and non-members alike. If you are going to be attending 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.

Social Media Handles

Are you connected to Local 1000’s Social Media accounts? If not, make sure you like or follow us!

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/local1000afm

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

We also have a private member page, which is to facilitate communication between members of Local 1000 and to promote discussion of Local 1000 issues amongst our members. Please ask to join this page to connect with your fellow members (note: this page is for current Local 1000 members only — friends of the Local are encouraged to like our public page instead.)

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

Member News

Sharon Abreu’s choral work “Peace For All Time” Premieres on Orcas Island!

On June 8, 2023, the premiere performance of Local 1000 member Sharon Abreu’s choral work “Peace For All Time” took place on Orcas Island in Washington State, to a packed house and rave reviews! On June 10, 2023, excerpts of “Peace For All Time” were shown as the final segment of an online event commemorating the 60th anniversary of the speech, sponsored by Massachusetts Peace Action and the JFK Peace Speech Committee. Read more here.

Michael Miles releases “American Bach Revisited”

Local 1000 member Michael J. Miles, world-renowned banjo master, is releasing his eighth CD entitled “American Bach Revisited” featuring J.S. Bach’s Cello Suites I and III, as well as Miles’ original composition “Chicago Suite.” His collaborators for this project are also union members–Jill Kaeding & Margaret James, Local 10-208 and Ron DeGrandis, Local 45. Read more here.

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

July Birthdays

Finally, we would like to wish the following members Happy Birthday! If your birthday falls in July 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