Local 1000 February 2021 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
President’s Message
I am so excited to be part of Local 1000 and I’m proud of all the things we are doing to support not only our members, but musicians in general. Our ERF fund has given out $30,900 to support our members. This money came from many of you and your fans. That’s the power of the union and the folks who believe in music. The AFM and Local 1000 are working on ensuring online concerts are covered under a union contract with protections. The Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF) is providing funds for members to pivot to online and still receive these funds. The AFM is working hard to keep our pension fund on level footing through the Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act of 2021.
All of these endeavors take lots of people hours to make sure our union is running smoothly; that is where you can help out! Our Local is run by a volunteer board along with two part-time staff. We need way more volunteer workers to move this movement. Local 1000 has several committees that could use your experience and expertise. If you have ever wondered how to get involved, this may be your moment. We need members to serve on Communications, Fair Trade, Solidarity, Nominations, Scales, Canadian and a couple of working groups. If you have interest consider this your invitation. Here is a Google form to tell us your interests. Someone will reach out to you in the next 10 days to see where your skills fit best.
If you ever have questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or any of our Executive Board members. Stay strong, sing boldly, and stick together!
Together We Are Mighty!
Aaron
Your President
AFM Local 1000 Zoom Coffee Hours
Local 1000 member Coffee Hours are back this winter & spring, hosted by Annie Patterson. We hope you can save the dates and join us. Feel free to drop in just to say hi or to stay for the duration. It’s a wonderful way for our members stay connected while we are all trying to not get infected.
All dates are on Wednesdays on Zoom @ 4pm Eastern/3pmCT/2pmMt/1pmPacific:
February 24 –
March 10 – Songs of Struggle
March 24 –
NEXT MEETING: Wednesday February 24
4pm EDT/3pmCDT/1pm PDT
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89063539938
Meeting ID: 890 6353 9938
Password: 651074
Please pass this on to other L1K members who might want to join.
ERF update
Your union has your back when times are tough! We are happy to announce that, due to the continued generosity of our members and fans, we have extended the application period for Emergency Relief Grants into February. Grants are still available to Local 1000 members in good standing for up to $1000 while funds last. To apply, visit the ERF link on our website and log in: https://www.local1000.org/erf-covid-19-grants-available/
MPTF Funds for Streaming Concerts
The Music Performance Trust Fund will now fund up to 100% for a free live streamed concert. This is a great opportunity for members make decent money from an online concert. The concert must be sponsored by another organization, and there are specific rules and steps to go through to have your live performance approved. Please contact the office at [email protected] for more information.
Union Protection for Self-Presented Live Streams
The Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) is a simple AFM contract that you can sign for self-presented live stream concerts which will safeguard your performing rights if the content is used by another organization in future. We’d like to encourage all our members to use this contract for self-presented streaming concerts.
Local 1000 Livestream Guidelines
The Local 1000 Fair Trade Music Committee, following on the recommendations from the AFM, has created guidelines for negotiating with venues for live stream concert engagements. These are guidelines to help you negotiate fair deals with presenting organizations that take into account how long a live stream will be left up on the internet, what are minimum guarantees and minimum percentages for income earned through a livestream concert, and so on.
Save Our Pension!
Our AFM-EPF pension plan is one of hundreds of multi-employer union pensions in critical status because of aging demographics, declining participation, and reduced contributions. But now, if we all stand together in unison as AFM members, we can change that. Use this link to tell Congress to support the Reconciliation Package and ensure our pension and retirement remain secure: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/protect-our-afm-pension
Anne Feeney (July 1, 1951 – February 3, 2021)
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of member Anne Feeney at age 69 from Covid-19. Anne was an outspoken activist, songwriter, and performer who was a good friend to many in Local 1000, and she will be sorely missed. You can read her obituary here. There will be a longer remembrance in the New Deal, coming out later this month.
Newsletter Contest
We are looking for a catchy name for our monthly e-newsletter, which you are reading right now. “Monthly e-news” seems a little too boring. Our yearly, more lengthy journal is called “The New Deal,” and we’d like to have some similarly pithy and fun name for our regularly e-news. So we’re holding a contest! There are prizes to be won! To enter, email Debra Cowan your ideas at [email protected]
The New Deal Is Coming
Our yearly journal will be coming out later this month so watch for it in your inbox! Features on Local 1000’s response to the pandemic, member profiles, and the already-mentioned piece on Anne Feeney.
Canadian Corner
CERB Update
The Government of Canada recently announced that self-employed individuals who applied for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and would have qualified based on their gross income will not be required to repay the benefit, provided they also met all other eligibility requirements. The same approach will apply whether the individual applied through the Canada Revenue Agency or Service Canada.
To learn more please visit the Government of Canada news release.
Thanks to all members and our sister associations for the advocacy to make this change happen and to the government for understanding that a change needed to happen.
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!
Local 1000 Membership Update
New and Reinstated Members
We are excited to welcome the following new and recently reinstated members to Local 1000!
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John Acosta Jonathan Foster Michael Lane Bonnie Lockhart Mark Lukens Laurel Masse |
Robert McKenty Austin Nash Joel Simpson Lynn Smith Natalia Zukerman |
February Birthdays
Finally, we would like to wish the following members Happy Birthday! If your birthday falls in February 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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John Acosta Greg Artzner David Borough Chris Coole Robert Couture Ben Deschamps Steve Eulberg John Fohl Wayne Greene Martha Hawthorne Jennifer Heitler-Klevans Lisa Hodgson Joe Jencks Susie Lemay |
Marcy Marxer James McEleney Arthur McGregor Michael Miles Faith Nolan Sonia Rutstein Carroll Sanders Carolann Solebello Stephen Suffet Paul Taylor S.J. Tucker Aiden Villa Mark Westberg Catherine Wilson |
In Solidarity,
AFM Local 1000
