Local 1000 November 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
We’re MOVING! New Address Effective December 1, 2019 Local 1000 is moving out of our current office inside AFM Local 802 on 48th Street in New York City, and into brand new space inside AFM headquarters around the corner on Broadway. We’d like to thank Local 802 for being our home for over two decades. We have benefited immeasurably from the collegiality and support of the staff there who have always been generous in offering their time and expertise to us. We could not have asked for a better home. But all things must change, and effective December 1, our new address will be: AFM Local 1000 1501 Broadway, 9th floor New York, NY 10036 USA Our phone and email remain the same: (212) 843-8726 together@local1000.org PLEASE NOTE: The office will be closed from Tuesday, November 26th for moving and Thanksgiving holiday and will re-open on Tuesday, December 3rd. If you have an emergency please contact your regional rep.
Report from Membership Meetings
We recently held two membership meetings, one at the Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM), and one at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA). Thanks to all who were able to attend and participate — it was great to meet and speak with so many members. Members voted on and passed a number of significant items. Full minutes can be found in the members section of the website as well as our updated bylaws. Please read on for some highlights.
Alert: Membership Dues Increase Jan 1!
At our Nov 8 membership meeting, members approved by-law changes that will increase our membership dues over the next three years, and also will increase the surcharge on quarterly dues.
The increases will be different for US and Canadian residents, in order to recognize the effect of the exchange rate for our Canadian members.
Effective January 1 2020, the new dues will be:
US members: $188 annually $47 per quarter plus $5 surcharge = $52 per quarter Canadian members: US$180 annually $45 per quarter plus $5 surcharge = $50 per quarterBillings for the quarter beginning Jan 1, 2020 will be sent out shortly with the new dues rates. Special Savings!! Members who pay their annual dues before December 31, 2020 can renew at the 2019 membership dues rate. (If you are currently paying quarterly, you can switch to Annual payment to save.) Participate in Membership Meetings Electronically At the NERFA meeting, members approved by-law changes that allow full participation in Membership meetings by electronic means. Going forward, members will be able to log in and participate in membership meetings as full members. Up until now members could log in, observe, and contribute to discussion but could not vote or be counted towards quorum for a Membership meeting. Our Membership meeting at Folk Alliance in January will be our first opportunity to put this into action — stay tuned for information about how to log-in and some guidelines for participation online. Honorarium for our Secretary-Treasurer At our FARM meeting, members approved a $1000 honorarium for the Secretary-Treasurer position in recognition of the amount of work this position entails. Budget Approved Members at our NERFA meeting approved a budget for 2020. Election We are pleased to announce the election by acclamation of Aileen Vance as our new Western Rep on the board. Welcome Aileen!! Vi Wickam was acclaimed as Secretary-Treasurer, a position he has agreed to continue temporarily until a new Secretary-Treasurer is found.
Folk Alliance International Conference 2020
Join your union sisters and brothers for a fabulous gathering at this years Folk Alliance International conference in New Orleans, January 22-26, 2020. We will have a membership meeting in New Orleans, detail to follow in our December newsletter. We will also be hosting our most sought after Showcase Free Zone each evening do plan to join us each evening for some great singing.
If you need a discount code please call the office. Also, check out the FAI conference website at www.folk.org for conference details.
Rising To Your Excellence with Freebo
Join us on November 26th for our final Cyber Union call of 2019.
Freebo will join us and share his thoughts on “Rising To Your Excellence” Freebo shared with us several years ago and it was one of the most well attended sessions. Freebo will share with us what it means to be the best you were made to be. This will include all of who we are; body, mind, soul. Freebo has been in the music making business for a long time and has traversed many of the turbulent waters of the music business. Join us for this most exciting call.
Time: Nov 26, 2019 08:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/334799123 Meeting ID: 334 799 123 One tap mobile +16465588656,,334799123# US (New York) +17207072699,,334799123# US (Denver) Dial by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 720 707 2699 US (Denver) Meeting ID: 334 799 123 Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/adzpdxaPsJ
Canadian Corner
All Cheques for Canadian Pension Contributions Must be Made Out to Musicians’ Pension Fund of Canada The Musicians’ Pension Fund has advised that, starting November 1st, 2019, they are changing the Custodian for their investment accounts. This change is being implemented to reduce custody fees and improve accuracy of reporting. Due to these changes, ALL CHEQUES MUST BE MADE OUT TO THEIR CURRENT NAME, MUSICIANS’ PENSION FUND OF CANADA, or some version of said name. Starting on November 1st, the new custodian will not accept cheques made out to AFM, AFM-EPW Fund or any variation of their old name, as they will have no record of that being the name of the Fund. Click here for more information. 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.Take Action!
Performing Artist Tax Parity Act
Congress has introduced bipartisan legislation to assure musicians and other working performers do not experience unjustified tax increases as a result of the passage of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act.
Many musicians are employees who incur significant expenses including concert clothing, travel costs, rehearsal space, studio time, instrument repairs and instrument purchases. Under prior law, the IRS allowed a deduction for necessary expenses incurred in connection with our employment. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated our option to claim miscellaneous itemized deductions, which allowed performers to deduct work expenses. Many musicians now pay substantially more in taxes as a result.
The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA) would update the Qualified Performing Artist (QPA) tax deduction to help musicians and other performers deduct the costs of work-related expenses.
U.S. Pension Fund
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.
Contact your Members of Congress here: https://afm-epf.org/Participants/ContactCongress.aspx
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 have released their 48th recording. “WAHOO!” is a ukulele-centric tour de force. The songs and tunes traverse multiple styles: western swing, calypso, jazz standard, Appalachian, Celtic and Tango. The duo’s vocals are dreamy, their arrangements are masterful and their playing shows a deep love of the ukulele and it’s vast possibilities. Available at www.cathymarcy.com
November Birthdays
Finally, we would like to wish the following members Happy Birthday! If your birthday falls in November 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.| 11-02 Patricia Wynne 11-04 Alan Munde 11-07 Jim Watson 11-07 Shay Wetzer 11-08 Colin Savoie-Levac 11-08 Brook Schoenfield 11-08 David Whyte 11-10 Dana Robinson 11-11 Chris Smither 11-11 Bruce Barthol 11-12 Laura Bates 11-13 Jonathan Byrd 11-13 Scott Fore 11-13 Steve Sinnicks 11-14 Jay Ungar 11-15 Buck Brandt 11-16 Aisha Kahlil 11-17 David Amram | 11-17 Michael Fitzpatrick 11-17 David Francey 11-17 Chuck Mitchell 11-18 Joel Fafard 11-20 Rick Goldin 11-20 Jordan O’Connor 11/21 Larry Long 11-21 Saul Broudy 11-22 Emily Burgess 11-23 Corin Raymond 11-25 Liam Fennecken 11-26 Natalie Bohrn 11-28 Ken Dunn 11-28 Tom Neilson 11-29 Kate Early 11-29 Andre Roy 11-29 Galen Weston 11-30 Alistair Whitehead |
48th CD