July 2022 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

And the summer is upon us! BBQ’s, summer vacations, and plenty of heat. I was in Oklahoma last week and the temps were well in the 100’s, 109 to be exact.

Your Union continues to work on very exciting things. The Ex. Board is reviewing proposals from the FTM committee for several organizing trainings for leaders and members, as well as the hiring a new Organizer, Exciting!  Members of the DEI Working Group and Executive Board have been hard at work developing new language for our by-laws that will make us more accountable and be more inclusive of our entire membership.

The Communications committee is continuing to review our website so it will best represent our members as well as serve the larger public with information on Local 1000. The scales committee is working on new scales that will better reflect the kind of work we are doing post pandemic. Lots of opportunities to join the work!

Remember, this is your Union, and we need you to take an active part. Join a committee, talk about your union from the stage, talk with your friends about Local 1000. And probably most important, make sure you are supporting your Local with your regular work dues. As we all get back to working it is important that everyone pays their 2.5% working dues on all music gigs. This dues payment allows us to make significant changes for our members and the larger music industry. If you wish to make an estimated work dues payment, please contact Richard in the office to set up that reoccurring payment. If you are not filing regular contracts, if every member would make $5 or $10 monthly estimated work dues payment, we would raise an additional $20-40,000 amount to support our work. Please consider!  

Together we are Mighty!

President Fowler

Fair Trade Music Update

The Fair Trade Music Committee continues to gear up for a fall launch of a major organizing program.  We are engaged in planning/presenting an organizing training, specifically for the Committee, the Executive Board, and the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee, but open to all interested members.  Both milestones will begin to establish a culture of organizing here in our Local.

We believe that this work will steady our ship after the long and difficult pandemic period.  There are many ways to support FTM’s organizing efforts and one way to do that is by buying SWAG.  And, boy, do we have cool SWAG.  We have Fair Trade Music T-shirts (see separate article about getting yours before the price increase!), stickers, informational postcards, and even guitar picks (in BOTH medium and hard…you’re welcome, bluegrassers). 

Check out the Store on the Local’s website. 

Sales of all the swag helps fund FTM’s important work. Speaking of SWAG…have you purchased your Fair Trade Music t-shirt? If you have yours, send a pic of you wearing your shirt to Deb Cowan: dcowan@DebraCowan.com

Canada News from Arthur McGregor, Canadian VP

Most festivals are up and running this summer across Canada, creating joyful and income-producing work for many of our members.

This October London, Ontario (about an hour North-east of Detroit AND a Unesco world music city) hosts Folk Music Ontario’s annual conference. It promises to be a innovative event, the first with Rosalyn Dennett at the helm.  (Folkmusicontario.ca)

The Government of Canada has given funding to Unison to offer one-time grants to members of Canada’s music community. As a Local 1000 member, you are eligible for this grant. 

Go to: https://unisonfund.ca

DEI Update (Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Committee)

Thank you to everyone who participated in our DEI member survey!   The DEI Working Group looks forward to presenting the results to our membership soon with action recommendations.

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

Work Dues Equivalency/Solidarity Pledge

Are you signed up for monthly Estimated Work Dues or Solidarity Pledge payments?

Learn more here. 
 

Music Performance Trust Fund Grants Available

You can get up to 50% funding for a live or streaming concert through the Music Performance Trust Fund of the AFM. You will need a co-sponsoring organization, and applications must be submitted 30 days in advance of the performance. Please contact Richard in the office for more information (with email/phone number).

MusicianFest Grants Available

MusicianFest is a specific project of the Music Performance Trust Fund that supports performances in seniors residences. Local 1000 has been allocated 5 grants for members through the MusicFest program. Please contact Richard in the office for more info.

Emergency Relief Fund

Local 1000’s Emergency Relief Fund still has grants available to help with expenses during the pandemic.  Grants of up to $1000 are available to members in good standing while funds last. Please note, members who have previously received an ERF grant cannot apply for a second one at this time.

To apply for a grant or to donate to keep the fund healthy for members in need, visit our website or contact Richard at the office.

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

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 Arthur McGregor and Tim Van Egmond.

In Solidarity,

AFM Local 1000