Newsletter April 2018

Local 1000 April 2018 Newsletter

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This is our regular monthly email newsletter that goes out to everyone in the first week of each month. It includes reminders, member news and important announcements from the Executive Board and the office.

News from the Executive Board

Local 1000 Member Gathering / Great Labor Arts Exchange

Local 1000 is celebrating 25 years and to mark the occasion we will be partnering with the Great Labor Arts Exchange (GLAE), where Local 1000 was born those many years ago. We will be presenting a stream of programming as part of the GLAE annual gathering in Silver Spring, MD from Thursday June 21 – Sunday June 24, 2018. On Sunday, after the gathering is over, we will hold a member retreat and gathering for the day, followed by a party.

Local 1000 Member Retreat/Great Labor Arts Exchange

Thurs., Jun 21 – Sun Jun 24, 2018

Tommy Douglas Conference Centre

Silver Spring, MD 20903

Local 1000 at SERFA

Local 1000 will be at the Southeast Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA ). We will once again be running the Showcase-Free Zone in the lobby of the hotel, hosted by Local 1000 members, and we will be leading a panel on the benefits of the union on Thursday at 1:45. See you there!

The conference will take place May 16-20, 2018 in Montreat, NC.

Showcase Free Zone Schedule

Where: Assembly Inn Lobby

Thurs 10 – 11:30 — Karen Oliver

Thurs 11:30 – 12:30— Andy Cohen

Fri 10:30 – 11:30— Scott Berwick

Fri 11:30 – 12:30— Tret Fure

Sat 10:30 – 11:30— Bill & Eli Perras

Sat 11:30 – 12:30— Mara Levine

More information at www.serfa.org

$25 for 25 Fundraiser

Together we can raise $12,500!

Local 1000 is 25 years old! It’s hard to believe but it’s true. This year Local 1000, the non-geographical “local” of the American Federation of Musicians, will mark 25 years of providing access to the pension fund, contract protection, instrument insurance and more, along the way creating an incredible community among touring folk and roots musicians.

Any way you look at it this is an amazing feat: 25 Years. Twenty-Five Years. 9,131 days! 1,300 weekends of gig availability.

To celebrate, we’re launching a fundraising campaign we call $25 for 25 years. Five $5 bills. 25 Years. $1 a year. This is an affordable way to say thank you and pay it forward in support of the ongoing work of the organization that is dedicated to supporting us in our careers. A gift of $25, one dollar for each of the years that our union local has been active.

What do you think? If each of our 500 members gives the minimum of $25, together we can raise $12,500!

Music in Social Change Movements

A birthday gift from my spouse last month is a T-Shirt which has a drawing of Pete Seeger’s banjo together with this quote:  “The right song at the right moment can change history.”

Music has always played an important role in movements for social change.  I am looking for “snapshot” stories for an upcoming article and our 25th Birthday Party at the Great Labor Arts Exchange in June and would love your input:

I’d like to know your answers to any of these questions:

How are you experiencing music in social change today?  What seems to be working the best right now?

Which songs do you sing or have you heard which as “the right songs?”

Do you write songs on the spot?

Do you re-shape the introduction so the song applies to a specific situation?

Do you learn other people’s songs and share them?

Do people call you to sing for their movements?  Or do you offer to do so?

How do you do this with senior citizens, with school-aged children, with pre-school children?

Please write to Steve Eulberg at steve@owlmountainmusic.com. The deadline is April 28, 2018

April Cyber Union Call – Self Care for Musicians

Please join us for our April Cyber Union Call, which will be led by Local 1000 member Dirje Childs. Our topic will be “Self Care for Musicians.”

Time: Apr 17, 2018 8:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/329589924

Or iPhone one-tap : US: +16465588656, 329589924#  or +16699006833, 329589924#

Or Telephone:

• US: +1 646 558 8656  or +1 669 900 6833
• Canada: +1 647 558 0588

Meeting ID: 329 589 924

International numbers available here: https://zoom.us/u/O5YYE

Proposed Dues Increase

The Executive Board is recommending an increase of $5 a year for Local 1000 membership dues, effective October 1, 2018. This would bring annual membership dues to US$177 per year. Dues have not been increased since 2013. Over the past year, we have significantly cut some costs and we are keeping a close eye on all of our spending. Despite these measures, it is challenging for Local 1000 to cover expenses. We are one of the largest locals in the union without a major collective bargaining agreement, such as a symphony, and because the majority of our members don’t regularly file contracts, we do not have the work dues income that other similarly-sized locals benefit from. The dues increase will help us cover our basic costs and keep the office running more smoothly for members.

The dues increase will be voted on by the membership at our June membership meeting in Silver Spring, MD.

Proposed Scales Increase

Our scales committee, in collaboration with the executive board, is also recommending changes to scale wages. We have not increased scale, which sets the minimum wages for contracted gigs since 2012. Members are always free to negotiate fees above scale.

The new scale wages would be:

$250 for solo concert (currently $230)
$120 for solo small concert (currently $110)
$75 for solo opener (currently $70)
$120 for leader of ensemble at a small venue (currently $110)
$60 for a side player of an ensemble at a small venue. (currently $55)

All other scales would remain the same.

The increase in scale wages will be voted on by the membership at our June meeting in Silver Spring, MD. Thanks to our scales committee, chaired by Joe Jencks, for their work!

2018 Membership Meetings

There will be two more membership meetings in 2018. Mark your calendars and plan to attend!

Jun 24, 2018 – Great Labor Arts Exchange, Silver Spring, MD

Nov 8 or 9, 2018 – Northeast Regional Folk Alliance, Stamford, CT

Canadian Corner

P2 Updates

The CFM is now advising Canadian members applying for P2 visas to get their application in at least 75 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.

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

We are excited to welcome the following new and recently reinstated members to Local 1000!

New and Reinstated Members

Harold Brandt III

John Dillon

Sam Gleason

Michael Johnathon

Vivian Nesbitt

Margie Rosenkranz

April Birthdays

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

04/01 Stacie Tabb 04/03 Dennis Mackrel 04/04 Benedict Gagliardi 04/05 Andrew Collins 04/06 Hali Hammer 04/07 Janis Ian 04/07 Ian Robb 04/08 Andrew Pacheco 04/09 Michael Browne 04/09 John Showman 04/09 John Wort Hannam 04/10 David Rovics 04/10 David Rowe 04/11 Aviva Chernick 04/16 Armand Aromin 04/18 Darryl Poulsen 04/19 William Doerge

04/19 Michael McKenna 04/20 David Hakan 04/20 Clint Milburn 04/20 Judy Werle 04/21 Will Danforth 04/23 Lydia Adams Davis 04/23 Si Kahn 04/23 Catherine MacLellan 04/24 Roger Day 04/24 Dana Idlet 04/25 David Theroff 04/26 Jeremy Kittel 04/26 John “Billy” Ware 04/27 Erika Kulnys 04/27 Evalyn Parry 04/30 Kev Corbett 04/30 Ken Whiteley

In Solidarity,

AFM Local 1000