Newsletter June 2017

Local 1000 June 2017 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

 

SERFA Report

At SERFA this year, we presented Scott Berwick with a lovely service award to thank him for his years as Secretary Treasurer. We also hosted our popular Showcase Free Zone in the lobby. Big thanks to Scott Berwick, Mara Levine, Reggie Harris, Si Kahn, Bill and Eli Perras, Daniel and Faith Senie for your contributions to our presence at SERFA.

 

Member News Submissions

We want to help you all see what cool things each other are doing, so we have created a new section in our monthly e-news for member news. It’s a place where you can tell us about your new albums, awards, and other notable activities.

You can now submit your news here: https://www.local1000.org/my-account/submit-member-news/

Note: You must be logged into your local 1000 member account to submit a news item.

 

Pension Fund Status Updates

IMPORTANT!

Updated information about the US pension plan has recently been sent to all participants. We encourage all members to read AFM President Ray Hair’s message in the May issue of International Musician, which provides a straightforward summary regarding the state of the fund.

Since then, it was announced by the AFM-EPF that the fund will remain in “critical” and not yet “critical and declining” status for another fiscal year.

For regular updates and to make sure you receive the most accurate information, please contact the AFM Employers Pension fund: https://www.afm-epf.org/

 

Doing the Album Union, with John McCutcheon

What does it mean to “do the album union?”  How complicated, expensive, time-consuming is it?  John McCutcheon has been doing his albums “on the book” for over twenty-five years.  He’s reaped the benefits of New Use (his recordings being used in other media), Special Payments Funds, and, of course, the AFM Pension.  Plus, he’s assured these benefits for the musicians who help bring his music to the public.

Our virtual union hall is a great place to share stories and connect with our brothers and sisters. Our next call is June 20th. Times vary depending on where you are in the world. 9:00 p.m. Eastern; 8:00 p.m. Central; 7:00 p.m. Mountain; 6:00 p.m. Pacific.

If you have not been on one of our Cyber Union calls it is simple. Just follow the link below, download the plug-in at Zoom (1 minute download) and you are in! If you have questions please feel free to call Aaron Fowler, 316-207-4715.

Topic: June 2017 Cyber Union Hall – Recording Contracts and Local 1000

Time: June 20, 2017 8:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

 

MPTF MusicianFest Program Funding Opportunity

We announced last month that Local 1000 has been granted the opportunity to fund 5 performances under the MPTF’s MusicianFest program. There are still several spots available!

The MPTF (Music Performance Trust Fund) presents thousands of live, admission-free musical programs annually in the United States and Canada. It is funded by royalties from record labels and is sponsored by the AFM and the record labels.

Learn more about applying for MPTF grants here: http://www.musicpf.org/mptf_apply.html

What is the MPTF’s MusicianFest program?

The MPTF is creating 500 music performances at senior centers across the U.S and Canada for its 3^rd year!  The MPTF will implement this entire program via a one-time grant from the Film Fund.

MusicianFest is an additional program offered by the MPTF. The typical MPTF performance is paid to the performer by the venue. The MPTF pays the venue half of the wages and pension contributions the musician receives, the venue in turn pays the musician. MusicianFest is completely different. Local 1000 would be responsible for matching a musician with an appropriate venue, the MPTF will pay Local 1000 and Local 1000 will pay the musician after the performance has been completed.

How the program works:

• Local 1000 has been allocated 5 performances by the MPTF.
• Local 1000 is in charge of scheduling the performances with the senior centers.
• Local 1000 will hire a musician who can play the type of music the venue requests.

Guidelines for the Program:

• Primarily for Solo Musicians.
• $200 will be paid for each performance.
• MPTF will cover 100% for each performance.

The program will run May 1^st – April 30^th, 2018!

How do I get paid?

• Local 1000 will need to receive a W-9 from the USA members that we hire.
• Local 1000 will send payment AFTER the performance is completed!

 

Communications Committee

One of the most important things we do is keep in touch with you, our members. We do that through this newsletter, through our website and Facebook pages, and through The New Deal, our yearly print publication.

We need your help! We are still looking for members who want to help oversee this very important aspect of our work, including curating and preparing content for our website and Facebook pages, overseeing our monthly e-newsletter, and collecting and editing interesting and inspiring stories for the New Deal. It would involve a small amount of regular work, meeting with other committee members (by Skype or Zoom) and finding and creating content as a group or individually.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Colin at the office together@local1000.org and put “Local 1000 Communications Committee” in the subject line.

 

Work Dues Equivalency – Set Up An Automatic Monthly Payment!

Are you filing union contracts? If not, please help sustain Local 1000 by automatically paying a small monthly amount every month on your credit card. It’s simple, easy, and effective.

Each time you file a union contract through Local 1000, you pay 2.5% in work dues to the local. Your work dues are the juice that keeps the office running. However, only 20% of our members file union contracts, which means we don’t always have the financial resources we need to work effectively for you.

At our recent Executive Board meeting at Folk Alliance, your board re-committed to “paying our dues,” and those who are not filing union contracts set up an AUTOMATIC MONTHLY PAYMENT for work dues equivalency on our credit cards by phoning Richard in the office. It took less than 5 minutes.

Scale for one gig at a regular venue is $230. 2.5% work dues on that fee is $5.75, or $69 per year. Consider supporting your union by paying $5.75 a month to Local 1000 automatically on your credit card.

You can set up your own monthly payment in minutes by calling Richard in the office at (212) 843-8726 (Tues & Thurs, 10 am – 6 pm). All it takes is your credit card information and a few minutes of your time.

 

Emergency Relief Fund

Please consider helping your brothers and sisters who may need assistance in the near future by making a small contribution to the ERF when you renew your membership or go to www.Local1000.org and make your donation. $5 or $10 dollars will go a long way if enough members make donations.

Canadian Corner

 

Canadian Cheques

As of June 1st, we will no longer be able to accept payment by Canadian cheque. Canadian members will be able to pay by credit card or PayPal only. Please contact Eve at vicepresidentcanada@local1000.org or the office at together@local1000.org if you have any questions or concerns. (And read your April 2017 e-news for more about why we are making this change!)

Eve Goldberg

 

P2 Situation Updates

US Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) has increased the fees for all O and P visa petitions to US $460.

More Information is Available Here

The Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM) is now advising Canadian members applying for P2 visas to get their application in at least 120 days before the first engagement.

There have been changes to the P2 forms posted on the CFM website. 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 Eve Goldberg or the CFM for more information.

 

Local 1000 Membership Update

 

New and Reinstated Members

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

Emma Frampton	Mike Mezzatesta
Tara Howley	Timothy O’Reilly
Jadea Kelly	James Robertson
James McEleney

In Memoriam

We regret to share with you that Local 1000 member Paul Ford has passed away.

Member News

 

If you have exciting news to share with Local 1000 members, you can now submit it here: https://www.local1000.org/my-account/submit-member-news/

Vi Wickam and Steve Eulberg release new album

Fiddle Whamdiddle is Back with a Brand New Album. It features a bunch of great old-time instrumentals, in the same vein as Old School Old Time, and a couple of songs, including the title track, an original by Vi Wickam and Steve Eulberg, John Denver’s Matthew, Aura Lea (written in 1861 by a relative of Vi’s Grandmother, George R. Poulton) and several other old-time favorites.  Learn more here

Gary Paul Hermus receives 2017 NMMA Award

On Sunday, May 21st, 2017 The New Mexico Awards announced their winners for 2017. Local 1000 member and West Coast Board representative Gary Paul was awarded the 2017 NMMA Award in the Singer/Songwriter category for his song, “Delaware County.” This is Gary’s second NMMA Award; in 2016 he received the award in the Western Category for his song, “Santa Fe Trail (Kit Carson’s Last Ride).” He has received an additional 8 nominations in the past 4 years.

June Birthdays

 

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

 

06/01  Erin Lewis 06/02  Joe Oliva 06/03  Wade Sharp 06/06  Matt Elwood 06/06  Anne Genest 06/06  James Stephens 06/06  Spook Handy 06/06  Holly Near 06/07  Heather Dale 06/09  Randy Browning 06/10  Israel Rosenblatt 06/10  Hugh McMillan 06/12  Kiyoshi Nagata 06/12  John O’Connor 06/13  Ryan Boeur 06/15  Mark Anderson 06/15  Robert Fox 06/15  Aaron Lightstone 06/16  Joe Stanton 06/17  Laura Cortese 06/17  Jonathan Foster 06/17  Andrew McLaren 06/18  Martha Leader

06/18  Charlie Pilzer 06/19  Skye Petel 06/19  Ernest Troost 06/20  Scott Berwick 06/21  Scott Gerber 06/21  Melinda Pittman 06/22  Lexie Jelilyan 06/22  Patricia McCutcheon 06/23  Jennifer Carrere 06/23  Elizabeth McKenty 06/23  Dan Schatz 06/23  Cody Walters 06/24  Colleen Kattau 06/25  Natalia Zukerman 06/26  Laura Risk 06/26  Deidre McCalla 06/26  George Swanson 06/27  Leslie Hudson 06/27  Sarah Marchand 06/28  Jamie Bonk 06/28  John Wargo 06/30  Charles Bernhardt

In Solidarity,

AFM Local 1000