Local 1000 March 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
Folk Alliance Report
Local 1000 had a strong presence at this year’s Folk Alliance conference in Kansas City. With the theme of “Forbidden Folk: Celebrating Activism in Art,” it was an inspiring conference full of uplifting music and important and timely political messages.
Local 1000 member Billy Bragg delivered the keynote address, Local 1000 member Ani DiFranco gave a special presentation, and members David Amram, Si Kahn, and Sonia Rutstein were all honored with awards. In addition, members John McCutcheon, President Tret Fure, Rosalyn Dennett, and myself along with Local 1000 staff Colin Dean participated in a successful panel on “The Value of the Union.”
We signed up some new members, with more signing up shortly after the conference. Our Executive Board met and set a budget for the coming year, and our member meeting was well attended. Minutes from both meetings will be posted soon. The showcase-free zone was once again a popular spot for conference attendees to share songs in a non-competitive environment, and we sold lots of tickets for the banjo raffle, helping raise some crucial money for Local 1000 (details about the winner of the banjo are below).
Thanks to all who participated, and we hope to see you again next year.
Solidarity Forever!
Eve Goldberg
Local 1000 Vice President for Canada
New Invoicing Procedures
Going forward, we will be sending out all invoices via email only for all members who have an email address on file with Local 1000. We have a great office staff that is working hard for you. We are focused on improving the efficiency of our office processes, and making the most effective use of our resources. If you prefer to continue receiving paper invoices, please let our office know, and if you have any questions, I am happy to answer them via phone or email.
Thanks!
Vi Wickam
Local 1000 Secretary Treasurer
Local 1000 Banjo Raffle big success!
Congratulations to Lynn McCracken who was the winner of the Deering Banjo with Pete and Peggy Seeger’s signature on the head. When Lynn was notified she had won she could hardly believe it and was super excited. Now that she has a new banjo she said she will have to start taking banjo lessons!
Congratulations Lynn!
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.
March Cyber Union Hall
The craft of songwriting is practiced by many but mastered by few. Join us on March 21st when Local 1000 President Tret Fure will share her story and tips on songwriting. Tret has been writing since she was 16 and has taught songwriting to hundreds of budding songwriters. Join us as Tret shares her wisdom in the craft of songwriting. Join us for this informative session!
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: Local 1000 March 2017 Cyber Union Hall with Tret Fure
Time: March 21, 2017 8:00 PM (GMT-6:00) Central Time (US and Canada)
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/309311626
Or iPhone one-tap (US Toll): +14086380968,309311626# or +16465588656,309311626#
Or Telephone:
Dial: +1 408 638 0968 (US Toll) or +1 646 558 8656 (US Toll)
Canada callers: Dial: +1 647 558 0588
Meeting ID: 309 311 626
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
P2 Situation Updates
US Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) has increased the fees for all O and P visa petitions to US $460.
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.
March Birthdays
Finally, we would like to wish the following members Happy Birthday! If your birthday falls in March 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.
03/01 Jonathan Carroll
03/01 Ian Clark
03/01 Eric Erickson
03/01 Dick Jay Moons
03/01 George Wurzbach
03/03 Victor Lewis
03/03 Heather Masse
03/03 Sasha Zand
03/04 Carol Maillard
03/04 Howard Wooden
03/05 Freebo
03/05 Christine Havrilla
03/05 Chris Luedecke
03/06 Diane Ferlatte
03/06 Fred Rose
03/06 Marie Savoie-Levac
03/07 Aileen Vance
03/09 John Wright
03/09 Martha Cohen
03/10 Bennett Zurofsky
03/13 John Bunge
03/13 Andrea England
03/13 Tom Chapin
03/13 Tim Posgate
03/14 Kate Moore
03/14 David Roth
03/14 Michael Mark
03/15 Molly Mason
03/15 Bernard Gilbert
03/16 William Perras
03/16 Robin Williams
03/17 Raven Polson-Lahache
03/18 Sharon Abreu
03/18 Leonardo Biciunas
03/18 Tret Fure
03/18 James McKie
03/18 Kerri Ough
03/18 Laura Smith
03/18 Tim Van Egmond
03/19 Nicolas Babineau
03/19 David Durning
03/19 Daniel Jordan
03/20 Ed Caner
03/21 Mary Monagan
03/22 Lui Collins
03/22 Bev Grant
03/23 Robert Adern
03/23 Heather Roy
03/24 Aliza Thibodeau
03/25 David Braid
03/27 Rik Barron
03/29 Brien Matson
03/29 Adam Stotland
03/30 Morgan Doctor
03/30 Pat Humphries
03/30 Terry Gillespie
03/31 Bucky Halker
In Solidarity,
AFM Local 1000