Local 1000 October 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
Local 1000 at NERFA: Upcoming Membership Meeting and Elections
Nominations are open for President, VP from Canada and Midwest Representative. The nominating committee is charged to ensure that there is at least one nominee for each open position. Nominations are open until the end of call for nominations at the Fall 2017 Local 1000 Membership Meeting.
If you are interested in running or would like to nominate a candidate, please contact our Nominations Committee Chair, John O’Connor at nominations@local1000.org
The Fall Membership Meeting will take place at NERFA in Stamford, CT at 10am EST on Friday, November 10th. The exact location will be announced soon.
We will also be hosting our popular Showcase Free Zones! Here is the SFZ schedule:
- Friday 11:45pm – The Malvinas: “Women and Resistance”
- Saturday (Friday late night) 1:00 AM – Bev Grant: “The Women’s Circle”
- Saturday 11:45pm – David Roth: “What’s Going On – Songs for Personal and Global Change”
- Sunday (Saturday late night) 1:00 AM – Emma’s Revolution: “Music for the Resistance”
NERFA is once again providing registration discounts for Local 1000 members. Contact us at together@local1000.org for the discount code.
SWRFA Report
We had our second year at the Southwest Regional Folk Alliance (SWRFA). We did a panel/workshop again, and had about twice as many attendees this year compared to last year. The two-night showcase free zone was well received; many expressed thanks to Local 1000 for providing a place to share music with other members free from the pressures of showcase performances. We look forward to the prospect of new members and of returning to SWRFA again next year.
We thank the SWRFA board members for their sponsorship and support.
New Member Orientation Calls – Two Times!
The Executive Board will be hosting a New Members Orientation call several times each year. These calls are designed for our new members but any of our members can join the call. During this one hour video call we will share union benefits, how to fill out contracts, how to make pension and dues payments, regular ways to stay connected with your union and any questions you have about membership.
Join us either Tuesday evening, October 17th or Thursday morning, October 19th.
Bill & Pay
We have recently started using a new billing system, and you may have noticed changes in our emailed invoices. When you receive an invoice and click to make a payment you are taken to the Bill and Pay website (www.billandpay.com) to enter your credit card info and make a payment. You can also create an account so future payments can be made easier and even schedule payments to be made automatically!
If you have any questions about your invoices or the new system, please contact Richard Coombs at richard@local1000.org
Join Us On Facebook!
Did you know Local 1000 has TWO Facebook profiles? Here is a brief rundown.
This page is our outward-facing, public page meant for anyone interested in or supportive of Local 1000. Members are welcome to join this page, and you can also invite your friends to join if they want information about what Local 1000 is up to.
This group is for members of Local 1000, and is meant as a forum where we can discuss issues of importance to members. It’s a great place to network with other members, post questions, share significant career accomplishments and have discussions about the union. We would love to see more members join this group!
Folk Alliance International Conference 2018
We are pleased to share that Folk Alliance International has once again offered discounted registration to their annual conference for members of Local 1000.
The code gives members of Local 1000 $75 off the price of an individual registration until Jan 29th, 2018. If the member of Local 1000 is also a member of FAI, and they log into their member profile, then they will get the $100 FAI Member discount + $75 for Local 1000.
Please contact our office at together@local1000.org for the discount code.
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
P2 Updates
The CFM is raising the administration fee for processing of P2 visas. The new fee is $120 for the first musician/technician and $25 per additional musician/technician. The increase is being implemented gradually and the CFM office will accept the old fee until the new year.
The processing time for P2 applications has come down and 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 Eve Goldberg or the CFM for more information.
Folk Music Ontario
Canadian VP Eve Goldberg will be at the upcoming Folk Music Ontario conference in Mississauga. She’ll be helping at the Canadian Federation of Musicians table in the exhibit hall, and leading a song-swap at 3 pm on Friday afternoon in the hotel lobby. Feel free to say hi!
We may also organize an informal get-together of Local 1000 members at FMO. We’ll let Canadian members know details when we can confirm.
Canadian Cheques
As posted in the last few newsletters, we are no longer accepting payment by Canadian cheque. Canadian members can pay by credit card or PayPal. Please contact Eve at vicepresidentcanada@local1000.org or the office at together@local1000.org if you have any questions or concerns.
Member News
John McCutcheon presented with Utah Phillips Award
Local 1000 was thrilled to present past president and founding member John McCutcheon with the Utah Phillips Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Labor Movement at the recent Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS. John was our fearless leader in the formative years of Local 1000 and perhaps no-one is more deserving of this award. Congratulations! Watch the presentation here:
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Being a Member of Local 1000, by Timothy Van Egmond
Member Timothy Van Egmond recently shared with us his thoughts on being a member of Local 1000. Read what he had to say here. How about you? What do you get out of being a member of Local 1000? We’d love to share your thoughts. Email the office with your stories and comments!
“To me, being a member of Local 1000 of the Musician’s Union means being part of an organization devoted to serving my needs as a traveling performer and teaching artist.
It puts me in touch with a big network of colleagues and friends for mutual support, with the opportunity to compare notes and get help with problem-solving (such as advice I received about flying with my hammered dulcimer). I’ve also attended a couple Cyber Halls on different topics that have been very helpful.
It gives me access to professional insurance on my instruments and equipment both at home and on the road. It’s really helped me when I needed repair on my dulcimer after it was damaged, and when I needed to replace my stolen laptop computer.
It’s greatly helped my financial security with a pension.
Through the Local, I’ve received grants from the Music Performance Trust Fund for public service gigs at schools, day care centers and senior centers that otherwise couldn’t afford it.
In joining the Local, I joined an innovative organization formed by artists I admire and respect. I’m excited and proud to be part of the same association as them.
As a Union member, I’m supporting and taking part in the labor movement which has done so much for working people. I’m helping carry that history forward in a time when there are a lot of challenges to fairness and justice.”
October Birthdays
Finally, we would like to wish the following members Happy Birthday! If your birthday falls in October 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.
| 10/01 Seamus Kennedy
10/04 Bernice Reagon 10/04 Kathy Peters 10/05 Sandra Wong 10/07 Samuel Gleaves 10/07 Annie Patterson 10/08 Leigh Cline 10/08 Alexandra Ribera 10/09 Jennifer Armstrong 10/09 Orit Shimoni 10/11 Anna Gallup 10/12 Jadea Kelly 10/13 Troy Bennett 10/14 Betsy Scott 10/15 Erin McKeown 10/16 Elizabeth Curry 10/16 Beatrix Methe 10/16 Deborah Van Kleef 10/18 Mara Levine 10/19 Nancy Mike 10/20 Jennifer Camp 10/21 Julia Lane 10/21 Danny Lapidus 10/23 Margaret Nelson |
10/23 Evo Bluestein
10/23 Yann Falquet 10/24 Denise Levac 10/24 Lowry Olafson 10/25 Maura Kennedy 10/25 Laura Spink 10/26 Chris Quinn 10/27 Rayna Farr 10/27 Marshall Voit 10/28 Monica Leo 10/28 James Keelaghan 10/28 Lee Starck 10/28 Kevin Maul 10/28 Bob Wright 10/29 David Gans 10/29 Jamie Anderson 10/29 David James 10/30 Jordan Safer 10/31 Thomas Begich 10/31 Gordon Bok 10/31 Mike Mezzatesta 10/31 Tom Paxton 10/31 Carl Rufh |
In Solidarity,
AFM Local 1000