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
Lots of important information in this newsletter. Please take the time to read each article.
Our next membership meeting is November 10 at 4:30-6:30 p.m. EST, both online and in person for those attending the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) conference in Asbury Park, NJ. Watch your email inbox for specific details regarding nominations for Executive Board positions and bylaw changes. The agenda will go out in early November. (See below for Zoom link.)
Please read the article below about proposed bylaws updates. These changes are not mere formalities. They reflect important work by the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group and the Executive Board. In addition, the Scales Committee is working on updated minimum scales, which will be presented for approval.
By the way, if you plan to attend NERFA, please note: Local 1000 has secured a discount rate for our members. Check with the office for specifics.
The Fair Trade Music Committee will be at NERFA, spreading the word about this exciting campaign. We are seeking venues and presenters to commit to union scale wages and decent working conditions for all the musicians they hire—a win-win-win for artists, presenters, and fans. Stay tuned for details. And remember to pick up your campaign swag at https://www.local1000.org/local-1000-merchandise/
If you have not yet edited your member profile and added your picture on the new Local1000 website, please do so ASAP. We want real photos and information to replace those anonymous icons! Log in at local1000.org to edit your page. If you have problems logging in contact Richard, [email protected].
Finally, this is YOUR Union. It is where together we strive to support the lives of working musicians. This includes fighting for scale wages, better working conditions, travel benefits, contract protection, recording contracts and so much more. But to keep us moving forward requires money.
Let me remind you that the bulk of your annual dues goes to our international union, American Federation of Musicians (AFM). We rely on work dues to pay rent, staff salaries, office expenses, etc.
If your work is covered by a single engagement contract or a collective bargaining agreement, you are required to pay work dues over and above your annual dues, as are all AFM members. If you don’t use either of these agreements, there is nothing to compel you to pay work dues, beyond commitment to your union and belief in the importance of our work.
Currently, less than 20% of our members pay work dues, bringing in no more than $4,900 per year.
Consider this: many of us earn at least $400 a month in musical work, such as performing, teaching, transcribing, etc., that is not covered under a union contract. Voluntary work dues of just $10 per month (2.5% of $400) per member could bring an additional $35,000 into our local’s coffers every year.
To stay afloat and really make a difference, we need to do better than $4,900 a year. Let’s change the paradigm and attract more folks to this incredible group of travelling musicians. Imagine what we could do if everyone paid their share!
Together we are mighty!
Aaron Fowler, President
November Membership Meeting
Our third membership meeting of 2022 will take place November 10 at 4:30-6:30 PM EST. This meeting will be in person for NERFA attendees and online for all other members. Important agenda items include nominating a new Secretary/Treasurer and a Western Representative to the Executive Board, voting on bylaws changes, nominating two representatives to the 2023 AFM conference, and approving the 2023 budget. Please watch for emails regarding each of these items. Below is the zoom link for those who cannot attend in person.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86919089205?pwd=UlBmUDNIeld3d1VCeDlCRVVwdTJTdz09
Meeting ID: 869 1908 9205
Passcode: 354196
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,86919089205#,,,,*354196# US (Tacoma)
+13462487799,,86919089205#,,,,*354196# US (Houston)
Meeting ID: 869 1908 9205
Passcode: 354196
Executive Board Nominations due September 15th.
The Executive Board is making preparations for our November Membership meeting at NERFA (and online). One of the agenda items at this meeting will be the nomination of two new board positions. The open slots are for Secretary Treasurer and for Western Rep. If you are interested in serving the Local in one of these positions please send your name to Eve Goldberg at [email protected]. These nominations need to be received by September 15th, 2022.
If you have any questions please contact President Aaron Fowler at [email protected].
Bylaw Changes
“Inclusion is not bringing people into what already exists; it is making a new space, a better space for everyone.” -George Dei
As a few of our wonderful members of Local 1000’s DEI Working Group have stated, it is not enough to put words on a page; we also need action to back up our words. In order to make our union more accountable to its values and to continue our commitment to holding a space in our leadership for diversity, equity and inclusion, the Executive Board would like to formally submit the following two proposals for updates to our union bylaws:
Proposal #1: Update of wording to Section XIII (Nominations and Elections) Section 3 (b) (i) of our bylaws as follows:
The current language regarding nominations reads:
(i) A nominating Committee of three Active Members shall be appointed by the President, and may nominate one eligible Active Member for each open position. The Nominating Committee shall be charged with ensuring that each position open for nominations has at least one nominee. The Nominating Committee shall further be charged with presenting candidates who reflect diversity of the Union regarding race, geography, gender, age, musical style, etc. To that end, the Committee shall confer for the purpose of soliciting candidates for each election and shall submit its list of candidates to the Secretary-Treasurer no later than the third membership meeting. Members of the Nominating Committee may neither be officers nor candidates for office.
The proposed updated wording is as follow:
(i) A nominating Committee of three Active Members shall be appointed by the President, and may nominate one eligible Active Member for each open position. The Nominating Committee shall be charged with ensuring that each position open for nominations has at least one nominee. The Nominating Committee shall further be charged with and committed to presenting candidates who reflect the diversity of the Union in regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, geography, disability status, musical style and age. Nominating Committee members agree to first solicit BIPOC nominees for open positions and do their best to continue to make that effort at each election. The Nominating Committee should also ensure to the best of their ability that women continue to have an equal voice on the Executive Board and in our union. The Committee shall confer for the purpose of soliciting candidates for each election and shall submit its list of candidates to the Secretary-Treasurer no later than the third membership meeting. Members of the Nominating Committee may neither be officers nor candidates for office.
Proposal #2: This proposal applies to the entire bylaws document.
Wherever the words “he/she” “him/her” or “his/hers” appear, those words shall be replaced with the more inclusive “they,” “them” or “their” throughout.
DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) Update
The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Working Group (DEIWG) has been meeting to follow up on and create a presentation for this year’s member survey. Thanks to everyone who completed it! A final report with recommendations for future action and organizing will be submitted in time for the November Membership Meeting.
DEIWG members John Acosta and Faith Nolan are hard at work creating a collaborative BIPOC music event and panel discussion featuring Local 1000 members; they are negotiating a grant to pay scale to both musicians and tech support. We are also proud to have initiated and supported the work of the Executive Board to propose updates in the wording of our bylaws to be stronger and
more inclusive. We look forward to future collaboration with the Fair Trade Music Committee, bringing DEI into the organizing work for our union.
For more info, contact Aileen Vance: [email protected]
Fair Trade Music Updates
Here we have our esteemed Prez rockin’ that Fair Trade Music Swag! We’ve got Shirts! We’ve got stickers! We’ve got guitar picks! You can run right on over to https://www.local1000.org/local-1000-merchandise and get yours NOW! Better yet, take one of those selfies of yourself wearing your shirt and send it on over to Deb: [email protected]
Local 1000 Virtual Union Coffee Hours
Local 1000 Virtual Union Coffee Hours return this fall! Annie Patterson & Aileen Vance will again be hosting a social hour on the last Wednesday of each month, beginning September 28th. Please join us for this informal hour of conversation and support with your union family.
Fall 2022 Meeting Dates:
All Wednesdays: September 28, October 26, Nov 30, December 28
12pm Pacific / 2pmCentral / 3pmEastern
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84571199711?pwd=M09IRktXalhOU3d2clNsL0FWWDd1UT09
Meeting ID: 845 7119 9711
Passcode: 787295
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kb3y8kYF1j
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
September Birthdays
Finally, we would like to wish the following members Happy Birthday! If your birthday falls in September 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, Lydia Adams Davis, Arthur McGregor and Tim Van Egmond.
Ralph Agresta
Scott Ainslie
Peter Alsop
Andre Blais
Adam Bowman
Leah Canali
Robson Cerqueira
Teresa Chandler
Morgan Clamp
Rob Clutton
Michael Davidson
Rosalyn Dennett
Stacey Earle
William McLeod Garrett
Keith Grimwood
Kevin Harvey
David Heitler-Klevans
James Hill
Valdy Horsdal
Terry Irons
Suzanne Jaroszynski
Kaia Kater-Hurst
Mark Lukens
Adrian Passarelli
Sally Rogers
Joel Schwartz
Linda Tillery
Saskia Tomkins
Elise Witt
Hank Woji
Carol Young
In Solidarity,
AFM Local 1000