September 2023 Newsletter

Dear Union Family,

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

Dear union family,

As the temperatures begin to cool and the leaves start to change I hope this installment finds you well. The strength of our Union is found in our ability to meet our members’ needs. When we do that we also meet the needs of all traveling musicians. We need to know your concerns and where you want to help create forward movement on these important issues. 

Please take the time to read through the important articles in this newsletter. 

Our next membership meeting will be November 16th at 7:00 pm EST. Please put this on your calendar as there will be several items that will be voted on by our members including Executive Board nominations and bylaw changes. 

As always, we are only as strong as our ability to pull together for better working conditions traveling musicians. Please consider joining the work. 

Aaron Fowler

President@Local1000.org

A Message From Our Secretary-Treasurer, Donna Nestler

I want to thank my predecessor, Beth Cahill, for her wonderful support. I would also like to thank Steve Eulberg and Scott Berwick for their wisdom and encouragement, former Secretary-Treasurers of Local 1000 AFM who serve on the Finance Committee.

I learned about Local 1000 and joined at a NERFA Conference, because I believe in unions.  I had worked as a New York State teacher, so I already had a pension to look forward to, and I did not really pay attention to the rights and responsibilities I had as a member of Local 1000. Stepping into the Secretary Treasurer role has been enlightening. I didn’t realize that a substantial part of our dues goes to the AFM, and that it is our work dues that really support the Local. I didn’t know about filing union contracts, which pay work dues and pension contributions. Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) were also new to me!  And now I’ve learned that every member has the responsibility to pay Estimated Work Dues on any work done outside a union contract.  EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS! 

I have also learned about the Musicians Performance Trust Fund (MPTF). Administered through the AFM, it provides matching funds for gigs that are sponsored by schools, nursing homes, libraries, etc., and are free and open to the public. So much to learn!!! 

One last thing: become involved with our Union. You can make Solidarity calls, become a member of a committee (such as the Communications Committee), or volunteer your organizational skills to help get our files on the Google Drive in order. There are many opportunities to support our Union.

I look forward to working with you all!

Donna Nestler

secretarytreasurer@local1000.org

A Message from our Canadian Vice President, Arthur McGregor

Currently, Local 1000 scales are in one currency only. That means if you compare scales from Canada to the US, our US brothers and sisters are making a different amount. This, of course, depends on the exchange rate which is currently 32%. It has, years ago, been at par.

Does this matter to our Canadian members?

Is the scale difference of enough importance to include a Canadian dollar scale on our list of promulgated scales?

There are arguments for and against this and some arguments may have relevance. I would like to hear some feedback from our Canadian members to find out what we want. 

Does the difference impact on what we get paid for shows in Canada? Does the difference impact our decisions to tour the US? Would a $200 CAD minimum scale (currently listed only as $150 for small concerts) affect our ‘hire-ability’? It would impact our pension contributions. A US member suggested that US health care is payable out of their pockets, making the cost-of-living higher in the US. Of course, Canadian members pay for our health care in our taxes.

Please let me know by writing to: vicepresidentcanada@local1000.org

Arthur McGregor

November Membership Meeting

Save the date! Our last membership meeting of 2023 will be Thursday, November 16th at 7:00 Eastern. More details to come.

Important Upcoming Dates

Sep 27: Local 1000 Women’s Coffee & Caucus

Sep 28: E-Board Meeting

Oct 25: Local 1000 Women’s Coffee & Caucus

Nov 16: Membership Meeting

For more information, view the Local 1000 calendar

Local 1000 Women’s Coffee & Caucus

The Local 1000 Women’s Coffee & Caucus hour meets monthly whenever possible. Join us in the Zoom Room for lively and supportive conversations about the lives of women in the music industry and the issues and actions we want to embrace in our organizing and cultural work as women in our union.  

Upcoming meetings on Zoom: Sept 27 and Oct 25th

 @ 12pm Pacific/1pm MTN/2pm Central/3pm Eastern

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82276196970?pwd=RFpiQWdmQXRxQ1hhL2FERVd0VnNuZz09

Meeting ID: 822 7619 6970

Passcode: 288278

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kyKnWZcFI

New! Grant Opportunity for Local 1000 Members

The Still Small Voice 4U Foundation is offering Artist Innovation Grants exclusively to Local 1000 members for live performances that are free to the public and presented in partnership with community organizations. There are 15 grants available for $500 USD each. Grants will be awarded on a first come, first served basis, and applications opened on August 9th. For more information and a link to apply, visit https://form.jotform.com/231444813402144

Emergency Relief Fund Update

Good news! The Emergency Relief Fund (ERF) is now offering grants of up to $500 to members in good standing for emergency medical or unforeseen circumstances that impact their ability to work. This new policy replaces the old no-interest pay-back loan model and will be the norm from now on. We do ask recipients of the ERF, past and present, to “pay it forward” by donating back to the fund whenever they are able so that others can get support when they need it in the future. We are also hoping that many past ERF recipients will join us at some point in the near future to help raise more money for the fund so we can continue to help members in need. To apply for an ERF grant, go to: https://www.local1000.org/resources/emergency-relief-fund/

Committee and E-Board meetings

The bulk of the work of this Union gets done through the hundreds of volunteer hours provided by committee members and the Executive Board. The E-Board meets every 6 weeks via zoom and the committees meet regularly to carry out the business of our Local. If you want to join the excitement or have a concern that you think we should be addressing, please contact President Fowler. It takes all of us working together to stand up and fight for our work. We need you! Please consider joining us.

Conference Call – Represent Local 1000!

Local 1000 hopes to be represented at more conferences to reach musicians throughout the independent music industry. Our labor and voices are needed now more than ever, for our members and non-members alike. If you are going to be attending a conference and want to help spread the word about Local 1000 please contact President Aaron Fowler to see how you can be an Ambassador for YOUR UNION.

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

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.

In Solidarity,

AFM Local 1000