Archives: August 2003
08/24/03 Local 655 to host instrument swap
You are invited !
Musicians Universe
Family Swap Meet
sponsored by Musicians Union Local #655
Sunday October 19, 2003
1 to 5 PM
VFW Hall, 350 SW 25 St., Ft. Lauderdale
musical instruments, CD’s, sound equipment, records, lights, instrument repair, videos, insurance services, sheet music, recording studios, books, computer services, internet services, DVD’s, white elephants .....
Be a vendor, browser or buyer. Clean out your closets, studios, garages, warehouses and attics.
Anything for, from, by, about, or of interest to musicians and their families is welcome at the Musicians Universe Family Swap Meet.
Info or Vendor inquiries: 954 925-1996
$1 suggested donation benefits the Musicians Union Education Fund
Vendor spaces from $30 ($20 AFM members). Set up 10:30 -12:30.
08/05/03 Palm Beach Opera Contract Ratified
Members of the Palm Beach Opera Orchestra have ratified a new three-year agreement. The new agreement includes wage increases of 12% and pension contribution increases of 1.5% over three years; a 28-day cancellation policy for all services; a new appeals committee structure giving the final authority in musical-performance player dismissal to the appeals committee; compensation for members of audition committees; and increased player input on hiring of extras and granting of tenure. The musicians were represented by Local 655 President Peter Graves, AFM Negotiator Chris Durham, and Orchestra Committee members Rochelle Gnagey Skolnick (chair), Diane Weisberg, Jennifer Potochnic, and Erika Venable.08/01/03 That Union Thing
Unions and Professional Athletes
A union for professional athletes? Why would someone making huge sums of money need a union? In fact, actors, doctors, performing artists, and athletes are union members in higher percentages than other occupations.
Major League baseball players, possibly one of the most exploited groups of workers, began their quest for union representation in 1885 with the Brotherhood of Professional Baseball Players. It took players almost 100 years to address their primary concern: the reserve system.
08/01/03 Legislative Roundup
(From AFL-CIO Work in Progress)
FCC RULES FOR NEWS MONOPOLIES—On June 2, the Republican-dominated Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved sweeping changes in media ownership rules that open the door for unprecedented media consolidation and more corporate control over the news and information working families receive. The Center for Public Integrity recently reported FCC commissioners and top staff were showered with nearly $2.8 million in travel and entertainment between May 1995 and February 2003, some of it paid for by companies that stand to benefit from the new rules. To read the center's report, visit www.publici.org. “It is disgraceful that the Republican majority on the FCC bowed to corporate interests so completely that they held only one public hearing on an issue that will so drastically alter the media landscape,” Communications Workers of America President Morton Bahr said.
08/01/03 Symphonic Shorts
Arts Funding...Luxury or Necessity?
The Nonprofit Industry generates $134 billion in economic activity each year:
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$53.2 billion in direct spending
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$80.8 billion in spending by audiences on parking, hotels, restaurants, etc.
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$24.4 billion in tax revenue
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$1.4 billion in activity in the state of Florida
This is in contrast to just $3 billion in government spending on the arts— an 8-to-1 return!
08/01/03 Recording Rap
Alfredo Oliva called to let me know he had played for the “Heroes Awards” at the Oriental Mandarin Hotel in Miami. This was a tribute to Juan Luis Guerra. Members of the band included Ed Calle, Juan Salazar, Jeff Carswell, Richard Bravo, Alfredo, Orlando Forte, Chauncey Patterson and Chris Glansdorp. During a press conference at the hotel the nominees were announced for the Fourth Annual Latin Grammy Awards. Miami’s group “Bacilos” picked up six nominations, more that any other artist. Included were Record of the Year, Album of The Year, and two nominations for Song of the Year for the title track and Mi Primer Millon.
08/01/03 Casual Corner
News & Announcements
Melody Cole has been named Best Female Vocalist in the Miami New Times Reader’s Poll...the Miami Saxophone Quartet (Gary Keller, Gary Lindsay, Ed Calle, Mike Brignola) have released their latest CD, “Live,” which also features percussionist Richard Bravo, pianist Phil Strange, bassist Chuck Bergeron, and drummer Dave Hardman...bassist Joe Pitti was recently featured in the Meet Your Neighbor column of the Palm Beach Post. Pitti has played for Bo Diddley, Johnny Maestro, the Marcels, and the Neal Smith Orchestra…
08/01/03 Official Business
Nominations Notice
The following Offices are open for nomination for the two-year term commencing January 1, 2004:
- President
- Vice President
- Secretary-Treasurer
- Director (6 positions)
