Official Business

Bylaw Amendments Enacted 3/19/02

Below is the new language approved at the March General Membership Meeting:

References to "Office Clerk" in Article IX Section 2 have been replaced with "Secretary-Treasurer or his/her designate."
Article VII Section 6. Any officer or staff member engaged by the local shall be entitled to two weeks annual paid vacation. In their third and fourth years of service, they shall be entitled to three weeks annual paid vacation. In their fifth and following years of service, they shall be entitled to four weeks annual paid vacation. Vacation time not utilized in each calendar year shall expire on December 31 of such year.
Article VII Section 5 (k) The Executive Board shall approve an Annual Budget in the fourth quarter preceding each fiscal year.
Article VII Section 3(f) The Vice President�s salary shall be $22,100 per year, paid weekly.

Steve Roitstein Appointed to Executive Board

Steve Roitstein is a songwriter, producer, composer, arranger, and musician with over 25 years in the industry. He began his career as a French horn player, working with South Florida symphonies and performing with many great artists in show orchestras. Steve has been honored to record with numerous musical legends such as Julio Iglesias, Jaco Pastorius, John Denver, Tito Puente, Celiz Cruz, and Cachao. In 1990 Steve formed Riot Music and gained further recognition as a songwriter, producer and award winning commercial music composer. His song Castillo Azul, recorded by Ricardo Montaner, hit number one in Billboard's Hot Latin charts and stayed there for a record ten weeks. In 2001, Steve was awarded a Latin Grammy for his arranging work with Celia Cruz.

Welcome, New members!

Born in England, Sarah Sutton began the viola at the age of 10. She studied at the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin School of Music in England with many eminent teachers, including Lord Menuhin himself. At age 18 she won a full scholarship to study at the International Menuhin Music Academy. In 1997, Sarah won a full scholarship and an Associate Instructorship to study with Alan deVeritch at Indiana University, and after her graduation she accepted a fellowship at the New World Symphony. Sarah became a member of the Florida Philharmonic in May 2001.

Sam Anderson relocated to So. Florida from Minnesota, Sept. 2001, to pursue a full-time career in music. Having lived only in the "north country" all his life, he is really enjoying the weather here. Sam has been involved in music all his life, receiving an old upright grand piano as a present for his 7th birthday. Sam plays drums, keyboard, and harmonica. He sings everything from Barbershop to Country, to Top Forty, but his favorites are the old standards of Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and the like.

Jim Trimble has been a professional lead and jazz trombone player for 43 years. He has played for stars such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis jr., Elvis Presley, and many more. Prior to coming to south Florida, he worked in Las Vegas and Branson, Missouri.

Melody Cole - pianist, song stylist, arranger, producer. Eclectic in her tastes, and former President of the Atlanta Jazz Society, this classically trained musician also studied jazz, and grew up in the church which nurtured her music. Melody has produced 2 recordings -Melody plays Bud �n Monk and Simply Sacred featuring herself on piano.

Elizabeth Marshall (flute/piccolo) recently relocated from Chicago, where she freelanced and maintained a very large private flute studio. She holds a Master's degree from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor's degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Elizabeth's primary teachers include Leone Buyse, Keith Underwood, and Tim Day, and she has won numerous competitions including 3rd prize in the National Flute Association Young Artist Competition. She currently freelances, teaches Music Theory, and is building a private flute studio in Miami.

Kathryn Sleeper was born in Indiana. At age 12, after hearing Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, she took up the bassoon. In 1982 she earned her BM degree from Southern Methodist University, studying with the late Janet Friedlander. Kathryn�s MM degree is from the University of Miami and the studio of Luciano Magnanini of the Florida Philharmonic. She is the recipient of several awards including a 1993 grant from the US Information Agency for four performances in the People's Republic of China. She currently is Principal Bassoonist with the Palm Beach Pops and Utility/Contrabassoonist with the Naples Philharmonic. Kathryn is an enthusiastic new music performer and has commissioned and premiered 24 works for bassoon including Concerto For Bassoon and Orchestra by her husband, Thomas Sleeper.