The Florida AFM Locals will be having a booth at the Florida Music Educators Association Conference in Tampa on January 13-16, 2027. AFM chapters represented will include South Florida Musicians, Central Florida Musicians, Florida Gulf Coast Musicians, Gulf Coast Musicians, and the Musicians Association of Jacksonville, as well as staff from the AFM national office. We look forward to networking with our future members. If you are attending the conference, please stop by our booth and say hello!
We had our third negotiating session with Palm Beach Opera last month, assisted by AFM negotiator Campbell MacDonald. We are making progress but expect that several more meetings will be required, including one already scheduled for October. Thanks go to the committee members and Local officers for all of the time they are putting in to represent their colleagues!
Congratulations to those members that submitted nominating petitions for the 2027-29 term of office. As there were no contested offices, all nominees were declared elected by acclamation. Welcome back to President Hawley, Secretary-Treasurer Apana, and Directors Bravo, Corey, Kostic, Proctor, and Williams, and welcome to new Board members Vice President Melody Stein and Director Carol Naveira. We also want to thank outgoing VP Karen Fuller for her time on the Board, as well as her time on the Palm Beach Opera Orchestra Committee, as well as outgoing Director Elizabeth Aron. Our organization is only as strong as our members are involved!