Membership Meetings
Date: December 3, 2026 at 7 PM
Agenda: Wage Scale Increases and Bylaw Amendments (see below)
The meeting will be held by Zoom and links will be sent in advance. Please contact the office for instructions on joining the meeting by computer or phone.
Proposed Wage Scale Increases
The Wage Scale Committee has proposed the following changes to the wage scales, and recommends adoption:
- Annually, in perpetuity beginning on 6/1/28, to increase Casual Engagement Class A 2.5-hour rate, Concert/Show Engagement Class A 2.5-hour rate, and Traveling Engagement 2.5-hour rate by $6 each, and adjust other rates (3-hour, OT, Class B, rehearsal, etc) proportionately.
- To increase the travel rate for 25-50 miles from $20 to $29 and the rate for 51-80 miles from $25 to $38.
- To establish a new cartage rate of $100 for marimbas of 4.5 octaves or more, and clarify that the existing rate would apply to marimbas of 4.3 octaves or fewer.
- To increase the cartage rate for chimes/full set from $75 to $85.
- To establish a new cartage rate of $50 per drum for timpani over 100 lbs., and to clarify that the existing rate applies to timpani below 100 lbs. Each.
- To increase the cartage rate for “percussion box” from $15 to $20.
- To increase other cartage rates as follows: all existing rates of $20 or less to increase by $1; all existing rates of $25 to $70 to increase by $2; and all existing rates of $75 or more to increase by $5.
- To add a holiday premium of 150% to all services on Christmas day or Easter
- To replace the music preparation rate chart with “No less than the current AFM Public TV Agreement music preparation rates.”
Proposed Bylaw Amendment
Whereas the delegates at the 2026 AFM Convention voted to increase the AFM per capita rates that Locals pay the AFM in order to increase AFM support for Locals including increased organizing and freelance services and technological upgrades, and
Whereas Local 655 does not have the resources to absorb the per capita increases, be it resolved to:
- Effective on January 1, 2027: Increase Regular member annual dues by $6 to $191 per year, and Youth, Life, and Inactive life member annual dues by $3, to $118, $123, and $93 respectively.
- Effective on January 1, 2028: Increase Regular member annual dues by $6 to $197 per year and Youth, Life, and Inactive life member annual dues by $3, to $121, $126, and $96 respectively.
- Effective on January 1, 2029: Increase Regular member annual dues by $7 to $204 per year, and Youth annual dues by $3 to $124, and Life and Inactive life member annual dues by $4, to $130 and $100 respectively.
The Bylaw Committee reports favorably on this proposal and recommends adoption.
New Member Orientation Meeting Schedule
Meetings are virtual via Zoom and links will be sent in advance. New members are encouraged to join us and all members are welcome! The meetings will be brief and will offer a question-and-answer period. Links will be included in the monthly newsletter.
November 10, 2026 at 11:30 AM
December 8, 2026 at 11:30 AM