July 23rd, 2010 The Committee
I. SECRETARY CONTINUES ABUSES OF POWER
II. LETTER FROM LEN BERGANTINO re: SECRETARY LASHINSKY AND THE OVERTURE.
III. SEATTLE’S RMA CONNECTION
IV. COMMENTS
V. CONCERTS AND EVENTS
=================================
I. SECRETARY CONTINUES ABUSES OF POWER
Colleagues,
We’ve heard more and more of people who submit letters to
the Overture, perhaps complimenting members and their
performances, that the Secretary refuses to print because “she”
interprets them as self-serving or a way for those members to
make money.
Ironically, she never hesitates to print letters singing her own
praises.
As a reminder to all members:
PRINT THIS OUT AN INCLUDE IT IN ANY LETTER YOU SEND TO THE EDITOR
Under Section 4: The Secretary shall:
(i) serve as the editor of Overture, subject to the direction of the
Executive Board, with the right to censor material submitted, the
publication of which might constitute a violation of Federal law or might
involve the Local or any member thereof in litigation or bring either into
disrepute;
As the bylaw above states clearly, there are only two instances in which the
secretary can refuse to print a letter:
1) It might constitute a violation of Federal law
or
2) Might involve the Local or any member thereof in litigation or bring either
into disrepute;
If your letter does neither of the two things listed above and doesn’t run longer
than the word limit, the secretary CANNOT refuse to print your letter. As we see
it, the only thing putting the local’s Overture in a light of disrepute is the
Secretary’s conduct.
Secretary Lashinsky has been warned several times in the past that she has no
right to block the printing of letters on her own whim. Secretary Lashinsky has
had been quoted the bylaw printed above several times. Still, she knowlingly
denies the printing of perfectly appropriate “letters to the editor”. Is it a simple
power play? Is it simply her flaunting her “authority?” We don’t know and we frankly
don’t care, we just want her to follow the bylaws and stop abusing her power.
Our hats are off to Linda Ripka for her work at the Overture. None of the above
is directed at her.
THE COMMITTEE
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July 16th, 2010 The Committee
I. THE PASSING OF A FIGHTER
II. FEATURED MEMBER COMMENT
III. COMMENTS
IV. CONCERTS AND EVENTS
V. MR RMA’S CORNER - and MR. RMA JR.
=================================
I. THE PASSING OF A FIGHTER
We’ve received word that a frequent contributor to the COMMITTEE
blog and others, Rick Blanc, has passed away in Florida.
Les Benedict put it this way:
“In case you haven’t heard, Rick Blanc passed away a week or so ago in
Florida. I only have grapevine info, nothing first-hand, but evidently
he had been having serious health problems recently including a cancer
diagnosis. Kenny Shroyer is more in touch with the situation, and indeed
went to Florida to help Rick’s sister with the details. I knew Rick in
Hawaii when he was just a teenager, nearly 40 years ago. He seemed to
always have an opinion about something, and sometimes rubbed people the
wrong way, but he always thought carefully and thoroughly about what he
had to say. He was a very good musician, an excellent repairman, and to
me, a good friend.
Les Benedict”
——————————————-
Colleagues,
Rick Blanc was one of the few willing to speak up (where most others
stay silent) and suffer the crass, childish and incessant attacks his kind
of truth-telling always creates. He had been warning the federation and
the rank and file of the dangers of RMA rule for some time, warnings our
Federation (Now the RMA’s Federation) did not take seriously enough.
Another good voice has been silenced. There are far too few willing to
fight for the rights of everyone.
THE COMMITTEE
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July 9th, 2010 The Committee
SPECIAL REPORT
FMA-LA REPORT ON REFERRAL SERVICE MEETING WITH EXECUTIVE BOARD
=================================
Colleagues,
Within days of the Local declaring the Local 47 Referral Website up and running,
the Referral Service Committee was summarily dissolved by President Trombetta.
The RS Committee’s job was not done, there were four motions to be fulfilled,
yet the President dissolved it outright. The president of the FMA-LA, Lisa Haley
requested to appear at an Executive Board meeting. Below is the her report
and notes from members Helen Crosby and Harriet Katz, who attended as observers.
————————
FMA-LA REPORT ON REFERRAL SERVICE MEETING WITH EXECUTIVE BOARD
FMA-L.A. Report on the Executive Board (EB) Meeting with Lisa Haley
Report written July 6, 2010
Greetings fellow musicians:
I have endeavored for over a week to write to you a report on the June 29,
2010 meeting with our EB that would maintain decorum, avoid unnecessary
division, and move us all towards common agreement.
Unfortunately, in view of the events of the meeting, I have arrived at the
conclusion that it is not possible to do so. I must simply state what will
surely be reflected by our Secretary in the official Minutes of the meeting,
since the ideas brought forth and the discussions resulting at an EB
meeting must be made available to all members, as the EB was NOT
in executive session at the time.
Thank you to Helen Crosby and Harriet Katz, who attended as observers
and took notes. Helen’s notes are included in their entirety at the end
of my letter.
We are sure that our Local #47 Secretary’s notes will be far more
comprehensive.
Lisa Haley report:
At the General Meeting (GM) Oct 22, 2007, Live Performance/
Freelance members passed four Motions “to restore and then
surpass the highest operating level of the Referral Service.” (RS)
The Motions were extremely clear. A Referral Service Committee
was formed to oversee the completion of the Motions.
The deadline for completion was April, 2008.
Over two years later, we’re still waiting for the EB to fulfill the
will of the members. They have violated their deadline.
At the EB meeting on June 29, the following revelations were
made by EB members:
- A half-finished, static Referral Service website can take the
place of the real marketing and personal outreach which is
standard practice for any successful business. (This same marketing
expertise was the reason David Schubach and Errol Henry had
such a high level of work coming through the RS. Unfortunately,
Sam Chates was directed early on by the EB to put his efforts
elsewhere.)
- President Trombetta dismissed our Referral Service Committee
(RSC) - except he called it a ” Referral Service Website Committee.”
(Note the subtle change.)
Lisa Haley then stated the Referral Service Committee”s (RSC)
proper name as it is on the Passed Motions, (the word “Website”
does not appear,) and it was pointed out to the EB that the RSC
was to oversee the COMPLETION of all Passed Motions, not just
the website
- Secretary Lashinsky suggested that even though the Motions
passed unanimously, the fact that we only had a 53-person
quorum at the time of passage. (the Motions, having been
pushed to the end of the GM, when many members had gone
home) Somehow that made the passage less valid?
This is such a shocking suggestion that it goes to the very
core of what a Union is. If our very Officers are not going to
abide by our Bylaws and the will of the members, (which set
Quorum at 50 some years ago due to the percentage of rank
and file members actually interested in and /or able to attend
meetings) or suggest some members’ votes are perceived to be
less “valid” than others, those allowing such a departure from
our Bylaws and basic Unionism should not be representing that
they have sworn to uphold our laws.
- Our Secretary also suggested that members registered with
the Referral Service cannot be depended upon overall to do a
quality job for clients who request Union musicians. That the
very “lottery system” put in place by the EB to prevent favoritism
would somehow allow our remaining clients to receive a musically
substandard quality of performance.
Again, this is such a shocking suggestion that one HAS to look
at an alternative motive.
We can only assume that the alternative is to allow our Officers to
“Pick and Choose” who gets the work. Unfortunately, this violates
Federal law, as well as our Local #47 Bylaws which state that we must
have an impartial Referral Service in order to avoid blatant favoritism.
With a very heavy heart, I report that Sam Chates has quit his position
as Referral Service Administrator.
I call on all members to look into any instance of work coming in to
the Referral Service that was diverted in any way and taken advantage of
by those who believe that illegal favoritism, diversion of work from equally
deserving members, and subterfuge are normal and necessary to our
Union”s future.
I also call on members in good standing to attend the Fall GM on Oct 25,
2010, and Vote into place a Bylaw change that states:
“Every Local #47 Executive Board meeting shall be recorded in its entirely
(except those portions done in Executive Session,) and the resulting
recording be available in the Members’ Only section of the Local #47
website, for all members in good standing to review.”
Perhaps this will stop the disturbing developments to which I was
unfortunately a witness at the June 29 meeting.
Fraternally Yours,
Lisa Haley
President
FMA-L.A.
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July 2nd, 2010 The Committee
I. WE ALL LOSE ANOTHER ONE - Don James Passes
II. RMA TAKES CUE FROM THE COMMITTEE
III. FLORIDA MEMBER SEARCH REQUEST
IV. COMMENTS (THE ANTI-COMMITTEE EDITION)
V. CONCERTS AND EVENTS
=================================
I. WE ALL LOSE ANOTHER ONE - Composer/Arranger Don James Passes
June and July thus far have been a tough time for losing colleagues.
Composer/Arranger Don James Passes away just a few days ago.
Don James was born in Chicago, Ill. in 1938. He attended Hyde Park High
School where his classmate and best four-hand jamming friend was
Herbie Hancock. He graduated from the Chicago Musical College
of Roosevelt University as a music composition major and piano
minor. Don later studied in Paris at the Ecole Normale de Musique
with an emphasis on counterpoint, dechiffrage (sight-reading),
piano and composition. His teacher was Nadia Boulanger with
whom he studied on a bi-monthly basis.
Upon returning to the United States Don worked with Cy Touff for
over a year at the Happy Medium in Chicago and began his recording
and arranging career. After a two year period in the Army as a Band
Training Instructor, Don returned to Chicago where he worked as a
conductor/pianist/arranger for many record dates and industrial shows.
In 1969 Don returned to France where he co-composed the music for
the Lido de Paris with a French team. Three more shows followed and
he then moved to Los Angeles to begin composing, arranging and
orchestrating for the Ice Capades doing 13 seasons from 1974 -
1986 with another show in 1992.
Don returned to Paris doing 4 shows for the Moulin Rouge. He then
returned to the United States to work on many Television Variety shows
where he won two Emmy Awards. One for Ben Vereen - His Roots and
Baryshnikov on Broadway. This was followed by work on the Tim Conway
Show as dance arranger for the Don Crichton Dancers and the dance
arranger for the “Mermaids” on Love Boat.
Animation music work followed for DIC and Hanna-Barbera. Some of
the shows include The Smurfs, Paddington Bear and The Wizard of
Oz (animated).
Don had worked on about 25 feature films as arranger, orchestrator
and, at times, ghost composer. Some of the films include Assassination,
Messenger of Death, Crime and Punishment, The Fifth Monkey and
Those Lips, Those Eyes.
He will be dearly missed by the musical community.
THE COMMITTEE
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June 25th, 2010 The Committee
BACK TO OUR OLD SCHEDULE
AFM BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
We hope you found our conventions updates helpful. We’re now
going back to our regular schedule.
I. ALLYN FERGUSON PASSES
II. REMINDER: FMA CALL TO ACTION THIS TUESDAY
III. FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE CONVENTION
IV. COMMENTS
IV. CONCERTS AND EVENTS
=================================
I. ALLYN FERGUSON PASSES
Colleagues, we have lost a dear friend and composing legend in
ALLYN FERGUSON.
He wrote and/or collaborated on countless films and series from
1962 to 2008 including: The Monkees; Bewitched; The Andy Williams Show;
Starsky and Hutch; The New Dick Van Dyke Show; Barney Miller;
Big Hawaii; A.E.S. Hudson Street; Hallmark Hall of Fame; The Rookies;
Murder, She Wrote; The Incredible Hulk; Diagnosis Murder and even
such shows as the Benny Hill Show!
He will be dearly missed.
=================================
II. REMINDER: FMA CALL TO ACTION THIS TUESDAY
From: Lisa Haley
President
Freelance Musicians Assn- L.A.
Hello Everyone:
I just received a request from Secretary Leslie, asking me to
attend the EB meeting on Tues June 29, 2010 concerning the
dissolving of the Referral Service Committee. I would greatly
appreciate it if you were present as well.
Appointment time TBA, probably late morning.
Unfortunately, as you know we had a “bad influence” with ulterior
motives in our FMA Leadership when the Passed Motions were drafted,
who convinced us to put the words:
“Local 47 Executive Board be URGED TO’
rather than “Local 47 Executive Board MUST”
- carry out the Passed Motions #II and III.
I fully expect the EB to grind us on this point.
In our favor, there is no wording in the Passed Motions allowing
the EB to dismiss the Referral Service Committee under any
circumstances, especially only after the implementing of our website.
We can argue that since most of the issues prompting the Passed
Motions are still outstanding, the RS Committee must continue.
I am also going to push the point that there were 453 Members
total in attendance at this meeting, and that the Passed Motions
were passed unanimously.
I have heard from another RS Committee member that they are
also very displeased at being “dismissed” following the completion
of our website, which was only one point of the Passed Motions.
It’s going to be a fight.
If there is anyone else who feels as we do, please email me
and plan to attend as well.
Regards,
Lisa Haley
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June 24th, 2010 The Committee
CONVENTION UPDATE V: FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 24th - Day 4
CONVENTION WRAPS UP
(You’ll find election finals at the bottom of this update.)
=================================
I. THE RECOMMENDATION I FARCE
Yesterday, we told you about the joint Law and Finance Committee
Substitute Resolution I (The finance package)
There was endless debate with many, many delegates protesting that
their locals simply could not afford it, NO WAY, NO HOW. They also
said cuts should be made rather than fee hikes.
A deal was struck on an alternate Joint Financial Package that was
presented this morning.
NOT A WORD WAS CHANGED from the previous days package except
the terms of the 2% fee on special payments. All the other fees and costs
and charges remained, exactly as it was yesterday, EXACTLY.
On the RMA 2%, it was removed and it is going to be under the direct
control of the IEB (The RMA IEB now) and a four person committee of
those who work in the area (RMAers). This is described in Article 8; section
6 of the AFM bylaws. Also, if we heard correctly, those who qualify to vote
on contracts would have to ok any fee. In other words, The foxes guarding
the hen house. Much like BP doing their own safety checks.
Anyone making under $2,500 in special payments will not be charged.
So the only, the single difference is that the RMA got exactly what it wanted,
and most of the folks who yesterday said NO WAY, WE CAN’T PAY, today said,
“fine”.
It took less that 16 hours for the small locals to wake up to having been
successfully played as suckers by the RMA for the recording members benefit.
And let’s see if the new RMA IEB will ok any fees.
IT PASSED
=================================
II. HAIR SMOKE AND MIRRORS, WITHOUT MUCH SMOKE
The next specious argument was shamefully transparent.
Incoming AFM President Ray Hair described as uncollected
revenue: $700,000 in 2008 and $700,000 in 2009 that was
lost because of the split in the federation over the 2% fee on
special payments.
He didn’t say that “revenue” was money that the RMAer’s owed
according to the very 2% fee he said caused the rift.
Money the RMAers refused to pay.
That money would never have existed as revenue to begin with
if not for the 2% fee. The argument was a total, bald-faced fraud.
Unfortunately, none of the delegates present had the cajones to
get up and call him on his obvious intellectual dishonesty.
RIFT FAULT
He intimated again and again that this rift was the AFM’S fault,
when all the attacks had came FROM the RMA to the AFM.
The RMA has been the one wasting our dues money by forcing
the Federation to defend us all against the recording musicians
attacks and not paying the fees they used as their excuse
FOR the attacks.
Yet, Ray will pretend that HE was able to heal the rift, when HE
and his people were the authors and finishers OF THE RIFT.
Also, we suspect that now that the RMA runs the show, that
1.4 million of unpaid RMA fees will be paid, and Hair and Company
will take total credit for the “INCREASE IN INCOME” They have
created.
A totally hypocritical, unethical and dishonest farce to be sure,
but Hair will act as pure as the driven snow and those who don’t
know any better will buy it, while his RMA crew will know it is all lies
but push it anyway, because it’s what they do.
These are the people who run our federation now and the ones
some of the small locals were fooled into supporting.
Hair and company created the conflict, blamed it one someone else,
then will take credit for “Solving it” when all they’ll do is to stop
what they started.
Let the shearing begin.
You certainly won’t find any of this info on the Observer.
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June 23rd, 2010 The Committee
CONVENTION UPDATE IV: FOR WEDNESDAY JUNE 23rd - Day 3
=================================
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RMA
If you do to the Federation what you did to LA, it’s all over but the Elegy.
Thanks to the economy and 30% of the smaller locals not being able to
afford to attend, the RMA and a few hundred of their lackeys have taken
over the federation of 85,000 members.
SUMMARY OF ELECTION RESULTS
AFM PRESIDENT:
Ray Hair - AFM Local 72-147 - RMA
INTERNATIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT
Bruce Fife - AFM Local 542 - RMA
CANADIAN VICE-PRESIDENT
Bill Skolnick - AFM Local 149
INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY-TREASURER
Sam Folio - AFM Local 368
INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD
Tino Gagliardi - AFM Local 802
Tina Morrison - AFM Local 105
Joseph Parente - AFM Local 77
David Pomeroy - AFM Local 257
Vince Trombetta - AFM Local 47
The only anywhere near neutral people left are Joe Parente, Bill
Skolnick and Sam Folio.
We hope Mr. Hair and the others who drank the RMA kool-aide
know exactly who they’ve gotten into bed with. If not, they’ll find
out the moment they go against the wishes of the Dynastic Duo.
We hope the staff and officers of other Locals will help us keep an eye
on the new RMA administration running our federation. We’re always here.
You can certainly kiss goodbye any competitive contracts. You can probably
count on support for small locals disappearing as well.
It is only our long experience with the destruction created wherever the RMA
goes that makes us rather unhopeful.
We’re happy to have helped delay the takeover of the RMA for three years.
Time will certainly tell. We can say for certain that as bad as the egos of the
LOCAL 47 Officers were before, they’ll certainly be untenable now.
As it stands, we’re reminded of the final scene of the most recent Star Wars film,
when the dark side has taken over.
THE COMMITTEE
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June 22nd, 2010 The Committee
CONVENTION UPDATE III: FOR TUESDAY JUNE 22nd - Day 2
=================================
I. A BUSY DAY
The day began with a memorial service for those past officers, delegates,
staff and prominent musicians who passed away since the last convention.
It was beautifully accompanied by the Nevada Chamber Symphony.
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June 21st, 2010 The Committee
CONVENTION UPDATE II: FOR MONDAY JUNE 21st - Day 1
=================================
I. OPENING OF THE CONVENTION
II. SPEECHES
III. RECOMMENDATIONS/RESOLUTIONS
IV. CONVENTION COMMENTS
=================================
I. OPENING OF THE CONVENTION
Walking into the main convention room, you couldn’t help but
wonder how many trees gave their lives for the massive amount
of campaign literature on the tables.
Everyone had some, but the award for sheer volume of pulp went
to RMA Presidential Candidate Ray Hair and Local 47 President
Vince Trombetta, The RMA supporting blog AFMMatters.org had
white plastic megaphones all over which featured the word, “UNITY”.
The vast majority of the material seemed to be from the RMA
candidates and allies.
This year any AFM member could show up and get a guest badge,
no pre-registration needed. Even so, only about half of the area
designated for guests was full.
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June 20th, 2010 The Committee
CONVENTION UPDATE I: FOR SUNDAY JUNE 20th - Day 0
Colleagues,
Instead of a long drawn out mailing at the end of the week,
we thought it best to give you a shorter daily offering.
THE COMMITTEE
=================================
I. DISTRESSING DEVELOPMENTS…..
II. AND A BIT OF LEVITY
III. FEATURED LOCAL 47 MEMBER COMMENT ON REBUTTALS
=================================
I. DISTRESSING DEVELOPMENTS…..
Because of the dire economy, it seems many east coast Locals,
most of them small, are unable to attend the convention. This
gives the RMA and their minions a better chance at taking over
the AFM at this convention. It will also require that the NON-RMA
owned Locals band together to fight this coup.
Will LOCAL 47 tout the legitimacy of their LOCAL 47 OFFICER/RMA
OVERLORDS illegal delegate binding? Will the convention allow it
to stand? Stay tuned.
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