The Committee For A More Responsible Local 47

Colleagues,

The President of Local 47, Hal Espinosa, recently took exception
to one of the readers comments we included in our previous
mailing. Here is our reply.

A RESPONSE TO MR. ESPINOSA’S E-MAIL

In response to yet another attack from the Local, this time from President
Espinosa’s January 25th official Local e-mail, we respectfully remind him
that the following appears at the head of the section which contained the
letter from which he took such public umbrage:

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This mailing details the Jan, 07 Local 47 membership. We also discuss the Copyright Royalty Board Hearing to Determine Mechanical Rates for Songwriters; concerts; trivia and comments from readers.

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A RESPONSE TO MR. ESPINOSA’S E-MAIL

In response to yet another attack from the Local, this time from President
Espinosa’s January 25th official Local e-mail, we respectfully remind him
that the following appears at the head of the section which contained the
letter from which he took such public umbrage:

“The comments below represent only the views of the members
and not necessarily the views of the COMMITTEE”

Those words are there in every one of our e-mails, and they are there for a
reason. We simply cannot understand how their meaning was so completely
misconstrued or ignored.

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I. MEMBERSHIP MEETING JANUARY 28th!
II. MORE ON THE NEW RS WEBSITE
III. YET ANOTHER LOCAL 47 OFFICER ATTACK ON THE COMMITTEE
IV. EVENTS, CONCERTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
V. MEMBER COMMENTS

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I. MEMBERSHIP MEETING, JANUARY 28th

Don’t forget the Membership meeting this coming January 28th,
7pm at the Union.

As long as quorum is achieved, it will be a vote of the membership in
attendance as intended in a democracy and not the board choosing
for all of us.

Also, as a reminder. If you’re going to run for the open board
seat and want to let everyone know, drop us a line. We’ll get the
word out for you.

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II. MORE ON THE REFERRAL WEBSITE

We received this further email from the member who has been in
contact with the Local about the RS Website:

—————

Committee:

I received an email from Amie Moore recently about the VP
Office’s reply to my concerns about the limitations of the 47
referral website. (A big thanks to Amie. She’s really on the stick!)

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I. MEMBERSHIP MEETING JANUARY 28th
II. THINKING OF RUNNING FOR THE OPEN BOARD SEAT?
III. EVENTS and CONCERTS
IV. COMMENTS

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I. MEMBERSHIP MEETING JANUARY 28th

Greetings Colleagues!,

The next general membership meeting will take place on Monday,
January 28th at 7pm at the Local.

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I. READ THE RMALA’S LATEST?
II. MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE LOCAL
III. READER REVIEW OF THE NEW REFERRAL SERVICE WEBSITE
IV. PROMISING PERFORMING RIGHTS LEGISLATION
V. POTENTIAL NEW SOURCE FOR GIGS
VI. MEMBER COMMENTS

I. READ THE RMALA’S LATEST?

Since the recent RMALA election, the RMALA, with their new president
Pete Anthony, is seemingly making strides to repair relations with the
National AFM, including a four-hour meeting with AFM President Tom
Lee and Secretary Sam Folio. Certainly this could not have been achieved
without the formal removal of the person with the biggest personality
conflict with the AFM President. Evidently, even the RMA hierarchy realized
no progress could be made until there was a change in their highest
leadership. Though one of the two most divisive people remains, and
though the other is still in control of the RMA International, progress
seems underway. As long as their negotiations do not guarantee non-
RMA members being shut out of work, we wish them luck.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A FEW MONTHS MAKES

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I. SOME THINGS OF NOTE IN THIS MONTHS’S OVERTURE
II. LATEST LOCAL 47 E-MAIL
III. A NEW CONTRACT IN THE WORKS?
IV. EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
V. COMMENTS

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I. SOME THINGS OF NOTE IN THIS MONTHS’S OVERTURE

We noticed a number of things in this month’s Overture that should be of
use to many members.

•UNION PLUS SCHOLARSHIP
On page 22, you’ll find the information about a scholarship from Union
Plus. The deadline is January 31st.

The Scholarship offers $150,000.00 annually to Union members, their spouses
and dependants.

•SEMINARS/COURSES

On page 23, you’ll find info on two items of interest:

1) An 8 week Orchestration course by Dr. Norman Ludwin
2) A 3-day seminar on music notation with Finale

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Local 47 Brothers and Sisters,

December 12th is quickly approaching, and time is getting short to get your
absentee ballot in! You still have time to vote by absentee ballot if you act
quickly Your completed ballot has to arrive no later than December 11th!

The future of our local as an agent for the ENTIRE membership desperately
needs your vote! Please get involved in our future and vote, December 12th!

We recently received this enlightening and impressive e-mail from Independent
Slate Candidate Harriet Katz and wanted to share this with you right away.
It contains what most of the incumbent mailings have lacked,.. specifics.
She has experienced working with this board first hand and has great
insight in the behind the scene’s actions at our Local.

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I. RMA ELECTION SURPRISES
II. BUY- OUT LIBRARY SCALE?
III. NEW WEBSITE SHOWS PROMISE
IV. WRITER’S STRIKE UPDATE
V. HOW TO HELP FIRE VICTIMS
VI. COMMENTS

I. RMA ELECTION SURPRISES

Last Monday’s RMA election turned out to have a few surprises. In a
history making meeting, a number of members ran for RMA office who
weren’t the ones chosen by the RMA Board. They were nominated at the
meeting and thus were included on the ballot.

As was the case in the Local 47 general membership meeting a few on
October 22nd, the moment the voting was over there was an exodus of
members from the meeting.

The intimidation factor is still such that apparently none of those who dared
to go against the status quo prevailed. That these members were so concerned
with the present situation that they were willing to try to shake things up is
noteworthy.

Bravo to them, regardless of the outcome…

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WRITER’S STRIKE/SEATTLE-SAN FRAN/WRAPUP/CONCERTS/COMMENTS

I. WRITER’S STRIKE BEGINS-HOW YOU CAN HELP
II. FILM MUSIC TO SEATTLE/VIDEO GAME MUSIC TO SAN FRAN
III. WRAPUP OF OCTOBER 22nd MEETING
IV. CONCERTS AND EVENTS
V. COMMENTS

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I. WRITER’S STRIKE BEGINS-HOW YOU CAN HELP

Every day this week there have been quite a few picketers outside of 20th
Century Fox studios on Pico Blvd. This strike could go on for months. The
last writer’s strike had Local #47 striking in sympathy.

Should you find yourself with a few free hours and are near one of the major
Studios, our brothers and sisters in the Writer’s Guild could use our support.

If you’re working in the studios in the coming days, when crossing picket lines
please consider the following:
1) Say hello,
2) Identify yourself as a Union musician, and perhaps
3) Spend a little time on the picket line after your session.

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