November 26th, 2008 The Committee
I. ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINE
II. RECENT PASSINGS
III. LOCAL 330 KNOWS WHERE TO GET THE REAL STORY!
IV. HEARD OF THE AFM OBSERVER?
V. NATIONAL RIGHT TO WORK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST LOCALS 7, 47 and 581.
VI. TAX FUNDED GRANTS
VII. COMMENTS
VIII. CONCERTS AND EVENTS
================
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I. ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINE
The #47 website says that absentee ballots must be RECEIVED
(not just postmarked) by 9AM on Dec 9.
Anyone can download the request for absentee ballot at
http://www.promusic47.org/forms/Ab_ballot08.pdf or from
our website at www.responsible47.com
Voting on December 9th will go from 9am to 9pm at Local 47
Please plan now to vote!
You can vote absentee any time between now and Dec 9.
WE STRONGLY ENDORSE:
DR. BOBBY RODRIQUEZ for DIRECTOR AND DELEGATE
CHARLES FERNANDEZ FOR DIRECTOR
RON HESS FOR DIRECTOR AND DELEGATE
IRA NEPUS FOR DIRECTOR
=================
IV. RECENT PASSINGS
We’ve lost several beloved colleagues recently. Our thoughts
are with their family and friends. They will be dearly
missed.
RAY ELLIS 1923-2008
Pop Arranger of many hits for such artists as the Four Lads, Bobby
Darin, Connie Francis, Doris Day and John Mathis.
Among his hit arrangements were: Standing on the Corner, Moments
to Remember, Splish Splash, Dream Lover, Everybody Loves a Lover,
Where the Boys Are and That Certain Smile and Spanish Harlem.
In his book The Label: The Story of Columbia Records, Gary Marmorstein
said Mr. Ellis’ album Ellis in Wonderland, recorded in 1957, was “a particularly
intelligent easy-listening compilation.” It caught the attention of jazz great Billie
Holiday, and Mr. Ellis wound up working on her 1958 album, Lady in Satin,
a recording that is in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
——–
IRVING GERTZ 1915-2008
Composer for sci-fi films in the 1950’s and TV series in the 60’s
Fro the late 1940s to the late 1960s, Gertz wrote music for about 200
movies and episodes. Among his film credits are: It Came From Outer
Space, The Incredible Shrinking Man, Abbot and Costello Meet the
Mummy, The Alligator People, The Monolith WACS, The Creature Walks
Among Us, To Hell and Back and The Thing That Couldn’t Die.
TV Credits included: Daniel Boone, The Invaders, Land of the Giants,
Peyton Place and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.
Growing up the youngest of eight in Providence, R. I., he began his
Hollywood career in the music department on Columbia Pictures. Later
he worked at Universal-International, then 20th Century Fox as a
composer and music director.
———
MITCHELL LURIE
One of the most beloved clarinetists and educators here in Los Angeles
and around the world, Mitchell Lurie was principal clarinetist with the Chicago
and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras.
Later, he became Professor of Clarinet at the University of Southern
California and later still a professor at University of California at Santa
Barbara.
Mr. Lurie appeared as soloist with countless groups, including the
Budapest Quartet, Aaron Copland at the Hollywood Bowl and at the
Ojai Festival under Pierre Boulez. He was the organizer of the first
International Clarinet Seminar in Sydney, Australia. His master classes
included those at the Jerusalem Music Academy and the Royal Academy
of Music, Toronto, Canada.
Among his former students were Yehuda Gilad, Gary Gray, Don Baird,
Thomas M. Parchman, Frank Silva, Ron Samuels, Håkan Rosengren, Burt Hara
and Judith Dansker-DePaolo.
================
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November 20th, 2008 The Committee
I. ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINE
II. AFM PRESIDENT’S LETTER TO RECORDING MUSICIANS
III. COMPOSER GEORGE CLINTON FEATURED IN ASMAC WORKSHOP THIS SATURDAY!
IV. ELECTION TIME COMMENT FROM RICK BLANC
V. COMMENTS
VI. CONCERTS AND EVENTS
================
I. ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINE
The #47 website says that absentee ballots must be RECEIVED
(not just postmarked) by 9AM on Dec 9.
Anyone can download the request for absentee ballot at
http://www.promusic47.org/forms/Ab_ballot08.pdf or from
our website at www.responsible47.com
You can fax the completed Absentee Ballot request to the
election company at (760) 751-9901.
Also, you can vote absentee any time between now and Dec 9.
THE COMMITTEE STRONGLY ENDORSES:
DR. BOBBY RODRIQUEZ for DIRECTOR AND DELEGATE
CHARLES FERNANDEZ FOR DIRECTOR
RON HESS FOR DIRECTOR AND DELEGATE
IRA NEPUS FOR DIRECTOR
=================
II. AFM PRESIDENT TOM LEE’S LETTER TO RECORDING MUSICIANS
November 10, 2008
Dear Recording Musician and Member of the AFM:
Rafael Rishik, the leader of a new organization going by the name of FarePlay,
recently wrote to you regarding the issue of payments by musicians on
distributions by the Special Payments Fund and the Film Musicians Second
Markets Fund.
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November 15th, 2008 The Committee
I. COMMENT CONCERNING SAN FRANCISCO RECORDING MUSICIANS
II. RESPONSE FROM THJE SANTA BARBARA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA COMMITTEE
III. MORE ABOUT THE PASADENA SYMPHONY/POPS/YOUTH ORCHESTRA
IV. REACTIONS TO MR. MEARES
V. COMMENTS
VI. CONCERTS AND EVENTS
================
I. MEMBER COMMENT CONCERNING SAN FRANCISCO RECORDING MUSICIANS
Quote from a Variety Article:
“San Francisco Local 6 has used it (one-offs) to lure game-scoring
work to the Bay Area, effectively pitting its union musicians against
L.A. union players.” -
Jon Burlingame NY Times Variety
What Mr. Burlingame does not understand, is the RMA used (and I
mean used) the San Francisco RMA to try to negotiate a deal while
RMALA represented itself as the non-union PMG, while being a
member of the AFM. And now, SF Local 6 is being villified by a writer
who has no clue what the real issues are. How dumb can you be? SF
Local 6 and L.A. union players are in the same union, you idiot. Butt
out! And why should SF Local 6 support RMALA, an organization that
pretends not to be in the AFM and openly states that RMA Los Angeles
should have most of the video game work. Northen California is where
the cutting edge technology started, dude. The RMALA/PMG has cooked
the goose that laid the golden egg. RMA members are the ones who
first went to Seattle, Prague, London, etc. to record non-union. Oh, and
Skywalker Ranch as well.
[EDITOR'S COMMENT - No need to go into great detail here - those who've
read these offerings knows the RMA chased the work out of town themselves,
no one took it from them. Change the conduct, change the results. We thank
the member who wrote the above comment for his participation.]
==============
II. RESPONSE FROM THJE SANTA BARBARA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA COMMITTEE
We, the Santa Barbara Symphony Musicians’ Committee feel compelled
to respond to your recent post “Watch Out Santa Barbara Symphony Members”.
This is not an attempt to discuss particular personalities associated with
the =organization but rather to clarify the hiring and seating policies about
which was said:
-The Santa Barbara Symphony has hired a new conductor.
-The new conductor is hiring new musicians, moving many established members
back in the sections.
The SBSO has indeed hired a Music Director and he is in his 3rd season.
During his tenure, the SBSO has hired many new musicians through a fair
and carefully monitored audition process as outlined in our Collective
Bargaining Agreement. The auditions were held for genuine vacancies.
The string players in the SBSO have experienced some rearrangement in
seating. The reason is the creation of new Assistant Principal string positions.
In the interest of fairness, these newly created premium positions were filled
by audition and yes, players who had been occupying those seats and who chose
not to audition or did not win the audition have been rotated into section seats.
In fact, some of those very musicians were on the committee which negotiated
for the positions. Any member of the orchestra had the opportunity to audition
for these new title-chair positions.
Furthermore, an initial seniority based call order for strings was instituted
during this time which guaranteed first call of employment for more established
members.
This call order has served as the initial starting point whereby a mechanical
rotation will be implemented beginning this season.
Thank you for your attention.
Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra Committee
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November 10th, 2008 The Committee
I. GET YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUEST FORM NOW!
II. AFM/RMA SUMMIT
III. OPERA PACIFIC CLOSES DOWN
IV. COMMENTS
V. CONCERTS AND EVENTS
=================
I. GET YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT NOW!
Colleagues,
The time window for getting your absentee ballot, receiving it, voting and
getting it back to the voting company in time for our election IN December
is fast closing!
You can get a printable PDF of the absentee ballot request form from the Local
47 website, under headlines, or from our website, www.responsible47.com.
You’ll find it in the list to the left of the main screen.
Once again, our endorsements are:
Dr. Bobby Rodriguez - Director
Charles Fernandez - Director
Ron Hess - Director and Delegate
Ira Nepus - Director
These are the new faces needed to help bring balance to our Local 47 board.
————-
MAKE SURE THE CANDIDATES HAVE EARNED YOUR VOTE!
As we hear often, actions speak louder than words. If you do not like the choices
on the ballot or how the board members have used their positions, don’t give
them your vote. Every vote for those you don’t really support reduce the chance
for change and balance.
Our recommendation: If you don’t like the officers running, leave that area blank.
It does in fact send a message.
If you only support four or five of those running for various positions, vote for
only them.
We need to have more diverse, TRUE representation on our board and only you
can deliver it. Please help us help you.
THE COMMITTEE
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November 3rd, 2008 The Committee
SPECIAL EDITION
I. THE COMMITTEE ENDORSES
DOWNLOAD AN ABSENTEE REQUEST FROM THE LOCAL 47 WEBSITE
II. FINAL FIRST ROUND GRAMMY INFO
================
I. THE COMMITTEE ENDORSES
Two years ago, most assumed Presidential candidate David Schubach
was an easy win, so easy in fact that many didn’t bother to vote. We
all saw the result. Don’t make the same mistake this year!
None of the officers positions are opposed, but you still need to vote.
You can bring more balance to your board by voting in new people who
will challenge the “old boy” special interest network.
There is one board member who’s really taken it to the board for the
Rank and File and three new faces running who are garaunteed to
work toward the interests of ALL the members, with no group favored,
and will keep the officers in check.
After considering all the candidates listed in the Overture and their actions,
not their words,
THE COMMITTEE STRONGLY ENDORSES:
DR. BOBBY RODRIGUEZ - Current board member
CHARLES FERNANDEZ
RON HESS
IRA NEPUS
These new faces will shine more light on the board and bring a balance
we’ve not had in far too many years.
(SEE THEIR STATEMENTS BELOW)
————-
DOWNLOAD THE ABSENTEE BALLOT FROM THE LOCAL 47 WEBSITE AND
SEND IT RIGHT AWAY!
If you cannot come to the Local to vote on December 9th, you must:
1) Download the Ballot request.
2) Mail it to the election company.
3) Wait for the real ballot to get to you, then
4) MAIL IN THE BALLOT TO THE LOCAL!
This takes time so you need to act now.
If only half of those Local 47 members who read this mailing vote, there WILL
be change on December 9th.
The future of your Local needs you. Please vote!
Also, remember you do NOT have to vote for the officers or the full number of
candidates you are entitled to vote for. Only vote for those who’ve earned your
vote, and send a message to those who haven’t. You can vote for only those
you really support and leave the rest blank.
THE COMMITTEE
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