I. WANNA TALK? HERE’S YOUR CHANCE,…. DON’T BLOW IT!
II. THE RECENT MEETING
III. COMMENT ON THE PROCEEDS
IV. EVENTS
…Absolutely guaranteed anonymity – Former Musician’s Union officer
…The one voice of reason in a sea of insanity – Nashville ‘first call’
scoring musician
…Allows us to speak our minds without fear of reprisal – L.A. Symphonic musician
…Reporting issues the Musicians Union doesn’t dare to mention – National touring musician
Name Withheld
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I. WANNA TALK? HEAR’S YOUR CHANCE,…. DON’T BLOW IT!
Last Tuesday, members of the board and the realtors met with
members of the Local to discuss and answer members questions
about the potential building. Unfortunately, only nine members
took advantage of the opportunity.
Don’t let apathy reign.
THIS COMING TUESDAY members will have another chance to
discuss the proposed building and ask questions. Don’t miss
this chance. As a Local 47 Member it should be considered your
responsibility, if you are available, to come down and learn all
you can, as well as ask all you can.
VOTING DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 1ST, 2016
If you received the recent email, you know know that the
board has set a voting cut off date for February 1st for ballot
returns.
ANOTHER REASON TO ATTEND: THE FUTURE
If the local does not receive the votes needed to sell the
building, some serious planning for the future of the Local
and how we can keep it must take place.
They need your ideas.
LUNCH WITH MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THIS COMING
TUESDAY, 12:30-1:30 in the auditorium of Local.
Lunch is being provided by the Local.
————
AS TO LAST TUESDAY’S LUNCH MEETING
The one thing that was somewhat disturbing was that
most of those who spoke seemed to take for granted that
they’d get the votes to sell the building.
This is by no means a done deal.
What will be equally important is that there be a “Plan B”
and “Plan C” for what to do considering the Local’s finances
should the sale NOT be allowed.
Up the rents for the organizations using the 2nd floor?
Build a multilevel parking structure that can be rented to
nearby studios for additional revenue? Force the acceptance
of buyouts to increase dues to the Local?
MORE FORWARD THINKING
Additionally, there will need to be, new building or not,
plans for changing our contracts to make them more
competitive and bring us more in line with the world outside
the AFM. Certainly a lot of recording is going on in LA, it’s just
mostly in the shadows. The local sees zero from this.
Frankly, if we’d not lost 80%+ of our work here because of
technology and the lack of buyouts (Buyouts blocked by the
RMA and the entrenched unwillingness to think of anyone else),
we might not even need to consider selling the building.
It is the loss of dues, atrophy of the member ranks because of
the lack of support for the rank and file even remotely close to
the influence and cow-towing to the RMA in the past, and
horrendous relations with producers and potential clients thanks
to the arrogance of the elites and the conduct of Ray Hair that
have gotten us into this financial pickle.
DELAYING THE INEVITABLE
Further, If the sale does go through without revamping our
infrastructure and contracts, we will only be delaying the
inevitable demise of the Local by a few years.The only thing
the sale will guarantee, frankly, will be the paychecks of the
officers and employees till the sale surplus of 11 million runs out.
Change the future or just delay the inevitable, it’s up to all of us.
GET INVOLVED!
THE COMMITTEE
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II. THE RECENT MEETING
Dear Editor,
The union has had less than 900k in the bank before and
still continued to operate. I don’t agree with your assertion
that the leadership would have had support for a sale “but for”
the blatant lack of transparency. There are many negatives
to the proposal.
In the Oct. 5 “informational meeting, “President Acosta gave
a presentation on what he perceives are compelling reasons
to rid ourselves of our iconic building in the heart of Hollywood.
Further, he tells us of all the bells and whistles we would be
getting at the Burbank facility. Having looked at the proposed
facility, (listed as one story), we will not have what we have
now that is used by working musicians…a functional auditorium
with a stage and a basement that can also hold a full orchestra
rehearsal.
In review of the minutes of the past year, it is very apparent
that the Board has focused only on a sale and purchase option.
At the very least, there should have been open meetings regarding
the proposal where no doubt a discussion of restructuring
would have been raised.
The proposed property purchase is deeply flawed. Our running
overhead will be forever increased by the property taxes alone
without having dealt with the systemic issue that revenue is
raised by working musicians under union contracts.
If we were to approve a move to Burbank, two main causes of
concern are:
1) becoming the landlord over retail food establishments, think
property management and insurance liabilities, and
2) parking.
Even if, as we were told, the Burbank property can be rehabbed
for 3 million… and leave money in the bank, parking will be a
major issue. Currently, we have a secured parking lot that we
do not share with the general public. We can pull right up to
either the auditorium or the rehearsal rooms and unload. When
we are at the local, we do not worry about our equipment or ourselves.
We were told the new location has plenty of street parking and
that we might use the parking at a local school….several blocks
away. We were also told that we might use the AAA parking. The
office manager at the AAA has no knowledge of any request and
referred me to Cushman and Wakefield ( a property services firm
that manages the AAA property). Did the realtors obtain any promises
for use of the AAA lot by us…if we purchase 1011 Alameda?
At the Oct. 5 meeting, President Acosta, citing past deficits, did
say that the Local was currently living within its means. Why would
we step off the cliff?
—————————————-
Congratulations on the Committee being right on target representing
the current on goings of local 47.
Musicians can’t take the union for granted because this is what
waste remains from not being involved with how the union is
really run. We all suffer in the end with no good choices presented.
And we only find out recently of the gloom and doom. How much
money goes to those folks to keep the union afloat?
Members would like to know who is advising and influencing the board.
All members should be made aware of this.
Not like the silent treatment SOP that got us here in the first place.
=================================
III. COMMENT ON THE PROCEEDS
If the building is sold, the money, after what has to be used to
set up new headquarters, should be held in a separate account
and none of it should be spent except as approved by vote of
the full membership. It should not be subsumed by the general
fund.
=================================
IV. EVENTS
DEAN AND RICHARD
DEAN AND RICHARD are now playing every third Friday
at Culver City Elks 7:30pm-10;30pm,
11160 Washington Pl.
Culver City, 90232
310-839-8891
————————————-
LA WINDS JAZZ KATS 584
NO COVER, NO MINIMUM.
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at Viva Cantina
7:30-10:00.
900 Riverside Drive, Burbank.
Free parking across the street at Pickwick Bowl.
Come hear your favorite charts played the way they
should be.
We are in the back room called the Trailside Room.
Come on down. Guaranteed to swing.
————————————
10/19/15
KIM RICHMOND CONCERT JAZZ ORCHESTRA AT TYPHOON
Just one show (8 PM) and we will premiere two new compositions
but also play some old favorites.
THIS IS AN EVENT YOU SHOULD NOT MISS.
Please come out and support our efforts.
WHAT: The KIM RICHMOND CONCERT JAZZ ORCHESTRA, 23 piece ensemble
WHEN: Monday, October 19, 8 PM (1 set, 90 minutes)
WHERE: Typhoon Restaurant & jazz venue,
3221 Donald Douglas Loop South
Santa Monica Airport
WHO: Woodwinds: Billy Kerr, Bob Crosby, Glen Berger, John Yaokum, Allen Savedoff
Trumpets Bob O’Donnell, Ron King, Jonathan Dane, Josh Aguilar
French horns: Brad Warnaar, Suzette Moriarty Fowler
Trombones: Scott Whitfield, Joey Sellers, Steve Tyler, Craig Gosnell, Bill Roper (tuba)
Rhythm: Tom Hynes, guitar; Daniel Szabo, keyboard; David Hughes, bass;
Ralph Razze, drums; Dave Johnson, mallet percussion; Scott Breadman, hand percussion
PARKING: Plentiful
ADMISSION: $10
FOOD: excellent, mostly Asian
————————————
10/25/15
Hi Flutists!
I’m giving a Body Mapping Workshop for Flutists: How to Improve
Your Sound and Reduce Tension on Sunday, October 25 from
3:00-6:00 pm in La Crescenta.
Some of you may know about body mapping and others not. It’s a way
to improve playing and avoid injury by finding out how your body is put
together and designed to move. It’s based on the concept that we have
a body map which is the perception (map or self-representation) in our
brain that tells us how we’re put together. If it’s accurate, then movement
is good, free, and efficient, but when it’s not accurate, movement is not
good causing limitations, tension, pain and injury. Body Mapping is the
process of identifying your body maps and refining and correcting them
as needed.
It’s a very effective way to learn how to improve the quality your movement
to produce better sound and to prevent tension, pain and injury. In fact,
some musicians credit Body Mapping with saving their careers!
I was introduced to Body Mapping at a time when I was frustrated by not being
able to perform my best and was also feeling lots of tension and pain. It helped
me so much that I went on to train and became a Licensed Andover Educator in
2010. I’d love to be able to share with you the benefits of Body Mapping.
The class will be small with a maximum of eight participants. You can read more
about it on my website www.flutemuse.com and the Andover Educators website
www.bodymap.org. I’ve attached the flyer below.
Please contact me with any questions and to register for the class. Feel free to
forward the flyer to other flutists.
Thanks!
Ruth Kasckow
Flutist, Flute Teacher, Body Mapping Educator
Licensed Andover Educator www.bodymap.org
www.flutemuse.com
626 840 9716
————————————
11/7-8/15
LISA HALEY ADN THE ZYDECATS
Veterans Day Weekend Celebration
Saturday 11/7/15
Lake Arrowhead, California – 2PM
Americana Veterans Village
www.friends2veterans.com
and
Sunday 11/8/15
Lake Arrowhead, California – 2PM
Americana Veterans Village
www.friends2veterans.com
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You can read all previous offerings at:http://www.responsible47.com
UNTIL NEXT TIME,
THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47