The Committee For A More Responsible Local 47

——
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

Read the rest of this entry »

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

=============

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

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

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…

Read the rest of this entry »

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

====================

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

RMALA ANNOUNCES ELECTION – WITH SIX DAYS NOTICE

This Monday, November 19th, the RMALA will be having their bi-annual election. Announcing their elections has in the past been merely a formality, since the RMALA Board chooses the candidates, one per position, announces them at the membership meeting and expects everyone to simply re-nominate the boards’ choices. Not so much an election as a coronation.

Until this time.

Read the rest of this entry »

I. CORRECTION: REFERRAL COMMITTEE’S MOTION I
II. MUSICIANS FOR A BETTER ADMINISTRATION – ANOTHER RMA PRODUCTION?
III. THE MILLION DOLLAR DEMAND
IV. COMMENTS

I. CORRECTION: REFERRAL COMMITTEE’S MOTION I

In our last mailing we described the REFERRAL SERVICE COMMITTEE’S
first motion in part: Make Sam Chates (the Referral Service employee) full time
with benefits.

A member of the Referral Service Committee was kind enough to send along
this correction: The motion was to URGE the EB to CONSIDER making Sam
Chates a full-time employee.

This will be an even better test for the board. Making Sam Chates full time was
obviously the intent of the motion and the desire of the membership that wants
the Referral Service fully restored. Will they do the right thing?

We shall see.

II. MUSICIANS FOR A BETTER ADMINISTRATION –
YET ANOTHER RMA PRODUCTION?

Read the rest of this entry »

453 SHOW UP AT RECORD MEETING!/LESLIE LASHINSKY WINS THREE TO ONE

Greetings Colleagues,

The final numbers at last night meeting were:
453 in total attendance (Larger than last April)

Leslie Lashinky – 342
David Schubach –104
Seven walked out without voting.

Regardless of the outcome, Democracy was certainly alive at our Local last night. Over the last year we’ve seen numbers unheard of in decades. The rank and file have made amazing strides, including at this meeting, which we detail below.

The Election Board did a great job of making sure the election went off without a hitch. Bravo to the Election Board and their chair Michele Bryne.

———-
Read the rest of this entry »

I. DID YOU SEE LOCAL 47’s LATEST EMAIL?
II. a NEW group??
III. READER COMMENTS

BROTHERS AND SISTERS!,

Come early for jambalaya, salad and other goodies before the 7PM
meeting! The food will be served at 5:30 PM, so come get a space
before the parking lot is full, and before the food is gone!.

Tomorrow night we have another chance to further break up the
old boys’ club. The last thing this Local needs is another YES
person among the Executive Officers for the RMA movers and
shakers. You need only look at where we are as a Local to know
that.

Read the rest of this entry »

Re: AFM CONTRACT/RECORDING MEETINGS/RS STILL IN DANGER/COMMENTS

I. NEW AFM VIDEO GAME CONTRACT GETTING RESULTS
II. RECORDING MEETINGS
III. BOARD STILL SET ON LOBBY RENOVATION
IV. READER COMMENTS

GREETINGS COLLEGUES!,

This Monday we will have a chance to further the reform of our Local
by electing a person with years of experience inside and outside of the
Local 47 structure, David Schubach.

Even now, some are afraid to vote where others can see them. How
absurd is that? How badly that speaks toward the vindictiveness of the
present powers controlling our Local.

Unlike past elections, steps have been taken to make sure you can mark
your ballot in private. NO ONE will know how you vote. Each member will
be walking up to the ballot box and placing their ballot in the box
themselves. It will never leave your hand until it’s put in the ballot box.

Read the rest of this entry »