I. SPECIAL “MEMBER CALLED” MEETING ON MONDAY, JANUARY 4TH
\nII. CALL NUMBER THREE – MEMBER COMMENT
\nIII. PARANOIA – MEMBER COMMENTARY
\nIV. COMMENTS
\nV. EVENTS<\/p>\n
…Absolutely guaranteed anonymity – Former Musician’s Union officer
\n…The one voice of reason in a sea of insanity – Nashville ‘first call’
\nscoring musician
\n…Allows us to speak our minds without fear of reprisal – L.A. Symphonic musician
\n…Reporting issues the Musicians Union doesn’t dare to mention – National touring musician<\/p>\n
Name Withheld<\/p>\n
===================================<\/p>\n
I. SPECIAL “MEMBER CALLED” MEETING ON MONDAY, JANUARY 4TH<\/p>\n
On January 4th, Monday at 7PM please be at the Local to
\nvoice your opinion.<\/p>\n
Please plan now to be at the special meeting called by concerned
\nmembers about the potential sale and the Local’s methods
\nin regards to the sale. <\/p>\n
Concerned members called for a special meeting to
\naddress their concerns on the building sale and the Local’s
\nconduit in regards to the sale.<\/p>\n
There were three areas o concern to be considered:<\/p>\n
1) Nullification of the Ballots and the reissue of said ballots
\nwith a totally clear meaning, not the duplicitous ballots we
\nwere sent.<\/p>\n
We were informed the the Local would call that Motion out
\nof order. Seems after some research that once ballots are
\nsent they cannot be recalled and must run their course.
\nHow convenient…<\/p>\n
2) The delay of the sale until members are fully informed of
\nall aspects of the sale. Who benefits, who get the money, who
\noversees the money, etc.<\/p>\n
3) Guarantee that all letters and comments sent to the Local
\nabout the sale, pro and con are immediately printed on the
\nLocal’s Website AND in the next print issue of the Overture.<\/p>\n
We need your voice and your support!<\/p>\n
Please be there.<\/p>\n
===================================<\/p>\n
II. CALL NUMBER THREE – MEMBER COMMENT
\nHow many calls have YOU gotten?<\/p>\n
Many members have started feeling absolutely harassed
\nby the number of calls they’re getting trying to strong-arm
\nthem into voting yes…. <\/p>\n
Here’s one we thought you’d enjoy:
\n\u00a0
\nReceived \u201ccall number 3\u201d today from the folks trying to get
\nus to return our ballots with a \u201cyes\u201d vote.<\/p>\n
I am NOT making this up! This is exactly how the conversation went-<\/p>\n
The caller, John said<\/p>\n
1. \u201cOur Local is $761,971 in debt! We must sell the building\u201d
\nI asked about the financial statement at the Oct 5 Musicians
\nClub meeting – \u201cOur Local is $900,000 in the black\u201d<\/p>\n
He replied that the $900,000 is \u201cin reserve\u201d
\nI asked \u201cwhich is it, John? Both statements can\u2019t be true\u201d<\/p>\n
2.\u201cOur building needs a new roof! Estimate is $200,000!
\nWe must sell the building\u201d!<\/p>\n
I asked why then at the Oct 26 General meeting did our
\nOfficers state the building is \u201cstructurally sound\u201d?<\/p>\n
3. \u201cOur building needs $50,000 in electrical grid upgrades!
\nWe are \u201cat capacity!\u201d We must sell the building\u201d!<\/p>\n
I said \u201cSince we are under Building Code laws from when
\nthe structure was built, we are legal\u201d<\/p>\n
I forgot to point out to him that the 2nd\u00a0floor is 2\/3 empty<\/p>\n
4. \u201cWe are out of Building Code compliance\u2013 we have no
\nelevator to allow wheelchair customers access to the Musicians
\nCredit Union\u201d!<\/p>\n
I said \u201cSince we are under Building Code laws from when the
\nstructure was built, we don\u2019t have to have an elevator. And
\nif necessary we could easily move the Credit Union downstairs
\nto give access\u201d.<\/p>\n
I then asked John the all-important questions-
\n\u201cAre you a Local #47 Member\u201d? \u2013No<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you employed by the advertising firm trying to get everyone
\nto vote \u201cYes\u201d with rah-rah tactics? \u2013No<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you being paid to make these phonecalls??!! \u2013Yes \u2013
\nPAID BY THE LOCAL! (Our dues)
\n\u00a0
\nI told John that virtually every member I talk with says the same
\nthing-<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have enough info yet to make an informed decision,
\nyes or no\u201d<\/p>\n
In other words the \u201ccallers\u201d are now using a list of\u00a0\u201cemergency facts\u201d
\nsaying a yes vote is the only way to avoid disaster.<\/p>\n
Lastly, I pointed out to John that –
\nThe majority of our members are well educated and intelligent;
\nThat we know better than to rush into a Real Estate decision;
\nThat providing us all with information pro and con, rather than\u00a0
\nthis emotional rah-rah ad campaign would have got far better
\nresults\u00a0so far;
\nAnd that these secret \u201cfrantic\u201d actions have made everyone
\nwonder why are we in such a hurry?
\n\u00a0
\nI\u2019m not against selling the building, but I want to know all the
\nfacts first, thank you very much.
\n\u00a0
\nANONYMOUS COMMENT \u2013 saying what everyone else is thinking.<\/p>\n
===================================<\/p>\n
III. PARANOIA – MEMBER COMMENTARY<\/p>\n
“Just because someone is paranoid it doesn’t mean that there isn’t a
\nconspiracy.”<\/p>\n
None of this stuff adds up. It’s all ambiguous.<\/p>\n
Ambiguity is the protector of incompetent leadership.<\/p>\n
All year, the S\/T has reported that “We’re in the black.” Now, without
\nexplanation, they are $700K in the red. But wait, the EB is great at
\nmanaging the finances – they said so themselves. Now, I just found
\nout that Local 47 is behind on its per capita payment to the AFM,
\nwhich was due in November. Yet, they were 400K plus in the
\nblack at the end of October.<\/p>\n
Maybe the time has come (The Time Is Now?) to do a forensic
\nfinancial audit of the local and get to the bottom of it all.
\nThere are provisions in the Local Bylaws for it:<\/p>\n
\u00a7V-4 (Secretary\/Treasurer duties):<\/p>\n
“(n) keep an accurate and current account of the properties and
\nof all financial transactions of the Local, as well as an account of
\nall receipts, disbursements, and transactions pertaining to security
\nand trust deposits, all of which shall be open for inspection by the
\nExecutive Board or by any member at any time during normal
\nbusiness hours and make certain that the property of the Local
\nis properly insured;”<\/p>\n
\u00a7XIII-2 (Right to information):<\/p>\n
“Right to Information: Every member shall have the right to information
\nconcerning the rules, action, and other matters affecting the membership
\nof the Local, and shall have the right to a copy of the annual Financial
\nReport of the Local and to have reasonable access to any books, records,
\naccounts, or other supporting documents connected with the finances of
\nthe Local. Every member shall have the right to a current copy of the
\nBylaws of the Local and of the Federation.”<\/p>\n
========================================<\/p>\n
IV. COMMENTS<\/p>\n
About the video on the Vienna scoring stage, it speaks
\nvolumes about our business and the LA musicians promoting
\nit.<\/p>\n
\n========================================<\/p>\n
III. EVENTS<\/p>\n
DEAN AND RICHARD<\/p>\n
DEAN AND RICHARD are now playing every third Friday
\nat Culver City Elks 7:30pm-10;30pm,
\n11160 Washington Pl.
\nCulver City, 90232
\n310-839-8891<\/p>\n
————————————-<\/p>\n
LA WINDS JAZZ KATS 584<\/p>\n
NO COVER, NO MINIMUM.
\nEvery 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at Viva Cantina
\n7:30-10:00.
\n900 Riverside Drive, Burbank.<\/p>\n
Free parking across the street at Pickwick Bowl.
\nCome hear your favorite charts played the way they
\nshould be. <\/p>\n
We are in the back room called the Trailside Room. <\/p>\n
Come on down. Guaranteed to swing.<\/p>\n
—————————————–<\/p>\n
12\/14\/15
\nStradBand Christman(n)ia
\nSpecial Guest Janis Mann\u2028
\nMonday December 14\u20288 – 9:30 PM<\/p>\n
One show only!<\/p>\n
Typhoon Santa Monica Airport
\n3221 Donald Douglas Loop
\nSanta Monica CA 90405
\n(310) 390-6565
\nReservations strongly suggested
\nStill only $10 cover
\nCHEAP!<\/p>\n
Typhoon AC Repair and HVAC Contractor Service<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n