TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2009

Meeting called to order at 11:10 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Burridge, Fein, Giannini, Johansen and Roach. 

Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of January 27, 2009. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended. Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens present at 11:15 a.m. Dennison distributed the minutes of February 10, 2009. Board member Rizzo present at 11:20 a.m. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended. Dennison distributed the minutes of March 10, 2009. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended. Board member Schwartz present at 11:30 a.m.

President Landolfi requested affirmation of a phone poll approving the engagement of Media Attorney Peter Thall for an additional 10 hours of consultations with Local 802 and the Broadway Theatre Committee regarding a proposed Broadway media agreement at the rate of $525 per hour. (See minutes of February 10, 2009.) The phone poll was approved. Opposed: Burridge, Rizzo and Schwartz. 

Motion made and carried unanimously to affirm the phone poll.

Landolfi reported that she had received a request from the NY City Opera Orchestra Committee to increase the amount for which the orchestra is eligible under the Legal Services Bylaw to $30,000 in accordance with Article III, Section 10. Paragraph 1. A. (3) of the Members Legal Services Bylaw. Landolfi requested approval to inform the Orchestra Committee of such eligibility. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Landolfi reported on the potential settlement of a grievance with the producers of the Broadway production of “Hair” over use of recorded material for promotional purposes. Discussion held.

Long Island Business Rep DeFilippi appeared before the Board and presented an agreement with Westbury Music Fair, LLC. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the contract subject to ratification by the bargaining unit.

Meeting recessed at 12:55 p.m. Meeting resumed at 2:00 p.m. Present: Landolfi, Blumenthal, Dennison, Fein, Giannini, Johansen and Roach.

Landolfi presented a Letter of Agreement with the League of American Theatres and Producers providing for a payment of $13,000 to the Musicians Emergency Relief Fund in settlement of a pending arbitration over wage and benefits payments lost during the 2007 IATSE Local 1 strike. (See minutes of March 10, 2009.) Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the settlement agreement.

Landolfi reported on the status of negotiations with Broadway Worldwide, Inc for the presentation of Broadway productions on premium television.

Board member Schaffner present at 2:05 p.m. Board members Burridge, Schwartz and Norrell present at 2:10 p.m. Financial Vice President Blumenthal reported on the financial status of the Local 802 Strike Fund and noted that no additional funds were needed by the Strike Fund to satisfy the requirements of the Local 802 Constitution and Bylaws. Discussion held.

Blumenthal reported that a counterfeit check had been drawn on Local 802’s bank account and that Amalgamated Bank had been informed and a police investigation had begun. He also reported that he expected all the funds would be recovered.

Dennison recommended that the 2009 Local 802 Officers’ Election be set for December 1, 2009. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request. Dennison requested that the October membership meeting be set for October 21, 2009 at 5 p.m. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Dennison requested that the organizing discount be extended to members of The Roots, which had recently been engaged to perform as the house band on the Jimmy Fallon Show on NBC television. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Building Supervisor Little and Computer Department Supervisor Kayne present for a discussion of a proposed air conditioning unit for the 4th floor computer room. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve purchase and installation of the proposed air-conditioning unit at a cost of up to $10,000. Kayne and Little excused.

Dennison requested that Local 802 provide funding support as it had in prior years for the “Piano in the Park” series of live performances in Bryant Park for the 2009 season. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to fund the 2009 Bryant Park “Piano in the Park” series at the same funding level as provided in 2008 or $22,300 from the public relations budget.

Public Relations and Political Action Director Molloy appeared before the Board and requested funding for the services of Capitol Advantage, an online data and email link to elected officials and State and Federal agencies. Motion made and carried unanimously to purchase the Capitol Advantage service at a cost of $2,000 for a one-time sign up fee and a $2,500 annual subscription for New York State elected officials at a total cost of $4,500 with the funds to come from the public relations budget.

Molloy requested funding to his participation in the Arts Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C. sponsored by Americans for the Arts at a cost of up to $1,100 from the public relations budget. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Molloy and Owens reported on their participation in a lobby day in Washington, D.C. in support of performance rights legislation.

Molloy distributed a proposed questionnaire to be utilized in reviewing candidates for New York City Controller and Public Advocate.

Molloy requested Local 802’s endorsement of Mark Lesko for Brookhaven Town Supervisor. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Molloy requested Local 802’s endorsement of the Center for Arts Education’s campaign for a mandated funding stream for arts education in New York City public schools. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Discussion held on Local 802’s participation in a Billboard-ADWEEK advertising conference. Molloy excused.

Board members Burridge, Fein, Giannini and Schwartz excused. Jazz Representative Weeks appeared before the Board and presented an agreement with Jack Kleinsinger d/b/a Highlights in Jazz. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement. 

Dennison distributed the minutes of the February 10, 2009 Coordinating Advisory Committee meeting. Discussion held.

Meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m. 

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2009

Meeting called to order at 11:05 p.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Executive Board members Fein, Giannini, Johansen, Norrell, Roach and Schwartz. 

Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of March 17, 2009. Board member Rizzo present at 11:10 p.m. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.

President Landolfi requested affirmation of a phone poll approving the purchase of 2 tickets at a total cost of $200 for a fund raising event in support of Inside Broadway. The phone poll approved the request unanimously. Motion made and carried unanimously to affirm the phone poll.

Landolfi reported on the status of the special situation request regarding the Broadway production “Rock of Ages.” (See minutes of February 10, 2009.)

Landolfi reported that a potential settlement of a grievance at the Broadway production of “Hair” remained unresolved.

Landolfi distributed information prepared by the Local 802 Organizing Department detailing the chronology of events during the “WonderPets!” organizing campaign.

Dennison requested the expenditure of up to $1,200 for a band that was to be a part of a planned march urging an end to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan sponsored by U.S. Labor Against the War and United for Peace and Justice. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Dennison requested the purchase of a full page ad at a cost of $500 in a benefit journal supporting the Working Theatre. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Dennison requested purchase of 3 tickets at a total cost of $750 to the Jazz Foundation of America’s annual Great Night in Harlem fund raising concert. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Public Relations and Political Action Director Molloy appeared before the Board and reported that a number of area Congress members had signed on to become supporters of performance rights legislation following Local 802 and AFM lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C. 

Board member Schaffner present at 11:30 a.m. Molloy reported that the cost of adding the state of New Jersey to the on-line data and email link, Capitol Advantage was $1,500. (See minutes of March 17, 2009.)

Discussion held on the legislative issues facing Local 802 members in New Jersey and it was noted that Local 802’s membership in New Jersey, primarily in Bergen and Essex Counties, was over 1,500.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the expenditure of $1,500 to add New Jersey to Local 802’s Capitol Advantage account with the funds to come from the public relations budget.

Discussion held on promotional material for the upcoming Billboard-ADWEEK conference.

Molloy requested a contribution in the amount of $150 to the campaign committee supporting Mark Lesko for Brookhaven Town Supervisor. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request. Molloy excused.

Principal Theatre Business Rep Donovan appeared before the Board and presented an agreement covering musicians working on the Off Broadway production “The Toxic Avenger.” Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement. Financial Vice President Blumenthal present at 12:00 p.m. Donovan excused.

Controller Goldman appeared before the Board and presented the January and February 2009 financials, the January through February 2009 financials and the January and February 2009 vouchers. Discussion held. Board member Giannini excused at 12:30 p.m. Discussion continued.

Goldman reported that Amalgamated Bank had assured him that Local 802 would be made whole for a fraudulent check that had been cashed at another bank. (See minutes of March 27, 2009.) Goldman excused.

Blumenthal distributed a press release from the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas AFM Local 72-147 regarding use of taped music by the Texas Ballet Theatre in an upcoming production of Cleopatra. Blumenthal also distributed other news clippings concerning Broadway Theatre and the NY State budget.

Blumenthal distributed an agreement with The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Inc. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement.

Meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m.