Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Meeting called to order at 11:15 a.m. Present: Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Burridge, Fein, Giannini, Johansen, Norrell, Rizzo, Roach, Schwartz and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. President Landolfi excused for jury duty. Blumenthal chaired the meeting.

Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of September 29, 2009. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.

Dennison distributed a settlement agreement with the NY City Ballet regarding the reassignment of an orchestra member. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement.

Dennison distributed an agreement with I’m Not Going, L.P. for the “Dreamgirls” National Tour Premier at the Apollo Theatre November 7, 2009 through December 14, 2009. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement.

Dennison distributed an agreement with “Tanguera: the Musical” being performed at City Center from October 7 through October 18, 2009. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement.

Dennison requested the purchase of a half page ad in the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society’s (SDC) 50th Anniversary Gala program at a cost of $550. SDC is the union representing directors and choreographers working on Broadway. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Dennison requested a contribution of $250 from TEMPO 802 to the campaign committee of City Council Member Gail Brewer. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Dennison requested a contribution of $250 from TEMPO 802 to the campaign committee of State Senator Tom Duane. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Dennison requested the purchase of one ticket at a cost of $500 from TEMPO 802 to a fund raising event for the campaign committee of NY State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request. Opposed: Schwartz.

Dennison requested a contribution of $100 to the Clifton Maloney Scholarship Fund in memory of Clifton Maloney, the recently deceased husband of NY Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Dennison distributed a proposed agreement that could be utilized for the announcement of members’ CD releases in the pages of Allegro. Discussion held.

Financial Vice President Blumenthal distributed an Investment Policy Statement for the Local 802 General Fund. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the Investment Policy Statement.

Board member Giannini excused at 12:40 p.m. Discussion continued on an agreement regarding publicizing members CD releases.

Assistant to the President LeFevre and Organizer Copeland present. LeFevre reported on a union-busting effort by D’Addario Manufacturing, a string and percussion instrument company, directed at their employees who are seeking to be represented by District 15 of the International Association of Machinists (IAM). LeFevre presented a request for support for these workers from the IAM and the Long Island Federation of Labor. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously that Local 802 officially express its support for the D’Addario workers, that we encourage our members to stop purchasing the company’s strings and percussion instrument products, that we publicize this struggle in Allegro and 802 Notes, that Allegro inform D’Addario that we will not accept ads from the company, and that we ask the AFM and other AFM locals for similar support for the D’Addario workers. LeFevre excused.

Copeland requested approval for the expenditure of $150 for rental of space at the Brecht Forum for an organizing event in support of “Indie” musicians. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request. Copeland excused.

Local 802 Counsel Mars present. Blumenthal presented an agreement with the Westchester Philharmonic. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement subject to ratification by the bargaining unit.

Blumenthal presented a settlement with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts covering payment for a recording done by members of the Mostly Mozart Orchestra. Blumenthal also presented a proposal for the distribution of that settlement among the members of the orchestra. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the settlement and the distribution as proposed. Mars excused.

Discussion held on a letter sent to Board members by Recording Musicians Association (RMA) President Phil Ayling. Motion made and seconded that a correction be printed in Allegro regarding the RMA’s role in the Wonderpet’s negotiation as described in the July 2009 Allegro. Motion made and carried unanimously to table the previous motion.

Blumenthal reported that musicians engaged for the music of Led Zeppelin Concert in Brookhaven, Long Island had not been paid and that the union was taking appropriate steps. (See minutes of September 1, 2009.)

Blumenthal reported on a tour of the music of “Star Wars” that was to be performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra from Great Britain. The initial portion of the tour was currently being performed by musicians from the United States who were to be replaced by musicians from the Royal Philharmonic. Discussion held.

Blumenthal reported on his attendance at a conference titled The Future of New York City, New York’s Performing Arts at the Crossroads on September 30, 2009.

Blumenthal reported on Local 802’s current finances.

Principal Theatre Representative Donovan appeared before the Board and presented a renewal agreement with the producers of “Altar Boyz.” Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement.

Dennison requested purchase of one ticket at a cost $250 to an upcoming Actors’ Fund event celebrating the life and work of Frank Loesser. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Meeting adjourned at 2:45 p.m.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Meeting called to order at 11:15 a.m. Present: Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Burridge, Fein, Giannini, Johansen, Rizzo, Schwartz and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. President Landolfi excused for jury duty. Financial Vice President Blumenthal chaired the meeting.

Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of October 6, 2009. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.

Dennison presented a draft letter to be sent to those members who had signed a petition submitted by member David Finck. Discussion held.

Discussion held on the standing rules for the October 20, 2009 membership meeting. Motion made and carried that the standing rules that were to be recommended for the October 20 meeting set a time limit of 5 minutes on those who wish to speak on the issues presented at the meeting. Opposed: Schwartz

Dennison requested the purchase of a ticket at a cost of $100 from TEMPO 802 to a fund raising event for John Kim, candidate for NY City Council from the 19th council district in Queens. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Controller Goldman appeared before the Board and distributed the September 2009 vouchers, the August 2009 financials, the January through August 2009 financials and the financials for the same time periods in 2008. Discussion held.

Dennison requested the purchase of 10 tickets at a total cost of $125 to an event honoring long-time union activist and honorary member of Local 802 Julius Margolin. Proceeds from the event were to be contributed to the “Julius Margolin Youth In Labor Scholarship Fund.” Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Dennison and Blumenthal reported on the current status of a touring engagement presenting the music from the “Star Wars” films. (See minutes of October 6, 2009.) Dennison and Blumenthal also reported on the AFM’s efforts to ensure the engagement of U.S. musicians for a concert tour titled “Salute to Vienna,” for which the tour producer was seeking to engage European musicians. In the past the tour had been performed by a U.S. orchestra. Discussion held.

Meeting adjourned at 2:10 p.m.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Meeting called to order at 11:05 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Burridge, Fein, Giannini, Johansen, Norrell, Rizzo, Schwartz and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens.

Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of October 13, 2009. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes.

President Landolfi distributed a thank you from NYSMA.

Landolfi reported on the status of discussions with the Metropolitan Opera. Discussion held.

Landolfi reported on her attendance at a meeting of Trustees of the American Federation of Musicians and Employers Pension Fund. Discussion held.

Counsel Mars and Assistant to the President LeFevre present. Landolfi distributed a response to a recent letter from Recording Musicians Association President Phil Ayling.

Board member Schwartz distributed communications from several 802 members. Discussion held.

Motion made and seconded to print a correction in Allegro regarding the involvement of RMA in the Wonderpets’ settlement. Opposed: Blumenthal, Dennison, Fein, Giannini, Johansen, Norrell and Rizzo.Discussion held.

Dennison distributed proposed standing rules for the October 20, 2009 membership meeting. Motion made and carried to recommend the standing rules to the membership meeting. Opposed: Burridge, Schwartz.

Dennison distributed a letter from attorney Joel Smith to former Assistant to the AFM President in December 18, 1985 and a letter from former president John Glasel to member Julius Schwartz dated November 18, 1985.

Motion made and seconded that the agreement with the AAA be terminated and charges against officers be heard by a trial committee. Opposed: Blumenthal, Dennison, Fein, Giannini, Johansen, Norrell and Rizzo. Mars excused.

Blumenthal reported on 401 (k) options available for Board members.

Blumenthal requested approval of his participation in a Cornell Labor Leadership Workshop on employee benefit funds at a cost of $500. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request with the funds to be requested from the CAC.

Blumenthal presented a Letter of Agreement with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra regarding participation in Development Chamber Music Engagements.

Blumenthal reported that the AFM had informed him that the “Salute to Vienna” tour would not be utilizing a European orchestra.

Landolfi reported on efforts to continue the employment of a U.S. orchestra for a tour of the music from “Star Wars.”

Meeting adjourned at 1:25 p.m.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Meeting called to order at 11:05 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Burridge, Fein, Giannini, Johansen, Rizzo, Schwartz and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens.

Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of October 20, 2009. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.

Financial Vice President Blumenthal distributed a revised settlement agreement with Mostly Mozart. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement.

President Landolfi reported on the status of a planned tour of a Cirque de Soleil sponsored production.

Landolfi distributed a settlement agreement with Billy Broadway LLC regarding the use of recorded music in the Broadway production of Billy Elliot. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement as amended.

Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens present at 11:15 p.m. Dennison presented a proposed agreement between Local 802 and Locker Associates, Inc. outlining the work to be performed by Locker Associates in developing a broadly based campaign of public, private and political support for live music performance. The duration of the agreement is six months with a first installment of $10,000 and $7,500 per month thereafter, and includes specific benchmarks and reports required by Locker Associates over this time period. The agreement follows a preliminary study on live music in New York City by Locker Associates, Inc commissioned earlier this year. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement with proposed benchmarks and reporting requirements.

Dennison presented an agreement with the Apollo Theatre Foundation, Inc. covering the “Dreamgirls” National Tour Premier Engagement at the Apollo Theatre. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement.

Principal Theatre Representative Donovan present. Dennison presented an agreement with the Roundabout Theatre Company covering the production of “Bye Bye Birdie” at the Henry Miller Theatre. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement. Donovan excused.

Dennison reported on the Members Party’s request for the list of members eligible to receive absentee ballots for the upcoming 802 officers’ election.

Motion made and carried that candidates in the upcoming election have access to the list of members eligible to vote by absentee ballot on the same basis as requests for other member mailing lists. Opposed: Giannini, Roach and Rizzo.

Discussion held on the one-month suspension of letters to the editor in the November issue of Allegro during which it was reported that outside counsel Susan Jennick (see minutes of September 29, 2009) had strongly advised such a one-month hiatus to avoid any imbalance in the election material contained in the Allegro issue immediately preceding the December 1, 2009 officers’ election.

Counsel Mars present for a discussion of the Mostly Mozart settlement. Motion made and carried unanimously that as per long-standing policy Local 802 work dues be paid on the settlement. Mars excused.

Schwartz excused at 12:55 p.m. Concert Representative Fisher appeared before the Board and presented a request from the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus. Discussion held.

Fisher reported on an upcoming dance performance at City Center and her efforts to obtain a agreement covering the musicians engaged for the perfromance. Discussion held.

Personnel Director McDonald appeared before the Board and reported on the status of enrollment in the union’s 401(k) plan.

Blumenthal requested a standard 3 percent wage increase for a staff member.

Meeting adjourned at 1:25 p.m.