Allegro

Executive Board Minutes

June 17, 2003 -- July 15, 2003

Volume CIII, No. 10October, 2003

TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2003

Meeting called to order at 11:35 a.m. Present: Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Reynolds, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Assistant Director Lennon, Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. President Moriarity excused to chair the AFM Law Committee meetings in Las Vegas prior to the convention. Financial Vice-President Hafemeister chaired.

Minutes of June 10 unanimously approved as amended.

A letter from a member regarding the reduction in health benefit reimbursement was distributed. Discussion held. Financial Vice-President Hafemeister indicated that she would respond to the member.

CAC minutes were distributed and reviewed by the board. Discussion held during which it was recommended that the officers of the union (Moriarity, Price and Hafemeister) meet with the CAC to clarify the objectives of the CAC as mandated by the bylaws.

Motion made and carried to concur with the CAC expenditure of $1,500 to cover a request by Jay Blumenthal for expenses to attend the ICSOM conference. Blumenthal recused from voting.

Blumenthal notified the board that the son of Bruce Revesz, former chair of the CAC, had passed away. Motion made and carried unanimously to send condolences and a fruit basket to member Revesz.

Price notified the board of a letter from AFM President Tom Lee announcing a meeting that will take place in Chicago on July 21 to address problems of symphony orchestras in the current economic climate which have resulted in reduced corporate giving, plummeting endowment values and shrinking grants for the arts. Discussion held during which it was decided to send a letter to local symphony orchestras notifying them of the meeting and asking whether musician representatives would be interested in attending.

Motion made and carried unanimously to donate $250 to the American Diabetes Association in memory of Daniel Morisseau, recently deceased father of board member Mary Landolfi.

Assistant Director and Concert Supervisor Lennon submitted an agreement with Dance Theatre of Harlem. Lennon reviewed the agreement and indicated that it was recommended by the orchestra committee. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement subject to ratification by the bargaining unit.

Senior Business Rep Jackson appeared before the board to submit an agreement with Mayah Publishing Co. (Ahmad Jamal) for employment of musicians. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve. Jackson excused.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the May 2003 vouchers.

Controller Bogert reported on negotiations with former employee Dan Jaffe regarding his severance payment.

Meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.


TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2003

Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. by President Moriarity. Present were: Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Rohdin, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Assistant Director Lennon and Public Policy Director Beaudoin. Recording Vice-President Price excused while on vacation. Financial Vice-President Hafemeister also excused for vacation. Bogert took the minutes of the meeting.

Moriarity distributed copies of articles from the June 29 edition of The New York Times relating to financial difficulties afflicting certain symphony orchestras.

Moriarity distributed a letter to Local 802 from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. The letter was in response to Local 802’s request that the Department allow a portion of the sales tax imposed at jazz clubs in New York City be applied to benefits for the musicians performing at those venues. The letter denied Local 802’s request.

Dennison reported on his observations while attending the AFM Convention held during the week of June 22. Lennon, Blumenthal, Giannini and Moriarity, all of whom attended the convention, reported on their observations as well. Moriarity distributed for the board’s information materials relating to fiscal actions taken by the convention.

Organizing Director Eisman, Contract Administration Director Hannen and Recording Supervisor Schaffner present during the foregoing reports. Landolfi excused during the foregoing reports at 12:40 p.m. Schaffner and Beaudoin excused at 12:45 p.m.

Eisman presented a request for a donation to the Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve a donation of $250. Eisman excused.

Hannen presented an agreement with Jillbern Music, Inc., New York, NY covering the period April 1, 2003 through March 31, 2004. Landolfi present at 12:50 p.m. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement subject to an amendment to paragraph 3-D to indicate that the 5 percent late payment penalty is per month, and subject to ratification of the agreement by the bargaining unit.

Hannen presented an agreement with Dick Hyman Music, Inc., Venice, FL covering the period January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2005. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve. Hannen excused.

Senior Business Rep Jackson appeared before the board at 1:10 p.m., to present an agreement with Mleonhart, Inc., New York, NY covering the period June 1, 2003, through May 31, 2004. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Jackson presented an agreement with Jehelen Company Corporation, New York, NY covering the period June 1, 2003, through May 31, 2004, for special events concerts at the Apollo Theatre. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve. Jackson excused.

Senior Business Rep Donovan appeared before the board at 1:20 p.m., to present an agreement with Splish Splash Productions, LLC, New Haven, CT for a production of “Mack the Knife” at the Theatre at Saint Peter’s Church during the period June 1, 2003, through October 31, 2003. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m.


TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2003

Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Crow, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Rohdin and Shankin, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison.

Minutes of June 17 and July 1 unanimously approved as amended.

Price submitted a request by member and Long Island Philharmonic ROPA delegate Anthony Scelba for expenses to attend the upcoming ROPA conference in Memphis in August. The request for expenses exceeds the usual CAC allowance of $1,500 per delegate due to higher transportation costs. Scelba indicated that he would drive his car in order to transport his double bass which he needs for practice purposes to prepare for an upcoming recital after the conference. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request beyond the usual $1,500 to the estimated $1,811 amount with submission of documentation of expenses.

Board member Reynolds present at 11:45 a.m.

AFM Secretary-Treasurer Florence Nelson appeared before the board to extend congratulations to Local 802 for successfully resolving the Broadway Theatre contract. Nelson also extended her thanks to President Moriarity as chair of the Law Committee, for his help and guidance in facilitating an agreement with various constituencies of the AFM to pass the financial package at the recently concluded AFM convention in Las Vegas.

Moriarity reported on his recent trip to San Antonio where he acted as one of two mediators in the negotiations of the San Antonio Symphony. He reviewed the activity and the situation regarding the status of the orchestra. Secretary-Treasurer Nelson added further information on that orchestra and other orchestras that are experiencing difficulties in negotiating and reaching agreements with their managements. Nelson thanked and excused.

Assistant to the President Dennison reported on the July 7 Trial Board hearings of charges brought by Dennison on behalf of Local 802 against two members who had worked on the “virtual orchestra” during the recent Broadway negotiations. The Trial Board minutes were to be printed in Allegro.

Moriarity reported on the meeting of Broadway theatre musicians who reviewed and evaluated the strategy and campaign of the recent Broadway negotiations. Other board members who attended that meeting gave their impressions of the meeting and suggestions for possible improvements and changes. As a result of the discussion that followed Moriarity appointed a committee to examine members’ orientation and education. The committee will consist of Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Board members Reynolds, Rohdin and Landolfi.

Controller Bogert submitted salary increases of 3 percent for two staff supervisors. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Bogert distributed the vouchers for June 2003.

Motion made and carried unanimously to affirm the telephone poll to approve the donation of $250 to the Florida Philharmonic by the local and a further donation of $250 by the members of the board.

Price distributed to the board a list of Broadway musicians for whom he had granted leaves of absence.

Meeting adjourned at 1:20 p.m.


TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2003

Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Crow, Giannini, Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Assistant Director Lennon.

Minutes of July 8 unanimously approved as amended.

Bruce Revesz sent a thank you note for the fruit basket. (See minutes of June 17.)

Board member Mary Landolfi thanked the board for the donation in memory of her father Daniel Morisseau.

Assistant Director Lennon reported on the negotiations concluded successfully with the Dance Theatre of Harlem for appearances at the Lincoln Center Summer Festival.

Senior Business Rep Jackson appeared before the board to submit an agreement with Billy Taylor Productions, Inc. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Jackson submitted an agreement with Sixteen As One Music, Inc. d/b/a Vanguard Orchestra for employment of musicians. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

President Moriarity reported that he would resume mediation efforts in the negotiations in San Antonio for the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra on July 17. (See minutes of July 8.) Following those negotiations he would attend the July 21 AFM meeting in Chicago dealing with troubled symphony orchestras. (See minutes of June 17.)

Board member Gale present at 11:50 a.m.

Moriarity distributed a proposed bylaw to increase annual dues and work dues to be submitted at the next bylaw/membership meeting in October. Discussion held.

Meeting recessed at 1:35 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:35 p.m.

Present: Moriarity, Price, Hafemeister, Giannini, Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin, Bogert, Dennison, Lennon.

Local 802 Real Estate Consultant and Advisor Brian Weld, Managing Director of Colliers, ABR, Inc., appeared before the board to review and discuss a lease renewal with SEIU Local 721, a tenant on the sixth floor of the building. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the 10 year lease as presented. Weld was thanked and excused.

Controller Bogert distributed financial statements for May 2003 and January through May 2003. He reviewed and analyzed the statements for the board. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the June 2003 vouchers.

Assistant to the President Dennison submitted a request from American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) for possible reimbursement of the strike benefits paid to their members who had been appearing in “La Boheme” at the Broadway Theatre and lost work as a result of the recent Broadway musicians’ strike. Fifty-five members had received financial assistance for a total of $18,611. Motion made and carried unanimously to reimburse AGMA for $30 for each missed show per member for a total of $6,720. This $30 amount was the same that had been paid to musicians for missed shows.

Senior Business Rep Donovan appeared before the board to submit an agreement with Taboo NY, LLC for a reading production of “Taboo” at Chelsea Studios and New 42nd Street Theatre. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Donovan submitted an agreement with Theatre Company/Producers: The Thing About Men L.P. Richards/Climan, Inc. General Manager for the show “The Thing About Men” being produced at the Promenade Theatre. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve. Donovan excused.

Senior Business Rep Smith appeared before the board to present a plan for Metropolitan Opera Guild teaching artists to schedule a strike authorization vote on July 21 and to set a strike date of July 22 at 4:00 p.m. The potential cost of lost summer work is $16,460, and the request is for payment of 50 percent strike benefits ($8,230). Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m.