TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2001

Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: Recording Vice-President Price, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Gale, Giannini, Reynolds, Rohdin, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert. President Moriarity excused to attend AFM-EP Fund meeting. Financial Vice-President Hafemeister excused to attend to union business. Bogert and Price took the minutes.

Board member Crow present at 11:31 a.m. Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens present at 11:41 a.m. Assistant Director Lennon present at 11:47 a.m. Financial Vice-President Hafemeister present at 11:49 a.m. President Moriarity and board member Landolfi present at 11:59 a.m.

Oct. 2 and Oct. 9 minutes unanimously approved as amended.

Letters to the Executive Board from retired Metropolitan Opera orchestra musicians were distributed and discussed. The letters dealt with Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts that use excerpts of previous broadcasts (see Sept. 17 minutes). President Moriarity said he would respond to the letters.

Moriarity reported that he had received a commercial announcement written by public relations consultant Vito Turso.

Assistant Supervisor of Recording/National Contracts Schaffner appeared before the board to report on and discuss the recently signed AFM commercial announcements (jingle) agreement negotiated with the Association of National Advertisers and the American Association of Advertising Agencies Joint Policy Committee. This agreement will be subject to ratification by members working in the jingle industry, with guidelines to be determined by the AFM. Further discussion ensued on the jingle business in Local 802. Details of the agreement will be published in Allegro.

Meeting recessed at 1:45 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:40 p.m.

Present: Moriarity, Price, Hafemeister, Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin, Shankin, Weiss, Bogert, Dennison, Lennon, Owens.

Senior Business Rep Jackson appeared before the board to request that the union purchase pins to be used in jazz organizing efforts. The total cost of 1,000 pins – including tooling, artwork, shipping and tax – would be $2,385. Discussion held. Motion made to purchase 1,000 pins at $2,385, subject to review of a mock-up of the pins. Further discussion held. Motion made to table. Jackson excused.

Concert Business Rep Delia appeared before the board to present a contract with the NY Grand Opera for concerts and performances. Discussion held. Motion made and carried to approve. Opposed: Landolfi.

In response to a board request, Controller Bogert submitted a list of fixed income investments recommended by investment advisor H.G. Wellington & Co. The list is comprised of Federal Agency Aaa bonds, which yield higher interest rates than U.S. Treasury bills. Discussion held, after which Moriarity appointed an investment subcommittee of Blumenthal, Landolfi and Shankin to investigate further.

Price excused at 3:25 p.m. to meet with representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Discussion held on the script of a new radio spot for the Live Music/Public Relations Campaign. Public Relations Director Beaudoin appeared before the board with tapes of the spot. Discussion continued. Price present at 3:42 p.m. during the discussion. Beaudoin thanked and excused.

Landolfi distributed a proposal for formation of a Local 802 Activists Network, for discussion at a future board meeting.

Price reported to the board that he had granted the following leaves of absence:

1. Tony Cecere, from the Broadway production Beauty and the Beast, from Oct. 17-Nov. 5, to perform with American Ballet Theatre, with the proviso that he not substitute in Beauty and the Beast during that period.
2. Tony Kadleck, from the Broadway production Beauty and the Beast, from Oct. 10-21, for personal reasons.
3. Eric DeGioia, from the Broadway production Les Misérables, from Oct. 29-Nov. 4 and from Nov. 21-Dec. 30, to play the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, with the proviso that he not substitute in Les Misérables during that period.
4. Lenard Rivlin, from the Broadway production The Phantom of the Opera, from the evening of Oct. 24 through Oct. 27 and from the evening of Oct. 31 through Nov. 3, to perform with American Ballet Theatre, with the proviso that he not substitute in The Phantom of the Opera during that period.
5. Veronica Salas, from the Broadway production The Phantom of the Opera, from Oct. 23-27, on the night of Oct. 30, and from the evening of Oct. 31 through Nov. 3, to perform with American Ballet Theatre, with the proviso that she not substitute in The Phantom of the Opera during that period.

Meeting adjourned at 3:57 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2001

Meeting called to order at 11:25 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Rohdin, Shankin and Weiss, Assistant Director Lennon, Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens.

Oct. 16 minutes unanimously approved as amended.

President Moriarity recommended that the union purchase a 15-foot Rat Balloon System, not to exceed $6,000 in cost. Discussion held, during which the successful use of the Rat Balloon was noted, most recently in leafleting at the nonunion off-Broadway show, Reefer Madness. The difficulty of borrowing a Rat Balloon was also noted. Motion made and carried unanimously to purchase the Rat Balloon System as outlined above.

Moriarity reported on the pension provision re-opener in the Metropolitan Opera orchestra musicians’ CBA and submitted the proposed modification agreement to the board. The orchestra committee has unanimously recommended the modification. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Discussion held on the recording industry.

Professor Stanley Aronowitz and graduate fellow Michael Roberts of the CUNY Graduate School Center for Culture, Technology and Work – authors of a study commissioned by Local 802 of the independent labels in the recording industry – appeared before the board, along with Supervisor of Recording/National Contracts Schaffner, Director of Organizing Eisman, business representatives Sheldon, Rodriguez and Agdern, and organizers Elsila, Smith and Charles. Aronowitz and Roberts made a presentation on the study, after which Schaffner updated the board on the current status of the phonograph recording industry. Discussion held.

Meeting recessed at 1:25 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:40 p.m.

Present: Moriarity, Price, Hafemeister, Blumenthal, Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin, Shankin, Weiss, Lennon, Owens.

Three members of the Coordinating Advisory Committee (CAC) – Chair Al Hood of the Single Engagement Club Date Committee, Secretary Katherine Greene of the NY Philharmonic Orchestra Committee and Belinda Kai Atkins of the Gospel Committee – appeared before the board in response to a request from the Executive Board to discuss the CAC’s allocation of funds for various projects. Discussion held, after which Moriarity suggested that he and Price attend the next CAC meeting to discuss guidelines for future grants. Hood, Greene and Atkins excused.

Senior Business Rep Jackson appeared before the board to follow up on a previous request (see Oct. 23 minutes) for the purchase of pins to assist in jazz organizing efforts. She presented a mock-up of the design for board approval. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request as previously submitted.

Assistant Director Lennon submitted a request from the Long Island Masterworks Chorus (LIMC) for permission to have two evening rehearsals payable at the daytime rate to accommodate the adult amateur singers who are unable to rehearse during the day. Musicians who cannot attend an evening rehearsal would not be penalized. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Lennon submitted a request from the LIMC and orchestra to tape a Nov. 10 concert for grant application purposes. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve, subject to Local 802 guidelines for a secret ballot affirmative vote of the orchestra.

Public Relations and Legislative Director Beaudoin appeared before the board to discuss the music for Local 802’s radio commercial and the schedule of air play.

Beaudoin made a request on behalf of the Mark Green campaign that Local 802 provide a band to play for a victory party on Nov. 6, with the cost of $2,000 to be paid from TEMPO802 and paid through Legit 802, Inc. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

A motion was made and carried unanimously to approve the following contributions to candidates for NYC Council, to be paid from TEMPO802: Friends of Bill diBlasio, $250; Tony Avella for City Council, $200; Friends of Joanne Seminara, $200; Crowley for City Council, $250. Motion made and carried unanimously to contribute $200 from TEMPO802 to Friends for Larry DeAngelis, a candidate for Nassau County Executive.

Beaudoin requested a contribution to Citizen Action, a community action group. Motion made and carried unanimously to contribute $250 to purchase one ticket for Citizen Action’s annual dinner on Nov. 29.

Motion made and carried unanimously to purchase 20 Mark Green logo baseball caps from UNITE at cost, for a total of $120, from the General Fund. Beaudoin excused.

Moriarity discussed an officer’s recommendation regarding the Public Relations Department. Discussion held.

Weiss excused at 4:05 p.m. during the foregoing discussion.

Meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2001

Meeting called to order at 11:25 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Landolfi, Rohdin and Shankin, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison.

Oct. 23 minutes unanimously approved as amended

Board member Weiss present at 11:45 a.m. Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens present at 11:50 p.m.

Oct. 30 minutes unanimously approved as amended.

President Moriarity reported on the mayoralty campaign, in which Local 802’s endorsed candidate, Mark Green, was not elected. It was noted that Jim McGreevey, also endorsed by Local 802, had been elected Governor of New Jersey.

Moriarity reported that the recently concluded AFM phonograph negotiations – held in New York and attended by Moriarity, Price and Recording Supervisor Schaffner, along with delegations from locals 47 and 257 and the Recording Musicians’ Association – had resulted in a memorandum of agreement. Discussion held on specific elements of the agreement, which will be published in the next issue of Allegro. The agreement will be submitted for ratification to the rank and file, in accordance with AFM guidelines. The name of the agreement has been changed from Phonograph Recording Labor Agreement to Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA).

Discussion held on the economic status of various symphony orchestras. The new SRLA negotiations did not address symphonic issues. Separate electronic media discussions are being held by the symphony orchestra managements, the AFM, and ICSOM delegates.

Moriarity reported that Metropolitan Opera orchestra musicians had approved the pension modification to the CBA.

Moriarity noted that a Broadway strategic planning meeting with the rank-and-file Theatre Committee had been held, facilitated by Ken Margolies of Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

It was decided that the off-Broadway show featuring Elaine Stritch, which has a schedule of only five shows per week, would pay substitutes one-fifth of a week’s salary for each show performed instead of the usual one-eighth for the customary eight-show week.

Controller Bogert distributed financial statements for September 2001, and provided an analysis. Discussion held.

Discussion held on 802’s payment, early in November, of the balance of the building mortgage. It was suggested that an open house might be held during the holiday season to celebrate the event.

Bogert submitted the names of two employees for salary adjustments of 3.5 percent, effective on each individual’s anniversary date. Motion made and carried to approve. Opposed: Landolfi.

Discussion held on the recommendation to extend the work week, with a commensurate salary adjustment, for Public Relations/Legislative Director Beaudoin. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Meeting recessed at 1:15 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:20 p.m.

Present: Moriarity, Price, Hafemeister, Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Landolfi, Rohdin, Shankin, Weiss, Bogert, Dennison, Owens.

Moriarity submitted a request from the NYS AFL-CIO to purchase two tickets to the Labor Recognition Gala on Nov. 29 at $200 per ticket, for a total of $400. Motion made and carried unanimously to purchase two tickets.

Senior Business Rep Jackson appeared before the board to present a contract with Festival Productions, Inc., for engagements of the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band at the John Harms Center for the Arts, Carnegie Hall and Princeton University between Oct. 1, 2001, and April 15, 2002. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Jackson submitted a budget of $2,042.50 for expenses to attend the International Association of Jazz Educators conference. The cost of the booth at the conference will be shared equally with MPTF. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Board member Landolfi submitted a proposal for formation of a Local 802 Activists’ Network. Discussion held on the plan submitted. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve, in principle, the plan to form a member activist network. Crow excused at 3:10 p.m. during the previous discussion.

Motion made and carried unanimously to allocate an additional payment of $500 from TEMPO802 for the band that performed at the post-election Mark Green campaign event.

Board member Giannini present at 3:25 p.m.

Director of Organizing Eisman appeared before the board to report that an anonymous benefactor had donated a Balloon Rat to the union (see Oct. 30 minutes).

Senior Business Rep Donovan appeared before the board to distribute a contract for an off-Broadway production with Summer of ’42, L.P., Don Frantz, producer, for the production of Summer of ’42 in an off-Broadway “run-out” at Rich Forum in Stamford, Conn., followed by an off-Broadway run at the Variety Arts Theatre, 110 Third Avenue, in NYC. Assistant to the President Dennison made the presentation of the contract. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Weiss excused at 3:40 p.m.

Donovan submitted a contract with By Jeeves, L.P., for a production of By Jeeves at the Helen Hayes Theatre. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Eisman and Donovan excused.

Discussion held on the possibility that Local 802 make financial planning information available to members through articles in Allegro and seminars and meetings held at Local 802.

Dennison submitted a telephone poll regarding approval of a strike authorization vote and strike benefits to be paid to members of the N.Y. Collegium for two rehearsals on Nov. 9 and 10, at $150 each service, or a total of $300, for each of 14 musicians, for a grand total of $4,200 if needed. Motion made and carried unanimously to affirm the poll, which had approved the strike authorization vote and the payment for services.

Price reported to the board that he had granted the following leaves of absence:

1. James Roe, from the Broadway production Aida, from Oct. 25-Nov. 6, to perform on tour.
2. Laura Bontrager, from the Broadway production The Producers, from Nov. 7-18, to play the Pittsburgh Opera’s production of Salome.
3. Christopher Komer, from the Broadway production The Music Man, from Oct. 30-Dec. 9, to perform with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, with the proviso that he not substitute in The Music Man during that period.
4. David Rogers, from the Broadway production The Producers, from Nov. 27-Dec. 31, to play the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, with the proviso that he not substitute in The Producers during that period.
5. Roger Ingram, from the Broadway production Thou Shalt Not, from Nov. 6-Dec. 17, to perform on tour.

Meeting adjourned at 4:10 p.m.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2001

Meeting called to order at 11:25 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens.

Nov. 13 minutes unanimously approved as amended.

Discussion held on the leave of absence regulations contained in Article IX, Subdivision 4, Rule 15 of the Local 802 bylaws. President Moriarity recommended that input from the Theatre Committee be solicited with regard to interpretation.

Financial Vice-President Hafemeister submitted a memorandum of agreement with Musica Viva, Inc., for performances at All Souls’ Church and attendant rehearsals. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Hafemeister submitted a CBA with Oratorio Society of Queens. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Discussion held on holding an open house during the holiday season on Wednesday, Dec. 19, to mark the payment of the balance of the mortgage on the union building. Motion made and carried unanimously to fund the expense for this event up to $6,000.

Price submitted a request for payment of a $500 bonus as per past precedent for the coordinator of the Labor Day parade. Discussion held. Motion made and carried to approve the payment. Opposed: Landolfi.

Price submitted a memo from the NYS AFL-CIO Federation of Labor notifying all affiliates that delegates to the AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention had voted to increase the per capita tax for 2002 by one cent per member per month, bringing it to a total of 36 cents per member per month effective Jan. 1, 2002. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the increase.

Moriarity reported on New School negotiations.

Board member Landolfi distributed an article for Allegro entitled “Why Local 802 Needs an Activist Network.” Discussion held.

Assistant to the President Dennison submitted a request for an ad to be run in Playbill, to be distributed in all Broadway theatres during the month of December. Extensive discussion held on the potential impact of an ad in this publication, and on alternative uses of the graphics. Cost of a four-color full-page ad would be $26,521, while the cost of a half page would be $14,613. Motion made and carried unanimously to authorize funds for a four-color full-page ad at $26,521.

The board set the following year-end schedule for meetings: Thursday, Dec. 27, and Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2002.

Board member Blumenthal present and Landolfi excused at 1:15 p.m.

It was proposed that 2002 membership meetings be held at 3 p.m. on the following Tuesdays: Feb. 26, June 18 and Oct. 15. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Hafemeister excused at 1:20 p.m.

Discussion held on setting agendas for membership meetings in 2002 in order to attract members to attend the meetings.

Discussion held on possible revisions to the Local 802 Health Plan.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve a payment of $500 from TEMPO802 to the NYS AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education (COPE).

Motion made and carried unanimously to purchase two tickets at $125, for a total of $250, to the March of Dimes Salute to Labor Awards Dinner on Nov. 30.

Motion made and carried unanimously to purchase two tickets at $150, for a total of $300, to the Working Theatre’s “Tribute to Lyricist Yip Harburg” on Dec. 3.

Discussion held on freelance concert orchestra negotiations.

Price reported to the board that he had granted the following leaves of absence:

1. Samuel Kephart, from the Broadway production Les Misérables, from Nov. 5-12, to perform with the Roanoke Symphony.
2. Cubby O’Brien, from the Broadway production The Producers, from Nov. 15-25, to perform out of town and for personal reasons.
3. Clinton de Ganon, from the Broadway production The Rocky Horror Show, from Dec. 8-16 and from Dec. 26-30, to perform out of town.
4. Mitchell Weiss, from the Broadway production Les Misérables, from Nov. 12-Dec. 8, for personal reasons.
5. Anthony Cecere, from the Broadway production Beauty and the Beast, from Nov. 14-25, to perform with the New Jersey Symphony and the Metropolitan Opera orchestra, with the proviso that he not substitute in Beauty and the Beast during that period.
6. Katherine Fink, from the Broadway production Beauty and the Beast, from Nov. 14-18, to perform on tour.

Meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2001

Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Executive Board members Crow, Giannini, Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. Financial Vice-President Hafemeister excused to attend to union business.

Nov. 20 minutes unanimously approved as amended.

Price reported on the July 2000 AFM Millennium membership drive statistics as reported to the AFM by Local 802: 235 new members signed up during the drive, and 175 retained membership as of Nov. 15, 2001. Discussion held on various levels of membership.

President Moriarity reported on a music festival held in Portland, Ore., sponsored by Local 99. This festival, through its many events, created public awareness of the union and was also used as an organizing tool by the union. Discussion held.

Board member Gale present at 12:15 p.m.

Moriarity reported that AFM Pamphlet B touring negotiations would take place this week in New York.

Joseph Cultrera, Sales Manager of Northern Business Systems, appeared before the board to make a presentation regarding the cost and use of the copy machines by Local 802. Discussion held. Cultrera thanked and excused. Discussion continued. Financial Vice-President Hafemeister present at 1:07 p.m., board member Blumenthal present at 1:10 p.m. and Giannini excused at 1:20 p.m., all during the previous discussion. Motion made and carried to purchase two copy machines after further investigation of prices and options. Opposed: Landolfi.

Moriarity reported that the Dodger theatrical production company had resigned as a member of the League of American Theatres and Producers. He also reported on the status of the nonunion traveling theatrical company of The Music Man. The AFL-CIO had declared a boycott of this production.

Motion made and carried unanimously to purchase two tickets at $150 each, for a total of $300, from TEMPO802 to the NYS Democratic Committee’s Annual Holiday Gala on Dec. 3.

Meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m.