Allegro

Executive Board Minutes

January 18, 2005 -- February 8, 2005

Volume CV, No. 5May, 2005

TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2005

Meeting called to order at 11:15 a.m. Present: Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members, Babich, Gagliardi, Giannini, Landolfi, Schaffner, Shankin and Controller Bogert. President Lennon excused on union business. Blumenthal chaired the meeting.

Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of January 11, 2005

Board members Gale and Whitaker present at 11:20 a.m.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.

Vice President Blumenthal reported on the status of negotiations with management of the Brooklyn Philharmonic.

Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens present at 11:25 a.m.

Blumenthal presented a Memorandum of Agreement with the S.E.M. Ensemble.

President Lennon present at 11:35 a.m.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement.

Blumenthal reported on a meeting with members of the Eos Orchestra.

Discussion held.

Board member Weiss present at 11:50 a.m. during previous discussion.

Lennon requested the purchase of two tickets at $200 each to the Distinguished Service Awards program sponsored by the NYC Central Labor Council.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Lennon requested the purchase of two tickets to the annual benefit program sponsored by Inside Broadway as well as purchase of an ad in the benefit journal at a total cost of $2,000. This was the same total expenditure as in the prior year.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Lennon reported on a meeting with representatives of the producers of the Broadway musical “Lennon,” the purpose of which was to obtain further information concerning the producer’s request that this show be considered a special situation. The meeting also included the musical’s creative team and representatives of the League of American Theatres and Producers.

Discussion held.

Meeting recessed at 1:40 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:25 p.m.

Present: Lennon, Blumenthal, Babich, Gagliardi, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Schaffner, Shankin, Weiss, Whitaker, and Bogert. Bogert took the minutes in Dennison’s absence.

Discussion resumed concerning the special situation request.

Lennon reported on his attendance at the Chicago conference of the Theatre Musicians Association regarding the upcoming Pamphlet B negotiations. He noted that concern was expressed at the conference over the increasing threat of the replacement of live musicians with virtual orchestra machines.

Dennison and Owens present at 2:45 p.m.

Discussion held.

Lennon distributed a resolution received from the Organization of Union Representatives, the union representing Local 802 business reps and organizers.

Discussion held.

Gale and Whitaker excused at 3:45 p.m.

Dennison requested approval of a one cent per member increase in the per capita fee paid by Local 802 to the New York State AFL-CIO. The increase was mandated by the 2004 NYS AFL-CIO convention.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Dennison reported that a committee representing various union departments was being created to formulate plans for a membership drive.

Board member Schaffner reported that the AFM Theatrical Motion Picture and Television Film agreements had both been extended for 6 months. Schaffner also reported that a one-year extension of the AFM Sound Recording Labor Agreement with a two percent wage increase had been ratified.

Meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m.


TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2005

Meeting called to order at 11:15 a.m. Present: President Lennon, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members, Babich, Gagliardi, Gale, Giannini, Schaffner, Shankin, Controller Bogert and Assistant to the President Delia.

Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of January 18, 2005.

Board members Landolfi and Weiss present at 11:25 a.m.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.

Dennison distributed the CAC minutes of December 21, 2004.

Motion made and carried unanimously to concur with a CAC expenditure of up to $3,590 for expenses incurred by members Jimmy Owens and Bob Cranshaw for their attendance at the 2005 conference of the International Association for Jazz Education in Long Beach, CA.

Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens present at 11:35 a.m.

President Lennon reported that a meeting had been scheduled with representatives of the Organization of Union Representatives. (See minutes of January 18, 2005.)

Lennon requested a contribution of $250 from TEMPO802 to the political action committee of George Torres, a candidate for New York City Council.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Lennon reported on his participation in the AFM Futures Committee and the status of that Committee’s work.

Discussion held.

Meeting recessed at 1:45 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:35 p.m. Present: Lennon, Blumenthal, Dennison, Babich, Gagliardi, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Shankin, Weiss, Bogert, Delia and Owens.

Local 802 Counsel Leibowitz, Principal Theatre Representative Donovan and Theatre Representative Bond present.

Lennon initiated a discussion of the special situation request from the producers of the Broadway musical “Lennon.”

Discussion held.

Landolfi excused at 3:00 p.m.

Bogert excused at 4:15 p.m.

Meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m.


TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2005

Meeting called to order at 11:10 a.m. Present: Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Babich, Gale, Landolfi, Schaffner, Shankin, Whitaker, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Delia, and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. President Lennon and Board member Weiss excused on union business. Blumenthal chaired the meeting.

Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of January 25, 2005.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.

Vice President Blumenthal requested reimbursement of expenses in the amount of $16 to Mostly Mozart Orchestra Committee Chairman Lee Soper. The expenses were incurred in regard to attendance at a meeting with legal counsel concerning Mostly Mozart contract issues.

Board Member Gagliardi present at 11:20 a.m.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the payment.

Giannini present at 11:30 a.m.

Delia requested reimbursement of expenses in the amount of $52 to Executive Board member Tino Gagliardi. The expenses were incurred in regard to attendance at a meeting of the Executive Board’s Strategic Planning Committee.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request. Gagliardi recused.

Dennison reported on his attendance at a meeting of New York City union leaders who are planning an event to mark the second anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The purpose of the event is to express labor’s opposition to the war and the policies of the Bush administration.

Bogert requested approval of salary adjustments for several staff members.

Bogert, Delia and Schaffner excused.

Discussion held.

Board member Weiss present at 12:20 p.m.

The Board requested additional information in regard to the proposed salary adjustments.

Bogert, Delia, and Schaffner present at 12:30 p.m.

Public Relations Director Beaudoin present.

President Lennon present at 12:35 p.m.

Further discussion held on Local 802’s recent affiliation with the Working Families Party. (See minutes of January 11, 2005.)

Meeting recessed at 1:20 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:20 p.m.

Present: Lennon, Blumenthal, Dennison, Babich, Gagliardi, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Shankin, Weiss and Whitaker.

Lennon requested payment from the Members Legal Services Fund of an invoice in the amount of $13,361.08 from the law firm of Cohen, Weiss and Simon LLP for legal services provided during the NY Philharmonic negotiations.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Delia and Local 802 Counsel Leibowitz present at 2:25 p.m.

Lennon reported on correspondence between Local 802 and management of the Metropolitan Opera.

Schaffner present at 2:30 p.m.

Discussion held.

Principal Theatre Business Rep Donovan and Theatre Representative Bond present.

Lennon reported on a second meeting with representatives of the producers of the Broadway musical “Lennon,” the purpose of which was for the union to obtain additional information regarding their request that the show be considered a special situation. (See minutes of January 18, 2005.)

Discussion held.

Leibowitz, Bond and Donovan excused.

Lennon reported on a meeting of the AFM Futures Committee held in Chicago on Monday, January 31, 2005.

Weiss, Gale and Giannini excused at 4:30 p.m.

Babich excused at 4:45 p.m.

Meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m.


TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2005

Meeting called to order at 11:05 a.m. Present: President Lennon, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members, Gagliardi, Gale, Landolfi, Shankin, Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Delia and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens.

Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of February 1, 2005.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.

President Lennon requested payment of an invoice from attorney Peter V. Marks Sr., Esquire in the amount of $3,717.50 in regard to legal action taken against Norman Speilberg to recover unpaid wages and benefits for a single engagement contract he had filed.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve payment.

Lennon requested the purchase of 2 tickets at a total cost of $300 to the 2005 Annual Meeting of NYC and Company, New York City’s tourism bureau.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the purchase.

Lennon requested contributions of $250 from TEMPO802 to the campaign committees of New York City Council members Larry Seabrook, Sara Gonzalez, Eric Martin Dilan and Diana Reyna.

Motion made a carried unanimously to approve the contributions.

Board member Schaffner present at 11:40 a.m.

Lennon distributed the Special Situation Panel’s decision granting special situation status to the Broadway musical “Lennon.” Local 802 and the producers had agreed that this production qualified as a special situation musical under the terms of the Broadway contract.

Discussion held.

Principal Theatre Business Donovan and Theatre Representative Bond appeared before the Board and presented a renewed agreement with NYCGNO LLC for their production of “Menopause The Musical.”

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement subject to ratification by the bargaining unit.

Donovan presented a request from the producers of the Sondheim Benefit for Young Playwright’s Inc. that the Saturday night single engagement scale be waived for a benefit concert scheduled for Monday, March 21st at the New Amsterdam Theatre. The event, to be held on the occasion of Stephen Sondheim’s 75th birthday, will raise funds for the work of Young Playwrights, Inc. and is supported by a wide array of Broadway artists.

Discussion held.

Donovan was directed by the Board to negotiate an agreement for the concert based on the forgoing discussion and appropriate to the event.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the purchase of 1 ticket to the Sondheim Benefit for Young Playwrights Inc. at a cost of $500.

Lennon reported that an arbitration regarding the employment of rotation players at the New York City Ballet had been adjourned by the arbitrator until the conclusion of upcoming negotiations. The arbitrator retained jurisdiction in the event the grievance remained unresolved.

Lennon reported on recording and electronic media issues regarding the New York Philharmonic.

Discussion held.

Board member Whitaker present at 12:50 p.m. during previous discussion.

Meeting recessed at 1:05 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:10 p.m. Present: Lennon, Blumenthal, Dennison, Gagliardi, Gale, Landolfi, Schaffner, Shankin, Weiss, Whitaker and Delia.

Member Juliet Haffner, member and NY RMA President Mark Shuman and Public Relations Director Beaudoin present for a discussion of tax subsidies for film scoring in New York City.

Discussion held.

Giannini present at 2:30 p.m. during previous discussion.

Haffner and Shuman thanked and excused.

Beaudoin excused.

Organizing Director Eisman, Contract Administration Department Supervisor Hannen and Club Date Business Rep Schilio present for a discussion of club date organizing.

Discussion held.

Eisman, Hannen, and Schilio excused.

Theatre Representative Bond appeared before the Board and presented a Letter of Agreement with In The Moment Productions extending for 1 year the contract covering their production of “Mi Vida En Jira / A Life … A Broad.”

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement subject to ratification by the bargaining unit and subject to legal counsel review of the language regarding change in venue.

Bond excused.

Schaffner and Delia excused.

Shankin excused.

Lennon presented information regarding scheduled salary increases for several staff members.

Discussion held.

Schaffner and Delia present.

Lennon initiated a discussion regarding a request that Local 802 share in the cost of developing a Federation wide shared database for all AFM recording contracts. (See minutes of June 22, 2004.)

Discussion held.

Gale excused at 4:50 p.m.

Financial Vice President Blumenthal presented a Memorandum of Agreement with the Center for Contemporary Opera.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement subject to ratification by the bargaining unit.

Blumenthal presented a run-out agreement with the DiCapo Opera Theatre.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement.

Blumenthal requested that the Board reaffirm a previous policy allowing the Concert Department supervisor to handle certain evening rehearsal requests.

Motion made and carried unanimously to allow the Concert Department supervisor at his or her discretion and on a case-by-case basis to approve evening rehearsals at the day rate for amateur choruses.

Meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m.