Abraham Fisher (1931-2024)

My column this month is a bit of a departure from the usual reporting on new contracts and finances. I write today in honor of my father, Abraham Fisher, who died on Oct. 9, 2024 at age 93.

Dad was not famous, never sought the spotlight, and lived happily in a small town in Connecticut for most of his adult life. He wasn’t a musician. In fact, his outright tone deafness was a recurring family joke, especially given how much he loved to “sing” along with the radio.

Nevertheless, he adored music and was largely responsible for my trajectory as a musician. His purchase of a used Buffet clarinet for $100 (a fortune in 1972) — along with LP’s that he borrowed from the local library and our family weekly listening sessions to the Texaco Metropolitan Opera broadcasts on the radio every Saturday — set me up for a lifelong love affair with music, as well as my career path.

But the personality attribute that most influenced his life — and later, mine — was his sense of service to his community. If something had to be done, Dad volunteered. But he did everything quietly, with humility, and never once directed his children to follow suit. Instead, he led by example.

As a young man, he donated blood every week for years. He served on his local library board for decades, right until his last days. Over his lifetime, Dad served on multiple town committees, boards of finance, and on the board of his local synagogue. These were all volunteer hours, and for all the time it took, he never made a dime. He simply felt that it was his civic duty to serve.

Maybe it’s generational, but we don’t see much of that anymore. Granted, society has changed dramatically since the turn of the century and as freelancers we are often too busy trying to make a living to volunteer our precious free time. But, the idea of “the artist as citizen” has gotten lost for many of us. Isn’t it our obligation to not only bring beauty into the world with our music but to also contribute to our community? How can we use our talents to do good deeds beyond the concert stage? In honor of my dad, I’m asking all of us to think about how we can do better and help one another.

In supporting Local 802, you are not only helping yourself, but you benefit our entire community. When you volunteer to make your union better, it is a classic example of win/win. To put it bluntly: a stronger union means stronger contracts for you — and better wages and benefits. (Need proof? Check out my column last month: “Musicians Win Double-Digit Increases in New Contracts.”)

One of our biggest challenges today is member engagement. Making improvements in this area is at the top of my agenda for the next three years. Here are some easy things you can do right now to contribute to your union.

• Stop by and say hello. Check out our temporary office location on the 10th floor of 25 West 45^th Street, between Fifth and Sixth. Establish a relationship with your business reps and check in often. They want to know how things are going for you. Here is a list of staff contacts.
• Volunteer to serve on a committee. It’s not only an eye-opening learning experience, but the officers and staff need you to provide crucial feedback when contract negotiations come up. To learn more about volunteering on a freelance classical committee, contact me.
• Read, understand, and know your Local 802 union contracts. Some are posted on the Local 802 Web site in the public area, and we also post some in the members’ only area. If you can’t find your particular contract, contact a member of your orchestra committee. If you don’t know who your committee is, contact me.
• Vote! It goes without saying that national and local elections are “mandatory” for those who care about the direction of our society. As you know, the U.S. presidential election is staring at us in the face on Nov. 5, and Local 802 has endorsed Kamala Harris (obviously). For some last-minute suggestions of how Local 802 members can help Kamala win, click here.
• Separately, the Local 802 election is Dec. 3. That election is also important and your voice will certainly be heard. In fact, sometimes Local 802 elections come down to just a handful of votes. The president and vice presidents (including myself) are running unopposed this term, but there is a competitive race for our Executive and Trial Boards, and those members are instrumental in making important decisions about your daily working life. Get to know their platforms, make an informed decision, and please come out and vote. In-person voting takes place on Dec. 3, 2024. The full election rules (including voting eligibility and where to vote) are here.
• Think about running for office next time. It’s O.K. if you don’t have experience. We all have to start somewhere. Every three years, we need candidates to fill leadership roles, including the president, two vice presidents, 9 members of the Executive Board, 9 members for the Trial Board and several others to represent Local 802 at the AFM convention, the AFL-CIO, and other assorted offices. This year’s candidates are finalized, but it’s really not too early to start thinking about three years from now.
• Show up! There are multiple opportunities to show support throughout the year: the Labor Day Parade, membership meetings, committee meetings, orchestra meetings, demonstrations, social gathering of colleagues, and of course, picket lines.
• Work union. Always. You are worth it.

I already miss my dad terribly, but I am grateful for the example he set for me to follow throughout my life. As I enter my third term as Financial Vice President and my 18th year at Local 802, I will continue to serve our magnificent, diverse membership to the best of my ability. I humbly hope that you are also at least a little inspired by my dad’s example and I look forward to seeing you soon.