I. LOCAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT! – OCTOBER 26
II. TUESDAY LUNCH MEETING REPORT
III. COMMENT ON THE SALE
IV. EVENTS
…Absolutely guaranteed anonymity – Former Musician’s Union officer
…The one voice of reason in a sea of insanity – Nashville ‘first call’
scoring musician
…Allows us to speak our minds without fear of reprisal – L.A. Symphonic musician
…Reporting issues the Musicians Union doesn’t dare to mention – National touring musician
Name Withheld
===================================
I. LOCAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT! – OCTOBER 26
Tomorrow night at 7:30, Local 47 will be having their general membership meeting.
No doubt there will be much discussion of the vote whether or not to sell the
building. If you don’t feel you know enough about the situation to knowledgeably vote,
this should be a perfect chance to learn more.
SEE YOU THERE!
===========================================
II. TUESDAY LUNCH MEETING REPORT
Disappointingly, while there were some different members there for “lunch
with the board” less than 10 decided to take part.
It was quite interesting even getting to the meeting. The entire parking
lot was closed off, front and back.
PARKING
As we learned later, the Local has taken to renting out the entire parking
lot to businesses (Studio, Construction and Production) for the next three
months. While that’s fine to make money for the Local, there were no spots
reserved for those musicians wanting to use the rehearsal rooms, especially
those with larger instruments, if the access to the lot is blocked. Otherwise,
they have to park on the street.
This really should be addressed.
WE GOT TROUBLE
The board and others really worked hard to paint the picture of the Local
in dire straights. They’ve frozen officer’s salaries, rented the parking lot,
rented every square inch of the building. Many members at the meeting
were not convinced of the need to sell the building, noting that the building
is owned outright.
There was much talk of upcoming needed repairs to the Local. Roof
replacement and that if we add an elevator the upstairs bathrooms need
to be brought up to code with ADA (Americans with Disabilities). It was
pointed out that as the building is as old as it is. many of those fixes
are NOT required, but voluntary, since we are grandfathered in.
Member Charles Fernandez pointed out his frustration with the Local
trimming around every edge they can without addressing the main problem,
refusing to address the “elephant in the room”. The problem is it doesn’t
matter how much you cut unless you restructure the Local and update
contracts to allow libraries, video games, sampling and of course buyout
options. There’s no point in selling the building to buy an new one unless
you do that. if you don’t you’re only delaying the inevitable demise of the
Local, owing to the loss of 80%+ of our recording work thanks to unworkable
contracts, as well as membership atrophy.
CONSPIRACY
In 1950 there were 13,000 or so members, now there are about 7,500.
If the local becomes insolvent, some believe that the building and assets
must be sold and the revenue split among the Club 47 members.
Unfortunately for those who believe this little conspiracy, it’s not true.
The bylaws make it clear that only if the membership in the Local falls
below 16 (sixteen- yep, that’s right, sixteen) can the Local be dissolved,
thus enabling the sale and dissemination of the profits.
If we lose the building, which is by no means guaranteed, a small
store front would have to be rented or bought to carry on the Local’s
business. NO group of members could suck up the profits.
Member Fernandez also pointed out that the sole group standing in the way,
blocking any progress in contracts in getting any work back were the
few hardcore RMA Leadership and their allies on the IEB who would just
as soon see everyone else starve rather than touch their precious July
residual checks.
It was pointed out that the contracts are national and cannot be changed
at the Local level, but it was in turn pointed out that the RMA holds
the leash of the IEB when it comes to recording, so any progress is
blocked from Los Angeles, and perhaps a bit by New York.
It comes down to this. Either the AFM shows the RMA the door, removing
them from controlling interest in recording contracts so we can make true
progress, the first real progress in 15-20 years, or admit that they (the
afm/local 47) do not have the cajones to stand up to the RMA, keep the
building we have till the money runs out, then get a storefront.
THE REST OF THE MEETING
Other than that, there was much talk of getting folks to vote, many
members not happy with the location and perhaps arranging a day
when members can come out to tour and see the potential new
building.
THE MEMBERSHIP…
…needs to be presented with a list of reasons FOR and AGAINST the sale,
so the rank and file can make an educated choice.
THE COMMITTEE
===================================
III. COMMENT ON THE SALE
RE: Realtor pledges to gift part of sales commission back to the union.
Outrageous!!! Wait a minute! The real estate agent IN CHARGE OF THE
SALE of our property attended the “informational” meeting at Local 47
and had the nerve – or was it stupidity? – to stand up and say that there
was already an offer of 24 million dollars on our home, AND that when
the sale goes through his company would give Local 47 a $100,000
donation, from the millions in commission that his company would earn.
DOESN’T THAT SOUND LIKE A KICKBACK FOR THE SALE OF OUR HOME
THAT SHOULD NOT EVEN BE ON THE MARKET YET!!! And if that’s the
PUBLIC “donation” that he’s bragging about, what kind of “donation” do
you think is going on BEHIND CLOSED DOORS??? And to whom??? Do
we really need to guess… This stinks.
[EC: TO be fair: the realtor’s profit from a sale is typically between
two and five percent, depending on how many realtors are involved.
So the fee earned IF the Local building is sold for 24 million will be
between $480,000 and $1,200,000, not millions.]
=================================
IV. EVENTS
DEAN AND RICHARD
DEAN AND RICHARD are now playing every third Friday
at Culver City Elks 7:30pm-10;30pm,
11160 Washington Pl.
Culver City, 90232
310-839-8891
————————————-
LA WINDS JAZZ KATS 584
NO COVER, NO MINIMUM.
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at Viva Cantina
7:30-10:00.
900 Riverside Drive, Burbank.
Free parking across the street at Pickwick Bowl.
Come hear your favorite charts played the way they
should be.
We are in the back room called the Trailside Room.
Come on down. Guaranteed to swing.
————————————
11/4/15
GLENDALE NOON CONCERTS
NEXT:
On Wednesday, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 at 12:10-12:40 pm
the Free Admission Glendale Noon Concerts
will feature violinist Dimitry Olevsky and pianist Harout Senekeremian
performing works Cesar Franck and Jan Sibelius
at the Sanctuary of Glendale City Church,
610 E. California Ave. (at Isabel), Glendale, CA 91206.
For more information, email [email protected]
or call (818) 244-7241.
Attached is are separate color jpeg photos of
violinist DIMITRY OLEVSKY
& pianist HAROUT SENEKEREMIAN
with their instriments.
EDITORS: PLEASE NOTE
Pianist HAROUT SENEKEREMIAN is a resident of GLENDALE.
http://www.haroutsenekeremian.com
http://www.dimitryolevsky.com
Concert venue information can be found below.
Thank you for your help promoting the Glendale Noon Concerts!
On November 18, 2015, we will celebrate our 8th Anniversary
of presenting free admission concerts
every first and third Wednesday
for Glendale and the Southland community.
Sincerely,
Jacqueline Suzuki
Curator, Glendale Noon Concerts
818 249 5108 home
818 236 1183 pager
———————————————–
11/7-8/15
LISA HALEY ADN THE ZYDECATS
Veterans Day Weekend Celebration
Saturday 11/7/15
Lake Arrowhead, California – 2PM
Americana Veterans Village
www.friends2veterans.com
and
Sunday 11/8/15
Lake Arrowhead, California – 2PM
Americana Veterans Village
www.friends2veterans.com
================================
You can read all previous offerings at:http://www.responsible47.com
UNTIL NEXT TIME,
THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47
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