Greetings Local 47 Colleagues,
In our last Bulletin we sent out an E-mail referring
to another member. This e-mail was sent to us directly from
the Secretary’s office at local 47 and we have saved the e-mail to prove it.
Either it was sent separately to us for intimidation purposes,
or it was sent by mistake.
Either way, it’s contents were disturbing. It contained falsehoods
and blatant misrepresentations of the committee and our intentions.
Shortly thereafter we received yet another e-mail asking who we are, so in the interest of clarity for those who’ve not had the time to read our sometimes lengthy e-mails, please make a note…
THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47 does NOT represent LOCAL 47, nor have we ever said so. We are a group of dues paying members concerned with having a safe, open forum for LOCAL 47 members and the FUTURE of the music business here in Los Angeles, PERIOD! This is no doubt clear to ANYONE who has read our e-mails.
Here was his post and our reply, assuming he was motivated by Serena’s initial e-mail.
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****** ******** here…Local 47 member
Who is the Committee for a responsible Local 47? Please reply.
****** ********
…..and our reply
Greetings *****,
Thank you so much for writing. I believe the e-mail Serena
sent to us, was either sent to us separately as intimidation, or
she INTENDED it for someone else and sent it to us by mistake.
Since we have never thought if Serena as someone to send threats, we
tend to believe the latter.
Regardless of the circumstance, please note that we, as we always do, protected the identity of those involved, except in this case, Serena. Further we have absolutely no problem with anyone sending our e-mails to anyone at the union, in fact we encourage everyone to do so. This is an anonymous forum for local 47 members regardless of their opinion.
It was serendipitous that it was sent to us because it
contained falsehoods and implied threats. If these implied
threats were not in the e-mail we would not even have
responded. This e-mail however showed that Serena seemed to believe we were misrepresenting ourselves and intended to go to counsel with faulty information (i.e. – that we have EVER represented ourselves as representing Local 47, which we do not, nor have we ever claimed to.)
If she had really read the e-mails that were sent she would
KNOW that we have said time and again that the
COMMITTEE is a group of dues paying Local 47 members
concerned with the future of music in our town and NOT
affiliated with Local 47. We choose to remain anonymous
for the protection of our members and those who post
from retribution from those in power. It has been made
clear though our contact with others that speaking up
about the wrong people can adversely affect your career here,
which is not acceptable or right.
There needs to be an anonymous forum for Local 47 members
to speak up where they will not feel threatened. THIS is that
forum. Just as we protect your identity, we will protect everyone
else’s regardless of their view.
If you have read our e-mails you know that we post
comments of every type. The ONLY one’s not sent out have no
relevance to the list. For instance, when someone writes
and says they removed themselves by accident and would like
to be put back on the list, we find no need to send that to the
list.
In fact,… WITHOUT your name, this will be sent on to the list,
as MANY have asked the same question as you. Though we HAVE
answered it before, we will keep answering until everyone gets it.
WE ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH LOCAL 47. WE ARE AN ACTIVIST
GROUP TRYING TO CREATE ACTIVISM IN OTHER MEMBERS BY
KEEPING THEM INFORMED ON WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR UNION
AND OUR BUSINESS HERE IN LOS ANGELES. WE WANT MEMBERS
TO GET INVOLVED IN THE FUTURE OF OUR UNION THAT WILL
IMPROVE THE SITUATION FOR ALL MEMBERS,….. ALL.
We hope you can understand our position here. If not, please
feel free to click the remove button on your next COMMITTEE
BULLETIN, but do not imply that what we are doing is illegal,
nor allow anyone to tell you we are. You are not FORCED to
receive our information and have in fact been inform that we
ARE NOT, NOR EVER WERE affiliated with Local 47.
We hope this clears up any confusion you might have.
Thank you again for writing, and we hope you’ll stick
around to find out what your colleagues think.
THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47.
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Immediately after that we received the first few of what we hope
will be many e-mails sent to the Secretary’s office expressing
their opinions on the Secretary of our Union going to counsel,
unintentionally we hope, with false information and, frankly, trying
to affect the ability of LOCAL 47 members to communicate with
each other in an open forum, available for anyone to see who
wishes to.
These e-mails are directly below ……
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Dear Serena,
I’ve just received an e-mail from the Comm. for a Responsible
47 quoting the following e-mail you apparently sent to a
Local 47 (member):
{“Thanks, *****. I have been sent quite a few by a friend but not
this one. I’m sending it on to Lewis Levy as he says it’s illegal to
say they represent Local 47 when they are only a splinter group \
trying to make trouble.
Love,
Serena”}
If it is indeed from you, I’m surprised that you would refer to
advice of counsel, since it’s my understanding that board
members should keep his legal advice confidential.
Also, I don’t know if you’re quoting Lewis or using your own
words when you refer to the Responsible 47 people as
“only a splinter group \ trying to make trouble.” No matter
whose words these are, I think this impugning of motivation
is an unfortunate and inappropriate way to refer to a
group of fellow musicians.
Sincerely,
******** **********
(Local 47 Member)
_______________________________
Hi Serena,
I am one of the OLD rank and file local 47 recording
musicians. I have been on recording dates in this town since
1976. Our work load is less and less. Something needs to
change from what you and I have been backing at Local 47
for many years. You may think this movement is some kind
of splinter group, which is why a person like me is writing to
you.
The current local 47 system is broken. Run-away production
is rampant. Drastic change is needed. Please be forward thinking
for the future of the majority of us. Backing the Status Quo is
sticking your head in the sand. Please be the leader we have
respected all these years and help us recover our stature as the
Recording Capitol of The World. To continue to back the
current system is being: “a trouble maker”. I pray for all of us
to enter the new world economy, together!
Sincerely,
********* **************
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Bravo!!! Bravissimo guys!!!! The great thing about being in the
USA is that we can do this sort of feedback – in China they
even have a big brother over their blogs!!!
(EDITOR’S NOTE: THANK YOU!.. And we’re not going anywhere!)
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Interesting that people try to twist meanings when they are
plain to see.
people can be so dense and read so f—ing little that it amazes
me that they actually hold down jobs.
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I love it.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re not sure if this is good or bad,
but we post it anyway!)
Dear Committee for a More Responsible Local 47
I’ve always found your email messages well-written, thoughtful, fair and (bottom-line) quite clear on the issue of representation. Please continue, without fear of intimidation, along those same lines.
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