FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2004

Meeting called to order at 12:35 p.m. Present: President Lennon, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members, Gagliardi, Gale, Giannini, Schaffner, Shankin, Weiss, Whitaker, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Delia, and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. Also present: Public Relations Director Beaudoin, Senior Business Rep Donovan, and Organizing Director Eisman,

President Lennon initiated a discussion of a producer’s intention to use a virtual orchestra machine in an upcoming Off Broadway production and several proposed responses to this situation. (See minutes of February 17, 2004).

Discussion held.

Blumenthal excused at 1:45 p.m.

Weiss excused at 2:00 p.m.

Meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2004

Meeting called to order at 11:35 a.m. Present: President Lennon, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members, Gagliardi, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Schaffner, Shankin, Weiss, Whitaker, Controller Bogert and Assistant to the President Delia.

Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of March 2, 2004.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve minutes as amended.

Lennon distributed to the Board a communication from the British Musicians Union (BMU) concerning their efforts to stop the use of a virtual orchestra machine in a London West End Theatre. (See minutes of January 20, 2004.) He also distributed a copy of a petition in support of the BMU’s efforts for circulation among Broadway theatre employees.

Lennon reported to the Board on a meeting with the Off Broadway producers of “The Joys of Sex” (see minutes of March 2, 2004.), and that a subsequent meeting had been scheduled.

Lennon reported that Real Time Music Solutions Inc., the company responsible for the virtual orchestra machine, had filed an unfair labor practice charge against Local 802 and the Opera Company of Brooklyn with the National Labor Relations Board.

Discussion held.

Lennon reported that Local 802 was to begin negotiations with Local 153, Office and Professional Employees International Union representing the union’s clerical staff.

Lennon reported to the Board on the union’s response to an article that appeared in a local newspaper about an overtime payment made to the “Fiddler on the Roof” orchestra. He reviewed the facts surrounding the overtime incident, nearly all of which were either misstated or omitted from the newspaper report.

Discussion held.

Meeting recessed at 1:50 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:30 a.m. Present: Lennon, Dennison, Blumenthal, Babich, Gagliardi, Gale, Giannini, Schaffner, Shankin, Weiss, Whitaker, Bogert, and Delia.

Discussion resumed on a request from members of the PDQ Bach orchestra. (See minutes of February 24, 2004.)

Motion made and carried to deny the request to play a free concert at Avery Fischer Hall but to approve use of a union escrow account to allow musicians to make anonymous donations of their salaries to the employer. Opposed: Whitaker.

Giannini excused at 3:20 p.m.

Whitaker excused at 3:30 p.m.

Senior Business Rep Donovan appeared before the Board and presented a contract with Lincoln Center Theatre for performances of “Barbara Cook’s Broadway” at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the contract.

Donovan presented a contract with Chef’s Theatre Holdings LLC for an Off Broadway production titled “Chef Theatre” appearing at the Edison Supper Club.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the contract.

Donovan presented a contract with BARE/ATA, LLC c/o Dodger Stage Holding Theatricals for an Off Broadway production titled, “bare: Pop Opera” appearing at the American Theatre of Actors.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the contract.

Donovan presented a letter of agreement extending the contract between Local 802 and the Helen Hayes Theatre in Nyack, NY for six months to June 2004.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the Letter of Agreement.

Blumenthal presented a request from the Orchestra of St. Lukes to waive the minimum weekly payment for the week of July 26-31, 2004 and to permit the performance and payment of one chamber concert during that week at the Caramoor Festival.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request pending majority approval of the orchestra.

Dennison presented an archival recording agreement with TMW Enterprises, Inc. for a single engagement performance at a GlaxoSmithKline awards program on March 4, 2004 for internal use of the company only.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement.

Meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2004

Meeting called to order at 11:35 a.m. Present: Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Schaffner, Shankin, Weiss, Whitaker, Controller Bogert. Blumenthal chaired the meeting.

President Lennon, Board Member Gagliardi, and Assistant to the President Delia excused to meet with musicians in the Off Broadway production of “The Joys of Sex.”

Dennison distributed minutes of March 9, 2004.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve minutes as amended.

Dennison initiated a discussion on a March 20, 2004 demonstration against U.S. involvement in Iraq.

Motion made to endorse the March 20 demonstration and to inform the membership through email and notice on the Local 802 web site.

Discussion held on needs of Long Island office.

President Lennon, Board Member Gagliardi, and Assistant to the President Delia present at 12:20 p.m.

Michael Presser, Executive Director of Inside Broadway, appeared before the Board and discussed the work of his organization in bringing the musical theatre experience to New York City school children. He expressed appreciation for Local 802’s past support and requested continued assistance for the organization’s work. He also invited Lennon to become a member of the Board of Directors of Inside Broadway. Lennon accepted the invitation.

Presser excused.

Discussion held.

Motion made and carried unanimously to endorse the work of Inside Broadway, to explore future ways to participate in the organization’s activities and to purchase a journal ad and two tickets for their upcoming fund raising event for a total of $2,000.

Presser returned to meeting and was informed of the Board’s action.

Meeting recessed at 1:30 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:25: Present: Lennon, Blumenthal, Gagliardi, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Shankin, Weiss, Whitaker, Bogert, Delia, and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens.

Dennison and Schaffner excused to meet with members of the Sesame Street orchestra.

Blumenthal reported on developments regarding the new management at Manhattan Plaza (The Related Companies) and their decision to seek entry into the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) “mark up to market” program. At a prior Manhattan Plaza Tenant Association (MPTA) meeting Related had indicated that there would be no changes at Manhattan Plaza. (See minutes of January 27, 2004.) Several politicians who had been present at that tenants meeting, sent a letter to Related indicating their deep concern about Related’s decision to seek entry into the “mark up to market” program. Blumenthal relayed Local 802’s commitment to fair and affordable housing in NYC to the President of MPTA and offered the assistance of Local 802.

Blumenthal reported on the NYS AFL-CIO’s Arts and Entertainment Industry Strategic Education Training (SET) program he attended at the Cornell Industrial Labor Relations School. The SET program focused on the changing factors in the Arts and Entertainment Industry, which influence the union movement’s power and ability to represent their members. He attended the SET program with three other board members and two Local 802 staff members.

Lennon reported on a request from the New York City Opera Orchestra that the contractually established dates of guaranteed workweeks be extended to accommodate additional workweeks during the 2004 Lincoln Center Festival. The orchestra had voted to approve the request.

Discussion held.

Motion made a carried unanimously to approve the request.

Lennon reported on recent developments in regard to the planned Off Broadway show “The Joys of Sex. ”

Local 802 Counsel Leibowitz appeared before the Board and explained the response he had prepared in regard to charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board against Local 802 and the Opera Company of Brooklyn by RealTime Music Solutions Inc. (See minutes of March 9, 2004.)

Lennon reported to the Board on recent developments in London in regard to the use of a virtual orchestra machine in a London West End theatre. (See minutes of January 20, 2004.)

Lennon reported to the Board on recent organizing efforts.

Motion made and carried unanimously to waive the initiation fees for two musicians involved in these organizing efforts.

Blumenthal and Leibowitz excused at 3:35 p.m.

Babich excused at 3:50 p.m.

Leibowitz present at 3:50 p.m.

Lennon reported to the Board on his recent discussions with the press regarding an overtime issue at “Fiddler on the Roof” (See minutes of March 9, 2004) and distributed to the Board a letter sent to the League of American Theatres and Producers regarding this issue. A copy of the letter had also been sent to members of the Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds.

Landolfi excused at 3:55 p.m.

Discussion held.

Blumenthal, Babich and Landolfi returned during previous discussion.

Leibowitz excused 4:05

Meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.