FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2004

Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Lennon, Recording Vice-President Dennison, Financial Vice-President Blumenthal, Executive Board members, Babich, Gagliardi, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Schaffner, Shankin, Weiss, Whitaker, Controller Bogert, and Assistant to the President Delia.

Lennon presented a proposed plan of action for the Board to meet with each union department over the next several months in preparation for strategic analysis of Local 802’s concerns and future goals.

Discussion held

Lennon initiated a resumption of discussion of the proposed 2004 Local 802 budget. (See minutes of January 20, 2004 and January 27, 2004.)

Discussion held.

Meeting recessed at 1:20 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:00 p.m. Present: Lennon, Dennison, Blumenthal, Babich, Gagliardi, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Schaffner, Shankin, Weiss, Whitaker, Bogert, Delia.

Discussion continued on the 2004 Local 802 budget.

Motion made and carried unanimously to adopt the Local 802 2004 budget as presented.

Meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2004

Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Lennon, Recording Vice-President Dennison, Financial Vice-President Blumenthal, Executive Board members, Gagliardi, Gale, Giannini, Schaffner, Shankin, Weiss, Whitaker, Controller Bogert, and Assistant to the President Delia, Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison, Owens.Recording Vice-President Dennison distributed minutes of January 20, 2004.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve as amended.

Recording Vice-President Dennison distributed minutes of January 27, 2004.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve as amended.

Recording Vice-President Dennison distributed minutes of January 30, 2004.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve as amended.

Dennison submitted a request from a member for reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with a meeting of the part time faculty at the Jazz and Contemporary Music Program, New School University in the amount of $136.61.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the reimbursement in the amount of $136.61.

Dennison submitted a request from the Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition for an annual contribution of $250.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve a contribution of $250 to the Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition.

Dennison submitted a request from the Five Borough Institute for a contribution to their planned “Win Back America” counter-convention planned to take place August 26-29, 2004 in New York City to coincide with the Republican National Convention.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve a donation of $250 to the Five Borough Institute.

Dennison informed the Board about an increase from $0.36 to $0.37 in the monthly per capita affiliation fee paid to the New York State AFL-CIO.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve payment of the new monthly per capita rate to the New York State AFL-CIO.

Local 802 Legal Counsel, Leibowitz present at 12:30.

Blumenthal reported on two pending grievances against the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players and the Westfield Symphony.

Blumenthal reported on discussions with the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance in regard to a request for use of tape during a children’s educational performance. (See minutes of January 27, 2004.)

Discussion held.

Local 802 Director of Organizing, Eisman present at 12:45.

Lennon reported to the Board on the ongoing dispute with the Opera Company of Brooklyn regarding its use of the virtual orchestra machine. He distributed to the Board a letter sent to Jay Meetze of the Opera Company of Brooklyn and a proposed leaflet to be distributed to the public at scheduled performances of the Opera Company of Brooklyn on Friday, February 6, 2004 and Sunday February 8, 2004. Discussion held.

Meeting recessed at 1:30 p.m.

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

Bogert presented scheduled salary increases for 11 Local 802 staff members.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the salary increases.

Schaffner present at 2:45 p.m.

Bogert and Delia excused.

Lennon presented scheduled salary increases for Bogert and Delia.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the salary increases.

Bogert and Delia return.

Leibowitz present at 2:50 p.m.

Lennon reported that the February issue of Allegro containing a by-law resolution on the Local 802 Legal Services Fund had been published 29 days prior to the scheduled February 24, 2004 membership meeting. He pointed out that Article VII Section 4. of the Local 802 Bylaws requires the publication in Allegro of any by-law resolution at least 30 days prior to a membership meeting.

Motion made and carried unanimously that, in accordance with Article VII Section 4. of the Local 802 Bylaws, the by-law resolution on the Local 802 Legal Services Fund be removed from the agenda of the February membership meeting and placed on the agenda of the June membership meeting allowing time for the appropriate notification period.

Senior Business Rep Donovan appeared before the Board and presented a contract with The Guitar Company, L.P. for the off-Broadway production of Johnny Guitar at the Century Center for the Performing Arts.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the contract.

Donovan presented a contract with Ministry of Progress, LLC for the off-Broadway production of Ministry of Progress, The Musical at the Jane Street Theatre

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the contract.

Senior Organizer Smith appeared before the Board and along with Leibowitz presented a first contract with the Big Apple Circus. The Board was also made aware of a request from a member of the new bargaining unit that there be a phase in of work dues.

Gale excused at 3:30

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the contract.

Motion made and carried unanimously that work dues payments for musicians covered under the Big Apple Circus contract become effective August 1, 2004.

Meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2004

Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Lennon, Recording Vice-President Dennison, Financial Vice-President Blumenthal, Executive Board members, Babich, Gagliardi, Gale, Giannini, Shankin, Weiss, Whitaker, Controller Bogert, and Assistant to the President Delia, Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison, Owens.

Recording Vice-President Dennison distributed minutes of February 3, 2004.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve as amended.

Lennon reported to the Board on the successful outcome of a campaign to stop the use of a virtual orchestra machine by the Opera Company of Brooklyn. A well attended informational picket line at the opera company’s performance on Friday, February 6, 2004 along with the support of musicians, who were not members of the Federation and who had been engaged to perform with the virtual orchestra machine, convinced the opera company to sign a memorandum of agreement with the union that commits the company to the use of live musicians for all future productions and to end its use of the virtual orchestra machine. Lennon distributed to the Board a copy of that agreement along with a press release about the settlement issued by Local 802.

Lennon recommended that, in light of the support provided by the musicians noted above, Local 802 waive its membership admission fee and pay the AFM initiation fee for these musicians.

Motion made and carried unanimously to waive the Local 802 membership admission fee and to pay the AFM initiation fee for the musicians engaged by the Opera Company of Brooklyn for its February 6, 2004 performance.

Lennon reported to the Board on his most recent discussions with the British Musicians Union concerning the use of a virtual orchestra machine in the London production of Les Miserables. (See minutes of January 20, 2004.)

Dennison submitted a request from the Arts and Entertainment Committee of the NYS AFL-CIO for financial support of a film festival titled Ten Years of Freedom: Films From the New South Africa.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve a contribution of $250 for the film festival.

Dennison submitted a request from Tenants & Neighbors for a contribution to an event honoring leaders of the struggle for tenants’ rights and affordable housing. Former Local 802 Public Relations Director Judy West was among those to be honored.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve a contribution of $250 to the Tenants & Neighbors event.

Blumenthal reported to the Board on a moving and well-attended tribute to Lew Waldeck, former Director of the AFM Symphonic Services Division, that took place on Friday, February 6, 2004. Blumenthal and Lennon reported to the Board on their attendance and participation in a meeting of the New Jersey State Conference of AFM locals held on Sunday, February 8, 2004.

Bogert reported to the Board that he had received a quote of $25,350 for the cost of printing the new Local 802 Directory.

Discussion held on less expensive future printing options.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the expenditure of $25,350 for the printing of the new directory.

Giannini excused at 12:30 p.m.

Senior Business Rep Donovan appeared before the Board and presented a contract renewal with the Love Lemmings, Company L.P. for the off-Broadway production “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” appearing at the West Side Arts Theatre.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the contract.

Donovan presented a contract with the Cherry Lane Theatre for the off-Broadway production of “Open Heart” appearing at the Cherry Lane Theatre

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the contract.

Meeting adjourned at 1:15 p.m.