Allegro

Currently Browsing: 2000,

Musicians' Unity Was the Key to Success
The 20 musicians who performed on the MTV Video Music Awards show on Sept. 7 with the musical group ‘NSYNC did so under union contract, after a whirlwind organizing campaign by Local 802. This was an important achievement for several

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Mikael Elsila
The National Labor Relations Board has found that the four musicians who perform each week at the Apollo Theatre are employees and not independent contractors, and are therefore entitled to the benefits of a union contract. Unless management appeals the

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Area Standards Campaign to Focus on 'Dark Dates'
Tim Dubnau
In recent weeks union staff have begun to contact 500 of the busiest recording musicians in Local 802, requesting their help in a major new campaign to strengthen the union’s effectiveness in the recording field. This joint campaign by 802’s

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Ray Chew and the Crew Demand Benefits and Dignity
Mikael Elsila
Click here for a sampling of letters supporting unionization at the Apollo Theatre. Four Local 802 members are fighting for union representation and union benefits at Harlem’s historic Apollo Theatre, and their battle is drawing wide support. The musicians are

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52-Week Season, Work Relief Provisions, Are Highlights
In the early morning hours of May 2, after a marathon 15½-hour negotiating session interrupted only by a performance of Das Rheingold, negotiators for Local 802 and the Metropolitan Opera Association reached tentative agreement on a new five-year contract. The

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Bill Dennison
After several years of on-again, off-again discussions with the Broadway Television Network (BTN), New York theatre musicians have reluctantly approved an agreement for the pay-per-view television presentation of Broadway shows. In voting on Jan. 26 and 27, a tentative pact

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Attendance Requirements Sparked Two-Week Lockout
Bill Dennison
Members of the New York City Ballet Orchestra voted 43 to 19 on Dec. 7 to ratify a new contract, ending a two-week lockout by Ballet management. While the settlement put the orchestra back in the pit, the lockout has

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Musicians Ratify New Five-Year Agreement
After narrowly averting a strike during last season’s Christmas Spectacular, and following several months of difficult negotiations this year, Local 802 has reached agreement on a new contract with Radio City Productions. RCP is owned by Cablevision, which also owns

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Collections Approach $1.5 Million Mark
Jay Schaffner
Local 802 recording musicians received almost $1.5 million in grievance collections and late payment penalties in 1999 – a huge sum they would not have received without union intervention. Grievance collections ran about 25 percent higher than the previous year

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Raising Area Standards
Joe Eisman
Local 802’s campaign to raise area standards in the club date field took an important step forward on May 5, when New York City Swing became a signatory to the Single Engagement Club Date Agreement. The agency signed on after

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The 2000 Elections
“It’s still about the economy, stupid!” – and about health care, education, racial justice, Social Security, tax fairness and all the other issues that confronted us four years ago. This year’s crucial national election and the movements that will put

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Upholding Area Standards
Joe Eisman
On a chilly Friday evening recently, a dozen 802 organizers, members and volunteers buttonholed New York hipsters on their way into Le Bar Bat, a trendy midtown meeting place where young professionals network. “Have you heard about New York City

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Jim Hannen
After many months of intermittent negotiating, Local 802 and the Hotelmen’s Committee for Hotel Users of Music reached agreement in mid-December. The previous contract had expired on March 1, 1999. Included in the new three-year agreement is a retroactive wage

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Union, Health Plan and Providers Join to Offer Affordable Options
Preserving your hearing is one of the most important things you can do for yourself as a professional musician. Hearing loss is not inevitable; you can take precautions and protect yourself. The first step is testing. Every musician should have

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Increase Takes Effect January 1, 2000
Click here for chart summary. At its meetings of June 5-7, 2000, the Board of Trustees of the American Federation of Musicians and Employers’ Pension Fund voted to increase all Fund benefits by 7 percent, effective Jan. 1, 2000. The

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In the Key of Solidarity
Following is a sampling of the e-mails that have been sent to Grace Blake, Executive Director of the Apollo Theatre Foundation, urging union recognition for Ray Chew and the Crew: I have been a working musician all my life, and

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Workers at MoMA have scored a huge victory after four months on the picket line. On Sept. 9 they reached an agreement with management and voted to end the strike. Local 802 members played an important role in the struggle,

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Local 802 Live Music Campaign
David Lennon
This summer Local 802 embarked on a project to produce a video that would not only be part of a promotional CD-ROM produced by SFX Theatrical Group, but would also provide the union with a wealth of footage showcasing our

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Mikael Elsila
Musicians at the Apollo Theatre have taken their fight for justice to the National Labor Relations Board. On June 20, Local 802 and the Apollo Theatre Foundation squared off at 26 Federal Plaza over the quartet’s right to form a

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Musicians Reached 802 Scale Within Six Years - With Union Benefits Along the Way
Mikael Elsila
Just six years after signing their first contract, Westchester Symphony Orchestra musicians have ratified an agreement that brings them to full freelance scale. This makes them the first orchestra to have gone from a “lowball” contract (which provides union benefits

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Mikael Elsila
After ten months of roller-coaster negotiating, instructors at the New School’s Guitar Study Center unanimously ratified their first contract early in February. This brings the number of instructors working under a union agreement at the New School to more than

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Natasha Jackson
A piano, bass and drums jazz trio welcomed musicians as they trickled in one by one, forming small clusters in corners, shaking hands, and pointing across the room to old friends and fellow musicians. Guests fixed plates of food as

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Joe Eisman
Management of the Westfield Symphony Orchestra (WSO) signed a recognition agreement with Local 802 on Nov. 20, responding to musicians’ overwhelming desire to be represented by the union. The agreement requires the symphony to negotiate with 802 over wages, hours,

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AFCU Annual Meeting
Substantial increases in assets, transactions, and services to members were highlighted at the Actor’s Federal Credit Union annual meeting, which was held on Feb. 25. AFCU President Jeff Rodman reported healthy increases in a number of key statistics: The credit

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Chris Seymour
The musicians who play for the School of American Ballet’s annual Spring Workshop have won a first contract that raises performance pay 44 percent over four years, hikes rehearsal pay 35 percent, increases pension two percentage points and institutes health

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AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney, in a letter dated April 14, announced the appointment of Local 802 President Bill Moriarity to the labor federation’s New Alliance Drafting Committee. The New Alliance, a plan for strengthening local and state labor organizations,

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Scab Alert!
Florence Nelson
The Atlanta Ballet musicians of Local 148-462 have been on strike since late September in a battle with their management over the use of taped music, service guarantees and pension contributions. To date, tentative agreement has been reached on the

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Ads Promote New York as Film Recording Venue
The creative talent of New York recording musicians was promoted in a full-page ad that appeared in the Hollywood Reporter on Nov. 5. It was an initiative of the New York chapter of the Recording Musicians Association – which, with

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NYS AFL-CIO's 29th Constitutional Convention
Judy West
More than 1,000 delegates from across the state took part in the New York State AFL-CIO’s 29th Constitutional Convention on Aug. 21 and 22. The convention was held in New York City, for the first time since 1971. Welcoming the

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Local 802 Live Music Campaign
Local 802’s Executive Board has authorized spending up to $100,368 for a live music awareness campaign in 2001. The authorization came after a pilot project this fall that featured several radio ads on WINS and a print ad in Stagebill.

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Ends Two-Year Dispute With League of American Theater and Producers
An arbitrator has ruled that payment of the Associate Conductor premium on Broadway is required for every performance, vindicating Local 802’s position in a dispute with the League of American Theatre and Producers that began almost two years earlier. The

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Voluntary Agreement Was "The Right Thing to Do"
Tim Dubnau
On March 17 BaRock Orchestra, a club date agency in the Jewish field, became the latest office to sign a contract with Local 802. Unlike many employers who fight efforts to unionize, orchestra owner Ari Green voluntarily decided to join

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Seeks Repeal of "Work for Hire" Amendment
A broad coalition of artists’ representatives has come together to fight the “work for hire” amendment to the Copyright Act. A unified artist position on this issue – immediate repeal of the amendment – was adopted by the American Federation

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Musicians At Work
Joy Portugal
“Musicians at Work” usually features photographs of 802 members in performance. But teaching is an important aspect of many musicians’ work lives – and growing numbers of Local 802 members are engaged in a unique academic program that is helping

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Union Launches Member Education Program
On Nov. 18, musicians from a number of fields took part in a member education program Local 802 has just initiated to raise members’ awareness of how unions operate, and develop greater support for organizing. The first MEMO training session

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Local 802’s election of officers – President, Financial Vice-President, Recording Vice-President, nine Executive and nine Trial Board members – and five delegates and three alternates to the AFM Convention, three delegates to the New York City Central Labor Council, two

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Jazz in the Schools?
Erwin L. Price
Local 802’s Jazz Advisory Committee has made a proposal to the New York City Board of Education for a comprehensive series of coordinated jazz concerts to take place during the school year of 2000-01. Discussions were held with former Chancellor

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In The Key Of Solidarity
With contract negotiations set to resume on Sept. 13 between striking members of the Screen Actors and the Radio and Television Artists and the advertising industry, some high-profile actors, headed by Paul Newman and Jason Robards, launched a two-week public

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Taking Ownership of Your Music, Accessing Union Protections, Are Key
Jazz musicians gathered in the 802 Club Room on April 3 to hear distinguished guests including Lou Donaldson, Roy Ayers, Weldon Irvine and Clark Gayton discuss “How to Make More Money as a Jazz Artist.” It was a very well-attended

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In The Key Of Solidarity
Musicians from some of the nation’s major orchestras turned out to support a group of Louisville, Ky., nurses who have been fighting for a voice at work at Audubon Hospital for a decade. A brass quintet, made up of delegates

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Dozens of club date musicians attended a dinner held in Local 802’s Club Room on Oct. 19, to kick off the campaign for a new Single Engagement Club Date Agreement. The event, which honored the contributions of long-time Club Date

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Natasha Jackson
International Women in Jazz and the Local 802 Jazz Advisory Committee collaborated to present a panel on “Women in Jazz: Surviving and Thriving” on Sept. 25. The women of the JAC wanted to address the unique issues facing women jazz

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In a major victory for organized tenants, the New York City Council and Mayor Giuliani renewed the city’s rent control and rent stabilization laws until March 31, 2003, and they did so without in any way weakening the laws. “The

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Spotlight On Health Benefits
Last year, participants in Local 802’s Health Benefit Plan gained an important new option – access to an HMO plan, which includes hospitalization coverage. The HMO option has been available since April of 1999 to members eligible for the plan

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Tim Dubnau
Twenty-five union members braved cold and rain on Jan. 20 to take part in MEMO – Membership Education and Mobilizing for Organizing – a four-hour seminar devoted to discussing ways to increase the union’s power. The MEMO program, which was

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Tom Waters
Landlord and tenant forces are battling once again over New York City’s rent control and rent stabilization laws. The outcome of this fight will directly affect everyone who lives in a rent-controlled or rent-stabilized apartment, and it will also have

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802 Seeking to Involve More Members in Political Action
With this issue, Local 802 begins the second year of a two-year political action campaign. Its goals are to strengthen our political action fund, TEMPO 802, and to involve more of our members in political action. We made an excellent

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Spotlight On Health Benefits
The cost of prescription drugs is rising sharply, far outpacing inflation. This has resulted in some health insurance plans either dropping the benefits or sharply curtailing them. And concern over costs is fueling the debate in Congress over whether to

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Guest Commentary
For the past several months, Americans have been inundated with stories about the 2000 elections. With so many talking heads making so much noise, the natural reaction has been to tune them out. But this year’s elections have a rhythm

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Judy West
CITY COUNCIL PASSES THREE PRO-WORKER BILLS A battle is shaping up between the City Council and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani over three important pro-worker bills, which the council recently passed and the mayor has vowed to veto. On Feb. 29, Council

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Judy West
RENT CONTROL VOTE LOOMS Unless the City Council renews New York City’s rent control law before March 31, these tenant protections will no longer exist. Council Speaker Peter Vallone has introduced legislation to extend rent regulations without any weakening amendments,

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THE SUPPER CLUB Musicians who play at the Supper Club with bandleader Michael Smith recently voted to approve a new two-year contract. Wages will rise from $113.50 per performance to $121 in year one and $125 in year two, a

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A rally against health care profiteers and for health care for all will take place on Saturday, April 1, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Washington Square Park in Manhattan. Rally speakers will include consumers, health care providers, elected

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Judy West, director of Public Relations and Legislative Affairs for Local 802 since 1983, retired at the beginning of this month. When the Glasel administration took office, one of its first acts was to establish a department of public relations,

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Tony Corbiscello, a Local 802 member and president of Tony Corbiscello Music Productions, is the latest employer to sign the Single Engagement Club Date Contract. Under terms negotiated on June 14, he will begin making health and pension contributions on

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Musicians’ Pay Structure and Runaway Production
Bill Moriarity
Over the past several months, in this column and in The Musician’s Voice, a relatively low volume discussion has been taking place regarding the pay structure contained in the AFM Television Film Labor Agreement. The subject, specifically, was the Motion

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Lennie Leibowitz
From time to time Local 802 asks our legal counsel to comment on certain new practices in our field. Here is his legal opinion on labor-management committees, which have become more prevalent in the music industry, particularly in the symphonic

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Strategic Planning Process Gets Under Way
Bill Moriarity
In my report last November, I mentioned that the local was beginning a process of long-term strategic planning. It is to be hoped that this will give us a better understanding of our place in the entertainment industry and the

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Viewpoints
David Lennon
I recently attended the Theatre Musicians’ Association’s fifth annual conference, held in Los Angeles on Aug. 28 and 29. TMA was founded to promote the respective interests of theatre orchestras and their musicians, to enhance communications among these orchestras and

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President's Report
Bill Moriarity
As is reported elsewhere in this issue, Broadway musicians recently ratified the new agreement between Local 802 and the Broadway Television Network (BTN) by a two-to-one margin. The aspect of this activity (pay-per-view telecasts of live shows and the subsequent

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President's Report
Bill Moriarity
The ability to freely express ideas and opinions has been an essential part of the U.S. labor movement’s struggles since its beginnings more than 100 years ago. Trade unionists were among the first to engage in free speech battles and

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President's Report
Bill Moriarity
The two-week work stoppage at the New York City Ballet has ended and The Nutcracker is once again being performed with a live orchestra. From all reports, the audience greeted the orchestra’s return with great warmth – and we were

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President's Report
Bill Moriarity
The last two issues of Allegro have contained letters from Canadian AFM and local officers which addressed the subject of so-called runaway film scoring. The writers told of their experience with this phenomenon, and the steps that have been taken

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Judy West
UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE INITIATIVES LAWMAKERS TACKLE THE HIGH COST OF PRESCRIPTIONS PLEDGING SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL SECURITY NYS UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT TO RISE YOUR VOTE COUNTS. USE IT. UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE INITIATIVES In Massachusetts, where a well-organized movement for universal health care

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Viewpoints
Over the last few years Local 802’s Recording Department has been receiving information and complaints from musicians engaged for recordings and films that some companies and producers have requested the musicians to sign waivers and/or releases for publicity purposes. Often

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Ending Dark Dates: Our Decisions Make a Difference
Bill Moriarity
When we took office nearly eight years ago, one priority we hoped to address was the proliferation of recording engagements that were taking place without benefit of union contract. Extensive discussion with the musicians doing the work, and with officers

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Musicians' Voice: Paying the Price for Apathy
The first paragraph was inadvertently omitted from a letter printed in last month’s Musicians’ Voice. Following is the complete text of that letter, and the response that accompanied it. We apologize for the omission, and the confusion it caused. PAYING

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Controller's Report
Jonathan Bogert
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2000, Local 802 enjoyed a gain of $353,254, a substantial increase over the gain of $87,508 realized in the comparable period of 1999. Both this year and last, the gains for the six-month

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802 MUSICIANS WERE A DREAM TO WORK WITH To the Editor: On Saturday, Jan. 15, I sang at Carnegie Hall, the greatest dream of my life. My show – Raquel Bitton Sings Edith Piaf: Her Story, Her Songs played to

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Recording Vice-President's Report
Erwin L. Price
As we embark on the new century, Local 802 can look back on a year of many negotiations, important successes along with some defeats, some accolades and some recriminations. The usual mix for an active labor union. Membership: Our membership

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. Please keep all letters to 500 words and send them to Allegro, c/o Local 802, 322 West 48th Street, New York, NY 10036. A VALUABLE

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Los Angeles Local 47 has won a hard-fought campaign to represent faculty at Hollywood’s Musicians Institute, the first time the local will represent musicians in their teaching capacity for an employer. In an NLRB election on May 31, faculty members

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Viewpoints
Tim Dubnau
The union needs your help. Over the last eight months, Local 802’s New Organizing Department has helped musicians gain power on the job, mainly in the single-engagement field. The department, along with a silent army of 802 members who know

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Controller's Report
Jon Bogert
For the year ended Dec. 31, 1999, Local 802 realized a gain of $36,509. This was a decline of almost eighty per cent from earnings of $167,761 realized during the preceding year. The audited financial statements for the year appear

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Local 802’s Music Performance Trust Fund scored a resounding success with a series of four concerts given in conjunction with and co-sponsored by Mentoring USA for their summer camp program. Entitled “Sounds of Summer,” the series opened with a brass

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Local 802 Elections
At their Aug. 22 meeting, the Local 802 Executive Board voted to offer candidates in the upcoming 802 election the opportunity to have a 100-word statement printed in the December Allegro, the final issue members will receive before the election.

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LOCAL 802 ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS REQUEST FOR ABSENTEE BALLOT (Please Print) Name: _____________________________________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________________________________ Card No.: ____________ Signature: ______________________________________________ This request must be returned to the Recording Vice-President’s office no later than October 15th, 2000. Absentee

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Avelon Ramnath, a member of the 802 staff since the late 1970s, was recently named supervisor of the Membership Department. Ms. Ramnath, who moved to the United States from Trinidad in 1973, began her career at Local 802 as a

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Guest Commentary
Assemblymember Richard N. Gottfried
The growing cost of drugs is a terrible burden. “Market forces” work against consumers, who are powerless against drug companies. People need the help of government on two fronts: to provide health coverage – including prescription drugs – for the

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David A. George
Last January, during an appointment for an eye examination at the VA hospital, I noticed some booklets for a “Creative Arts Competition” for American veterans, and decided to check it out. I entered both the Classical and Pop Instrumental categories

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Issues In The Presidential Election And Senate Race
Al Gore Vs. George W. Bush Hillary Clinton Vs. Rick Lazio Deciding how to cast your ballot is a very personal choice. But it’s often difficult to gather enough solid information to make an informed decision, despite the deluge of

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Viewpoints
Tim Dubnau
Local 79 of the Laborers’ Union has been getting a lot of attention recently, after installing huge helium rats in front of nonunion job sites. The rats say it all. Nonunion contractors now worry that their job will be visited

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Viewpoints
Sue Terry with Tim Dubnau
Last fall, the mysterious document arrived in the mail. It was the 1998 Annual Covered Earnings Report, issued by the AFM and Employers’ Pension Fund. If, dear reader, you are anything like me, and your eyes glaze over when you

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Viewpoints
ORCHESTRA COMMITTEE PRESENTS ITS POSITION: To the Editor: “Flexibility” has been the watchword of musicians employed by the New York City Ballet. That was true for the past 50 years, and true until the most recent collective bargaining agreement with

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Guest Commentary
Bill Fletcher, Jr.
Unions have had a very mixed experience with regard to building and sustaining coalitions. Our practice is undergoing some changes at present – but in general this practice has been, and continues to be, very uneven. To understand the difficulties

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Viewpoints
Aaron Minsky, a.k.a. Von Cello
They act like they are the artist’s best friend. They portray the traditional record companies as the enemy. They claim that the internet is the great equalizer. They say, “Distribute your music through our web site and millions of people

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A MORE DEMOCRATIC ELECTION PROCESS To the Editor: It appears that member Jack Gale’s argument against the most recent bylaw proposal of members Martin Agee, Laura Oatts and Juliette Haffner is that most union members aren’t current enough on the

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Anne Minich
While the entertainment industry offers many opportunities for creative satisfaction and excitement, this is often accompanied with much uncertainty, upheaval and frustration. The nature of their work sometimes plays havoc with the emotions of musicians and others in the business,

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Submitted for Consideration at the Next Membership Meeting
The following resolution has been submitted for consideration at the membership meeting to be held Tuesday, June 20, at 3 p.m. in the Local 802 Club Room: WHEREAS the membership of Local 802 should have maximum flexibility in choosing its

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The Actors’ Work Program will present a series of programs this fall on Sideline Careers for the 21st Century. The series opens Oct. 11 with Career Night. Hear from your peers who have developed dignified sideline and second careers in

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Viewpoints
Bob Gerardi
At a point in my life when most of my friends are buying golf clubs and starting to plan their retirement, I decided to go back to college and finish my studies for a degree in music. A lot of

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Judy West
OSHA PROPOSES ERGONOMIC STANDARD The Occupational Safety and Health Administration took a major step in the direction of protecting workers from musculoskeletal disorders when it published the text of a proposed ergonomics standard on Nov. 23. The official unveiling of

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Following is the text of a tribute by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) to Judy West, on her retirement last month. His remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives became part of the Congressional Record: Mr. Speaker, I rise

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FOR PRESIDENT & VICE-PRESIDENT: Al Gore and Joseph Lieberman FOR U.S. SENATE: Hillary Rodham Clinton FOR STATE SENATE: Liz Krueger, Senate District 6, who is challenging incumbent Roy Goodman (Republican). Rory Lancman, Senate District 11, who is challenging incumbent Frank

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The following resolution has been submitted for consideration at the membership meeting to be held Tuesday, June 20, at 3 p.m. in the Local 802 Club Room: WHEREAS the membership of Local 802 should have maximum flexibility in choosing its

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New Tony Award Category Is Created
A new Tony award category has been created to recognize “Special Theatrical Events” that don’t fall easily into the musical or play categories, the American Theatre Wing announced in June. The new award will be presented beginning with the 2000-2001

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Musicians' Assistance Program
John Link
During the Explorations in Singing workshop held at Marywood University earlier this summer, master singing teacher Thomas Houser made the following statement about one of his colleagues teaching at the workshop: “I have learned as much about singing from her

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an autobiography by Leon Merian with Bill Bridges, Diem Publishing Co, Bradenton, Fla., 2000, Trade Paperback, 287 Pages, $19.95.
Bill Crow
The legendary New York trumpeter and showman Leon Merian now lives in Florida, where the calmer life has provided him with enough time to write his memoirs, with the assistance of Bill Bridges, a trumpet player and jazz aficionado. Leon

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The AFM International Executive Board has endorsed Al Gore for president. Federation President Steve Young released a statement saying that Gore is the best candidate in terms of preserving support for labor and the arts. He said reasons for the

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. Please keep all letters to 500 words and send them to Allegro, c/o Local 802, 322 West 48th Street, New York, NY 10036. THE MUSICIAN

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by Hal Galper, Billboard Books, 2000, 250 pages, $16.95 trade paperback
Bill Crow
Hal Galper has created a valuable manual for road musicians. If you want to know the ins and outs of putting a band together and taking it on tour, most of your questions will be answered somewhere in this volume.

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Judy West
MEDICARE ‘REFORM’ BILL A SCAM S-1895, the Breaux-Thomas Bill, is designed to dismantle Medicare under the guise of “saving” it. This dangerous Senate bill is expected to go to hearings very shortly. Our present Medicare program provides health care to

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With members of Congress eager to recess, as scheduled, on Oct. 6 – and keenly aware that their votes on crucial issues may affect the outcome of the November elections – working people have an opportunity to make progress on

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Local 802 member John Corigliano, distinguished professor of music at Lehman College and the winner of this year’s Academy Award for the best original score (for The Red Violin) received a warm tribute on June 12. An auditorium filled with

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In The Key of Solidarity
Ray Chew & the Crew and Stanley Banks’ jazz band rocked the crowd at a June 15 rally in Union Square, drawing attention to rat-like behavior by New York City employers who try to block workers’ right to organize. In

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In The Key Of Solidarity
Mikael Elsila
(Click here for a sample of e-mails sent by Local 802 members to Juilliard President Joseph Polisi) Modern Art! Ancient Wages!” That’s the battle cry at the Museum of Modern Art, where 250 workers have been on strike since April

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Health Benefits Update
The huge demand for affordable health insurance was reflected in a deluge of calls to Local 802’s Health Benefits Plan, after an article describing coverage that will soon become available to entertainment industry workers appeared in last month’s Allegro. The

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Joan Arnold
About 14 years ago, when I was in training to become a teacher of the Alexander Technique, a friend took me to a lovely quartet concert at Carnegie Recital Hall. As we listened to the music, I watched the bodies

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WHY MUSICIANS SHOULD JOIN THE RECORDING ACADEMY To the editor: Last year I was elected to the Board of Governors of the New York chapter of the Recording Academy. In the time that I have spent as a governor it

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Health Benefits Update
Last month’s Allegro included the welcome information that the backlog of Health Benefits Plan claims had finally been cleared. The problem stemmed from Union Labor Life Insurance Company’s relocation of its claims office from Manhattan to King of Prussia, Pa.

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A Few Brief Items
Bill Moriarity
HOW THIS ELECTION WILL AFFECT OUR LIVES On these pages you will find a comparison of Vice-President Gore’s and Governor Bush’s positions on a variety of issues important to the labor movement. Please read this information carefully and then be

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Viewpoints: Bylaw Resolution
Martin Agee
A proposed revision of Local 802’s Election Bylaws will be up for consideration at the June 20 membership meeting, and it is hoped that a quorum of members will attend to vote on it. The resolution calls for the elimination

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The SAG/AFTRA Strike Needs Our Active Solidarity
Bill Moriarity
(See also the SAG/AFTRA article in this issue of Allegro.) As this column is written, the SAG/AFTRA strike against the advertising industry is entering its tenth week. The issue in dispute concerns the basic structure of actors’ pay for radio

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Demetrios Kastaris and Rufus Reid
Demetrios Kastaris A recent profile in Newsday described 802 member Demetrios Kastaris as a “trombonist, conductor and arranger; leading figure in Afro-Cuban jazz with his own group, the Latin Jazz Coalition; also a teacher; in September will be the new

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Guest Commentary
Last year the AFL-CIO launched “Seven Days in June” to increase public awareness of the “secret war” against workers who seek to join a union, and to lay the groundwork for badly needed labor law reform. This year “Seven Days

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Joy Portugal
One reason that New York City is home to so many extraordinary musicians is the fact that generations of students once received an excellent musical foundation in the city’s public schools. At P.S. 77 in the Bronx, the elementary school

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Victor Fusco
As a former working musician, now an attorney who practices workers’ compensation law, among other specialties, I welcome the opportunity to make Local 802 members aware of their rights under New York State’s Workers’ Compensation system. The subject is too

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David Bacon
Those who marched or stood or sat in the streets of Seattle this week made history, and they knew it. And like the great marches against the Vietnam war, or the first sit-ins in the South in the late ’50s,

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Victor Fusco, Esq.
My last article (see February Allegro) introduced four musicians who had developed injuries while working. One of them was Carolyn, a violinist who developed carpal tunnel syndrome as a result of playing her instrument. (A brief description of this condition,

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Judy West
NYS LEGISLATIVE PASSES BUDGET On May 4 the New York State Legislature passed a $77.5 billion budget for 2000-2001, 5.6 percent higher than last year’s budget. Highlights include: Income limits for coverage under the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program

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Victor Fusco, Esq.
Carpel tunnel syndrome, a hand and wrist disorder that may bring debilitating pain and weakness of the thumb and fingers, is the most common of all injuries that result from jobs requiring repetitive motions. The incidence of repetitive motion injuries

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DICAPO OPERA Members of Dicapo Opera recently ratified a new three-year agreement by a vote of 4 to 0. Performance and rehearsal wages increase almost 15 percent each (7 percent in the first year, 4 percent in the second, and

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Shirley Albert – Piano Russell “Russ” Andrews – Tenor Sax/Arranger Michael Bruno – Drums Charles Buchman – Saxophone Samuel A. Coreys – Bassoon Prudy Curtis – Organ/Choral Director William F. Griffin – Drums Herbert Hecht – Conductor J.A. Kozelle –

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Health Benefits Update
MagnaCare, the preferred provider network that Local 802’s Health Benefits Plan is linked to, recently announced changes in their list of participating clinical laboratories. A new addition is Quest Diagnostics, which joined the network this summer. Lab services which were

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2000 Music Support Supplement
Carl Thompson grew up in Pitcairn, Pa., a little town about 25 miles east of Pittsburgh, and has been playing the guitar since he was seven years old. Early in his professional career he was the guitar player with Billy

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Jimmy Owens
Jazz artist Benny Powell is a trombone player, music educator, activist and organizer, and a founding member of Local 802’s Jazz Advisory Committee. Early this year Jimmy Owens, who chairs the committee, interviewed him for this article. Powell, who celebrates

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PAYING THE PRICE FOR APATHY To the Editor: I attended the June 20 bylaw meeting at which the voting procedure of Local 802 was set back 35 years. Not only did this meeting pass a bylaw change which will prevent

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Viewpoints: Bylaw Resolution
Jack Gale
I believe that the bylaw proposal for 802’s June meeting which would deny candidates the right to be listed as slates on the local’s ballot for election of officers is a harmful idea. Far from providing more flexibility, as the

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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ARTS EDUCATORS A grievance between the union and the National Association of Arts Educators, based in Gettysburg, Pa., was settled on June 29. The dispute arose after the employer cancelled a performance of Pirates of Penzance within

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Jackelyn Frost, CSW
Women in the entertainment industry face special problems in relation to drug and alcohol abuse. You may find you are using substances to curb your performance anxiety or to feel more outgoing. Alcohol may seem to raise your self-esteem, alleviate

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Organizing the Jazz Field – An Evaluation
Among the immediate priorities of John Glasel’s administration, when it took office in 1983, was to develop strategies and tactics to combat the ongoing exploitation of musicians working in the jazz field, and to bring economic dignity to this area

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Guest Commentary
Theodore R. Marmor
Reforming the rules of American medical care is one of the most difficult tasks any reformer faces. At five different moments in the 20th century, promoters of national health insurance have tried. In the Progressive era, during the New Deal,

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Guest Commentary
NYS Senator Thomas K. Duane
The 2000 legislative session in Albany is over now – by all accounts, the most productive session in recent memory. Several key pieces of legislation of import to those of us with a progressive agenda finally were passed, in some

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Did You Know??
Union Labor Life (ULLICO), the company that Local 802 buys health insurance from, has moved out of New York City and into another state. While this should not affect our long-term relationship with ULLICO, it may cause some delays in

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SAG & AFTRA STRIKE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY More than 500 commercial producers have signed interim agreements with the Screen Actors Guild and the Television and Radio Artists, since 135,000 members of the two unions went out on strike against the advertising

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by Henry Townsend, as told to Bill Greensmith, University of Illinois Press, 1999, 145 pages, $24.95 hardcover
Bill Crow
Bill Greensmith is a photographer from England who now lives in St. Louis. He has been a record producer, host of a weekly blues radio program, and co-editor of the magazine Blues Unlimited. When he realized that Henry Townsend was

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Tom Barone – Violin Lester Bowie – Trumpet/Flugelhorn Herbert Daner – Saxophone LaNoue Davenport – Recorder Artie Fields – Saxophone Floyd Bernard Ford I – Composer/Arranger/Conductor Earl B. Freeman – Violin Felix Galimir – Violin Jacob Glick – Viola Jan

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Ray Alonge – French Horn Stuart J. Best – Clarinet/Conductor William A. Blank – Trumpet Dorothy Boggerson – Drums Judy Rogner Bowen – Piano Max Cahn – Violin Harvard I. Davis, Jr. – Trumpet Neal Di Biase – Trombone Wilbur

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Judy West
DANGERS ON THE TENANT FRONT NYS HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION HOUSE ADOPTS CAMPBELL BILL Rx FOR PERSCRIPTION DRUGS KEEP THE PRESSURE ON! DANGERS ON THE TENANT FRONT Tenants in New York are facing a serious new threat to the rent protection

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Judy West
GOOD NEWS ON SOCIAL SECURITY Both Houses of Congress have enacted a bill that allows people 65 years of age and older to continue to work while collecting full Social Security benefits. In the past, older workers were subject to

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Actors Federal Credit Union has announced plans to install three new ATMs in Manhattan, bringing the number of machines available to AFCU members to five. The three newest machines will be located inside McDonald’s restaurants located at Times Square at

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July 18, 2000 -- August 22, 2000
TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2000 Meeting called to order at 11:45 a.m. by chair pro tem, board member Crow. Also present: Executive Board members Gale, Giannini, Hafemeister, Rosen, Shankin, Simon and Weiss, Controller Bogert and Assistant to the President Dennison. President

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The Atlantic City Musicians’ Union ushered in the new century by electing a new leadership team of rank-and-file musicians. The local, founded on Jan. 30, 1914, is one of the founding units of the American Federation of Musicians. Up until

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OFFICERS EXECUTIVE BOARD TRIAL BOARD OFFICERS Bill Moriarity, President I urge every member to take the time to vote in this election. It is very important that the officers of Local 802 be individuals who are truly representative of the

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Rhoda Urman, CSW
It used to be that musicians, painters and dancers could hold part-time jobs and still survive in New York City while pursuing their particular art form. However, times have changed – and survival in the 21st century as a musician

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MORE THAN $20,000 COLLECTED IN HOTEL GRIEVANCE For nearly two years Local 802’s Contract Administration Department has been trying to collect health, pension and hospitalization payments for five musicians who work at the Carlyle Hotel. The Eddy Davis Band, featuring

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2000 Health Care Supplement
Robert Ritch, MD, FACS
Glaucoma is not a single disease. Rather, it is the end result of a variety of diseases which affect the eye. When these diseases produce glaucoma, they cause a progressive deterioration of the cells of the optic nerve, which carries

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by Daniel Mark Epstein, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1999, 438 pages, $27 hardcover
Bill Crow
Mr. Epstein gives us a well researched and insightful biography of Nat Cole, whose successful career as a popular singer somewhat overshadowed his contribution to the jazz world. During his early years as an entertainer, Cole’s piano playing became a

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January 4, 2000 -- January 18, 2000
TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2000 Meeting called to order at 11:35 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Landolfi, Executive Board members Crow, Gale, Giannini, Hafemeister, Rosen and Shankin, Assistant to the President Dennison. President Moriarity advised the board

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Jackelyn S. Frost, CSW
Nearly half of all Americans have difficulty sleeping. Research indicates that sleep problems have reached epidemic proportions and may be the country’s number one health problem. A recent study by the National Sleep Foundation revealed that 64 percent of people

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The Check Really Is In the Mail!
By the time this issue is printed, members covered by the 802 Health Benefits Plan should have received a welcome stream of checks and payment notices for HBP claims. Claims processing slowed to a crawl this summer when Union Labor

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A Tutorial For Musicians
Ellen Kelly, MS CCC-A, Clinical Audiologist
In last month’s Allegro, audiologist Ellen Kelly outlined some of the factors that put music professionals at particular risk of hearing loss. This tutorial provides more specifics about various forms of hearing protection. How does overexposure to sound affect your

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Mail Ballots Must Be Received by that Date
Local 802 received substantial numbers of requests for absentee mail ballots for the upcoming election of Local 802 officers. The ballots were sent out to everyone who satisfied the requirements established by the local’s bylaws and Department of Labor rules.

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OFF-BROADWAY: South Pacific: An agreement has been reached with Lincoln Center covering 33 musicians for two weeks of rehearsals and one performance for a theater benefit at the Vivian Beaumont. Minimum scale wages for the side musicians will be $215.25

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2000 Health Care Supplement
Musicians are at considerably greater risk for focal dystonia – a motor control disorder that produces involuntary muscle contractions – than the general population. But the condition is difficult to diagnose and they often go for years without realizing why

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by Tony Bennett, with Will Friedwald. Pocket Books, 1998, 312 pages, $25 hardcover
Bill Crow
Tony Bennett has aptly named this book of memoirs with the title of one of his big hits in the 1960s. His good life in music has included a recording career that began in 1947, took off in the fifties,

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Nat Adderley, Sr. – Cornet/Trumpet Martin Bernstein – Professor of Music Paige Brook – Flute A.R. De Vita – Saxophone Mush Fields – Drums Joseph Florentine – Trumpet Hank Freeman – Saxophone/Clarinet/Flute Samuel Gurkin – Violin Lon Hanagan – Piano

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by Stephen Walsh, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 698 pages, hardcover, $35.
Kate Light
Stephen Walsh’s new biography of Igor Stravinsky – volume one of two – is, in a word, spectacular. In the 20th century, long past the age of court composers or predictable patronage, every piece has its very specific and fortuitous

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Lee Bond – Bass Jerry Brainin – Piano Tee Carson– Piano Charles Colin – Trumpet Forest B. Corley – Clarinet/Arranger Wallace I. Curtis – Saxophone Frank D’Elia – Piano Paul K. Deneka – Piano James Douglas – Clarinet Otto J.

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Jackelyn Frost, CSW
Most people’s feelings and thoughts about themselves fluctuate somewhat, based on their daily experiences. How you did in your latest audition, how your employer treats you, ups and downs in a romantic relationship – all can have a temporary impact

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Hal Galper
Do you cringe in fear at the mere mention of the phrase “make your own web site?” Have you avoided joining the digital age because you think you have to be a technical web whiz to make one? Assuming you

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Face the Music!
Ellen Kelly, M.S. CCC-A, Clinical Audiologist
Music professionals rely on good hearing to monitor properly while performing. When hearing loss occurs, critical listening skills may suffer as a result of diminished pitch, loudness and temporal perception. Regardless of this, many musicians accept potential hearing loss as

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Jackelyn Frost, CSW
People are living much longer these days, with life expectancy now at about 75 years – compared with about 47 years at the beginning of the 20th century. Aging is not easy for most people in our society, given that

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January 25, 2000 -- February 22, 2000
TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2000 Meeting called to order at 10:45 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Executive Board members Crow, Gale, Rosen, Shankin, Simon and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. Financial Vice-President Landolfi and Recording Vice-President Price were excused

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Musician' Assistance Program
Jackelyn Frost, CSW
No doubt you have spent countless hours practicing your music, honing your skills as a musician. But music skills alone are usually not enough to make you a successful musician. Many other factors contribute to success, including people skills and

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Robert E. Bates – Organ Danny Deane – Saxophone Sidney Elrod – Saxophone Manny Fiddler – Violin Sidney Goldsmith – Violin/Piano/Woodwinds Irving Gross – Piano Jonah Jones – Trumpet Ed McCurdy – Guitar Paul H. McDonough – Piano Carl H.

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by Steven D. Harris. Dynaflow Publications, Jan. 2000, oversize hardcover, limited edition, no price listed
Bill Crow
Many Kenton fans on the internet have complained about the arch spelling of the title of this fascinating book, but everyone seems to want a copy. It is a biography, scrapbook, transcribed oral history and photo album rolled into one.

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Guest Commentary
Assemblymember Ed Sullivan
Briefly, because he and his sister, Jane, are not given the opportunity to read. They are not given the time to read and enjoy it, they are not given special teachers to help them over the rough spots, they are

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Jackelyn S. Frost, CSW
Performance anxiety exists in all spheres of life and it can appear at the most inappropriate times – usually when you are most eager to prove yourself. Performance anxiety usually happens in situations when we expect to be judged on

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Henry Aaron – Viola/Conductor Sal Amato – Saxophone Al Avola – Guitar Gordon “Tex” Beneke – Saxophone Arnold Black – Violin/Composer Emil P. Blasko – Trumpet Louis Deluca – Guitar Bernard Flood – Trumpet Philip Frank – Violin William G.

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October 26, 1999 -- November 29, 1999
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1999 Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Landolfi, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Giannini, Hafemeister and Rosen, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison

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Tina Hafemeister, who has served as a member of the Local 802 Executive Board since 1993 and as Supervisor of the Music Preparation Department since 1996, was appointed by the Executive Board to the office of Financial Vice President on

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Willard Brady – Saxophone Don Brooks – Harmonica Charles Buchman – Saxophone/Clarinet Ruth Eder – Saxophone Conrad Frederick – Piano Nathan Kroll – Violin/Conductor Tony Lane – Guitar Al Miller – Drums Tony Parrillo – Baritone Horn Dr. Merrill Staton

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The Local 802 Executive Board has appointed David Lennon as Assistant Director. He will administer the Concert Department, reporting directly to the Executive Board, and will also supervise Broadway Field Services. As Assistant Director Lennon will serve as lead negotiator,

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Members In The News
Msgr. John Sanders Msgr. John Sanders, a trombonist and an 802 member since 1946, retired on June 4 after serving the Roman Catholic parish of St. Mary’s in Norwalk, Conn., for the last 15 years. Msgr. Sanders began playing the

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by Theodore R. Marmor, Aldine de Gruyter, New York, 2000, 205 pp., paper, $16.95
Americans like Social Security and Medicare. Everyone hopes to become a beneficiary some day. Even before enjoying our own benefits, few of us want the financial burden of caring for aging parents and grandparents. That’s why conservatives’ “greedy geezers” propaganda

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April 11, 2000 -- April 25, 2000
TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2000 Meeting called to order at 11:25 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Landolfi, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Hafemeister, Rosen, Shankin, Simon and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison,

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December 7, 1999 -- December 21, 1999
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1999 Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. by President Moriarity. Also present: Financial Vice-President Landolfi, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Giannini, Hafemeister, Rosen, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert and Assistant to the President Dennison. Recording Vice-President

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May 23, 2000 -- July 11, 2000
TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2000 Meeting called to order at 11:25 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Executive Board members Crow, Gale, Giannini, Hafemeister, Shankin, Simon and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. May 16 minutes unanimously approved

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by Sherrie Tucker, Duke University Press, Durham, N.C., April 2000, 384 pp., hardcover, $29.95
Rosalind Cron
Sherrie Tucker has produced a must read and very relevant book for all musicians. “Swing Shift – ‘All Girl’ Bands of the 1940s” brings to public consciousness the history of women musicians who crisscrossed the country during the decade of

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Ione Baker – Piano Louis Bologna – Violin Mclean Bosfield – Piano Freddy Y. Campano – Bass Albert Catell – Cello/Conductor Yves Chardon – Cello/Conductor Fred V. Dittamo – Drums/Copyist Freddie Francis – Piano Lena S. Grasso – Violin Al

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JONES BEACH Musicians performing at the Boardwalk Restaurant at Jones Beach are now receiving scale wages and pension contributions. They were brought under union contract as the result of a grievance filed by Local 802. While visiting the musicians who

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by Peter J. Levinson, Oxford University Press, New York, 1999, 284 pp., hardcover, $30
John Glasel
This biography traces the career of Harry James. Taught to play trumpet by his father, a Texas circus bandmaster, he started playing in circus bands, went on to join local “territory bands” and then to big band stardom, first with

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February 29, 2000 -- March 21, 2000
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2000 Meeting called to order at 11:35 a.m. Present: Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Landolfi, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Rosen, Simon and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison. President Moriarity excused for

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President Moriarity's Response to NYC Ballet Orchestra Article
Local 802 President Bill Moriarity sent the following letter to the New York Times on June 28, in response to an article about the New York City Ballet by Anthony Tommasini, entitled “No Longer Just Another Gig,” which had appeared

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Judy West
DRUG RE-IMPORTATION BILL ADVANCES A Senate bill allowing imports of low-priced prescription drugs won the approval of the House leadership on Sept. 26, making it likely that there will be agreement in Congress and from the President. Introduced by Sen.

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Did You Know?
The Local 802 Health Benefits earplug benefit is for the covered employee only. Although most of the major medical benefits on the plan can be extended to the covered musician’s family, the earplug benefit applies only to individuals who qualify

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The soul of the labor movement can often be found in its music and its art. A unique catalogue of contemporary and traditional labor music, art, books, videos, posters, buttons and note cards that make wonderful gifts is a useful

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Sal Amato – Saxophone Sigurd Bockman – Clarinet Lawrence E. Colkin – Saxophone Billy Cronk – Bass Henry Denecke – Timpani/Conductor Benjamin “Buzzy” Drootin – Drums C. Harry Dworkin – Piano/Arranger/Copyist Jean Eley – Violin Bennie Fairbanks – Saxophone Paul

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September 12, 2000 -- October 10, 2000
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2000 Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Gale, Giannini, Hafemeister, Rosen, Shankin, Simon and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison

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May 2, 2000 -- May 16, 2000
TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2000 Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Hafemeister, Rosen, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison. Board member Blumenthal reported

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Harry John Brown – Conductor Lester Burness – Piano Anthony Ciaramella – Trumpet Charles J. Cliff – Saxophone Joseph J. D’Andrea – Violin Hugo D’Ippolito – Piano Lee Erwin – Organ Amelia M. Goodman – Piano Nathan Kroll – Violin

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August 29, 2000 -- September 5, 2000
TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2000 Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Executive Board members Crow, Gale, Giannini, Rosen and Shankin, Controller Bogert. Aug. 22 minutes unanimously approved as amended. Board member Weiss present at

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Bill Crow
Pianist Loonis McGlohon, one of the late Alec Wilder’s lyricists who lives in North Carolina, describes Wilder in a letter as “the most erudite, warm, caring, curmudgeonly, ill-mannered, well-manned, rude, Edwardian, insulting, tender, ill-kempt, inconsiderate, hostile, funny, eccentric, original, frightened,

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Bill Crow
At the late Ray Alonge’s memorial service at Local 802, his teacher and longtime colleague Tony Miranda shared many warm memories from their lives in the New York music business. He told of an Eddie Fisher record date, back in

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Bill Crow
Like everyone else who was drafted into the into the service during World War II, hornist Fred Klein received the well-known selective service notice signed by President Roosevelt that began with the salutation, “Greetings.” After his induction he was assigned

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Bill Crow
In June, I participated in a 90th birthday tribute concert for Milt Hinton at the Kaye Auditorium at Hunter College, as part of the JVC Jazz Festival. Many of Milt’s longtime friends came to play for him and wish him

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Bill Crow
Here’s a story from Chicago bassist Joe Levinson: The late Joe Rumoro was one of the Windy City’s top guitarists, on call with the Chicago Symphony as a classical virtuoso as well as doing the cream of the jazz and

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Bill Crow
Lester Lanin likes to use subject themes in assembling the medley sets he calls for his society jobs. For example, he might call “June Night,” followed by “April in Paris.” Or “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” might lead

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Bill Crow
Bob Cranshaw and trombonist Cliff Anderson were driving to a Sonny Rollins rehearsal with the car radio tuned to a local jazz stations. As they listened, they commented on the music that was played. One record began without an announcement:

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Bill Crow
Here we are in the Y2K already! I started this column at the beginning of 1983, and haven’t run out of stories yet. Every time my collection of items looks like it’s running on empty, a few more phone calls,

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Bill Crow
Playing at Mister Kelly’s in Chicago around 1966, with a trio that backed some of the acts that appeared there, bassist Joe Levinson inadvertently became part of the act. Kaye Ballard swept onstage on opening night wearing a fancy gown

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Bill Crow
Retired recording producer George Avakian should be writing a book of memoirs of his remarkable career. Here’s a story he sent me: As a high school student in New York City, George was a young pianist and a jazz fan.

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Bill Crow
Oscar Peterson told this story on a Jazz Cruise last year, and a friend of Marshall McDonald’s brother in New Orleans passed it along to him: On a Norman Granz Jazz at the Philharmonic tour, most of the musicians would

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