THE MUSICIANS UNION HAS MOVED!
(Click here to see a Photo Gallery of the Musicians' Association of Seattle's past and present.)
By Motter Snell, President and Joan Sandler, Vice President
The Musicians’ Association of Seattle will relocate to 3209 Eastlake Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98102 on March 1, 2009. The union has been located in Belltown at 3rd and Cedar Street for over fifty years. The quarter block was sold to Harbor Properties and will be developed into housing. The union purchased a 2000 square foot condominium office space in the Eastlake Building.
For those of us who have been officers, office staff or board members for a decade or more at Local 76-493, we have seen years of planning for a new building. For the past decade, the board of directors and members talked about, fretted about, and ruminated about what to do with our aging and very familiar home at 2620 Third Avenue. Over the years, the local actually had it appraised several times and, happily, each appraisal was higher than its predecessor. We negotiated a least two deals that fell apart due to declining economy or war; passed a resolution giving the board authority to sell or develop the property and finally, this year, the local entered an agreement to sell our quarter block to Harbor Properties. We are set to close on the sale on March 2, 2009.
How did we get to this point in the local’s history? The first union office was at 4th and Blanchard (see photo). A Jiffy Lube is currently on the site of 4th & Blanchard and we still own the property. In 1952, the union purchased the quarter block at 3rd and Cedar and built a small building (309 Cedar).
In 1952, the Local broke ground for our current home (see photo) and, after we moved in, rented the small building to many different tenants - from a print shop to a real estate developer. Time marches on…we have now made an offer to purchase new space, and move the local union offices to 3209 Eastlake Avenue E. Seattle, WA 98102 on March 1st.
This office is about 2,000 sq. ft. and has convenient and free parking, which was a major consideration. It is easy to find – it’s just South of the University Bridge and on a bus line. We are getting some help in configuring the space for our needs – it should be much more attractive and comfortable than our old digs. We look forward to getting out of the rental business – some of our tenants have been terrific, but others, well, let’s just say we’d rather spend our time taking care of our members! We look forward to greeting you in our new quarters soon. The office hours are 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday – Friday.
New Mailing Address (after March 1st):
3209 Eastlake Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98102
Phone: (206) 441-7600
Fax (206) 728-6466
Local76@local76-493.org
www.local76-493.org
2009 MEMBERSHIP DUES
Membership dues for 2009 remain that same as 2008.
For existing members in 2009:
Regular Members = $192.00 per year (or 10% discount of $172.80 in JANUARY ONLY). Regular dues are $48.00 per quarter.
Life Members = $87.00 per year, or $21.75 per quarter.
Details here.
INITIATION FEES WAIVED
All members pay quarterly dues of $48. New members pay an additional $85 in initiation fees. This year, the membership’s Executive Board voted to waive the Local Initiation Fee ($20) and the Federation Initiation Fee ($65) when musicians join as a group of two or more. Join with your band or ensemble and save $85 each!
Musicians Union Partners with Substance Abuse Prevention Facilitator for 2009!
The Musicians Union would like to see you achieve your goal of being a working musician. To help you reach and sustain that goal, we are making several two-hour educational opportunities available. Read more...
New Health Care Initiative For Area Musicians and Artists
Starting in January 2009 the new Artist Clinic at Country Doctor Community Clinic is offering artist and musician-focused hours every Wednesday from 5:30pm-8:30pm as part of Artist Trust's Washington Artists Health Insurance Project. Read more...
Political Action and Education
Local 76-493 Political Action Page
Dear Members,
You can locate your Senator and the House Rep from the list on the Political Action Page. Call and email about issues that matter to you the most.
Contacts here:
www.local76-493.org/politicalaction.html#bill
www.afm.org/departments/legislative-office/-2-drive
AFM Legislation Action Fund
The AFM has lobbyists in Washington D.C. that work on behalf of musicians. The AFM works with them to advocate issues that impact musicians everyday, from healthcare reform to copyright protection. The long-term success of AFM’s legislative efforts depends on making sure that our allies in the House of Representatives and the Senate remain in office. Donating to their reelection campaigns is the best way to see that they remain in Congress. Therefore, it is necessary that we raise contributions to AFM’s political action committee, The AFM Legislative Action Fund.
The long-term success of AFM’s legislative efforts depends on making sure that our allies in the House of Representatives and the Senate remain in office. Donating to their reelection campaigns is the best way to see that they remain in Congress. Therefore, it is necessary that we raise contributions to AFM’s political action committee. You can donate online here: www.afm.org/donate/index/fund/550
Or send to:
The AFM Legislative Action Fund
910 17th Street, NW Suite 1070
Washington, DC 20006
MUSIC News
A–Y–P–E Centennial Year
Memorial Day weekend’s Folklife Festival at Seattle Center kicks off the centennial celebration of the Alaska – Yukon – Pacific – Expedition. Plenty of music enhanced the festival of the A–Y–P–E. More about the 1909 A–Y–P–E can be read here.
More about the 2009 A–Y–P–E Centennial Celebrations can be found here.
NATIONAL News
Obama Signs Pro-Worker Executive Orders
Vowing to overturn the labor policies of former President George W. Bush, President Barack Obama recently signed three executive orders to support unions in the workplace and bolster worker's rights.
"I believe we have to reverse many of the policies toward organized labor that we have seen over the past eight years, policies with which I have sharply disagreed,"
The president also announced a new task force led by Vice President Joe Biden to seek ways to increase middle-class living standards in the US.
The first of the three executive orders will bar taxpayer funds from being used to reimburse federal contractors who spend money "trying to influence the formation of unions."
The second will require federal contractors to inform employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act. A third will ensure that qualified workers keep their jobs even when a federal contract changes hands.
The largest federal employee union, the American Federation of Government Employees, says it welcomes "the dedication of this administration to reverse the anti-labor and anti-worker policies that have been in place the last eight years."
About the American Federation of Musicians (AFM)
Founded in 1896, the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM), AFL-CIO, is the largest organization in the world dedicated to representing the interests of professional musicians. With more than 90,000 members, the AFM represents all types of professional musicians, including those who record music for sound recordings, film scores, radio, television and commercial announcements, as well as perform music of every genre in every sort of venue from small jazz clubs to symphony orchestra halls to major stadiums. Whether negotiating fair agreements, protecting ownership of recorded music, securing benefits such as health care and pension, or lobbying legislators, the AFM is committed to raising industry standards and placing the professional musician in the foreground of the cultural landscape. More information can be found at www.afm.org.