Musicians' Assn. of Seattle
Welcome to Seattle Musicians' Assn!
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QUICK INFORMATION

Regular Office Hours:
Monday – Thursday
9:00 – 5:00
Friday
9:00 – 2:00
Office Closed For Lunch:
12:30 pm to 1:30 pm

Closed on all national holidays

See the Performance Acts section for a partial list of our performing musicians. Don't see what you're looking for? Fill out our Referral Form to request specific information and someone in our office will get back to you during our regular business hours.

Wanting music lessons? The Instructors in our union teach a wide variety of styles and instruments.

BECOME A MEMBER! After you have gone through the Membership Section and reviewed what we have to offer, you might want to become a member. To apply, you can either download a PDF of our Membership Application Form or contact us and we will mail a form to you.

 

Musicians' Association
of Seattle
3209 Eastlake Ave. E.
Seattle, WA 98102
ph (206) 441-7600
toll free 1(800)845-0082
fx (206) 728-6466
Info@Local76-493.org

© 2009, All rights reserved

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Community News

ELECTION NOTICE TO MEMBERS!!!

Executive Board

Local 76-493 will conduct a secret ballot election for 4 At-Large positions on the Executive Board. There are 6 musician candidates nominated for the four positions. Four board members will be elected by a majority of votes cast via secret ballot.

Convention and conference delegates

Two candidates are nominated for the 2010 AFM Convention in Las Vegas; and two candidates are nominated for the 2010 Western States Conference.

The Secretary-Treasurer attends the AFM Convention and the Western Conference by virtue of the office.

One additional delegate for each event will be elected by a majority of votes cast via secret ballot.

Voting

The ballots will be mailed to each musician in good standing on November 16th. Marked ballots must be postmarked no later that December 1, 2009. The Election Committee will count ballots the week of December 1st. Winners to be announced at the General Membership meeting on December 7th.

Candidates bio’s below:

At-Large EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER
(4 positions; 6 candidates)

Larry Ludwig

Larry Ludwig, sitar

Member since 1997


I began playing music with the guitar at the age of ten. At thirteen, I started taking private sitar lessons in New York City and have now played for 42 years. While at the University of Utah, I studied and taught Middle Eastern music. I have lived in Seattle for the last 20 years, mostly playing the sitar for restaurants, weddings and special shows. I also teach private lessons.

My instruments include sitar from India, oud from the Middle East, rebab from Afghanistan, guitar and bass guitar. I studied Middle East studies at New York University and transferred to the University of Utah where I graduated with a B.A. in Persian literature and an M.A. in Arabic literature. My leadership roles have included being the president of the folk music club all four years in high school. I have managed retail stores and have been a band leader for my group Rasa Sangeet, which plays Indian classical music. I have been a member of the Teamsters and retail unions in the past and have been active in political, especially anti-war issues, ever since the Vietnam war. I have been a member of Local 76-493 for 12 years. I care about the issues that our union faces and would like to be a more active member.

Rebecca Evans

Rebecca Evans, cello

Member since 1992


My name is Rebecca Evans and I am a cellist playing mainly orchestral music, chamber music and musical theatre. I started music training with seven years of piano study, and singing in choirs, and began cello in junior high.

I received my Bachelor’s of Arts at San Diego State, went on for my Master’s in Cello Performance at Ohio State University as a Graduate Teaching Assistant.

Leadership experience: I was the chair of the Florida Symphony orchestra committee (a full-time orchestra in Orlando, FL) through a 16 week strike, was instrumental on a committee that removed an incompetent conductor, and served on committees for the local 389. I have been in a leadership position (principal cello) at the Bellevue Philharmonic since moving to Seattle.

I first joined the AFM in Ohio (Local 103) transferring to local 389 in Orlando, Florida. I transferred to Local 76-493 in 1992. I have participated in actions against Paramount and Fifth Avenue Theatres, been on negotiating teams for Village Theatre and Bellevue Philharmonic and have been serving on the Local’s Board of directors for the past 3 years.

Please vote for me for one of our Board positions!

Susan McLain

Susan McLain, harp

Member since 1989


Dear Members of Seattle Musician's Local 76-493,

I would love to continue serving on the Executive Board of our Local as I have for the past 15 years (minus the years I served as President.) I have always advocated for casual and freelance musicians, involving our local in wedding shows, banquet events, showcase venues and have searched for ways to promote live union music. I have followed marketing trends and sought to inspire our musicians to use the remarkable resources here at the Local. The highlights of my tenure include the Fifth Ave. Strike in 1997, the WTO in 1999 and the solidarity of the BPO this year. Another highlight has been working with Josh Rawlings and Simon Grant to provide our members with the tools necessary to stay on top of the technology curve. If you elect me, I will continue to advocate for resources, jobs and marketing tools!! Thanks you so much for the opportunity to have served you over the past 15 years. It's been a remarkable experience!!

Brian Lally

Brian Lally, guitar

Member since 2007


Dear Friends,

My name is Brian Lally and I am running for Board Member at-Large for the Musician's Association of Seattle because I believe the Association can do a lot more. For example, we could be a lot more visible in the community. There are opportunities for advertising at music stores and local festivals as well as inexpensive and free radio and internet promotion that could be taken advantage of.

I'm not afraid to be creative and try different things. I believe that if it doesn't work you try something else, but you don't know what works until you try. Change is good if it's for the better.

As a musician, I am a singer, classical guitarist, and composer who has been performing for almost nineteen years and performing and teaching for a living for the last six years. I studied music at Western Washington University where I completed a B.A. in Music. I have been a member of the Musician's Association of Seattle for two years.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me by e-mail at brian@brianlally.net or by phone at (206) 262-0595. You can also visit my website at: www.brianlally.net

Charles Lambert

Charles Lambert, keyboards

Member since 1990


I was born and raised in Seattle. My main instrument is keyboards. In my senior year, I attended Garfield High stage band under the direction of Ed Lee. I have been in several bands before starting my own bands: Project L.A. and Kleer Cut.

Education: Cornish College. Upon leaving Cornish I graduated from the University of Washington with a Communication Degree.

Band Information: Project L.A. was formed in 1990 and has played various Union jobs and performed for schools and libraries; Kleer Cut started in 2000. The group has been involved in Union jobs, clubs and casinos.

Union: I have been in the union since Nov. 1990. I joined the Renton Local, then moved to Seattle.

I’ve been on the Executive Board since Nov 2000. In 2008, I volunteered to go to the 97th Western Conference in Las Vegas. I have worked closely with the board on membership issues to settle disputes, served on Wage Scale Committees and worked on the Perc Bill down in Olympia. My bands have performed at the King County Labor Picnic and at the A. Philip Randolph fund raiser.

Jon Hansen, drums

Member since 2009


Jon Hansen is running for three positions in this election: At-Large Executive Board Member; Western States Conference Delegate; AFM Conference Delegate.

WESTERN STATES CONFERENCE DELEGATES
(1 position; 2 candidates)

Kirsten James

Kirsten James, flute

Member since 1996


Kirsten G. James, Local 76-493 Business Representative and professional flutist, joined the Musicians’ Association in 1996. She is currently the personnel manager and principal flute for the Bellevue Philharmonic, contractor and principal flute for the Seattle Choral Company, coach for the Cascade Youth Symphony and a private teacher in the Seattle/Bellevue area. Kirsten was also lead alto sax of Waldo King’s ‘80 & ‘81 jazz band at Roosevelt H.S. and a member of CWU’s twelve-o-clock band under the direction of John Moawad. She represents the jazz and classical communities equally and has negotiated contracts with the Paramount and 5th Ave Theatres, Tacoma Symphony and Bellevue Philharmonic. Additionally, she has been on the board of the Seattle Flute Society and the Seattle Young Artists Music Festival.

Jon Hansen, drums

Member since 2009


Jon Hansen is running for three positions in this election: At-Large Executive Board Member; Western States Conference Delegate; AFM Conference Delegate.

AFM CONFERENCE DELEGATES
(1 position; 2 candidates)

Motter Snell

Motter Snell, harp

Member since 1971


I am the President of our Local. Please vote for me for delegate to the 2010 AFM Convention.

I have 15 years of leadership experience at Local 76-493; 7 years of service as the union’s Secretary-Treasurer and 8 years of service as President. I’m the lead negotiator for the local’s seven collective bargaining agreements. I served on the King County Labor Council as a trustee for 12 years. I am the President of the Theatrical Federation of Entertainment Unions for 10 years. I am a professional harpist; and a certified mediator. I originally joined the Local in 1971 to play with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.

Thank you and In Solidarity.

Jon Hansen, drums

Member since 2009


Jon Hansen is running for three positions in this election: At-Large Executive Board Member; Western States Conference Delegate; AFM Conference Delegate.

ELECTION NOTICE TO MEMBERS

Executive Board

Local 76-493 will conduct a secret ballot election for 4 At-Large positions on the Executive Board. There are 6 musician candidates nominated for the four positions. Four board members will be elected by a majority of votes cast via secret ballot.

Convention and Conference Delegates

Two candidates are nominated for the 2010 AFM Convention in Las Vegas; and two candidates are nominated for the 2010 Western States Conference.

The Secretary-Treasurer attends the AFM Convention and the Western Conference by virtue of the office.

One additional delegate for each event will be elected by a majority of votes cast via secret ballot.

Voting

The ballots will be mailed to each musician in good standing with the local. Marked ballots must be postmarked no later that December 1, 2009.

Candidates bio’s are printed on pages 2-5.

Eastlake

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

2010 MEMBERSHIP DUES

Membership dues for 2010 remain that same as 2009.

For existing members in 2010:
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

SEATTLE CITY OF MUSIC GALA EVENT

Seattle City of Music, Seattle's effort to celebrate and enhance the city's renowned music culture, announced yesterday that it will honor Quincy Jones, Fleet Foxes and radio and online music hub KEXP at the inaugural Seattle City of Music Awards on October 14, a spectacular evening of entertainment at the Showbox at the Market. More about the event can be found at http://www.seattlecityofmusic.com.

 

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.