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2010 Initiation Fees Waived for New Members
New Program Supports Music and Grows Audiences
The Central Pennsylvania Musicians Association, aka AFM 660, has assembled a program to support music and grow audiences. Elements include:
1) Sustainable Music Venues program: a list of AFM 660-designated bars and other venues who have agreed with AFM 660 to pay all musicians at least the per-person minimum wage established by AFM 660 and to offer written contracts to all musicians. No more last-minute cancellations! (See button on left)
2) “Listen to the Music” jam sessions to bring musicians of all ages and levels together to connect for success and just for fun.
3) An AFM 660 newsletter with news and interviews about the local music scene. Join the story of the music scene as it evolves.
4) Legal Representation: State College lawyer Phil Masorti has agreed to provide pro-bono legal services for member-musicians.
5) A new Code of Ethics – how professional musicians behave. (See button on left).
6) A new Wage Scale – the minimum per-person pay for gigs -- based on a market survey (See "Documents" button on left)
7) New bylaws for a streamlined, member-responsive AFM 660. (See "Documents" button on left)
8) Special membership deal: When joining AFM 660 before March 31, 2010, in the effort to improve music and grow audiences, you can waive the normal one-time initiation fee of $75 and simply pay the annual dues of $84 ($64 for students).
A message from the President 
“We must all hang together, or we will all hang separately.”
-- Benjamin Franklin as he signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
A Declaration of Independence for Central Pennsylvania Musicians
Musicians in central Pennsylvania struggle to find places to play and even when they find a venue, they are often abused and poorly paid and their music suffers.
Must this be the character of our local music scene? Elsewhere, musicians unite to improve their working conditions. One group that is uniting musicians here to improve working conditions is American Federation of Musicians Local 660.
In the past, unions were known for identifying enemies and fighting them, but AFM 660 identifies friendly venues and partners with them to grow audiences. This is the reason for AFM 660’s new Sustainable Music Venue program.
In the last couple of years, AFM 660 wrote a Code of Ethics and surveyed musicians about their interests and needs. The two greatest improvements to help local musicians playing in bars are: 1) a living minimum wage and 2) written contracts.
Now a dozen bars and other venues have agreed with AFM 660 to pay all musicians at least the minimum wage identified in the AFM 660 survey and posted at afm660.org. These bars also have agreed to offer written contracts to all musicians. They prefer written contracts.
This minimum wage is the minimum, not the average market rate. The Union’s actions prevent bars from dropping their rates below the minimum. Written contracts serve to prevent sudden cancellations, a common occurrence today.
It is an essential role for AFM 660 to fill the crying need for improving the relationship between bars and musicians. Look for the AFM 660 Sustainable Music Venue certificate posted where you play or visit. These bars are where you can expect a decent wage and a written contract. They are good places to work. Let us know if you find otherwise and we’ll effect a change.
All musicians benefit from these AFM 660 efforts. Now is the time for unattached musicians to join AFM 660 and for undesignated bars to become Sustainable Music Venues. Together, we can be part of the evolving story of working together to improve the local music scene. Your audiences will thank you for this.
Chris Lee, President AFM 660
For more info or to comment, feel free to contact Chris Lee at chris@boalmuseum.com or (814)466-9266
General Membership Meeting Scheduled
Local 660 Returns to South Hills
Our next general Membership Metting will be 12:30 pm January 16 at South Hills School of Business in state College; lunch will be provided. All members are invited and encouraged to bring a guest. Please contact Chris Lee at 814-466-9266 or chris@boalmuseum.com to indicate you will attend.
OFFICERS for 2010 DETERMINED
Lee and Jensen retain positions through 2010
On September 27, AFM Local 660 held its annual Nomination Meeting at 1 p.m. at Cafe 210 West, located at 210 West College Ave, State College PA. This meeting was mmediately followed at 1:10 p.m. by a General Membership Meeting. (Minuted from the General Membership Meeting can be read in the November newsletter).
At the 1 pm meeting, nominations were accepted for President, Vice-President, and two at-large Board Member seats. Terms of office for President and Vice-President will run for one year each. One at-large term will be for 3 years. The other will be for the remainder of an unfinished term through 2010.
Christopher Lee was nominated for President, and Phil Jensen was nominated for Vice-President; both currently hold those respective positions.
Christopher Byrne was nominated to retain the Executive Board seat he currently occupies, and John Kovalchik was nominated to fill a Board seat left open by the resignation of Carl Ector.
There were no other nominations, so all nominees were unopposed. Therefore, in accordance with Federation bylaws, no formal election need be held, and all nominees will take office in 2010.
Top Musicians Assemble for
“Listen to the Music” Free-for-All
At Cafe 210, from 2-5 pm on September 27, 2009, AFM 660 held its "Listen to the Music" event, a jam session and showcase for members and non-members. A very reasonable $3 door fee for non-union members (and no fee for union members) will cover cartage and a donation to the Olin Butt scholarship fund for high school students.
“This region needs musicians of the highest quality to enhance the quality of life and serve our local economy as an attraction,” explains AFM 660 President Chris Lee. “We’re bringing musicians and audiences together to communicate and to help make that happen.”
At a previous “Listen to the Music” party, musicians included (L-R), Ronnie Burrage - drums, Mike Dougherty - bass,
PSU President Graham Spanier - washboard, Chris Byrne - flute, Carl Ector - violin, and Arthur Goldstein - keyboard.
The event was open to musicians and music lovers of all ages and included internationally renowned jazz drummer Ronnie Burrage, who has played with Sony Rollins and McCoy Tyner, music educator John Kovalchik who has played in America and Europe with the Tarnished Six Dixieland band and a host of other top musicians.
AFM 660 members and musicians who came to play were admitted free while others will paid $3 at the door to support AFM 660’s music education scholarship.
More "Listen to the Music" events will be scheduled in 2010.
Local 660 Newsletters are now published quarterly
Please visit the Newsletter page
see more photos, music, and blogs at myspace/afm660
Upcoming Meetings and Events:
General Membership Meeting
Saturday, January 16, 12:30 pm
South Hills Business School
State College PA 16801
Executive Board Meeting
TBA
Boal Mansion Museum
AFM 2010 National Convention
June 21 - 24
Las Vegas, Nevada
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