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Local 47 2014 Election Returns

Congratulations to all candidates for office, and thank you to all members who voted, in the 2014 Local 47 General Election.

Local 47 2014 Election Returns*

PRESIDENT (Elect One)
John Acosta 362

VICE PRESIDENT (Elect One)
Rick Baptist 343

SECRETARY/TREASURER (Elect One)
Gary Lasley 344

TRUSTEE (Elect Three)
Judy Chilnick 327
Bonnie Janofsky 303
Dylan Hart 296

DIRECTOR (Elect Six)
Pam Gates 263
Bill Reichenbach 255
Phil O’Connor 252
Vivian Wolf 239
Andy Malloy 232
John Lofton 219
Marcy Vaj 188
Jeff Surga 128

HEARING BOARD (Elect Seven)
Alan Estes 273
Allen Savedoff 265
Norman Ludwin 261
Chuck Flores 258
Jon Kurnick 247
Marc Sazer 230
Jeff Lass 206

DELEGATE TO THE AFM CONVENTION (Elect Three)
Pam Gates 309
Bonnie Janofsky 294
Norman Ludwin 291

FIRST ALTERNATE DELEGATE (Elect One)
Phil O’Connor 342

SECOND ALTERNATE DELEGATE (Elect One)
Vivian Wolf 322

* These are the results of tallying by the California Elections Company of ballots cast by eligible voters of the Local 47 general membership in the Biennial General Election held Dec. 9, 2014. Certification and declaration of the election by the Election Board is pending per Article IX, Section 16 of the Local 47 Bylaws.

Healing Through Music

Students and seniors come together to play music with The 5th Dementia, the debut band of MusicMendsMinds. The nonprofit organization dedicates itself to assisting those affected by Alzheimer’s and other cognitive dementias to restore their confidence, dignity, and self-worth.

MusicMendsMinds organization seeks to ‘restore the rhythm of life’ by bringing together seniors and students in musical therapy

by Benjamin Nguyen

Proving that music truly can be one of life’s greatest gifts, the new intergenerational music therapy project MusicMendsMinds is dedicated to “restoring the rhythm of life” for individuals in West Los Angeles who are affected by Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, or cognitive dementias.

Carol and Irwin Rosenstein founded the organization after their own success story with music and social support. Irwin, a former real estate lawyer, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2006. Until recently, the Rosenstein’s felt their lives slipping away while dealing with the adversities from Parkinson’s. “There were some days, many, when I just didn’t have enough to make life worthwhile,” Irwin said. Continue reading →

Save Union Music at the Greek

#WeAreTheGreek campaign seeks to keep the Greek a family-operated – and union-friendly – venue

Nederlander Concerts, the family-owned company that has run the Greek Theatre for over 30 years with a collective bargaining agreement with Local 47, is in danger of losing its contract to Live Nation, putting union music at the historic venue at risk.

Last month, Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks commissioners recommended in favor of a takeover by national conglomerate Live Nation, which has no obligation to negotiate a CBA. Continue reading →

Acupuncture for Musicians

Photo: marniejoyce / Foter / CC BY

by Stephanie Hayman

In the music world, injuries may occur frequently as musicians often push beyond their limits. Inadequate rest, unhealthy eating habits, improper posture and mental and emotional strain compound this problem. With a musician’s hectic lifestyle, sufficient time is often not allowed for the body to heal. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory (especially steroids) medications are often used to dull the aches and pains. It’s a quick and easy approach, but only a temporary fix.

By medicinally covering up pain, stiffness, swelling, or aches, you may be masking a deeper problem. These symptoms are signals from your body telling you that something is weakened and out of balance. These warning signals are telling you to stop, rest, and heal. Continue reading →

Local 47 Reps at Inaugural Union Jobs Festival

Local 47 Electronic Media Division Administrator Gordon Grayson and Communications Director Linda Rapka manned the Local 47 booth at the Union Jobs Festival on Saturday, Oct. 4 at the Crenshaw Baldwin Hills Plaza. Photo by Linda A. Rapka

Local 47 was proud to participate in the inaugural Union Jobs Festival on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014 at the Crenshaw Baldwin Hills Plaza.

Hosted by Congresswoman Karen Bass, the event welcomed more than 1,000 visitors to learn about area unions and labor-friendly organizations. Joining representatives from Working Californians, IBEW Local 18, LAANE, the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, MTA, SCOPE, SFUA Local 709, Repower LA, and many more, Local 47 Electronic Media Division Administrator Gordon Grayson and Communications Director Linda Rapka were on hand to share information about Local 47, the Referral Service, and our #listenLA project.

Local 47 congratulates and thanks festival coordinator Anthony Mack for his efforts in putting together a very successful festival. Should this become an annual event as hoped, Mack looks forward to featuring a concert with Local 47 musicians at next year’s festival.

#listenLA spotlight: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Expecto Patronum! Composer Timothy Williams casts his melodic spell over the Los Angeles Local 47 orchestra on the Warner Bros. Eastwood Scoring Stage with his music for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction at Universal Park Japan. Photo: Kori Chappell

Hogwarts attraction at Universal Park Japan gets a taste of Los Angeles with Timothy Williams’ musical score

To the delight of muggles around the world, a Harry Potter themed attraction opened earlier this year in Osaka, Japan. The impressive Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a life-size imagining of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, complete with various rides and special effects. The music heard throughout the $442 million attraction was scored by a Los Angeles orchestra last December on the Warner Bros. Eastwood Scoring Stage, with composer Timothy Williams conducting his works.

Read the full story at listen-la.com!

AFM Inks Innovative New Recording Deals

Agreements mark new efforts by the musicians union to create more flexible contracts

by Linda A. Rapka

The AFM and Local 47 recently inked two innovative agreements.

One new deal with Los Angeles-based company Confidential Music allows for unique provisions regarding trailer music. Musicians receive a payment when creating the music beds for trailers, then a second scale payment when the music is licensed into a trailer.

“Being able to record orchestras in Los Angeles has always been something Confidential Music was very interested in,” said co-founder Kyle Biane. “The world of movie trailer music is a constantly developing and competitive market. We are always striving to develop a new and unique approach in both our writing and production. We do this not only to stay competitive, but to expand the art form. Now that we have the ability to call upon the talents of Local 47 here in Los Angeles, the possibilities are truly endless.” Continue reading →

Free Movie Screening – ‘1M1: Hollywood Horns of the Golden Years’

Free Movie Screening:
Sunday, Nov. 23, 2:30 pm

Local 47 Serena Kay & Earl Williams Auditorium
817 Vine St. Hollywood CA 90038
Free & open to the public
Run time: 75 min

“1M1: Hollywood Horns of the Golden Years” is a documentary film from director/producer Annie Bosler about the history of the Los Angeles film studio French horn players from the 1920s through the 1960s. Featuring numerous interviews with L.A. music legends and narrated by Jon Burlingame, the film follows the development of the motion picture industry and its battles with the musicians’ union. The groundbreaking film uncovers many of the brilliant, never before acknowledged horn soloists of the big screen.

“Music can stand alone, but film cannot live without music.” — John Williams, Composer of Film Music

“The legacy of the Hollywood horn sound is like no other anywhere in the world.” — Richard Todd, Hollywood Horn Player

1m1hollywoodhorns.com

Free Hollywood Musicians Dental Clinic Nov. 18, 2014

An Inspired Royal Visit

During his visit to Local 47, Saava Karim was kind enough to perform his ngoma (the Swahili word for “drum”). Photos: Nate Herrera

During his visit to Local 47, Saava Karim was kind enough to perform his ngoma (the Swahili word for “drum”). Photo: Nate Herrera

Ugandan prince and musician activist Saava Karim Nsubuga visits the Hollywood musicians union to spread his message of peace and unity

by Linda A. Rapka

The Hollywood musicians union was paid a royal visit last month by Saava Karim Nsubuga, a prince from Uganda and professional musician who is an activist with the Uganda Musicians Union.

Wearing a handsome white and gold hand-stitched kazu, the traditional tunic worn by men in East Africa, and kufi hat and vest made of bark cloth elaborately decorated with jewels and shells, the saava (Swahili word for “prince”) met with Local 47 officers and Overture staff. In his work as membership mobilization secretary of the Uganda Musicians Union, established in 1998, Saava Karim said he is using his time in the United States to learn more about unionism and how he can help improve the quality of life for working musicians in Uganda. Continue reading →