Mid America Conference

Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas

June 19 & 20, 2010

 

Call to order at 10:00 a.m. by Martin Hodapp – President

 

Opening remarks welcoming all Delegates and Guests by Pres. Hodapp.

 

Roll Call:  Martin Hodapp – 3, Leonard DiCosimo – 4, Martin Borton – 232 & 278, Eric VanderStel – 56, Linda Madsen – 24, Harry Sacco – 142, Donald Sutton – 101-473, William Morris – 228, John Penry – 25, T. Kareem Powell – 101-473, Gary Sironen – 56, Mike Lucas – 3, Bruce Graham – 58, Carolyn Mason – 1, Dennis Chandler – 4, Gordon Stump – 5, Kathleen Grimes – 5, Barbara Zmich – 625, Susan Barna Ayoub - 5.

 

Guests:              Chris Durham – SSD, Janice Galassi – Organizing & Recruitment, Barbara Owens – IR, Linda Patterson – Executive Assistant to the President, Steve Gelfand – AFM director of Touring, Theatre, & Booking.

 

Presentation and review of the Executive Board Minutes held on June 18, 2010.  No corrections offered.  Accepted and Approved as written.

 

Pres. Hodapp offered an explanation of the issue surrounding the letter that was sent out by Ray Hair announcing his presentation at the joint session of the conferences.  The presentation will be held on Sunday June 20 at 9:00 a.m. prior to the start of our Conference.  Barbara Zmich offered to contact the Southern Conference to obtain permission for our Conference to attend.

 

Committee Appointments:          

    Credentials:                      Susan Barna Ayoub – Chair

                                                Kathleen Grimes

 

     Resolutions:                     Gary Sironen – Chair

                                                Leonard DiCosimo

 

     Auditing & Finance:        William C. Morris – Chair

                                                Linda Madsen

                                                Harry Sacco

         

          Locations:                    Donald Sutton – Chair

                                                T. Kareem Powell

 

          Courtesy:                      NONE

 

          Memorial Service:       Leonard DiCosimo

 

Reviewed the agenda for the Conference.

 

A 5-minute time limit, for each speaker, on resolutions for Conference By-Laws.  Accepted by the Conference.

 

Communications:

          NONE

 

Joint session with the Southern Conference and Penn, Del, Mar, D.C. Conference will be held on Saturday June 19, 2010 at 1:30 p.m.

 

The Conference party will be held with the Southern Conference and the Pen, Del, Mar, D.C. Conference at the “Top of the Riv” at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday June 19, 2010.

 

Reports of Delegates:

 

William C. Morris – Updating Conference website, please send any and all

          relevant information for inclusion.

 

Barbara Zmich – Please check out our “Face Book” web page.

          “Ann Arbor Federation of Musicians”

 

Susan Barna Ayoub – The Diversity Committee has been actively working

          with the AFL-CIO.  The Committee will present awards on Tuesday

          from the Convention Floor.

 

Break at 10:52 a.m., Resumed at 11:07 a.m.

 

Introduction of Janice Galassi – Organizing & Recruitment.

          Organizing is not done alone; always have a trained recruiter and follow

          the steps of organizing (top down or bottom up) in order.

 

Introduction of Chris Durham – Symphonic Services Division

          Preplanning is the key to smooth negotiations.  Please request help

          from SSD prior to any planning sessions. 

 

Adjourned for lunch at 12:03 p.m.

 

Reconveined at 1:43 p.m. in combination with the Southern Conference and the Pen, Del, Mar, D.C. Conference.

 

Welcoming remarks and introduction of the three Conference Presidents and guests.

 

Introduction of Tom Lee – AFM President

          Remarks and updates of Federation projects.

 

Break at 2:41 p.m., resumed at 3:02 p.m.

 

Announcement of the plight of Nashville and the destruction caused by the flood.  Please send donations.

 

Introduction of Sam Folio – AFM Secretary-Treasurer

          Remarks and financial update.  Review of the Convention agenda.

 

Break at 3:38 p.m., resumed at 3:47 p.m.

 

Introduction of Paul Sharp – Director of the Freelance Services Division

          Remarks and presentation with the video “United Breaks Guitars”

          Presentation on “the Birth of Social Media”

 

Adjourned at 4:47 p.m. Saturday June 19, 2010.

 

Reconvened at 10:10 a.m. on Sunday June 20, 2010 by Vice President Leonard DiCosimo (President Martin Hodapp is attending the Convention Seating Meeting).

 

Opening remarks and welcoming the following delegates who arrived today:

          Eric Vanderstel – 56, Bennie Keys – 56, Emilie Sargent – 15-286, David Holt – 482, Cortaz Paige – 625.

 

Bennie Keys read the minutes of the 2009 Conference and moved the acceptance of the report as written.  All were in favor.

 

Bennie Keys reported that he approached the President of the Chicago Local (Gary Matts) about combining the Illinois Conference with the Mid America Conference.  Bennie offered to meet for the next two years in Chicago if they accepted the merger, Gary Matts was interested.  Lengthy discussion ensued.  Discussion was tabled.

 

Introduction of Steve Gelfand – Director of Travel, Tourism, & Booking Dept.

          Presentation on department activities.

 

President Hodapp resumed the Chair and reported on the results of the Convention Seating Meeting.

 

Break at 10:54 a.m., resumed at 11:10 a.m.

 

Secretary-Treasurers Report:

          All bills paid to date.  The Debit card has been changed into a deposit

          only card.  Minutes of the Conference will be distributed at Convention.

 

President’s report:

          Special meeting on the pension fund to be held by Tom Lee.

          Recapped the “Top of the Riv” party.

 

Committee Reports:

          Credentials committee – Susan Barna Ayoub, Chair

                           Received 24 credentials representing 15 Locals.

                           18 Delegates attended Saturday representing 14 Locals.

              Moved by the committee.  2nd by William Morris.  All were in favor.

 

          Resolution – Gary Sironen, Chair

                           No resolutions submitted for review.

              Moved by the committee.  2nd by Bennie Keys.  All were in favor.

 

          Auditing & Finance – William Morris, Chair

                           Unqualified opinion issued. 

              Moved by the committee.  2nd by Bennie Keys.  All were in favor.

 

          Location – Donald Sutton, Chair

                           Possible locations – 2011 South Bend – 2012 Grand Rapids.

              Tabled.

 

Introduction of Carla Lehmeier-Tatum, ROPA President

          Presented on the state of ROPA symphonies across the nation.

          Invited everyone to their conference in Omaha, NE Aug 1-5, 2010.

 

Presentation of Resolution #1.  Discussion by Leonard DiCosimo.

          Motion to withdraw by Harry Sacco.  2nd by Barbara Zmich.  All in Favor.

 

Presentation of Resolution #15.  Discussion by Leonard DiCosimo.

          A suggestion to make an amendment to the Resolution.

 

Linda Madsen presented a “Point of Personal Privelidge” to request the Conference motion the Convention to pay Ettore Chiudioni, as he was unable to attend due to health reasons.

 

John Penry mentioned to give $150.00 to the Delegate from the Conference in place of making a request from the Convention floor.  2nd by Bennie Keys. All were in favor.

 

Delegate Reports:

 

Gordon Stump – Informed the Conference of the situation in Detroit and

          invited everyone to march with them on September 6, 2010.

 

Kathleen Grimes – Informed the Conference about the “Trouble Makers

          Union” shirts.  Orders can be placed through Barbara Zmich.

 

Eric Vanderstel – Suggested creating vest to be used as uniforms while

          picketing to show a unified professional support of the action.

 

Memorial Service Committee – Leonard DiCosimo, Chair

Ron Rose – Wheeling, WV.  Bill Thomas – Ann Arbor, MI. 

Gordon Jackson – Benton Harbor, MI.

 

Motion to adjourn by Barbara Zmich at 12:24 p.m.  2nd by Bennie Keys.  All were in favor.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Martin L. Borton

Secretary-Treasurer