The Executive Board of Local 161-710 has requested and been approved to have a recruitment drive. The AFM International Executive has approved to allow the Local to waive both the Federation and Local Initiation Fees. The drive will be from January 1, 2012 until June 30, 2012.

This means that any musician that would like to join the Local may do so for $81.00 which will cover six months of membership.

We are at a crucial point in the history of the AFM. We must create an organization that is strong and effective. That is not easy to do when there are a lot of non members taking potential jobs from our members and employers. As long as there is a large pool of non members playing gigs, we will continue to experience frustration with our Union and ourselves because of our inability to be effective in protecting job opportunities. It is in everyone’s best interest to have an effective organization.

It would seem to follow that if we all gain from an effective Union then is up to all of us to do our share in reaching this goal. We are suggesting that you can best help your organization and yourselves by becoming involved in the recruitment campaign. How? You are the best recruiters the Union has. Many of you know which non members we need to speak with about membership. It is our collective responsibility as members of the Union to help each other and if we want a strong effective vehicle that meets our needs as musicians then we must accept our singular responsibilities with regards to the success or failure of this recruitment campaign.

If we are to survive as an organization; if we are to effectively represent musicians; if we are to work for legislative relief; if we are to provide services and benefits; and if we intend to have any influence in the work place, we must all focus on building a stronger organization. This can best be achieved by recruiting all of the full and part-time musicians that are now performing.

The officers and members of the Board cannot do this by themselves. No one individual can recruit alone and be successful. Our recruitment program is based on members recruiting members. We will provide all the support service necessary. We will make telephone calls to anyone that you as members believe should join. We will speak to contractors and employers about supporting union bands. We will do as much of the leg work that recruiting demands but without your support, it will be difficult to succeed.

So, we are counting on you to help us achieve our goal. You have a great deal at stake in this project. If you are interested in an effective organization that responds to the needs of the musicians in today’s world then you now have the opportunity to help make that a reality. Two, five, or ten people can’t do the job, but all of us can. We are in this together and collectively can do anything we so choose. The responsibility for success or failure of our organization depends on each of us. Now is the time to start helping your organization and yourself by talking to your friends about joining the union.

 Application (click here)