John Grimes
Timpanist and Musicians' Advocate
Thank you to Local 9-535, for your support!
Initiatives We Can Accomplish During The 2008-2010 Term
As your VICE PRESIDENT, I commit myself to:
- Continue applying my acquired knowledge and expertise in your service.
During the past term, many of you became increasingly interested in the effectiveness and viability of our pension fund. I have been your resource and "go-to" person in this area for six years. My vigilance means Local 9-535 is always working to address your pension concerns. - Outreach & Recruitment
- Study the feasibility of setting up a local branch office in Boston's Fenway area. In this way we can re-engage the heart of our vibrant young musicians' community, a presence critically important to our Union's survival.
- Propose more individual services for New Members such as mentoring, provide additional links to contractors and employment opportunities; produce Showcase Concerts featuring new Union members and providing peers and contractors with a format in which to hear our new talent. We must give students and young professionals access to Union services, improve their links to jobs, instilling in them hope for a future in music.
- Inter-Union Communication
Propose the creation of local Entertainment unions Labor Council, to provide a forum facilitating cooperation between all Entertainment unions working in Boston's theater district. - I commit myself to set local precedents for national Performers' Rights. Recent and ongoing dialogue with WGBH (non-profit radio) producers and engineers holds promise for breakthroughs whereby Member performances will be properly compensated for in-studio local broadcasts.