Now is the right time to become an American Federation of Musicians member. From ragtime to rap, from the early phonograph to today's digital recordings, the AFM has been there for its members. And now there are more benefits available to AFM members than ever before, including a multi-million dollar pension fund, excellent contract protection, instrument and travelers insurance, work referral programs and access to licensed booking agents to keep you working.
As an AFM member, you are part of a membership of more than 80,000 musicians. Experience has proven that collective activity on behalf of individuals with similar interests is the most effective way to achieve a goal. The AFM can negotiate agreements and administer contracts, procure valuable benefits and achieve legislative goals. A single musician has no such power.
The AFM has a proud history of managing change rather than being victimized by it. We find strength in adversity, and when the going gets tough, we get creative - all on your behalf.
Like the industry, the AFM is also changing and evolving, and its policies and programs will move in new directions dictated by its members. As a member, you will determine these directions through your interest and involvement. Your membership card will be your key to participation in governing your union, keeping it responsive to your needs and enabling it to serve you better. To become a member now, visit www.afm.org/join.
February 1, 2023
Lovie Smith-Wright - AFM Diversity Committee Chair and Member of Local 65-699 (Houston, TX)by Lovie Smith-Wright, AFM Diversity Committee Chair and Member of Local 65-699 (Houston, TX)
The AFM Diversity Committee has been hard at work preparing for the 102nd AFM International Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) training has been a big part of our discussions over the last two years, and we finally have a completed project. We spent a great deal of time working with AFM International Vice President Bruce Fife and AFM directors to see what we could do collectively to offer DEIA training for local officers of the AFM. As a result of our collaboration, two members of the AFM Diversity Committee, Local 618 (Albuquerque, NM) President Tracey Whitney and Local 7 (Orange County, CA) President Edmund Velasco, along with other staff and AFM President Ray Hair, finished a Race and Labor Diversity Training program that will soon be implemented as part of the AFM Officer Training program.
The AFM Diversity Awards, which were created in 2005 to recognize outstanding examples of diversity in the AFM, will be awarded at the AFM Convention in June. The three awards to be presented are: the Presidents’ Local Award, the Charles Walton Diversity Advocate Award, and the Charles McDaniel Youth Award.
There are two stages to the application process. While the procedures are standard, they differ on criteria. Some of the mechanisms are designed to achieve a sense of thought and hard work by the applicants. The first stage of the application process ends March 3, 2023. After the awards committee has reviewed stage one applications, those applicants who are chosen to go on to stage two will be notified. The second stage will end April 15, 2023. Final applications are criteria certified by the Diversity Awards Committee and judged by independent judges.
The AFM fully supports this program and wants to encourage every local to participate. President Hair will be notifying all local officers about this year’s Diversity Awards program. Each local must have an awards nomination/review committee consisting of at least three people or the local’s executive board. The AFM Diversity Committee will be following up with locals to remind them of the application process and to answer any questions local officers may have about the process.
Local officers can access the applications for all three Diversity Awards on the members’ section of AFM.org in the Document Library > Officers Folder > Diversity Awards Applications. All applications must be submitted from the local to the AFM President’s office.
Upcoming Diversity Committee presentations and caucuses that will be presented at the AFM Convention will be announced soon.