Officer Columns, Secretary-Treasurer

My Final Column

July 11, 2016

This will be my final International Musician column as leave office August 1. I wanted to thank the many people who have supported me over my six-year tenure as secretary-treasurer of the AFM.

10-Plus Years of Improvements

June 1, 2016

In 2005, when I was elected Secretary-Treasurer, my goal included streamlining the operations of the office, consolidation of the computer systems, and creating a process for better management of working capital

Secretary-Treasurer Annual Report Synopsis

May 1, 2016

At the close of business 2015, I was pleased to report income over expenses of more than $1.3 million. This is the fourth year that the AFM has net income of a million. AFM Comptroller Michelle Ledgister and her staff are to be commended for keeping Federation finances on track, while working extremely short-handed.

Getting Back to the Music

April 15, 2016

Amid the flurry of day-to-day activities—being immersed in bylaws, finances, budgets, audits, and convention preparations—we tend to forget what we’re here for, the creative forces we represent: music, musicians, performers, and art.

An Empty Seat on the Supreme Court: What It Means for Unions

March 2, 2016

With the sudden death of Justice Antonin Scalia, I’m reminded of a time when I had the great pleasure of meeting and spending time with the late Justice many years ago.

International Musician Looking Forward to Changes and Growth

February 1, 2016

International Musician Looking Forward to Changes and Growth —

What Does the Friedrichs Case Really Mean for Working Americans?

January 1, 2016

What Does the Friedrichs Case Really Mean for Working Americans? — Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association (CTA) goes to the heart of public sector workers’ ability to unionize and lobby for standards that protect every American.

News and Notes from the Secretary-Treasurer’s Desk

December 1, 2015

2016 AFM Budget – The AFM International Executive Board (IEB) held its third quarter board meeting in November. As per the AFM Bylaws, the third quarter is the budget meeting, and according to the Bylaws the IEB is required to have a balanced budget. The IEB approved a balanced budget for 2016.

A Combination of Sun Tzu and Will Rogers

November 5, 2015

Needs to be said and I’m the one to say it! I remember the AFM Convention in 1983 very well. First, because it was when I first ran and became a member of the AFM International Executive Board (IEB), and secondly, because it’s when I first met my friend Ray Hair. You know when you […]

Are You Getting the Most from Health Care Reform?

October 5, 2015

It’s been five years since Congress passed health care reform, but many people are still missing out on possible savings, like lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs, just because they don’t know about them.