70th AFM Western Conference of Locals

The Denver Musician
Spring, 2008

February 22 – 24, 2008
Honolulu, HI
Report by Don Prorak

Pete Vriesenga and I recently attended the AFM Western Conference held at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu. It was a great hardship to have to travel to Hawaii this time of year, but we tried to make the best of it. Hosting the conference was Marsha Schweitzer, secretary-treasurer of the Musicians Association of Hawaii, Local 677, and president of the Western Conference. Marsha and her team put together a memorable conference, and it was great to see many of the delegates I had met in Vancouver last year. (I was also asked to serve as “Sargeant at Arms” for the conference, but they refused to give me a taser!)

The conference had some truly inspiring moments, beginning with the keynote address from US Senator Daniel Inouye, who spoke mainly about the inadequate services that our returning military personnel are receiving. Senator Inouye’s heroic actions in World War II resulted in serious injury, including the loss of his right arm, for which he received 22 months of intensive rehabilitation. While they did not have today’s high tech prosthetic devices, there was much more emphasis on the psychological and emotional aspects of rehabilitation then. His treatment focused not only on physical therapy, but also on regaining the confidence to return to productive life. Senator Inouye had played saxophone in high school, which was no longer possible, but instrumental music was a standard part of therapy at that time. He told us that learning to play the piano with his remaining hand was one of the greatest factors in rebuilding his confidence and determination.

Friday evening we were bussed to the Local 677 headquarters for the retirement banquet in honor of local president Michael Lagarticha. Dinner and entertainment took place in their recently built rehearsal and performance space, which was very impressive. Congressman Neil Abercrombie spoke at the event, stating that it was “criminal” that the music education he received during World War II, when we were battling fascism on two fronts, should be denied to children today. Thinking back to the music classes that I had and took for granted in the 50s and 60s, I can’t help but agree.

University of Hawaii professor Bill Puette gave a fascinating presentation on the labor movement in Hawaii – yeah, really! Hawaii is a very strong labor state, and it is mandated that labor studies be offered at the university. Puette did an admirable job of cramming a semester’s worth of material into an informative and entertaining 90-minute presentation. I was not aware that when Hawaii was admitted as a state in 1959 there was great resistance in the US Congress for two reasons: 1) Hawaii was to become the only state in the union that did not have a white majority, and 2) due to the abuses of the plantation system, Hawaii had developed a strong labor movement, which was unjustifiably linked in many conservative minds to communism!

AFM top brass also made the sacrifice of journeying to the tropics. President Tom Lee and Secretary-Treasurer Sam Folio gave passionate addresses, focusing on innovative ways to serve our members and rebuild our numbers. The MPF report by John Hall was rather bleak, of course, but it was encouraging to hear the creative ideas he has for revitalizing the fund. Up next was Paul Sharpe’s presentation on the AFM Freelance Department. Although he managed to purchase some of the ugliest Aloha shirts on the island, Paul is one of best reasons to be a member of the AFM. His energy level is nothing short of amazing, and he is constantly adding new components to the AFM web site to benefit musicians. On the front page at www.afm.org there is now a button where new members can join on-line. Click the link to “GoPro” and check out all the new stuff Paul has created. The services and benefits offered here easily eclipse the cost of membership.

One of the most significant items was Maureen Kilkelly’s AFM-EPF report. While there have been some negative adjustments to the pension fund in recent years (increase in the vesting threshold and lowering of the benefit multiplier), there have been important changes which make it easier for freelance musicians and even private teachers to become vested. When filing an LS-1 (single engagement) form, it is no longer necessary to get a separate check from the client for the pension fund amount. The pension can be figured into the total contract, and the band leader can write a check to the fund. Also, the fund now accepts contributions from LLCs and Personal Service Corporations, meaning that as an individual musician, you can incorporate and make your own pension contributions. Furthermore, private teachers can be covered under a PSC as well. Check out www.afm-epf.org to find out how you can become part of this solid, well-managed fund.

There were also some side benefits to the conference. We got to do some sightseeing, eat some great food, and enjoy Hawaii’s beaches and historic sites. I discovered that there are some true virtuosos of the ukulele, and that the name of the instrument is pronounced “Oo-koo-lay-lay”, not “Yoo-ka-lay-lee”. I heard one guy who was truly amazing, with elements of flamenco and jazz guitar in his playing. However, in spite of the excellent musicianship we heard, I have to admit that I still can’t hang with Hawaiian music, not even the reggae-influenced “Jawaiian” style. It is interesting to note, though, that some of the melodies that are still played today were actually composed by the last king and queen of the Hawaiian monarchy in the late 1800s. They were classically trained musicians, who also sought to preserve and contribute to the music of their culture.

One aspect of Hawaii that I really like is the prevailing attitude that diversity is a source of strength, as opposed to the “melting pot” philosophy. They regard themselves as one people with multiple cultures and languages, and strive to preserve the individual cultures rather than blending them out of existence. There are many rich traditions that are often missed amidst the tourist schlock & kitsch. Overall, this was an interesting and educational conference and a fun trip. I look forward to next year in San Diego.