802 Notes
Primary Elections, Allegro Wins Big, Stolen Violin
August  2009
Allegro Takes The Gold-And Then Some!

Allegro was awarded best labor newspaper in its circulation class by the International Labor Communications Association, an umbrella group of labor publications.

Allegro also won a number of other top writing awards.

Best Editorial Or Column:
1st Place: Paul Molloy, "Why Barack Obama is Good for Musicians."

2nd Place: Joel LeFevre, "On Strikes, Respect and Heroes."

Best Labor History Story:
1st Place: "Singing History" and "Music Changes Minds" by Charlie King and Anne Feeney .

Best Feature Story:
2nd Place: "New Orleans Keeps the Beat Alive," by Matt Sakakeeny, senior contributing producer for the public radio program "American Routes".

3rd Place: Ben Treuhaft and Nancy Wallace, "Send a Piana to Havana", about an innovative program to donate pianos to Cuba.

The Saul Miller Award, Best Collective Bargaining Story: "Solidarity Wins the Day", about last year's stagehands' strike, by Allegro editor Mikael Elsila and the officers and senior staff.

More details of the contest and the ILCA can be found at www.ILCAonline.org.
HCAN Image

Our health care system is in crisis.

18,000 Americans die every year because of lack of  health insurance.

Insurance premiums increased 119% over the past 10 years. More than half of bankrupties are due to medical expenses. 

Almost 75 cents of every dollar is spent treating chronic conditions, many of which could  have been prevented. 

We need coverage that meets our families' health care needs and is affordable, based on a sliding scale.

We need government to be an advocate for us and set and enforce the rules so insurance companies put our health care before their profits.

We need to be able to keep the health care that we have and have the choice of a public plan so we're not left at the mercy of the same private insurance companies that have gotten us into this mess.

We need quality, affordable care we all can count on.

We need your help!

Click here to get involved.
Unity Walk  and Rally for Reform
Saturday, August 29, 2009, Times Square, NYC

Hosted by NYCforChange in partnership with Organizing for America, more than 50 grassroots and organizations will be participating including Obama supporter groups, women's groups, immigrant right groups, health care worker unions, physician groups, faith based organizations, and many more!

To find out more, visit NYC for Change.
Primary Election September 15

Your Vote Counts

Be sure to vote in the Primary election election on Tuesday, September 15. Local 802's endorsements are listed on the web site
. Local 802 is also a member of the Working Families Party. Click here for a list of their endorsements.

Are You Registered to Vote?

New York:
The deadline to Register to Vote in the Genereal Election in NY: Applications must be postmarked not later than October 9th and received by a board of elections not later than October 14th.

To find out more, please visit the NYS Board of Elections web site.

Not sure if you're registered? Go to the NYSVoter Public Information Voter Registration Search Page.

Click here to download a PDF version of the New York State Absentee Ballot Application Form.

New Jersey:
The registration deadline to vote at the next election is 21 days prior to election day.

To find out more, please visit the New Jersey Department of State's web site.


Connecticut:
You must register to vote by noon the last business day before the primary or 14 days before the general election.

Mailed applications must be postmarked and hand-delivered applications must be received by Registrars at least 5 days before a primary and 14 days before an election.
 
There is a three month waiting period for switching party affiliation.

To find out more, please visit the Connecticut Secretary of State's web site.

Find Your Polling Place

League of Women Voters Education Fund vote411.org

Military Voting
Persons serving in the military may vote from their designated 'home of record', regardless of where they may be stationed or for how long.

Applications are available from your Voting Assistance Officer on base, or you can visit www.fvap.gov for forms and information.

Living and Gigging Abroad on Election Day?
You have the right to vote from abroad! Visit www.votefromabroad.org for more details.
 
Please direct all questions or comments about 802 NOTES to Joel LeFevre at 212 245-4802 x197 or via e-mail at [email protected]
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Stolen Violin!
 
On Sunday, August 9, while riding the subway Gregor Kitziz' violin case was stolen.

In the case were:

Heberlein violin 1920 - fantastic violin, almost looks like a Vuillaume.

Hopf violin with a pickup attached to the bridge.

Barbe viola bow in ebony and silver, mint condition, branded FN Voirin a Paris.

Morizot viola bow in ebony and silver with a lift behind the head.

Simon violin bow in ebony and silver with a repair behind the head.

Thomassin violin bow in ebony and silver with colored hair.

Bazin violin bow in ebony and silver, mint condition, branded Collin-Mezin.

Cuniot-Hury violin bow in ebony and silver, mint condition, colored hair.

If you have any information that may lead to the recovery of this instrument and the contents of the case, please contact Gregor Kitziz at:

917-584-7263
[email protected]
Lost Violin and Owner Are Reunited via GPS

From the New York Times City Room Blog:

A violin valued at up to $600,000 was left in a cab early Monday, the Taxi and Limousine Commission said. The instrument and its owner, the Korean violinist Hahn-Bin, were reunited later that day after the violin was found via GPS.
Join Local 802, our Brother and Sister Unions to march in the New York City Labor Day Parade
Sat., Sept. 12!

Honor Labor

 
All 802 members and their families are encouraged to march together up 5th Ave.
 
The parade kicks off at 10 am on 44th street, between 5th and Vanderbuilt Ave.
Call Albany to Tell Your Lawmakers Them to Keep Arts Funding in Place!

Do you work for a non-profit Arts Organization? Is your project funded with NYSCA money?

Now's the time to call your State Legislators and tell them how continued funding for the Arts is making a positive impact for your, your families and your communities!

From NYS Arts:
There is a $2.1 billion hole in the current NYS budget and word has it that the state will have a 'negative cash flow' around November!! This is a result of plummeting sales and income tax receipts, according to the Division of the Budget. In response, the Governor has said that further action is needed to control spending. Sound familiar?   

Expect this to be the precursor to mid-year budget cuts. Again

We anticipate that the Legislature will convene in SEPTEMBER to discuss budget amendments (read "cuts") to the current State budget.

The budget deficit is projected to grow to $4.6 billion in 2010-11. This is an increase of $2.2 billion from the estimate in May.

Start setting up appointments NOW to meet with your legislators at home right after Labor Day.
 
Discuss the impact of the arts in your community.

If they don't hear from us, they won't know how their funding decisions are affecting us.

To find your lawmakers, click here and call them!