was a transformative experience. Those who had been told their whole lives they could not sing suddenly found they could. Those who believed they had no power suddenly knew they did. Those who thought they were all alone suddenly found a community. All because of a tall, skinny guy with his bobbing by John McCutcheon Adam’s apple and a banjo. ete Seeger was not only a proud, charter member of I spoke with Pete shortly before he and his grandson, Tao “ Local 1000, he was the person that introduced so many Rodriguez, sang at President Obama’s inauguration concert. I of us to unionism. It was not with speeches, but with said, “Pete, you’re singing at the invitation of a President.” “Yes,” songs.P It was not with agitation, but with action. There he was, he replied, “impossible, isn’t it?” I remember thinking at the whenever he was needed, lending a hand and a voice to workers’ time, “Well, old man, if I’ve learned anything from you, it’s that struggles. He didn’t do it because of the headlines or because it the impossible is just going to take a little time.” was a “good career move” (actually, usually the opposite!), but There is a great hole in our family, in America, in the world because he believed in the power of song and what that power today. Let us “take up the old guitar,” as Pete sang, and fill that could do for ordinary people. Whether it was singing “Erie hole, that family, this country, this world with song. It’s what he Canal” or “Solidarity Forever” being in a crowd with Pete taught us. Now let’s get busy.”
INSIDE: page 2–Welcome Scott, Birth of Local AFM • page 3–Work Dues, Dual Membership • page 4–Bylaw Changes, Membership News page 5–Recording Contract • page 6–Highlander Membership Retreat • page 7–What’s In It for “We?”, Health Care page 9 –I’m Gonna’ Join The Union • page 10 –Faith Petric New Deal is the official organ of Local 1000. Pleaser ead it carefully. Upcoming Meetings... Welcome, Highlander Retreat May 12-14 New Market, TN Scott!
L1K Membership Meeting May 13, 2014, 4 pm in the Farewell, Highlander Center, New Market, Tennessee Steve. www.local1000.org by Tret Fure Find Local 1000 t our October on Facebook & Twitter Steve Eulberg membership 212-843-8726 meeting, E-mail: [email protected] Amember Scott Berwick was hopes for a better Co-Office Managers: elected to the position of world. Of course, he Secretary-Treasurer. Our sings some songs just Colin Dean current Secretary-Treasurer, for the joy and fun [email protected] Steve Eulberg will be stepping of it. He is especially Richard Coombs down when his term ends on Scott Berwick fond of songs about [email protected] December 31, 2013. the Hudson River and the Catskill I had the pleasure of serving Mountains of his New York home. LOCAL 1000 OFFICERS: closely with Steve on the Executive He is also an occasional song writer. President: Board. His past experiences as a small Scott performs as a solo act and also as TRET FURE business owner, church pastor and part of the Kingston Sea Chantey Singers 608-469-4007 • [email protected] (Saugerties, NY). Canadian Vice-President: involvement in non-profit organizations KEN WHITELEY were an asset to Local 1000 in many 416-533-9988 • [email protected] ways. Through Steve’s leadership, we were Vice President: able to navigate through a number of DEBRA COWAN Birth of complex situations that arose and we also 508-662-9746 • [email protected] Secretary-Treasurer: established firm policies and procedures SCOTT BERWICK in our organization that will move us Local 1000 518-734-3224 • [email protected] forward toward the future. Midwestern Regional Rep Scott Berwick brings 10 years AARON FOWLER experience to the treasurer’s post having AFM 316-207-4715 • [email protected] filled this role for three not-for-profit Western Regional Rep From the Archives: DANIEL BOLING organizations over the years including 8 505-228-2530 • [email protected] years as treasurer with the Hudson River ete Seeger’s Appleseeds column in Eastern Regional Rep Sloop Clearwater. He has vast experience SingOut magazine was written by CHARLIE PILZER in the day-to-day operations with large John McCutcheon in Vol. 37, No.3, 301-891-9035 • [email protected] organizations and non-profits and we PNov/Dec ‘92/Jan ‘93 New Deal Editor: welcome his experience and leadership to “The New Deal Committee is a group of Steve Eulberg & Scott Berwick Local 1000. musicians that for the last six years has been Scott has been collecting songs since Contributing Editors: working for reforms in the musician’s union Tret Fure, Debra Cowan, Joe Jencks, 1960 when he first picked up a guitar that would benefit the traveling performer. John McCutcheon and started singing. Nowadays he We’ve just cleared the last hurdle toward accompanies his singing with either his establishing our own “national local” Graphic Editor: Jan Hammond banjo or his guitar. He sings old songs, (oxymorons never bothered us!) and are Member News Editor: newer songs and new songs in the folk now organizing members. What this means Joe Jencks tradition that carry themes of social is that a musician can join a local populated NEW DEAL is the official organ of the justice, environmental justice, and North American Traveling Musicians Union, Local 1000, AFM
2 NEW DEAL • Winter 2014 are consistently generous with supporting our Emergency Relief Fund. Therefore, we are inviting these members to support our local by providing 2.5% Work Dues Equivalency Donations for the equivalent of at least one gig (regular venue) each month. For example: The regular venue scale is $230. At 2.5% this is a contribution of $5.75 a month or $69 a year. – Adopted 10/24/2014 by the Executive Board. solely by folks doing the same kind of work they do…a first in the musician’s union. It also means Dual they can contribute to the pension fund for seeking your stories about the beginnings of every gig; good good affordable instrument Local 1000, about the benefits and support insurance; get free legal representation in you’ve received as we continue to celebrate Membership enforcing contracts; lobby for reform of the Local that supports traveling musicians unfair immigration practices; customize in the United States and Canada. Please Clarified our own work rules and scales; all this and send your remembrances and stories to [email protected]. more! For applications and information By Steve Eulberg, write: New Deal Committee, 1025 Locust Secretary-Treasurer Ave., Charlottesville, VA 22901. In the same issue, John was also Work Dues rom time to time it is necessary to interviewed by Ellen Senisi & Nancy make clarification of some things Boericke in their article entitled: Equivalency that we take for granted. Local F1000 (Non-Geographic) was granted “Traditional Roots to Contemporary Issues” its charter to serve the needs of traveling Could you talk a bit about your work Payment musicians, specifically those who travel in and out of the jurisdiction of geographical efforts to organize with the American he following Policy was adopted Federation of Musicians? locals of the AFM (American Federation by the Executive Board at its Fall of Musicians). JM: “It’s been exciting. About 5 years Board Retreat in St. Louis: According to the AFM Bylaws, a ago, we started a dialogue with the union TWork Dues are the primary funding for musician who lives and works (plays) in to address more concretely the needs of the work of the Local as we support our his or her jurisdiction is required also to traveling musicians. It was incongruous that membership. The members who are filing join his or her geographical local. Because we were taking active roles in the concerns contracts for pension contributions from this applies to me, I have been a dual of every other union but our own. We had LS-1s, LPCCs or CBA’s are already being member of Local 1000 and the Denver no illusions, but at least we could try. billed for their work dues contribution. Musicians Association (Local 20-623) We were pleasantly surprised when we Yet, some of our members are not for many years. In contrast, our Vice got positive feedback. We’ve had ongoing actively filing contracts and don’t have the President, Debra Cowan, does no work discussions for the past 5-6 years. Major opportunity to support the usual work of in her geographical local’s jurisdiction, so policies have been changed, and new serv- our local. she is only a member of Local 1000. ices have been created. There was an open- Our members are generous in It is and has always been the policy of ing for us to create our own “national supporting specific needs and causes. our Local to inform those who wish to local,” determined not by geographical loc- Some examples are: When we needed a join with us of their responsibilities in ation but by the kind of work the members new office computer, donations covered this regard. Therefore, we are unable to did. Thanks to the commitment of about the cost. Our Local was the largest ratify the Membership Applications of 200 fellow musicians, just a few weeks ago supporter of the Deportees Memorial anyone who has been expelled from his or we fulfilled all the requirements that the Monument in Fresno. We provided her geographical local for non-payment international gave us for chartering our our long-time Office Manager with a of dues, until they have satisfied that own local.” generous and useful parting gift when she obligation, and certify that they are not In our 20th Anniversary year, we are left to pursue her studies. Our members playing in that local’s territory.
Winter 2014 • NEW DEAL 3 also reflects an increase in the Per Capita songwriter. Congratulations, Charlie! He that was adopted by the Federation at its is touring with this new release , which Bylaw Convention this past July. contains 35 previously recorded and 5 newly recorded songs. Charlie also has a new songbook titled: Songs For The Change Current Millennium, 37 songs written Local 1000 since 1999. For more info visit: www. & Annual charlieking.org. Member Some Part of The Truth – CD. Harmony trio Brother Sun, comprised of Local Dues 1000 members Greg Greenway, Pat News Wictor, and Joe Jencks have released a new CD. Their second collective Increase o you want to announce New project, was produced by Ben Wisch, Releases, Projects, Events, and contains new original material, t the Fall Membership Meeting Births, Deaths, Marriages, etc.? as well as some tasty covers. The CD DPlease send information to Joe Jencks via in St. Louis in October 2013, the was #1 on the Folk DJ Charts for 2 removal of the following bylaw [email protected]. Please specify in the consecutive months, and garnered a #1 Awas approved: title that the message pertains to: Local song with Jencks’ composition, “Lady of 1000 Member News. Thanks. Please also The Harbor.” For more info visit: www. “Section 7. Local 1000 Members in keep submissions under 100 words. good standing who pay more than $500 brothersunmusic.com. per calendar year in work dues shall New Releases... Resurrection Day – CD Kim & Reggie be eligible for a rebate of an amount Singing Out & Fighting Back – Book. Harris mark a triumphant return from equal to the Local’s annual dues minus Pat Wynne is pleased to offer a new the harrowing 13-year journey that the amount paid to the Federation in volume of 12 performance pieces, led to Reggie’s life-saving 2008 liver annual per-capita dues. This rebate shall including readers’ scripts and full choral transplant. This collection of songs be awarded in the form of a reduction in arrangements of the songs. These pieces encompasses a new commitment to life, annual dues to eligible members for each offer a window into labor history recording and personal mission for the year that they qualify.” through stories and songs. Wynne is duo. Resurrection Day presents eight Going forward from the October the director of the San Francisco Labor new Reggie originals bursting with Meeting this Bylaw is no longer in Heritage/Rockin’ Solidarity Chorus. reinvigorated purpose. Produced by effect. The two reasons for its removal Subjects include Woody Guthrie, Pete Canadian music legend and Local 1000 were: it never reached its intended goal Seeger, the Depression, Immigration, the Member Ken Whiteley, the CD also of encouraging members to file more Highlander Folk School, Outsourcing, contains several amazing covers of songs contracts and support the local with their The IWW and Joe Hill, and the Triangle by friends, and Reggie’s tribute to Woody work dues, and financially, we cannot Shirtwaist Fire. For more info write to: Guthrie. For more info visit: www. afford it. The effect of that bylaw was to [email protected]. kimandreggie.com. remove income from the local, which had It’s A Crime To Tell The Truth – CD. Office Communication a negative effect on our ability to serve Tom Nielsen says, “I finally got a verse our members and it was repealed. You might have noticed that our in a song about when the US wouldn’t From now on all members will be Office Staff is providing our members let me cross the border into Canada. paying the regular annual dues. with Monthly Announcements via Took me long enough. Is a good thing If you pay before Dec 31st, can Mail Chimp. This information is you they stopped me. Non-violence may pay at the old rate of $150 annually for carefully chosen to be important have broken out along the 3,000-mile for your career and your union one more year. instead of $172 border. How would the US have annually after Jan 1st, 2014. membership. Please be certain to defended against that?” For more info Update Your Contact information The Annual and Quarterly Dues write to: [email protected]. Increase that was adopted by the in the Members-Only portion of the membership at the General Membership So Far, So Good: 40 Songs for 40 Years website, and/or call or write the Office Meeting in February 2013 goes into –CD. 2014 marks Charlie King’s 50th when your physical address, or email or effect on January 1, 2014. This new rate year as a performer and 40th year as a telephone numbers change.
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
Winter 2014 • NEW DEAL 5 Highlander - Local 1000 Membership Retreat May 12-14, 2014 at the Highlander Center in New Market, TN (SERFA is May 14-18 at the Montreat Conference Center just following)
“Carry it On! An education also the first of our members to apply for songwriter.” It was only after they met summit carrying on the legacy and receive his AFM Pension! at a festival and Pete invited Spook to Charlie was a younger contemporary of join him on stage that their friendship of Pete Seeger” will be the title of our Pete, who hailed him as “one of the finest and partnership began to develop and 3rd Membership Retreat in the circle of singers and songwriters of our time.” He they toured and played numerous shows rocking chairs at the historic Highlander brings the perspective of a contemporary. together. Spook brings the perspective of Center, just outside of Knoxville, TN. carrying it on from people who are the We will come together to share Pete’s grandchildren of this multi-generational and our hopes. movement of song and human hope. Guiding us will be the following Local 1000 members, who each have a different experience of Pete’s Legacy, to guide our reflections and challenge and equip us to apply them in our art, in our lives:
Details: Who: Members-in-Good-Standing of Local 1000 only John McCutcheon When: May 12-14 (Mon Lunch through Charlie King Emeritus president of Local 1000, John Wed lunch) A founding member and former has had a long-time collegial relationship Where: The Historic Highlander Secretary-Treasurer of Local 1000, has with Pete as fellow-lovers of the banjo, as Research and Education Center, 1959 been at the heart of American folk music well as fellow-song-singers and musical Highlander Way, New Market, TN 37820 organizers. He brings the perspective of for half a century and has been writing Registration includes meals and lodging songs for the past 40 years. In recognition one who sits at the feet of the elders and processes and passes on the gems (dormitory), use of the facility and the of those milestones he released, in the program costs. Fall of 2013, a retrospective album, SO unearthed. FAR, SO GOOD – 40 Songs For 40 Spook Handy Please consider giving a donation to the Years. His songs have been recorded and Joe Hill Scholarship fund to help fund sung by other performers such as Pete From his home in New Jersey, Spook the participation of another member, Seeger, Holly Near, Ronnie Gilbert, John Handy says, “I was no red diaper baby. I especially (but not only) if you are unable McCutcheon, Arlo Guthrie, Peggy Seeger, never knew anything about Pete Seeger to attend yourself. . Chad Mitchell and Judy Small. Charlie is until I was busy working as a singer and
6 NEW DEAL • Winter 2014 inspire, to move to action, to transform we urge you to investigate health care people and their situations, I am both coverage under the Affordable Care honored and humbled to be in the Local Act and how your resident state is that they called home. handling this situation. Please visit the And, even more, when I recall how Federal website for more information: old they were at the birth of this Local https://www.healthcare.gov/. (in their mid-70s!) I realize how If you would like more information amazingly challenged and inspired I on Single Engagement LS-1 contracts am by them. and Leader CBA’s please contact the A decade after the retirement age that Office or one of the Board members. many people aspire to reach, these two troubadours decided to JOIN the new Local dedicated to serving the needs of solo, migrant performers. They didn’t join to get a pension. They didn’t join because it would help their careers. They joined because they knew what we all know: Together We can sing harmony. Together We are stronger than apart. Together We are not isolated. Together We will not give up by Steve Eulberg the fight. Together We can move what one ocal 1000 celebrated is 20th of us cannot do alone. Birthday last year, and less than They knew and we know, it is all 6 months later has also bid Lfarewell to its faithful and oldest about WE. Office members within a short span of time (Pete Seeger and Faith Petric.) Communication As solo musicians we have to keep Health Care – our focus on a lot of things that we ou might have noticed that sometimes feel sap our creative energy Affordable our Office Staff is providing in order to weave together the web of a our members with Monthly career from solo gigs, festivals, teaching YAnnouncements via Mail Chimp. This and all the other things we daily juggle. Care Act information is carefully chosen to be We know that when we don’t work, s you are now surely aware, you will important for your career and your we don’t get paid, we don’t eat, the be required to have health- union membership. Please be certain growing children don’t get new shoes or A care coverage as of January 1, 2014. to Update Your Contact information go to college. Through a partnership with our sister in the Members-Only portion of the In the midst of this race, we can local in New York, AFM Local 802, we website, and/or call or write the Office sometimes feel frantic and begin to do offer two health care plans which when your physical address, or email or look at every opportunity or challenge are detailed on our website, http:// telephone numbers change. around us with a jaundiced eye that local1000.org/2012/10/health-insur- only asks: “What’s in it for ME?” As ance. To qualify for these health care important as that question is, if it is the plans you must be filing LS-1 Single Erratum only question we ask, there will be only Engagement Contracts or have a leader ONE of us around to hear the answer. Collective Bargaining Agreement e need to give thanks and Because, as the message of so many of (CBA) with Local 1000. These are the credit to Joe Jencks, whose our songs remind, cajole and inspire us two ways to obtain health care cover- byline was inadvertently to recognize, in the end it is all about omittedW from “In Memoriam for Jon age through the AFM. “What’s in it for WE?” If you are uninsured and feel that Fromer”, in the summer edition of New With the passing of two people whose you cannot fulfill these requirements, Deal. life and witness to the power of song to
Winter 2014 • NEW DEAL 7 John O’Connor first came to GLAE the AFM. The goal was to have a union back in 1984 when he was serving on that spoke to us; and it was a tough the board of Local 76 in Seattle. That sell. By joining the union and being was the year he met John McCutcheon, an active member, you were required Si Kahn, Charlie King and Tom to do the tedious work of filing your Juravich, people were all in the union contract with and paying dues to all the and were fundamental to getting Local geographical locals where you played 1000 started. and they were very clear that there McCutcheon recalls a lunch would be no contract enforcement or discussion in one of those first years job protection. We needed to form our about union war stories where they own local to fit our own needs. were amazed at the sacrifices that Next came a survey and again this I’m people in union jobs were making. happened at GLAE because it was These were people who went on strike, where the excitement of being union willing to walk away from their jobs was greatest. The purpose was to Gonna’ and slug out the hard stuff. Charlie determine where people were and King asked, “Wouldn’t it be amazing where they wanted to go. Out of this if we felt about our union the way survey and the ongoing discussions Join the these people felt about their unions?” and meetings of these critical people That question hung in the air...until was formed the New Deal Committee. someone said “Well, why don’t we do which required people to be a member something about it!” of their geographic local if they wanted Union O’Connor thought it interesting to be on the committee and they had that everyone at GLAE was singing to pay $35 a year to the New Deal by Tret Fure union songs but not everyone was Committee. So people joined the union ocal 1000 is the North American in the union. It seemed hypocritical. at that time if they weren’t already. The Traveling Musician’s Union, the This was a gathering that was based on original idea of the New Deal was to only non-geographic local in labor and unions. Charlie remembers be an association where everyone was Lthe AFM. And this year marks our 20th one year when the introductory in their geographic local but was also birthday. We were chartered in 1993, session was to get up and write your part of something that represented after several years of determined work, name on a card and put on one corner the specific needs of musicians on the fierce struggle and a single-minded goal, what union you belonged to and if you road. They would recruit people into to have a local that worked for folk weren’t a member you had to write the union and at the same time get the musicians, troubadours who mostly the word SHAME on the card. So he union to start doing things that were work one night stands. This has been begged the question. relevant to us. The steering committee an incredible journey, born of a desire The excuse at the time was that the was O’Connor, McCutcheon, King, to see folk musicians get the benefits AFM was really an old school union Jurovich, Len Wallace, Susan Lewis, that the AFM can afford. Since folk that didn’t represent all musicians. Charlie McGuire and Marcia Lee musicians fall between the cracks of It was meant mostly for symphony Cutter. They started to organize other other locals, there needed to be one musicians, jazz players, people who troubadours they met on their journeys with no geographic restrictions. We worked in one city night after night. and, over the next decade they kept wanted protection, a pension, and to It wasn’t geared for troubadours. meeting each year at GLAE to report stand with like minded people, so a The discussion kept coming up so their individual progress to the group. handful of activists who come to the O’Connor gave an invitation for all And the group had goals within Great Labor Arts Exchange year after the musicians to meet after the days the structure. For O’Connor, it was year, made this idea a reality and they activities to find out why people were Collective Bargaining Agreements, for dreamed it at The Great Labor Arts in the union and for those who weren’t, Charlie, it was pension. That was the Exchange (GLAE). why not. Out of this came a half-baked one thing that was a real benefit we The Great Labor Arts Exchange has idea to try to find some way to make the could get. It was Charlie who valued been crucial to the inception of our union relevant to folkies or make folkies the pension and knew how it worked. local in that there are several historical relevant to the union. a rank and file At the time, wherever a musician events that took place there that helped movement among traveling performers played, the only way that one could to form Local 1000. to try and find a place for themselves in get a pension contribution was to
8 NEW DEAL • Winter 2014 file a contract with that local and the convention and the AFM. All signs recording contracts in our own local, scales were so little and the pension looked good. We just needed to write another bylaw changes and that change contribution was so insignificant, that a by-law that would fit us into the fold, happened. it would be a very small pension when one that would be introduced at the We needed to extend our organizing one got vested. There was no incentive. AFM convention in 1991. Charlie efforts to peripheral fields: dancers and His point was that we charge more King and John O’Connor went to the dance-callers, story-tellers, etc. We did. and make more than the scales in most convention as guests and introduced We needed to customize the Folk locals and it would be great if we could this on the floor. This was highly Alliance gig list to our needs and try to somehow make the pension unusual. And they spoke to people provide access for all Local 1000 contribution fit more to what we were about the amendment. They brought membership. We did. making. Charlie said, “you know it flyers and tried to talk to people about We needed to offer health insurance would be great if we could start our what they were trying to do. It went to options, negotiate CBAs within a own local.” committee and came out of committee consortium of presenters within the Folk To the credit of the AFM, they flew favorably and then it went to the floor. Alliance that would streamline the issue the committee to New York several People didn’t know how to respond of scale, contract, and pension. We did. times to have meetings. The AFM felt and there was a lot of discussion. The We needed to take an active role in this was something worth pursuing. amendment was referred to the IEB the performance rights organizations The union had been losing members with the power to enact. After the negotiations that are ongoing, We have. for decades so they were interested in convention was over they deliberated We needed to build and maintain a finding new ways to recruit people. It on whether we would get our local. website for the local, We did. was trapped in the past so there was The convention favored the idea. It And we needed to establish a some gesture to what we were doing, ended up that they were going to staggered term policy for elections that what the future might look like. The approve the charter but in order to would allow continuity in leadership, committee was organizing on their own be chartered we had to have our own thus democratizing the leadership and standing at their doorstep. New by laws so they were drafted with the further. We have. Deal was talking to the International help of Ken Shirk. And we had to Today we stand 500 members strong, Secretary, his assistant and other have 50 new members and we didn’t the largest local without a major CBA staffers. When McCutcheon described have 50 members. We had a hundred and the only Local that is actually to them what a week in the life of a folk people sign our petition but they continuing to grow its membership. musician was like, the endless one night weren’t members. So a major campaign We offer contract protection, pension, stands, they looked at him and said, was launched and again, GLAE was health insurance, disability insurance, “You can make a living doing that?” instrumental in this happening. This an emergency relief fund for our John said, ”not only can we make a was the place that they were going members who fall on hard times. a Fair living doing this but there are hundreds to recruit the members and did. But Trade Music Campaign, solidarity and and maybe thousands of people doing they were still short 7 members So the knowledge that we are doing the this.” There was no such thing as one McCutcheon signed up to do a song. right thing. night stands in their world. The AFM Instead of singing, he said “we have Here’s to the next 20 years! Solidarity didn’t even have a contract for less than a unique opportunity to create this Forever! three dates. There needed to be a change local but we need 7 more people. All and a big one. you have to do is pay 1 quarter’s dues In one of those years, and this is to the Local. $25 and you can be a New Deal another historical convergence, Marty part of history!” And they did. We got Emerson, the incoming President the people. And in 1993 we got our Member News of the AFM and Victor Fuentealba, charter. the outgoing President both came to It wasn’t an easy time and we o you want to announce New GLAE to speak. When Marty was struggled to keep membership and DReleases, Awards, Projects, talking, Anne Feeney spoke up and said grow the local, but through years Events, Births, Deaths, Marriages, etc.? “President Emerson, when are you going of hard work and dedication on the Send information to Joe Jencks via to give people like us our own local!” part of several committed members, [email protected]. Please specify Marty said, well, That’s an interesting we grew. We needed to be able to in the title that the message pertains idea. We should look into that.” collect our own work dues. More to: Local 1000 Member News. Please Through these advances, the bylaw changes, but those changes limit descriptions to 100 words or less. committee was ready to tackle the happened. We needed to be able to file Thanks.
Winter 2014 • NEW DEAL 9 pleasure of traveling some miles with Faith. Cathy recalls, “In 1988, Faith Faith Petric: booked her own tour in Australia via snail mail, at the age of 83. Our tour that spring The Fort Knox of Folk Music was booked by an agent, but we were at many of the same festivals and venues. Faith had a hard shell case for her guitar By Joe Jencks, AFM Local 1000 are not very many people we have met in for the first time, and realized she could Member Services Committee our lives of whom that could be said. But barely carry it from stage to stage, let what was truly amazing about her was alone get from city to city. We became her ow do you sum up the life of an that she was so dedicated not just to her happy, de facto roadies whenever possible.” icon? From her birth in a log own craft, but also to that of others. She Cathy continued, “This is the same woman cabin in Idaho, to her passing at knew music was important. She played all who took the passenger seat out of her car Hage 98 in San Francisco, Faith Petric lived a over the world and still came home and in order to make a bed so she could drive life worthy of examination and emulation maintained a robust local presence. The from San Francisco to the Winnipeg Folk on many fronts. Inclusive of her life as a Folk Club, The San Francisco Free Folk Festival and beyond, without paying for a musician, performer, and songwriter, she Festival, she was always there. She was hotel. This is the woman who in Austra- was also a former civil servant, a mother, unusually dedicated to her local commu- lia, wowed the crowd with her long grey grandmother, organizer, writer, columnist, nity. It is almost anachronistic in today’s braids and folksy look while singing, “If and a mentor to several generations of profession-driven folk music world and it you haven’t got a penis, then you can not folksingers and activists, myself included. is something we could stand to have more be a priest.” Talk about a crowd pleaser!” In her own words, from one of her own of.” said former Local 1000 president, John Cathy concluded, “We’ll miss Faith, but concert posters, “I was born in a log cabin McCutcheon. hers was a life well lived, full of adventures, on the Clearwater River near Orofino, Indeed, she was dedicated, and devoted and she will be sweetly remembered.” in northern Idaho, September 13, 1915. to music, and the people who make it. Holly Near recalls, “I was up at the Or- My father, an itinerant preacher, school Her large Victorian home was the regular egon Country Fair performing and Faith teacher, farmer, carpenter, and inventor meeting place of the San Francisco Folk was there as well. She was in her late 80s was “musical” - he played piano organ, Music Club for decades. Every other at the time. There was an artists gather- harmonica, a variety of wind instruments Friday night there were jams at Faith’s ing after hours when the public had left. and a bit of fiddle, and sang in a fine tenor. house, whether she was home or not. The When it came for her turn in the circle, My first singing was in church, in one- Freedom Song Network also regularly she raised her hand and said simply, “I’m room schools, and with my father. About met at her house. And for many years – just wondering if anyone is driving back 1925 I discovered cowboy and country she rented rooms in her home to foreign to San Francisco? I’d like to hitch a ride.” songs, followed by the great protest songs exchange students. I found that remarkable that she was out of the 1930s. And I’m still addicted to all Local 1000 member, Pat Wynne, knew and about with out a specific plan. I would of them.” faith for more than 30 years. “We all called never go somewhere with out knowing I Faith is also understood to be the “God- her The Fort Knox of Folk Music, because had a way home. She was spectacular! She mother” of the San Francisco Folk Music she knew so many songs. And her mind was very independent and had a wonderful Club. She became head of that organiza- was sharp as a tack, pretty much right up faith in humanity, a faith that everything tion in 1962, and remained involved up to to the end. She was just incredible! She would work out.” the end. She started the club’s newsletter was politically aware, but maintained a Former Secretary-Treasurer John Folknik, and kept it going for a long time. deep vein of jocularity.” Said Wynne, “I O’Connor counts himself among Faith’s And through her touring years, Faith re- remember years ago, the California School fans. He said he’s always had a deep respect mained extremely active in the folk music Employees Association had several of us for her music and her writing. But even community in her home city. She was both come down to Ojai to sing for their union. more than that, he respected her steadfast easy to underestimate and bigger than life, And they put us up in a really nice hotel. convictions. “Faith was a charter member all at once. To lend some perspective, I Late that night we were all sitting by the of Local 1000, and she was adamant about called several Local 1000 members to ask pool and we heard a voice say, “Anyone making sure we were correct in our stance for anecdotes and reflections on the life of who can’t stand looking at an 81 year-old’s on organizing. She was a strong union Faith Petric. body should look away. It’s a nice night person who really knew which side she was “She never lost sight of what music for swimming.” And she got into the pool, on, a rarity these days.” could do. Being born in 1915, she was a stark naked!” I recall sitting at a table with Faith, contemporary of Woody Guthrie. There Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer had the Julius Margolin, and Utah Phillips at the
10 NEW DEAL • Winter 2014 Western Workers Labor Heritage Festival great link in a chain that connects the past about 10 years ago. Julius was one year to the future. And she commissions us by younger than Faith. By comparison – Utah example, to continue to make our own who was one of my respected elders - was lives links in that same wondrous chain. 20 years their junior, and sort of the young For those who want to know more punk of the three. They sat for an hour about Faith’s life and passing, please visit telling stories about back in the day, about the blog written by her daughter Carole Woody Guthrie, Malvina Reynolds, The Craig. It is a spectacular bit of writing, Weavers, McCarthyism, the Civil Rights and lends insight into Faith’s life. www. Movement; they delved into various points http://astrangeanddistantpeople. of politics, trade unions, and of course… wordpress.com. The Wobblies. What struck me most about Faith in that conversation is that she was both radical and yet deeply pragmatic. She was able to acknowledge the value of divergent perspectives – while hold- ing on to her own convictions. You could call her a feminist – but she was really a humanist. She believed in deconstructing gender roles across the board. You could call her a socialist but that was not quite right either. She understood that no system thrives unless it is voluntarily maintained by the free will of all of the participants. She was a deep thinker. Among the great joys of her per- sonal life were being a mother and grandmother. And in the years that I knew her, she was a genuine ally to many of us as we came up through the ranks. She was a
Photo courtesy of Mike Kepka / The Chronicle
Winter 2014 • NEW DEAL11 PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID NEW HAVEN, CT PERMIT NO. 1090 322 West 48th Street • New York, NY 10036 212-843-8726 • Fax 212-489-6030 e-mail: [email protected] • website: www.local1000.org