Officers of AFM Local 171, Springfield, MA
Beth Welty, President /Secretary-Treasurer
Martin Kluger, Vice-President
Robert Lawrence, Executive Board
Miho Matsuno, Executive Board
Lyndon Moors, Executive Board
Ira Morris, Executive Board
Sarah Sutherland, Executive Board
Welcome, and thank you for your interest in Local 171 of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada!
The AFM is the largest organization in the world dedicated to representing the interests of professional musicians. Local 171 represents many of the finest professional musicians in Greater Springfield, Berkshire County, and Vermont. Our jurisdiction covers all of Western Massachusetts from the Connecticut River to the New York state line; In CT, Thompsonville, Hazardville, Scitica, Somers, Enfield and Suffield; In NY: Canaan and New Lebanon in Columbia County, and all of Vermont.
INTERESTED IN JOINING?
Contact Local 171 President Beth Welty at welty.beth@gmail.com
AFM members, who number over 60,000, perform all styles of music—alternative rock, classical, pop, gospel, jazz, country, folk, rock, big band, reggae, contemporary Christian, etc.. With such active members as Bruce Springsteen, Roberta Flack, Santana, Yo-Yo Ma, Sheila E, Suzanne Vega, The Goo Goo Dolls, Willie Nelson, and Branford Marsalis, there is a strong representation of major recording individuals and groups.
The AFM has been promoting and protecting professional musicians for over 110 years. Local 171 has been serving Springfield, MA, area musicians since 1901 and continues to be an effective advocate for musicians’ rights in the workplace (be that a nightclub, a symphony stage, in a recording studio, or on tour). The AFM and Local 171 protect the recorded works musicians produce from being exploited, and protect our members live performances by providing several types of benefit programs that help them to build successful careers.
Members of Local 171 of the AFM are secure in knowing that their organization is actively lobbying to promote legislation and public awareness that protects musicians’ interests, negotiating collective bargaining agreements with the recording industry, motion picture industry, jingle industry, TV networks, National Public TV and Radio, and providing excellent wages and working conditions for its members.
