Vancouver Musicians' Association - CFM Local 145

06/02/2026

Looking for insurance? Instrument and liability insurance is available at a preferred rate to all VMA members through HUB International!

05/27/2026

Our next 'Lunch & Learn' session is DECODING MUSIC PREPARATION RATES. This session will be hosted by Greg Hamilton; a VMA member and music preparation specialist of 30+ years.

The presentation will explain the mysteries of music preparation rates and terminology typically found in the majority of AFM agreements and the Local 145 Tariff of Fees, including Arranging, Orchestration and Music Copying. It will also cover the practical application of these rates for billing, along with some historical context. Anyone in the field of music prep, composers, contractors and music educators would benefit from the session.

Wednesday, June 18
Time: 12:30pm-1:30pm
Where: Online (Zoom)

Please RSVP here: https://forms.office.com/r/s2VPaDwUft

A zoom link will be sent to all who RSVP prior to the event.

05/12/2026

Woohoo! We would like to extend a BIG congratulations to the Okanagan Symphony Musicians for ratifying their Collective Agreement.

05/06/2026

Reposting about the MPTF to include more information PLUS we have created an MPTF proposal intake form. Looking for funding? Form link: https://forms.office.com/r/6vqPKNUatc

05/04/2026

VMA president Jim Hopson was a guest speaker at the CUPE BC convention in Victoria this past weekend. Check out these action shots!

04/29/2026

Looking for funding? The Music Performance Trust Fund has your back! Swipe through the slides to learn more, and be sure to visit https://musicpf.org/

04/21/2026

Looking for an office space? Look no further! The VMA is a small and quiet team serving professional musicians throughout BC, and we are renting out a 300 sqft office within our unit. Check out the below link for more information.

Available now! $1500/mo 300sqft Office / Board room New carpet and fresh paint Building exterior fully updated Two courtyard light wells offer natural light Dimensions in photos Kitchenette and 2...

04/09/2026

We will be hosting a New Member Orientation on Wednesday, April 22!

If you would like to attend, please complete the following form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/C4ZWpJab56

The orientation will be approximately 1-hour long and will occur over Zoom. The Zoom link will be sent to all who RSVP.

04/01/2026

Our next 'Lunch & Learn' session is TAXES FOR ARTISTS. VMA board member Mike Brown will be giving a presentation and answering questions about doing your taxes as a freelance musician/artist, based on his professional experience and expertise.

Wednesday, April 29
Time: 12:30pm-1:30pm
Where: Online (Zoom)

RSVP here: https://forms.office.com/r/wfpFnsMQRz

04/01/2026

The January General Meeting did have nominations for Jim Hopson and Audrey Patterson as delegates, as well as nominations for Karmen Doucette and Isaac Bull as alternates. Unfortunately, due to specific AFM Bylaws (cited below), these nominations need to be held again in order for our VMA Delegates to vote at the upcoming convention.

Our votes will help elect both the IEB (International Executive Board) of the AFM, and the executive board of the CFM for the next 3 years.

The 103rd Convention of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada as well as the 2026 Canadian Conference will be held June 17th through June 23rd, 2026, in Ottawa, ON.

As per the AFM and Local Bylaws and the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMDRA) all Delegates to either the AFM Convention or Canadian Conference must be members in good standing in all Locals in which membership is held and must be elected by secret ballot at an annual, regular or special meeting. Unopposed nominees will be acclaimed.

Per the VMA bylaws:

48. DELEGATES
(1) The President or the Vice President in the alternative, shall by virtue of office, be the first delegate to AFM Convention and the Canadian Conference.

(2) Where it has been decided to send two or more delegates, Members shall have received notice of an election of additional delegates and an alternate delegate according to subsection 39(1) and AFM Bylaws and shall vote by secret ballot at a members meeting.

Per the AFM bylaws:

If an officer is appointed to a position that normally serves as a delegate by virtue of office, that appointed officer must also be elected via secret membership ballot before they may be seated as a convention delegate.

Members must be provided sufficient time to submit nominations (minimum 15 days notice)
Nominating meetings may be held as either special or regular meetings, as specified by local bylaws
A quorum is not required for nomination meetings.
If no contested election occurs, nominees are elected by acclamation.