Pre-Meeting Update for the Board

Post date: Jun 07, 2016 8:54:47 PM

From: Chris Riemer [mailto:jcr@knowledgestreet.com]

Sent: Monday, May 30, 2016 10:58 AM

To: execboard@folkproject.org

Subject: Update on Workers Comp Commission

Greetings, projectiles...

I'm sending you this note in my role as scribe of the Folk Project's Presidential Commission on Workers Comp Coverage. So let's get on with it!

Background

As you know, a Workers Comp Commission has been meeting for several months to explore the issues connected with the Folk Project's 2009 decision to buy Workers Comp (WC) coverage, which would partially replace lost wages for any performer who suffered a work-related injury while doing his (or her) thing for The Folk Project. A lot of time and energy has gone into it, and the commission's proceedings are well documented in the Back Office, for anyone who wants to read them.

We feel the next step is to engage a WC legal expert who will give us an on-the-record opinion (in writing). We have identified an attorney who we feel is up to the job. The cost for this brief will be approximately $500. If the opinion is in our favor (we don't need to provide WC), this would be money well spent, since it will save us $2,500 a year. If not (we do need to provide WC), Mike Agranoff has offered to donate $500 to The Folk Project to cover the expense, so there is no financial down-side for the organization.

At the June meeting next week, the committee will be making a motion.

The Motion

The Workers Comp Commission recommends that The Folk Project allocate approximately $500 to engage an attorney who can offer expert advice on whether our performers need to be covered by WC under New Jersey state law.

The Request

Please think about that motion, and be prepared to vote on it next Tuesday. If you have questions, you might first take a look at the Back Office files and see if your answers can be found there. If you have a simple question, just ask me directly, but please don't initiate an email conversation via Reply All.

We can certainly spend some time on discussion at the meeting, but this motion is a very simple request to get a professional opinion. If there is to be discussion, it needs to stay focused on the question of Yes or No for the spending request. Not on the issue of Workers Comp itself, accepted practices in the folk music world, the relative likelihood of a performer accident, the idea that folkies never sue other folkies, the difference between employees and contractors, or our individual interpretations of the law.

Thanks for your time,

Chris

Chris Riemer

Treasurer

The Folk Project