This fall we are electing three new Executive Officers for two-year terms (2025-2026). Two positions are at-large positions, and one is the Executive Officer—Oregon Symphony position.
Our eight-person Executive Board meets semi-monthly and supervises all of the work of our union; it approves expenditures and membership applications; and serves as the trial board of the union when needed. In addition, the Executive Officer—Oregon Symphony is responsible for being a liaison between the board and the members of the Oregon Symphony.
(By the way, if this liaison position sounds new to you, that’s because it is! We amended our bylaws in June of this year to create this position, which will start with this election; we currently have five at-large positions but moving forward there will be only four.)
Four candidates are running for the Executive Officer—Oregon Symphony position:
- Doug Reneau
- Maia Hoffman
- Colin Corner
- Jason Schooler
Five candidates are running for the two Executive Officer (at large) positions:
- Doug Reneau
- Bruce Fife
- Colin Corner
- Kyleen King
- Maia Hoffman
Candidates are allowed to provide 500-word statements to be published in Fanfare, and some did; please read the candidates’ statements below.
Note: these statements are printed in the order that the candidates’ names will appear on the ballot; that order was randomly drawn by the Election Committee on November 4th.
Doug Reneau
Doug Reneau did not provide a candidate statement.
Maia Hoffman
Maia Hoffman did not provide a candidate statement.
Colin Corner
Colin Corner did not provide a candidate statement.
Jason Schooler
Jason Schooler did not provide a candidate statement.
Bruce Fife
Dear Local 99 Member,
Its election time at Local 99, and this year we have a contested election. We have 5 candidates for two Executive Board (Director) positions. I have decided to run again and continue my position in a Local 99 leadership role. The primary reason for this is simple; Experience. I was first elected to the Local 99 Board in 1999 (2 years), elected to the office of President in 2001 (21+ years), elected AFM International Vice President in 2010 (13 years), and then as a Local 99 Board member again in 2023 to complete a term left vacant by the changes in leadership. At each step, I have been focused on the quality of, and commitment to the work, and believe I still have something to offer. I have always advocated for diverse and creative leadership. That means new Board members, diverse backgrounds, and experience. That said, we have always had a “senior” member on our Boards, someone that knows how we got to where we are, why things operate the way they do, and a real “working world” perspective as our Local continues to grow and evolve. That knowledge can be critical when the Board debates issues, potentially saving significant time and resources, by making sure that all perspectives are considered.
I should mention that I continue my involvement in other parts of the music community in Board positions or advisory roles. I serve Music Portland/Oregon on their Music Advocacy Council, dealing with industry political and advocacy issues in Portland and statewide. I also continue to serve as the Treasurer of MEAP, Inc. (Music Education Assistance Project), Local 99’s 501(c) 3, that provides scholarships for middle and high school kids that show talent and have financial need, as identified by their public school music teachers.
Simply put, I have spent most of my life involved in the music industry, the first half as a full time working musician, the second half, as a Union leader and advocate for musicians. During this second half, I have also served on the Executive and General Boards of the AFL-CIO, Steering Committee of Jobs with Justice, and Board member of MetroEast Community Media
All of this experience is irreplaceable. Our industry is going into uncharted waters, especially given the introduction of AI and other job threatening changes, and we need the combination of new ideas and the steady hand of experience.
If you have any questions or concerns that you would like to chat about, please email or call me and we can find a time to chat.
I ask for your vote and continued support for the health of our Union. Watch for your ballots, they will be arriving soon and be sure to vote right away so they don’t get stuck under a pile of charts. This is your Union democracy in action!!
Thanks
Bruce Fife
bfife503@gmail.com
503-860-1905
Kyleen King
My name is Kyleen King and I have been honored to be a Board member of our union since January of this year. Something I learned fairly quickly is that my experiences as a freelance musician (who has toured, done various kinds of recording sessions and live gigs, worked as a composer/arranger/engineer/producer, and as a teacher) have helped me contribute outside perspectives and ideas that help shape the diversity of our Board’s voices. I strongly believe this is necessary to ensure all members of our union have fair representation. I chair our union’s Mental Health Committee, which seeks to provide mental health and resource support to our members (including mental health-related workshops, co-creating the mental health resource list and therapist directory with MusicPortland, and planning the now annual Potluck Picnic for our members to gather in community outside of just working with each other). I am also planning to sit on our union’s soon-to-be-formed PR committee.
Having recently completed a master’s degree in social work, I am on a path to becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and intend to focus my efforts as a mental health practitioner on musicians and other members of the creative community by providing individual/group therapy, coordinating with local organizations to help meet musicians’ needs, and advocating (politically and otherwise) for various forms of stabilizing support for the creative class (such as live/work spaces, guaranteed income programs, and improved access to mental health support).
I am and will continue to be active in our local music scene, wearing all the same hats as I listed above. I care deeply about our community, our members, and meeting the needs of musicians and other creatives in society and will continue to fight for our well-being in whatever ways I am able to. I urge you to consider re-electing me to represent you on our union’s Board. Freelance musicians are a large part of our union’s membership and it’s deeply important to me that their voices be heard. Thank you for your consideration!