[Magdalen] A question for the organists who are on the list...

[Judy Fleener]

It is the rule around here if the regular organist is not used, she is
entitled to the fee.  In the case of our parish, the family of the deceased
must pay the fee if they choose not to have the organist.

On Tue, Nov 22, 2016 at 10:15 AM, Grace Cangialosi <gracecan at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Sheila, you certainly need to get your fee, if that is the arrangement.
> What I don't understand is why, if you're the organist, you aren't
> automatically called first. Everywhere I've been, it is assumed the church
> organist does funerals, unless they aren't available. That was true when I
> was the church music director and wherever I've been as priest. And whoever
> actually played for the service got the fee, though when I was vicar, there
> was usually no charge if the deceased was a member and the organist was the
> regular one. Sometimes the family gave a fee anyway.
> I hope you're able to work this out--you certainly need to get paid.
> You might want to think about a different arrangement for your next job.
> At the very least, you should have first refusal for any funeral services.
> Just my $ .02 worth,
> Grace
>
> > On Nov 22, 2016, at 8:22 AM, Jay Weigel <jay.weigel at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > If you don't stand up for yourself, no one else will.
> >
> > On Tue, Nov 22, 2016 at 6:45 AM, sheila ketler via Magdalen <
> > magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:
> >
> >> Greetings everyoneI intended to ask your advice about a problem so I
> will
> >> tell you what the problem is and then I am goingto tell you what I did
> >> about it...There is a funeral on Thursday and this is the third funeral
> >> within six months where they have hiredanother organist to play instead
> of
> >> me. First one was one that I didn't know about  second one wasthe
> rector's
> >> husband but this third one is the third time that they will not pay me
> my
> >> customary benchfee. Now every time they have hired someone else I have
> had
> >> to remind the priest that she owes methe fee. So the husband said to me
> did
> >> you ask for your bench fee? and I said no. She had called meand I
> wondered
> >> why she did as they didn't want me to play? I guess she thought I cared
> >> that an exchoir member had passed away. No choir for two years now and
> he
> >> was never very faithful in hisattendance at least not while I was
> >> there... After careful thought I composed a very carefully worded
> email. I
> >> advised her that I knew she wouldthink I should attend the funeral but
> that
> >> I had attended her husband's funeral for two reasons : oneI really liked
> >> him (and I really did...) and  two he was her husband and she was my
> boss I
> >> felt it rightto attend. Then I told her that there had been 3 funerals
> >> within six months and the other two had notpaid me out my bench fee.
> This
> >> third time I felt it was high time that I be reimbursed and I
> trustedthat
> >> she would do the right thing.Now email is gone now I am worrying I did
> the
> >> wrong thing but I am out of work in a month anyway..and with money
> being so
> >> tight and soon to be non-existent I didn't think I had any choice...
> >> Help!!!
> >> Sheila
> >>
>



-- 
Judy Fleener, ObJN,SSH
Western Michigan