The Reggae One Love Movement is a charitable, membership organization of Reggae music lovers and supporters worldwide; people of goodwill and good spirit, committed to supporting one another and helping the poor and needy, with a focus on the elderly, indigent artists and musicians, starting in Jamaica and following the positive vibration wherever it leads worldwide. This, as one purposeful way of celebrating Reggae music, all to the glory of the Most High God.
BACKGROUND
Reggae music evolved on the island of Jamaica in the early 1960s and has long since traversed the four corners of the earth, touching the lives of millions of people in innumerable positive ways, as foretold by the early proponents and musical innovators.
Fast forward 60 plus years to the 21st century, Reggae is one of the most popular music genres in the world. A multi-million brand, it is growing in leaps and bounds, with several record producers and music publishers worldwide that have earned millions of dollars through their involvement. While this achievement is remarkable, the unfortunate truth is that it has occurred against a contrasting backdrop, whereby most of the pioneer Jamaican artists and musicians have earned very little to none of the resulting fruits of their labor.
In 2024, most of these pioneers are no longer alive and those still alive are in their twilight years, mostly poor and indigent, in failing health, with no pension or insurance and very little to no royalty income whatsoever.
Consequently, it is common occurrence in Jamaica, for the remains of well-known elderly artists and musicians, to remain in the morgue for up to three months and more, primarily due to lack of funds (estimated at U.S. $2,500) to cover final expense and give them a decent burial. Several Jamaican world-renowned artists and musicians have met this sad fate. Unfortunately, this disgraceful situation is destined to continue, given the callous nature of the music business.
As civic-minded and concerned individuals, we the Convenors of this movement have contemplated ways in which to help and we are convinced that there is a well-spring reservoir of goodwill and respect existing worldwide for reggae music and its roots that can and ought to be harnessed and used more for the greater good, including helping the elderly and indigent artists and musicians.
Besides the needy artists and musicians, there are millions of reggae-music lovers worldwide, who are engaged in the provision of various types of goods and services and have an interest in finding new customers. In a real sense, reggae has already linked all of us into a captive market and we the Convenors see that it makes sense to organize in this formal way, to avail ourselves of the many inherent opportunities provided.
It is therefore for the twofold purpose of supporting each other and helping the poor and needy that the Reggae One Love Movement is established.
WHO CAN BE A MEMBER
All people of goodwill and good spirit, who love reggae music and are involved with reggae can become a member. Membership is also open to those who may not necessarily be involved with reggae music per se, but are people of goodwill and good spirit nevertheless, who embrace our aims and objectives and wish to lend their support.
Our membership consists of people of all ages, races, nationalities, classes, and faiths. We also have individual members, business members and honorary members.
HOW WE FUNCTION
We think and act globally and function locally in the sense that even though our members are located in various cities, states, countries, parishes, provinces, and counties all over the world, all will be able to participate fully in the life of the movement as Local chapters will be established as needed by local members with the sanctioning of our Executive Board of Directors.
All chapters of the movement will engage in the following five uniform activities, as standard operating procedure:
1. Hosting a monthly 2-hour membership mixer at a selected member’s business place, networking and supporting our local business-member. Each chapter decides which day of the month works best for them.
2. Occasional hosting of a CD release event as a way of supporting and showcasing our performing artist members.
3. Occasional hosting of a Sound System event, as a way of supporting and displaying the talents and services of our local sound system members.
4. Occasional voluntary community service in support of local charities and causes e.g. Christmas in July, the American Red Cross, and Special Olympics etc. We will do this primarily by volunteering the time and skills of our members.
5. Hosting an annual awards event, to recognize and honor those who have made or are making exceptional contributions to the advancement of reggae music and our aims and objectives.
NO COMPETITION
The Reggae One Love Movement is unique in the sense that it does not compete against any individual or organization. Our purpose is to support our members first and then strengthen and support all those who are engaged in helping those in need.
WORLD HEADQUARTERS
Our parent chapter and world headquarters are in the Washington, DC area, where we were founded and where most of our founding members reside. A change of location requires a two-thirds majority vote of our Executive Board of Directors.
HOW WILL EACH MEMBER BENEFIT FROM MEMBERSHIP
The member stands to benefit in various ways including the following:
1. He/she/they will be a member of a community of people worldwide, who are committed to and engaged in supporting one another.
2. He/she/they will be able to participate in our monthly membership mixers as a means of networking and supporting fellow members.
3. He/she/they will be able to advertise and promote their goods and services on our website, for a nominal fee.
4. He/she/they will have an additional base of support for projects and events that he/she/they is/are undertaking.
5. We will be advocating on behalf of our members and their causes that are consistent with our mission. From time to time, we will host invited guest speakers and presenters at our monthly membership mixers, to share information on relevant topics, including music-industry related ones that can assist our members in their personal endeavors.
HOW WILL WE HELP THE POOR AND NEEDY
Our primary focus will be the elderly, indigent artists, and musicians, starting in Jamaica and following the positive vibration wherever it leads worldwide. We will endeavor to be aware of
the status of as many of them as possible, with a view to providing the needy among them with occasional donations of cash, food, clothing, and medicine, all the way to proper healthcare and housing.
Not all the elderly artists and musicians are poor and indigent, but they all deserve recognition and credit for their important contributions. We will devise methods of recognizing and honoring them, without unnecessarily duplicating what others may already be doing. Our first approach is to support and strengthen those individuals and organizations that are already serving this population.
MANAGEMENT
An Executive Board of Directors governs the organization, consisting of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Public relations Director and membership Director. A wider general board includes a Web/ social media Director, Performing Artists Director, and Sound System Director etc. We will appoint honorary members and ambassadors-at-large to represent the movement from time to time, as necessary.
The founding board members are selected by the Convenors, while all future board members will be elected, as set forth in our bylaws. The Executive Board will appoint regional directors to manage the activities of each local chapter of the organization.
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEES
There is an annual membership fee of $18 for the individual member and $36 for the business member. These fees may increase nominally in the futu0re, as needed. All membership fees are payable to the Reggae One Love Movement, Inc., to be administered by the Executive Board of Directors as prescribed in our bylaws.
TAX EXEMPT CERTIFICATION
We have elected to be a 501 (c) (3 ) charitable tax-exempt organization and will apply for the requisite Internal Revenue Service certification as soon as our treasury allows.
EACH NEW MEMBER WILL RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING
A PDF contact directory of our membership, to enable networking.
QUARTERLY DIGITAL NEWSLETTER
We will publish a quarterly digital newsletter, in which we will share information on our ongoing activities, as well as current reggae related news and information from around the world.
WEBSITE
The main purpose of our website is to serve as a central platform/marketplace where our members and supporters worldwide can advertise and promote their goods and services. Our members will pay a nominal fee for this service, while non-members will pay a higher, yet reasonable fee. The site will feature useful and relevant information that is of interest to our members and visitors alike.
We anticipate that in the future our website will be a popular go-to site for things reggae worldwide.
INVITATION
If you see how you can benefit from membership in this Reggae One Love Movement and how you can contribute to the achievement of our stated goals, then please become a member and be part of making a positive difference.
One Love,
Roy McPherson, President
Adam Simeon, Vice-President