It was Utah Phillips' situation with his heart about a decade ago
which was a MAJOR impetus towards the organization of AFM Local 1000,
so that folk musicians in North America would have some semblance of
the benefits that other working people do. At that time part of the
way the word got out was through the very benefits which were
organized in order to help him get his surgery.

It really helped a lot of people see the point in joining, and it also
caught the attention of the AFM to figure a way to make the folkies
feel welcome.