Co-President Rolf Burton's Report

Aloha SAG-AFTRA Hawaii! We have exciting news. We have a new local constitution that was recently approved. Coming up are local elections for board and officer positions. I encourage anyone who is interested to volunteer and consider running. None of these positions are paid. Everyone is a volunteer.
Being a board member requires no acting skills, it doesn’t help you become a better actor. You still need to go to classes and market yourself. But being a board member is about being a part of an organized, unified group that ensures safe working conditions and fair wages.

The marketplace is changing every day. Companies are merging and creating monopolies, which is making it difficult for us to keep track of who owns what. For example, Disney now owns Marvel Comics and Star Wars. With media consolidation, SAG-AFTRA members have to look out for each other’s best interests so that safety and fair wages are not eroded by our resistance to change. We have to look to new and better ways of doing business to ensure that all members are treated with the respect they deserve for their work.

Soon you will be receiving information on the election process. With one board, we have a collective voice. The new local constitution and the upcoming elections bring us closer to the completion of the merger agreement that you voted for last year.

This item was originally featured in the April 2013 local newsletter.