Convention Firsts: The 2013 National Convention

By George Sanchez,
New Orleans Local Board Member

The first-ever SAG-AFTRA National Convention is over, and the late September meeting made history in several important ways. The convention was filled with “firsts”:

• One voice now speaks for all 165,000 members in the industry.
• We now have one means of governance to effectively handle the business of protecting actors.
• The streamlining of functions was matched by the streamlining of offices.
• These changes were accomplished without acrimony and in a spirit of cooperation.

Your New Orleans Local was represented by Diana Boylston Clark, president; Charles Ferrara, vice president and national board member; Frank Boimare, secretary; and George Sanchez, local board member. These four members have combined experience in film, radio, television and theater of more than a hundred years and about the same number of combined years working as committed union members. They went to represent you and see that your needs were considered and your voices were heard. This was done by networking, speaking at the convention and during a private meeting with National Executive Director David White.

Not every issue was addressed at the convention. Several were forwarded to the SAG-AFTRA National Board as convention resolutions, expressing the desire of the membership that these issues be addressed by the persons most able to implement them. There are problems that are as yet unsolved, but the fact that they are on the table means they will be discussed and implemented in a form that best meets the needs of the combined membership.

This item was originally featured in the Winter 2014 local newsletter.