A Day in the Life of Two Local Members

By Sue Scott and Charles Fraser

Member Sue Scott with her husband, Ron Peluso, in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Sue Scott Cruising with Prairie Home Companion fans …

I’ve had the pleasure of being a cast member with Garrison Keillor’s nationally broadcast public radio show, A Prairie Home Companion, since 1992. I get to do all the female character voices on the show — well, most of them, since every once in a while my male counterparts will be asked to pull out their best female impressions. Typically, we travel all around the country every weekend performing the radio show live each Saturday in venues from Hawaii to New York. But sometimes we venture out around the world. We’ve done the show in Scotland, Ireland, Germany and Iceland, and for the last eight years we’ve headed out even further around the world on chartered cruises with Prairie Home Companion fans. These cruises have taken us to Alaska, Norway, Spain and Italy. This last summer, we did a two-week “Baltic capitals” cruise, which set sail from Dover, England, to St. Petersburg, Russia, and back with many fascinating stops along the way. It was an incredible trip with some amazing sights (Stockholm, Sweden, is absolutely gorgeous). During these cruises, we performed various shows, gave workshops, facilitated trivia contests, took part in Q&A's — you name it. Plus, of course, we got to see the sights, too. We’ve got a loyal following of fans for our radio show — 4.5 million listeners — and these cruises are equally full of loyal fans. Gracious people who love what we do and are totally up for going with us on a ship to see us do what we do up close. We’re back on the air for the 2014/2015 season and will be live on the radio from somewhere every Saturday. Our next cruise is in March 2015.

Member Charles Fraser, second from left, with Twin Cities Musicians Union and IATSE members at the Minnesota AFL-CIO Labor Pavilion at the Minnesota State Fair.

... And Charles Fraser hosting at the State Fair Labor Pavilion

It was a privilege to serve as host for a day at the Minnesota AFL-CIO’s annual State Fair Labor Pavilion activities this past summer. About 15 unions were active at the pavilion that day. Some had serious messages, such as the National Association of Letter Carriers, protesting the U.S. Postal Service setting up shop inside Staples stores without registered and trained postal employees. The members of the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association, Local 10, continued their tradition of giving away roses crafted from copper. The Cement Masons, Plasterers and Shophands, Local 633, also gave a demonstration of mixing and setting up concrete. One of the biggest draws at the Labor Pavilion was the St. Paul Firefighters, who have their collective bargaining through the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 21. They were marketing and selling their 2015 calendar featuring local firemen, and both Mr. March, Jamie Smith, and Mr. October, Eric Clinton, were present, wearing only half of their uniforms. All proceeds from the calendar benefit Canine Inspired Change. Twin Cities Musicians Union members Sue Nelson, the Minnesota Twins’ Organ Lady at Target Field, and percussionist Trevor Haining provided musical entertainment. All amplified sound was expertly managed by Ken Simonson, a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 13.

This item was originally featured in the February 2015 local newsletter.