Local Committees Need Volunteers

Our local needs you. It needs all of us, stepping up to do the work. Ours is a small but mighty local, run strictly by volunteer officers, and any projects we accomplish are spearheaded by committees. The great news is that many hands make light work!

“By virtue of my day job, I am very active in the labor movement, but until recently I had never served on a committee,” says Communications Committee member Emily Sahler. “When I had an opinion about a communications issue, I thought the local ought to do something about, I was invited to join the Communications Committee. Fair enough, I can’t very well expect others to do the work I’m unwilling to do myself, right? So, if we have an opinion about how things should be, what programs should be offered, what activities we should undertake, it’s incumbent upon each of us to step up.“

Here’s more great news: There are 10 committees to choose from! Chances are good one of them will appeal to your passions and skill set. Please read the descriptions with an eye toward which would provide you the opportunity to contribute, then email portland@sagaftra.org to join. It’s that simple!

• The Local Organizing Committee promotes and curates educational workshops and seminars to increase work for current and future union siblings within the local, such as contract workshops and stunt and safety workshops.
• The Legislative and Labor Committee works with labor and industry organizations within the Portland Local’s jurisdiction to build solidarity, advocate for issues important to SAG-AFTRA members, and support legislation that will help SAG-AFTRA members within our region.
• The Communications Committee works with the Board and staff to coordinate forward-facing communications from the local to members, potential members and the industry at large, including written communications, social media posts, graphics and multimedia.
• The Stunt and Safety Committee seeks to make our sets safer for all cast and crew through increased education on the importance of set safety in general, and stunt safety in particular. 
• The Events Committee is responsible for coordinating logistics related to all SAG-AFTRA Portland events. 
• The Conservatory Committee provides professional training and industry networking to raise the level of professionalism in the Local.
• The Helping Hands Committee educates members on the many benefits SAG-AFTRA has to offer, finds new ways to enrich the lives of our local members and reaches out to members in need of aid. 
• The NextGen Performers Committee specifically seeks to connect, engage, educate and energize our young local and emerging performers through networking and workshop opportunities, as well as reinforcing the benefits of SAG-AFTRA.
• The Community Engagement Committee helps local members in need through direct aid such as yard work, grocery shopping or other tasks they’re having trouble with. It also assists union members in other locals facing catastrophes and creates fun, social solidarity events.
• The Film Festival Committee is responsible for creating partnerships between the Portland Local and film festivals taking place within our region.

To maintain a vibrant, productive and beneficial local, members must be engaged and committed to its growth and our collective good. This means giving of your time and energy by serving in the various volunteer capacities our local offers. The easiest, and least time-intensive, way to become involved is to serve on a committee. Please join us by emailing portland@sagaftra.org.