Local President’s Message

Michigan Local Members:

Happy New Year! Hard to believe we are at the start of 2020! I want to wish each and every one of you a very happy and prosperous new year.

Your Local Board has been active in meeting and planning activities of interest since we took office at the end of August after the election. We also had a strong delegation out in Los Angeles in October representing our local at convention. Just because you aren’t on the board doesn’t mean you can’t get involved. We are reconstituting six local committees that will work on behalf of our members and our local to enhance member experience, provide educational seminars and, hopefully, create additional work opportunities for SAG-AFTRA members in the Michigan Local. Each committee will have a mix of Michigan Local Board members and members at large. Please read the list of committees and give some consideration to joining one and helping us enhance and strengthen our Michigan Local.  The committees are:

•    Broadcast
•    Communications
•    Education/Workshops (formerly called Conservatory)
•    Organizing
•    RORC (Reinstatement Obligations Review Committee)
•    Stunt & Safety

If you are interested in serving on one of these committees or have questions about the committees, please email me at michigan.president@sagaftra.org.

Hopefully you’ve seen in the SAG Awards edition of SAG-AFTRA magazine that the Michigan Local is having a viewing party for members (and up to one guest)l. It will be held at the Emagine Royal Oak at 200 N. Main St. in Royal Oak beginning at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19.  Show up in your finest SAG Awards cocktail attire, mingle with fellow members and watch the show live from L.A. beginning at 8 pm. We had a full house last year and I would love to repeat that!  You can register by clicking here or by emailing michigan@sagaftra.org.

Finally, on a sad note, I would like to pay tribute to Kimberly Stump, who unfortunately passed away in early December. Kimberly was a member of the legacy SAG Michigan Board from 2008–2012 and then a member of the SAG-AFTRA Michigan Board from 2012–2013. She lived in Lansing and her proximity to the state capital was vital to our efforts and connection to the Legislature and film commission at the time. Kimberly took a break from union service but ran for election to the Michigan Local Board this summer and was elected as a board member and convention delegate. Anyone who knew Kimberly was immediately impressed by her kind heart, her caring demeanor and her data-driven approach to solving problems. She was a passionate unionist who cared about Michigan. It’s been an extremely sad month for those of us who knew Kimberly and difficult to adjust to the reality that she is gone. I personally am comforted by the four days that the Michigan delegation spent together in L.A. at convention in October with Kimberly, and I will cherish the memories of her friendship and her strong commitment to SAG-AFTRA. Kimberly, you will be missed!
In solidarity,

Eric Wydra
Michigan Local President

Photo: Michigan Local convention delegates at the 2019 SAG-AFTRA convention. From left, Michigan Local President Eric Wydra, Kimberly Stump, Diane S. Jones, Jim Kerr (New York), Michigan Local Vice President Jo-Jo Shutty-MacGregor, Jay Adams.