Membership Meeting in Utah

By Betty Ann Carr
Arizona-Utah Local Vice President Utah and Utah Caucus Chair

The first post-merger SAG-AFTRA Arizona-Utah Local membership meeting held in Utah was a smashing success, with more than 50 attendees on “Sundance Saturday,” Jan. 25. It began at 10:30 a.m. with registration and a sumptuous brunch at the Silver King Café in Park City, Utah, followed by a lively film forum panel discussion that included SAG-AFTRA Arizona-Utah Local President Joe Corcoran; SAG-AFTRA Director of Locals Administration Marcia Fishman; Utah Film Commission Commissioner Marshall Moore; Motion Picture Association of Utah (MPAU) Board member, Casting Director and SAG-AFTRA member Jeff Johnson; and new media producer, writer and SAG-AFTRA member Pietro D’Alessio.

I presented our panel moderator, MPAU Advisory Committee member, past Utah president and longtime National Board member Anne Sward Hansen, with a gift in honor of her many years of local and national service.

Anne Sward Hansen at the membership meeting

At 12:45 p.m., the membership meeting was called to order by Vice President-Utah Betty Carr, who also introduced fellow Utahan John Darin as a Utah Local Board member and delegate-at-large. Corcoran gave a welcoming update report. Agenda items included:

1. Discussion and unanimous vote to create the Utah Caucus.
2. Update and discussion on how to improve Utah productions.
3. Utah organizing and more proactive work.
4. The following Utah Caucus committees were formed by unanimous vote:
      a. Communications Committee, chaired by Pietro D’Alessio
      b. Workshop Committee, chaired by John Darin
      c. Commercials Committee, chaired by Jeff Johnson
      d. Health Plan and Membership Committee, chaired by Anne Sward Hansen 
5. Agenda for next meeting.
6. Caucus meeting date of March 12 at 7 p.m. was suggested. Location TBD.

The successful and enthusiastic membership meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m., much later than anticipated. We were pleased to have 40 Utah members in attendance and two from Arizona.

A thought to hold: If we work to improve our union, our work will improve!

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