A Message from the National Board Member

State of the Union and National Meetings

Since my last communique, I have attended three National Board meetings in L.A. and New York: in January, April and July. There have been two main areas of focus nationally: member education and outreach and the Commercials Organizing and Recapture Initiative.

President Ken Howard is leading the President’s Task Force on Education, Outreach and Engagement. One of its first actions was to join with the American Film Institute in answering President Barack Obama’s call to service through a national arts mentoring program, A Call to Arts. This is an innovative way for any member to be involved and it will help fulfill President Obama’s goal of 1 million mentor hours. Check it out and get involved. Click here.

We have also begun an effort to recapture work in the area of commercials. The successful launch of the Commercials Organizing and Recapture Initiative occurred on April 29, and you can find an online toolkit with details and education materials by clicking here.

In the spring, I attended the Co/Ed Wages and Working Conditions (W&W) meetings via teleconference in Chicago, and was glad to be asked to represent small locals at the national Co/Ed W&W plenary in L.A. The new Co/Ed contract was extremely successful.

This July, much of the National Board meeting dealt with convention preparation, in addition to regular board business.

Twin Cities Local Calculator & Local Co/Ed Contract Waiver

As mentioned in this newsletter, the rollout event was greeted with much interest by the Twin Cities local production community. As I’ve said before, this local is truly coming up with some creative ways to revitalize work. The rollout committee is in the process of meeting with various producers and conducting informal outreach meetings (with donuts!) to help explain the process and advantages of hiring union talent.

My sincere hope is that our local Co/Ed contract waiver (which has been renewed in conjunction with the newly approved national Co/Ed contract), will stimulate local Co/Ed work and provide more work opportunities locally and nationally; in fact our local results have shown positive growth already.

My next report will be about the fall convention. Until next time ... cheers.

Randal Berger

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