National Board Member Report

I attended the second SAG-AFTRA National Convention in Los Angeles Oct. 1-4. The four-day convention brought together member delegates from across the country to conduct business and work to advance the union and its mission. In closing remarks, SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard applauded delegates for their service to members, congratulated the newly elected leadership and thanked staff for their work in putting on a successful convention. 

The next biennial SAG-AFTRA convention will take place in 2017.

Following our four-day convention in Los Angeles, the SAG-AFTRA National Board of Directors met Monday and Tuesday in Los Angeles. In addition to other actions, the board set dates for the Commercials Wages and Working Conditions (W&W) process, which commenced Oct. 19 and concluded on or about Nov. 20.  

Top, from left, Hawaii delegates Becky Maltby, Scott Rogers, David Farmer and Lisa Romano at the SAG-AFTRA National Convention in Los Angeles. Above, delegates Rogers, Farmer, Jean Simon, Romano and Maltby at work in the convention hall.

The National Board approved the appointment of chairs to its various committees and reviewed and acted upon several administrative and governance matters. I was pleased to be named to several national committees and honored to have been elected as an alternate on the Executive Committee — the first Hawaii member ever to be chosen for this important and powerful committee. I was also selected by President Howard to co-chair the National Conservatory Committee.

The National Board received reports including:

President’s Report

President Ken Howard provided a report highlighting activities at the union’s second biennial convention. Howard praised Executive Vice President Gabrielle Carteris and Secretary-Treasurer Jane Austin on their convention speeches and applauded National Executive Director David White for his operations report.

Howard also thanked Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel Duncan Crabtree-Ireland for his work coordinating and managing the union’s second biennial convention.

National Executive Director’s Report

National Executive Director David White provided an operations overview to the board and outlined the union’s strategic initiatives, institutional focus and core functions on contract-related activities, administration and support. Joined by Chief Economist David Viviano, White reported on membership trends, earnings and claims resolved. 

White also thanked the members and staff for their work on the union’s second biennial convention.

Finance Report

The board received a confidential finance report from Secretary-Treasurer Jane Austin and Chief Financial Officer Arianna Ozzanto. Austin and Ozzanto reported that fiscal year 2016 first quarter results are on plan and tracking to budget.

Contracts Report

Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez provided a negotiations update.

Legal Report

Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel Duncan Crabtree-Ireland reported on the union’s successful foreign royalties program.

Organizing Report

National Director of Organizing Steve Sidawi reported on the union’s organizing activities including an update on the commercials organizing and recapture effort and confidential reports on other priority actions underway.

Professional Representatives

National Director, Professional Representatives, Zino Macaluso reported on recent activity in his department.

Local Conservatory Report

Since our recent elections, Local President David Farmer has chosen new committee chairs and populated our local committees, including the Conservatory Committee. I would like to thank him for re-appointing me to continue as chair of our active Conservatory Committee! We have some new blood and some returning committee members. I want to thank all who volunteered to serve on all of our local committees. The work of our union is done in large part through the volunteer efforts of our committees. Mahalo nui loa for giving back and for your service to our union! 

In solidarity,

Scott Rogers

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