Note from The National Board Alternate

By Michelle Damis

One of my goals when I ran for the Portland Local’s Board a year and a half ago was to learn as much as I could about my union. I wanted to know how it ran, who makes decisions, what factors go into protecting our healthcare and pension — I wanted to know it ALL and I wanted to know if I could contribute or help in any way to make it stronger.

This October, I had the honor of being an alternate at a meeting of the National Board, stepping in for Portland’s highly respected National Board member Mary MacDonald-Lewis. Knowing I had some big shoes to fill, I prepared as best I could and looked forward to this incredible learning experience.

My first event of the weekend was a meeting of the Committee of Locals. The COL, I learned, is comprised of representatives from each of the locals outside Los Angeles and New York. This is where all the “smaller markets” gather to discuss issues and topics unique to their areas, and ones that are often quite different from the L.A. or N.Y. hubs. I observed great camaraderie within the group and was warmly welcomed. It was interesting and comforting to learn that many other areas of the country deal with similar challenges to those we face here in Portland, and to hear the creative ways other locals are dealing with those challenges.

The rest of the weekend was jam-packed with discussions, information sessions, heated debates and votes on proposals.

Overall, I was blown away by the time devoted by our elected union leaders across the country, especially since all of these positions are 100 percent volunteer. I was also inspired by the constant and genuine desire to make our members’ lives better. While we all know no organization is perfect and no process is without its hitches, I can confidently say there are a heck of a lot of talented, passionate people trying to improve every SAG-AFTRA member’s life.  

I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the process and honored to represent my fellow members. My journey, and the learning that comes with it, has just begun, and I’m looking forward to a long, wild ride.