Portland Local Members Engage with Their Board — and Each Other — at First Membership Meeting of 2018

The Portland Local Board has been quite vocal about its commitment to engaging with SAG-AFTRA members living and working within our region. That commitment was on full display Jan. 21 at the first Portland Local membership meeting of 2018, held at the Lake Theater and Café in Lake Oswego. 

The meeting covered a broad range of topics from the recent national convention in Los Angeles to ongoing organizing efforts, the financial health of the local and outreach to members suspected of working “off the card.”  

After applauding the more than 30 local members in the room for their involvement with their union, Local President Robert Blanche shifted the focus to the union’s Conservatory program. He described several possible workshops the board was considering presenting and asked the members in attendance to rank those workshops in their order of preference.

When that was done, it was the members’ turn to ask the board questions. Those questions spurred discussions on the murky issue of local hire, the union’s travel policies and the steps SAG-AFTRA is taking to speed up the contracts process.

As the meeting came to a close and the evening shifted to the local’s SAG Awards viewing party, Blanche encouraged the assembled members to stay connected with their union and to volunteer for the local’s committees.

“I learned a lot,” Portland Local member Jennifer Lanier said after the meeting. “I’m really glad I went.”

Many more opportunities for members to engage with their Local Board — and each other — are planned for the coming year. Don’t wait; double-check your contact information at sagaftra.org/my-information to be sure you receive the latest information on upcoming events.