Welcome Home to SAG-AFTRA

by Cece DuBois
Nashville Local Co - President and National Board Member

Well, this is a new day, y’all!!

Last newsletter seems like a lifetime ago.The reason for that is simple— we were on the front side of a referendum that asked the membership one question: “Do you want, at long last, to be represented by one union ? ”The overwhelming, resounding answer came back from you, the members : * YES * .And now here we are.

So, today I write you “from the backside” of that resoundingly successful referendum, and as your local SAG-AFTRA co-president. Mike Montgomery (former local SAG prez) and I (former local AFTRA prez) now share the responsibilities of the Local office until elections in 2013. We’re now holding Local Board meetings that include those elected on the former SAG Council and the former AFTRA Board. For many members, this is a whole new concept. But I’ve been around long enough that I remember when our office here in Nashville housed both AFTRA and SAG; back then the Board and Council met jointly, and staff administered contracts for members of both unions. It is so good to have everything governed, at long last, by one bona fide organization.

In May, Mike and I attended the first National Board meeting(plenary) of SAG - AFTRA.It was a historic moment, and an interesting process, working through the initial steps of functioning as one body.SAG and AFTRA have operated with profoundly different governing philosophies.So, the first things we are doing as SAG - AFTRA have largely to do with learning to speak the same language— or, in some instances, writing a new language.It is a lot of work, but extremely exciting to finally be at this unified place and to be processing it, one step at a time.

Nashville is one of the about two dozen Locals that exist outside New York and Los Angeles. These regional Locals make up a group in the new union called the Committee of Locals (CoL). At the May National Board meeting, the CoL had two breakout meetings as a group; the result was enlightening and encouraging. Though every Local has needs and issues specific to its geographical industry dynamic, all Locals share many of the same or similar needs and issues. The discussions at these CoL meetings illuminated these facts, and the solidarity within the committee was evident from the get-go.

We have an amazing staff for Nashville’ s SAG - AFTRA office here on Music Row.These staff members in Nashville are Randy Himes, Dee Bowers, Josh Reese and Judy Marie Ellis.

These people are the ones on our “front line.” They are knowledgeable, capable, passionate and dedicated to our SAG-AFTRA members. I’ve worked with each of them, and I am telling you this: We have the best staff of any Local in the country. We are truly blessed.

So, take a deep breath.You did it! You and I are now WE.The work, the growth, and the unity continues, but to all of us, I say, “Welcome home.”