Words from Your Local President

My main objective in this president’s report is to make a valiant attempt to get across the necessity and importance of being able to communicate within our Arizona-Utah membership. One of the ways to accomplish that is if we, as the Local Board, know who you are and you know who we are.

Without the benefit of a local staff or office, our Arizona-Utah Local has over 1,000 members spread out over an area of just under 1,000 miles. Yes, ’tis true we are a blended family, separated by many miles geographically and not specifically of our own initial choosing or desire.   

However, reality is reality, and just as in any family when members are willing to step up and accept the actuality of their circumstance, then forward steps to gain ground are a possibility. Acting with a sense of direction and purpose as an informed, communicating and inclusive unit, by default alone, we will make a difference. I know that’s a bit folksy with just a hint of non-whimsy, but I think you get my drift.

Victor Borge once said, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” ’Tis true, ’tis true and I greatly concur. I somewhat theorize that email might have a spot somewhere towards the top of that communication list, but it’s just a theory that I will stick with for the time being.

Your email addresses are crucial. Currently, there are about 35 percent of our local’s members without email addresses on file. Therefore, newsletters and other notices that could be sent by email have to be sent out via snail mail. This is very expensive and takes away from our budget monies that could be used in other areas of more benefit to the local. Besides, the e-newsletters are in color, more timely, cost-effective, with much more info and easier access than that provided by our four-page black-and-white newsletter version.

If you haven’t already created your own online membership account with national or know of other members who haven’t, click here.

A good way to get to know our board and for us to get to know you is by attending our next annual membership meeting on April 25 here in Phoenix (location, time and program TBA soon) and by stopping by our booth on Industry Night at the Phoenix Film Festival on March 27.

The more we are able to communicate with our Arizona-Utah membership, the more effective and productive we can be. Email me regardless of whether you have questions, are seeking info, wanting to get involved or just want to say hi and introduce yourself. I look forward to hearing from you.

azut.president@sagaftra.org
Joe Corcoran
President, SAG-AFTRA Arizona-Utah Local

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