Official E-Newsletter of the SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local
August 24, 2015
IN THIS ISSUE Membership Meeting
Special Membership Meeting
Local Election Results Commercials Survey
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
New Member Orientation Save the Date! Financial Planning
Monday, Aug. 31, 2015
Residency for Arts Holiday Schedule
Details below. Notice of Special Membership Meeting When: 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 31, 2015 Where: KMRC 1 E. Erie, Suite 660, Chicago, IL 60611 The purpose of the special membership meeting is to determine funding priority for convention delegates to attend the upcoming SAG-AFTRA convention in Los Angeles on Oct. 1-4, 2015. This is pursuant to Article 5, Section 4 of the Chicago Local Constitution, which requires that funding priority for convention delegates other than the delegate positions assigned to the National Board members and local president be determined by plurality of votes received in the election or if candidates run unopposed, funding priority will be determined at a special membership meeting. Since 14 candidates ran unopposed for the positions of convention delegate in the recent Chicago Local election, the funding priority of six convention delegate positions will be determined at this special membership meeting. Convention delegates who do not receive funding priority as a result of this meeting may attend the convention at their own expense. This meeting is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing. Unfortunately, no guests allowed. Parents/guardians of younger performers under 18 years old are welcome. No RSVP necessary. SAG-AFTRA members, please bring your membership card (paid through Oct. 31, 2015) for admittance. Park for $13 at 10 East Ontario. Enter on the north side of Ontario between Wabash and State, and then take a ticket. When you sign in, you may purchase a four-hour ticket for $13. You will need both tickets to exit the parking structure. Cash only. 2015 SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local Election Results . On Wednesday, Aug. 5, SAG-AFTRA announced the election results for the Chicago Local elections. Please note that some candidates ran unopposed and were declared elected without the necessity of a membership vote. For complete balloted election results, click here.
Your Union Wants You! Negotiations for the Commercials Contracts are scheduled to commence in early 2016. SAGAFTRA wants your help in determining where our efforts should be focused. We would appreciate if you - a working commercial actor - could take a few minutes out of your busy day to provide us with feedback on your experiences working union commercials. Here are some questions to get the conversation started:
Are there any issues that come up repeatedly at commercial auditions that you feel need to be addressed in upcoming negotiations?
Are there any problems that you run into repeatedly on commercial sets that you feel need to be addressed in upcoming negotiations?
Is there a residual payment platform (Internet, cable, etc.) that you would like to see reevaluated?
In relation to commercials, what additional areas of concern should we be looking at?
Please visit http://www.sagaftra.org/commercials2016survey to give us your feedback no later than Aug. 31. Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you! New Member Orientation Monday, Sept. 21, 5:30 p.m. New members represent the future for SAG-AFTRA. The more knowledgeable they are, the stronger our union and all members are. The goal of the New Members Subcommittee of SAGAFTRA Chicago's Community Outreach, Community Organizing committee is to educate, engage and empower professional actors from the moment they become union members. The new member orientation event is only one part of that process. Topics covered include every step involved in the union experience, from initiation fees and the dues structure to the correct way to execute member reports and contracts. Other areas include agents and commissions, casting directors, resolving claims, health coverage, set demeanor, committees, staff and a variety of member benefits. New member orientations are not just for new members. Whether you joined yesterday or 20 years ago, all members in good standing are welcome. Plan now to attend the next new membership orientation and stay informed. Monday, Sept. 21 5:30 p.m. dinner, 6 - 8 p.m. meeting Please call Kathy Nelsen at the SAG-AFTRA Chicago office, (312) 573-8081 ext. 2541, or email Kathy at kathy.nelsen@sagaftra.org to reserve your spot. Park at 10 East Ontario. Enter on the north side of Ontario between Wabash and State, and then take a ticket. When you sign in, you may purchase a four-hour ticket for $13 cash, $14 Visa, MasterCard or American Express payment. You will need both tickets to exit the parking structure. Save the Date! Una conversación: Oportunidades en Español A Conversation: Opportunities in Spanish Language When: 6 - 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22 Where: KMRC 1 East Erie, Suite 650, Chicago, IL Hosted by the National Ethnic Employment Opportunity Committee and the Chicago Local's Equal Employment Opportunity Committees, come join in the conversation about opportunities in Spanish language. More details in the next Activator.
SAG-AFTRA Conservatory Presents Budgets and Financial Planning When was the last time you reviewed your budget? Do you even have a budget? Who's going to manage your savings and retirement accounts? Do you even have any savings or retirement accounts? How far out does your financial plan reach? Do you even have a financial plan? Sandra Karas, a SAG-AFTRA New York Board member, secretary-treasurer of AEA and director of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program will present a primer for those in the performing arts industry. Come to a free seminar and take the fear out of money matters. Learn how to become the master of your own financial destiny and take control of your fiscal life. You'll learn how managing your money can free your creative nature and enable greater success in your artistic career. When:
6 - 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28
Where: SAG-AFTRA,1 East Erie Street, #650,Chicago, IL 60611 RSVP: Kathy Byrne at kathy.byrne@sagaftra.org All SAG-AFTRA and Equity members welcome. Park at 10 East Ontario. Enter on the north side of Ontario between Wabash and State, and then take a ticket. When you sign in, you may purchase a four-hour ticket for $13 cash, $14 Visa, MasterCard or American Express payment. You will need both tickets to exit the parking structure. Chicago Cultural Center Residency for Arts Organizations Chicago-based arts and culture organizations looking for new and interesting programming space are encouraged to apply for a Chicago Cultural Center residency. Selected resident organizations will have the opportunity to present four to eight free public programs in spaces at the Chicago Cultural Center over the course of Nov. 15, 2015 - May 31, 2016. Programs can reflect dance, theater, visual arts, music, fashion, culinary arts, film, literary arts, design or architecture disciplines, and should provide insight into the arts and creative industries. For more information and the application, visit cityofchicago.org/dcase. Applications due Monday, Aug. 31, before 5 p.m. Holiday Schedule for Office and KMRC SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local and KMRC will close at 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, and be closed all day Monday, Sept. 7 in observance of Labor Day. In response to members' requests to stay informed, The Activator may include notice of rallies, pickets and other actions by unions and the labor movement that have not been sanctioned by the National or Chicago Board of Directors of SAG-AFTRA. This information is provided as a convenience. The information contained herein regarding workshops, vendors, special offers and the like is provided for informational purposes and is not intended to imply endorsement by SAG-AFTRA of them or the information, material, products or services provided. SAG-AFTRA makes no warranties or representations regarding the use of the material or the quality of the services or service providers. SAG-AFTRA Chicago: (312) 573-8081 Email: chicago@sagaftra.org Website: SAGAFTRA.org