By Marc Field

PITTSBURGH (June 12, 2006) The AFTRA Scholarship Committee met on June 6, 2006 to consider application for the current year. Attending were: Marc Field, Chair, Helena Ruoti, Don Wadsworth, Mark Roberts, John Haer, Executive Director.

The meeting began with John explaining the criteria for awarding AFTRA scholarships. John verified that all applications were from members in good standing. The committee then engaged in a complete review and discussion of all applicants and the materials they submitted.

At the conclusion of the review a motion was made by Mark Roberts and seconded by Don Wadsworth to award scholarships to the following:

	Jen Morris, Paul Martino (Danielle's dad), Callie Thuma (Holly's daughter), Rick Bergman (Ryan's dad), Dave James (Terry's dad). Click photo for larger image.

Jen Morris
Callie Thuma
Ryan Bergman
Danielle Martino
Terrence James

The committee continued to hear from John about upcoming plans to move the scholarship funds in to the account of the AFTRA Foundation, a 501(c)3 making all contributions tax deductible. It was the sense of the committee to explore new initiatives for funding the scholarship program. After further discussion a motion was made by Mark Roberts and seconded by Marc Field to raise the maximum award to a recipient to $2,000 for 2007. It was noted that this would not be a required amount, rather an option for the committee to increase the award.

The AFTRA/Dan Mallinger Scholarship Fund was established to honor our longtime Executive Director, Dan Mallinger, and now memorializes him as well as many other AFTRA members and executives who cared about and contributed to the Union.

Scholarships are offered by the Fund to Pittsburgh AFTRAns and their dependent children for academic study in any field including broadcast, journalism and labor relations, or for professional training in the arts.

The awards were announced at AFTRA Pittsburgh's Annual Membership Meeting on June 12.  For pictures of the Annual Meeting, click here.