AFTRA FLASH!

KIM ROBERTS HEDGPETH NAMED NATIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
At its spring plenary held on April 30 in NY and LA, the AFTRA National Board of Directors appointed Kim Roberts Hedgpeth AFTRA’s National Executive Director. Kim joined AFTRA in 1981 and has since served in a number of positions within the union, both locally and nationally, from east to west.

As President John P. Connolly stated, “Our confidence in her could not be greater. It is she who confirms our confidence in ourselves, our vision, and our Union."

CONTRACT UPDATES
Interactive Media Agreement
Following a report on the status of negotiations for a successor Interactive Media Agreement, the AFTRA National Board authorized a strike referendum ballot be sent to members who work on video games produced under the AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement. AFTRA and SAG recently held member caucuses in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco where AFTRA members voted 95% to 5% in favor of authorizing a strike in the event bargaining fails. The final decision to actually call a strike rests with the National Board or its designee. Negotiations resumed on May 9 and the parties hope to reach a deal before the current, thrice-extended contract expires on Friday, May 13.

Non-Broadcast/Industrial/Educational Code
On April 30, AFTRA’s National Board unanimously approved the recently negotiated Non-Broadcast/Industrial/Educational Code. The new three-year pact, jointly negotiated with SAG, will become effective retroactively on May 1, 2005, and will expire on April 30, 2008, pending SAG approval.

Highlights of the deal include:
• 4% increase in rates halfway through the term of the agreement.
• An immediate increase in contribution rates to the Health & Retirement Funds.

Telemundo: Demanding Industry Standard Contracts for Spanish-Lanugage
Performers and Broadcasters
AFTRA and Telemundo have been in negotiations for a contract covering entertainment programming for the network and have met on a number of occasions. To date, Telemundo continues to resist agreeing to industry standards in a number of key areas including geographic scope, residuals, and H&R.

On April 27, at the GE Shareholders meeting (GE owns Universal/NBC which owns Telemundo) Denise Dal Vera, President of the Tri-State Local, read a letter sent by National President John P. Connolly and National Executive Director Kim Roberts Hedgpeth to GE’s Board of Directors. The letter called on the GE Board to urge Telemundo to apply industry-standard terms and conditions to their Spanish-language performers as they do their English-language counterparts.

For more information on negotiations and how you can be involved, please contact Herta Suarez in Miami, (954) 920-2476, and Leslie Simon in Los Angeles, (323) 634-8118.

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
House Passes Anti-Piracy Legislation
The House of Representatives recently passed the Family Entertainment & Copyright Act of 2005. The package includes provisions that make it a federal crime to camcord movies in a theater. It also mandates prison sentences of up to 10 years for distribution of songs or movies prior to commercial release. President Bush is expected to sign this important legislation.

AFTRA to Appear at the 2nd National Conference on Media Reform in St. Louis
Activists from across the country will converge in St. Louis on May 13-15 to continue the fight against unfettered media consolidation. The three-day conference includes panel presentations, workshops, discussion sessions, video screenings, book signings, and speeches and performances by renowned guests. National President John P. Connolly will be speaking on a panel that will discuss the impact of media policies on media workers and what these workers are doing to fight for media reform. Ann Chaitovitz, National Director of Sound Recordings, will participate on a panel addressing localism and diversity in radio.

House Members Form Future of American Media Caucus
With Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) currently debating how to overhaul the nation's media policies, six Members of the U.S. House of Representatives announced the formation of the Future of American Media (FAM) Caucus. Chaired by Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) along with co-chairs Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rep. David Price (D-NC), Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA), and Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), the FAM Caucus will provide a venue where reasoned debate, expert analysis, and diverse points of view can come together to address critical media policy issues.

Rep. Hinchey said, "As Congress looks to rewrite the laws that will shape media in America for the next two decades, the Future of American Media Caucus will be there every step of the way to educate Members of Congress and their staff about these issues and how they will impact our constituents. There is no issue more central to the future of a functioning democracy than how Americans receive information. This new Caucus will make sure media policy issues are front and center in the minds of Members."

AFTRA applauds the formation of this group and looks forward to working with FAM on media policy issues.

Social Security Petition
If you are interested in joining the debate around social security and want to work with the AFL-CIO to do so, Take Action now.

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TRI-UNION HEALTH CARE SURVEY
Equity, AFTRA, and SAG have announced an unprecedented joint health care survey of their members nationwide beginning later this month. AFTRA members will be able to link directly to the survey from the union's website.

Administered by the Artists Health Information Resource Center (AHIRC) of The Actors’ Fund of America, the survey will gather precise data on the health insurance and health care needs of the members of all three unions across the country. All responses are anonymous and will be used as compiled demographics to address health insurance and health care issues for union members, including possible state and federal legislative initiatives and lobbying efforts.

“There is a national healthcare crisis that goes well beyond our unions and our union-sponsored health plans,” explained AFTRA National President John P. Connolly. “In the absence of any will to implement a national solution, and seeing none on the immediate horizon, we must do everything we can to help our members obtain the most affordable, highest quality health care available. That is why AFTRA is working closely with the National Coalition on Healthcare to force this crisis back to the center of our society’s discussion, and with the Actors’ Fund Affordable Healthcare Project. And why I am so grateful and proud of Randy Kahn and our fellow members who created the Performers Health Care Council. Affordable healthcare for all professional performers will not be an easy problem to solve, but we are committed to making progress, and the results of this survey will give us more tools to use in that quest. That’s why we’re asking every union member to participate.”

Watch for the survey.

In Memory of our Friend Miguel Contreras
(1953 - 2005)
Leader of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor

National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive, May 14
On May 14, letter carriers from around the country will join with the public to “Stamp Out Hunger” by gladly lifting extra loads when they collect food donations from homes along their postal routes to help feed the less fortunate in their communities. On food drive Saturday, citizens are asked to place food near their mailbox before their letter carrier arrives. Carriers take the donation back to their postal station, where it is sorted and then delivered to a local food bank.

AFTRA supports the National Association of Letter Carriers and encourages its members to put out a box of canned goods with their mail on May 14. We have an AFTRA letter posted at our website that AFTRA members can print and tape to their canned goods or box to show AFTRA’s support of the letter carriers.

FIA calls for Boycott of Blue Man Group
Please, help Canadian Actors’ Equity Association and sister Canadian unions fight this battle by NOT auditioning for or accepting work from the Blue Man Group, until it has agreed to sign an acceptable deal with CAEA.

Support UNITE HERE Hotel Workers
AFTRA continues to support our UNITE HERE union brothers and sisters by boycotting hotels across the country.

The following 9 Los Angeles hotels: Century Plaza, St. Regis, Wilshire Grand, Bonaventure, Regent Beverly Wilshire, Hyatt West Hollywood, Hyatt Regency, Millennium Biltmore. To learn more about the boycott, go to the UNITE HERE.

The following 14 San Francisco hotels: Argent Hotel, Crowne Plaza Union Square, Four Seasons, Fairmont, Grand Hyatt Union Square, Hilton San Francisco, Holiday Inn Civic Center, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Fisherman's Wharf, Hyatt Regency Embarcadero Center, Mark Hopkins InterContinental, Omni Hotel, Sheraton Palace and the Westin St. Francis. For information and a list of alternative accommodations, visit the Local 2 website.

The following hotels in Chicago: downtown Four Seasons and Intercontinental Hotels. The boycott is part of an ongoing comprehensive campaign to win better wages, working conditions and bargaining rights for hospitality workers. It is a part of efforts in 12 strategic cities nationwide. For more information, go to UNITE HERE.

LOCAL BRIEFS
AFTRA Celebrates the "AMERICAN SCENE"
Call for Entries for Productions that Depict True Diversity
AFTRA has issued a Call for Entries for its biennial American Scene Awards, a national competition that recognizes excellence in the employment and portrayal of women, ethnic minorities, seniors and people with disabilities in a positive, balanced and realistic manner. Celebrating its twelfth year, presentation of the awards will take place at the National Convention in Los Angeles July 14-17, 2005.

"Advocating for and ensuring the reality of diversity on the screen and over the airwaves both in News and Information programming, and throughout the world of entertainment and music as well, are core values for AFTRA," stated AFTRA National President John P. Connolly. "Through the American Scene Awards, AFTRA has found an excellent way to celebrate living evidence of diversity by recognizing superior achievement in television, radio and the recording industry."

Award categories include daytime drama, sound recordings, diversity of television or radio on-air news talent, and television or radio entertainment programming. Additionally, the American Scene Crystal Award is given to a person or production representing the goals and ideals for which these awards were first envisioned. Deadline for entries is May 30. Eligibility rules and an entry form are available at aftra.com.

Los Angeles
Third Annual AEA/AFTRA/SAG Diversity Awards to be Presented June 6
The combined EEO committees of Equity, AFTRA, and SAG will host the third annual Diversity Celebration, “Honoring Our Pioneers,” June 6, 2005, from 8:00pm to 9:30pm at East West Players in downtown Los Angeles. These awards recognize individuals who exemplify the commitment to creating opportunities for the underrepresented.

AFTRA's honoree is actress Beulah Quo. Actor Will Sampson will be recognized by SAG and lyricist E. Y. (Yip) Harburg is Equity’s award winner. The Tri-Union honoree is the legendary Ossie Davis. There will be a reception preceding the award ceremony from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. For more information, or if you would like to attend, please call (323) 988-2080
or e-mail here.

ACTORS’ FUND SEMINARS
www.AHIRC.org
Getting and Keeping Health Insurance
Wednesday, June 1, 2005, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
5757 Wilshire Blvd., 1st Floor Cagney Room
RSVP to Simon at or (323) 933-9244 ext. 32
This seminar is for uninsured and under-insured members of the arts and entertainment community. Information on obtaining and keeping health insurance and finding free and income based-health care when you are uninsured.

The Ins and Outs of Hollywood
Thursday, May 19, 2005, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
5757 Wilshire Blvd., 1st Floor AFTRA Boardroom
RSVP, please call (323) 933-9266 ext. 39
This speaker panel is open to all professional young performers between the ages of 12 and 18 and their parents. Featured speakers include: Melissa Gilbert, former young performer and current President of the Screen Actors Guild, Sharon Lieblein, Director of casting at Nickelodeon, and Cynthia Bain, former young performer and acting coach. The panelists will share their professional and personal experiences within the industry and give tips for handling the ins and outs of the business. The panel discussion will be followed by a question and answer session. Refreshments will be served. RSVP's are required.

San Francisco
Performers with Disabilities Headshot Clinic
The San Francisco Local hosted a free Headshot Clinic for Performers with Disabilities sponsored by the Media Access Office utilizing funds received from a California Arts Council/National Arts & Disability Center Grant. The Media Access Office is a program of California's Employment Development Department and its mission is to help performers with disabilities find employment in the entertainment field. Turnout was impressive. The Local wishes to thank the Media Access Office for providing this opportunity to our local union members.

Dallas/Fort Worth
Join AFTRA in Fort Worth for NAHJ's Convention
AFTRA members and staff will once again have a presence as the National Association of Hispanic Journalists hosts its 23rd Annual Convention and Media & Career Expo in Fort Worth, Texas, June 15-18. More than 2,000 broadcast and print journalists, as well as media executives from across the nation, will convene for skills enhancement workshops, seminars, and one of the largest career and media expos for journalists in the country. To register online, please visit the NAHJ website or call (202) 662-7145. For more information on AFTRA's participation, or if you'd like to join us at "your" booth, please contact Ray Bradford.

Washington/Baltimore
Maryland General Assembly Supports Film Industry with New Legislation
In its first time out before the Maryland General Assembly, a coalition of unions and businesses, including AFTRA, SAG, IATSE, the Teamsters, the Maryland Production Alliance, and the Film Offices have succeeded in obtaining meaningful incentives that will attract “Hollywood” to the State of Maryland. The legislation, entitled “Film Production Activity – Employer Wage Rebate Grant Program,” is vital to the current survival and future well-being of the film and television industries in Maryland. Without this important legislation, Maryland would lose the ability to remain competitive against the numerous other states that do provide attractive incentives. With the new legislation, the Maryland film/TV industry has a fighting chance to stay alive and thrive.

The enabling legislation that established the Wage Rebate Program passed the Senate and the House of Delegates by unanimous votes in both chambers! The Washington-Baltimore Local staff, along with a good number of dedicated members worked very hard to gain the high level of support for this legislation. We offered testimony at hearings, lobbied legislators both in person and through targeted letter writing campaigns, helped to generate good press interest in the issue, and facilitated notable correspondence from “high profile” industry people highlighting the importance of incentives to attracting business in this new climate.

Chicago
Illinois Film Production Services Credit Act Extended
On Thursday, April 21, the Illinois State Senate passed, SB 1965, the current legislative effort supported by the Illinois Production Alliance, which would continue the Film Production Services Tax Credit Act, with several favorable changes.

Sponsored by Senators. Rickey Hendon, Donne Trotter and Jacqueline Collins, the Senate voted 54 – 1 in approval. The bill now goes to the Illinois House.

New Orleans
Voices of New Orleans Project Moves Forward
70 voice performers have been selected for inclusion in a marketing CD and voice talent website – Voices of New Orleans. This is a collaborative effort between AFTRA and the Arts Council of New Orleans (ACNO) to promote and generate employment opportunities for New Orleans voice talent. The project will move forward to the next step with the collaboration of Audio Works studios in New Orleans. The CD will be used to market and promote the Voices of New Orleans website in markets in New Orleans and around the country.

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PROTECT YOUR SECURITY!
Protect yourself from the growing problem of identity theft: Avoid using your Social Security number on any public document. Use your AFTRA Performer ID Number (that’s the number on your AFTRA Membership Card, not the number on your AFTRA Health and Retirement Card) whenever you fill out audition sign-in sheets, member reports, or send correspondence to the Union. Do not put your Social Security number on resumes or head shots. If you can’t find your AFTRA Membership Card, call your local AFTRA office.

If you are communicating with the AFTRA H&R Funds, use your participant ID number located on your AFTRA Health Fund card. If you have a question about your participant ID number for AFTRA H&R purposes, contact the Funds office directly at (800) 562-4690.

UPDATE YOUR HEALTH & RETIREMENT RECORDS
Please remember to keep your address current with the Health & Retirement Funds, as well as with your AFTRA local. Members that want to change their addresses with both the union and H&R can get a multi-use change of address form from their local office.

CONGRATULATIONS
Grand Ole Opry Celebrates 80th Year
The show, represented by AFTRA since 1980, turns 80 this year, and the Opry is planning a big to-do, including a rare broadcast from New York's Carnegie Hall in November.

It's the longest continuously running radio show in the country and is marketed nationwide, streamed over Internet and satellite radio, shown on cable TV, broadcast on regular radio and reaches more than 2 million people a week.

AFTRA congratulates the Opry on reaching this milestone and sends wishes for a future that is as long and rich as its past.

WE REMEMBER
Mitch Hedberg (1968-2005), a Minnesota-born comedian who worked in nightclubs, television and film. A frequent guest on Howard Stern's morning radio show and "Late Show With David Letterman," Hedberg's resumé also included several television and film roles, including appearances on FOX' "That '70s Show," the NBC comedy series "Ed," and the animated shows "Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist" and "Home Movies."

Hedberg also lent his voice to Comedy Central's "Crank Yankers," played the Eagles' road manager in the film "Almost Famous" and wrote, directed, produced and starred in the 1999 independent film "Los Enchiladas!" Hedberg is survived by his wife, comedian Lynn Shawcroft, his father and mother, Arne and Mary Hedberg of St. Paul, and sisters Wendy Brown of Woodbury and Angie Anderson of South St. Paul.

MEMBER PERKS
SavvyEmployee.com Now Offering Disneyland Ticket Discounts
As an AFTRA-SAG Federal Credit Union member, you have access to entertainment discounts through SavvyEmployee.com. With this service you can purchase discount tickets for movie theatres, theme parks, dinner theatres and ski lift tickets, along with many more savings opportunities. The newest addition is Disneyland & Disney's California Adventure Park. The member discount price for each park is $44.50 per adult and $38.50 per child ages 3-9, a savings of $8.50 per adult and $4.50 per child. Tickets are good for a single day's admission until the expiration date of December 15, 2005, with blackout dates of May 4 and July 17. These are actual tickets - once you get there, you go right through the front gate - no waiting in line to get in.

SavvyEmployee.com also has tickets for all the major theatre chains. Discounts are available for AMC, Pacific, Loews, Laemmle, Cinemark, Cineplex Odeon, Krikorian, Landmark, Regal, Edwards, United Artist, Magic Johnson and Mann's.

You can order straight from the website - just make sure to input AFTRA as your affiliate company while creating your profile. Or, call SavvyEmployee.com directly at (310) 828-8107 to place orders by phone.

Discount ticket sales are also available on site at the Studio City branch of the Credit Union located at 12711 Ventura Boulevard (between Whitsett and Coldwater Canyon) on Fridays from noon to 5:00 pm and at the Wilshire branch, Thursdays from noon
to 4:00pm. For questions call (310) 779-2812 or go to SavvyEmployee.com.

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