69 years ago on August 16, 1937, the American Federation of Radio Artists was born. After a strong show of support from radio performers around the country who wanted a voice in the workplace, the Four A’s—the Associated Actors and Artistes of America—issued a charter to the new organization that would grow up to become AFTRA. Members who formed locals in New York and Los Angeles were quickly joined by others who organized locals in Chicago and many other cities across the country. Happy birthday to us all!

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BROADCAST NEWS
Don't miss your chance: take 5 minutes to complete the Broadcaster Survey and make sure your voice is heard to improve your job!
AFTRA broadcasters have already made a big difference by working together to derail fines on individual broadcasters for indecency violations, assure AFTRA protections for multicasting and other new media work, and win victories on the job for AFTRA members, among other actions. Broadcasters want to make an even bigger difference by getting a better pulse on worksite issues and developing priorities to improve our jobs, our lives, and our communities. That's why AFTRA Broadcast Steering Committee members developed an online Broadcaster Survey. Click here for more information and to fill out the Survey now available on the AFTRA website >>

Get Ahead with AFTRA Broadcast Talent Review
When you want a prospective employer to review your reel, would you rather be in a stack of 50 tapes or voiceover CDs—or one easy click away from instant access?

AFTRA members can now be on top of the pile with a new secure and private online service—AFTRA Broadcast Talent Review. To see how you can easily create a comprehensive profile page that’s all your own, click here or go to http://www.broadcasttalentreview.com.

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LEGISLATIVE BRIEF
Media Consolidation
AFTRA members know the effects of consolidation of media ownership on our jobs, our lives, and our communities. As conglomerates combine media outlets across America, we’ve seen:

• Decreased coverage of local issues in news.
• Fewer editorial perspectives in news.
• Homogenization and disappearance of radio formats.
• Elimination of opportunities for airplay for independent recording artists.
• Perpetuation of threats to live and local media, like 'voice-tracking,' 'central-casting,' and automation.

Now is your chance to tell your stories about what media consolidation is doing to you. AFTRA wants to include your information is our official filing with the FCC. Click here for more details and to submit your story>>

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COMMERCIALS CONTRACTS UPDATE
Performers’ Unions and Advertising Industry Tentatively Agree on Two-Year Extension of Commercials Contracts
AFTRA, SAG, and the advertising industry’s ANA/AAAA Joint Policy Committee on Broadcast Talent Union Relations have announced a tentative agreement on a two-year extension to the Commercials Contracts that cover advertisements appearing on TV, radio, the Internet, and New Media, that would run through October 29, 2008. Click here to read the joint press release>>

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NATIONAL BOARD REPORT
Success and Progress for AFTRA Members Highlight Annual Board Plenary Meeting on July 28-29 in New York City
The AFTRA National Board of Directors heard reports of success and progress in entertainment programming, finances, health and retirement funds, organizing, legislative affairs, and other areas at its annual face-to-face Board Plenary meeting on July 28-29. Click here to read the press release>>

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NEW ADDITIONS TO AFTRA STAFF
Addition of Four New Executives Set to Expand AFTRA Services and Outreach
AFTRA formally announced to its National Board of Directors the appointment of four new executives as part of its continuing program of increasing services to AFTRA members and expanding outreach to all performers, broadcasters, and recording artists. The AFTRA staff now includes a National Director of Organizing, a National Director of Information Technologies, a new Los Angeles Local Executive Director, and a new Texas Regional Director. Click to here to find out more about the new staff positions>>

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NO WORK NOTICE
Retirement Living TV, LLC, is threatening to launch a new network with programming under AFTRA jurisdiction without offering performers an AFTRA contract. Click here to read this important "No Contract, No Work" notice>>

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AFTRA H&R NEWS
H&R Premiums Due September 15
Have you received your AFTRA Health Plan Premium invoice? Remember, premiums for the October 1, 2006 quarter are due no later than September 15. If you have not received your premium invoice by now, call the AFTRA Health Fund immediately at 800.562.4690 or click here to visit the AFTRA H&R website>>

New Lockbox Addresses for Members Premiums
The AFTRA H&R Funds are instituting new lockboxes to which member premiums and member COBRA premiums should be mailed. The new addresses are listed below, but if you have any questions, please contact the Funds by email or by phone at 800.562.4690.

For active Health Plan participants:
AFTRA Health Fund Premium
P.O. Box 13680
Newark, NJ 07188-3680

For Health Plan participants on COBRA:
AFTRA Health Fund COBRA
P.O. Box 13681
Newark, NJ 07188-3681

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LOCAL BRIEFS
Chicago
Agent Access Welcomes LaMonica Campbell, Iris Talent
Our guest for the August 24 Agent Access event is LaMonica Campbell, owner of Iris Talent. SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 16. Click here for details>>

Los Angeles
Improv Class Class Begins in September—Submissions Accepted Through September 14
AFTRA LA will again host a free 8-week Improv Class designed to enable an actor to respond to audition situations with strong choices. Long-time teacher and lecturer Joe Reich will serve as the instructor for this session. The class is open to LA Local members in good standing with participants selected by the instructor from pictures and resumes submitted by interested members. Click here to learn more about this, and other upcoming AFTRA LA events, including dates, location, and submission information>>

San Francisco
San Francsico Conservatory -- Doughnuts with the DGA—August 26
The San Francsico Conservatory is presenting a double-header workshop on Saturday, August 26. The morning session is Doughnuts with the DGA—everything you wanted to know about working with directors. Paul Martin of the DGA will enlighten members on the roles of directors, assistant directors, 1st A.D's, 2nd A.D.s, and others—what you need to know and what they need to know, challenges of new technology on the set, set etiquette, and a variety of other topics. The afternoon session is dedicated to Commercial Contracts 101 where members can ask questions, discuss the most common problems and learn what is and what is not in the commercials contracts. This event is only open to AFTRA and SAG members. Click here for details>>

Friends of Faith Walk for the Cure
This is the second annual event sponsored by the organization named for the late Bay Area reporter Faith Fancher. More than a thousand people are expected to participate in the walk around Middle Harbor Shoreline Park in Oakland. Friends of Faith is a nonprofit charitable organization of professional women dedicated to fighting the breast cancer epidemic through the power of information and by providing funds to local organizations to help provide direct assistance to underserved and under-insured women in their battle against breast cancer. Click here or more information>>

San Francisco Arts Forum Presents Two Events

• The Greater Bay Area Arts Education Network, in collaboration with Arts Forum SF, Independent Arts & Media and the Performing Arts Workshop, invite you to a facilitated community conversation about the role of art in creating positive social change. How do you, as artists, bridge politics and creative practice? There is no charge for this event. Click here for more information>>

  Date: Monday, August 16, 2006
  Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  Location: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
  701 Mission Street
  San Francisco, CA

• Making Art, Making Change—This two-day conference on August 18 and 19 targets youth workers, youth, parents, and artists with the goal of bringing together participant-learners from the various communities of artists, youth, and social justice workers, to work towards an actionable, local positive change. Making Art, Making Change will explore and illustrate how the various artistic disciplines can ensure opportunities to practice critical thinking, discover and express individuals’ experiences, investigate creative ideas and make new social and intellectual connections. Click here for more information>>

Texas Regional
Third Thursdays Mixer—featuring "The Organizer" (our very own specialty drink)—Thursday, August 17. Click here for information on the next event>>

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UPDATE YOUR RECORDS
Please remember to keep your contact information—including email—current with your AFTRA Local and AFTRA H&R. You can update your information by requesting a multi-use change of address form from your Local office. You can also update your information online at the AFTRA.COM, click on the "Members Only" button, fill out your information, and check a box to automatically forward your address change to AFTRA H&R!

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PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY
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 & 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 headshots. If you can't find your AFTRA Membership Card, call your AFTRA Local.

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UNION EXTRAS
Union Plus Benefits for Union Members
Just as unions provide strength in the workplace, Union Privilege provides strength in the marketplace. Union Privilege delivers the best benefits through the collective buying power of over 13 million AFL-CIO union members and designs programs that help union members enjoy life at a great price. By using the collective buying power of unions, Union Privilege is able to offer a variety of high quality, discounted products and services exclusively to working families.

AFTRA members enjoy discounts on credit services, legal services, pet services, travel, computers and more. Visit the Union Plus website to see all the discounts available to you.

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WE REMEMBER
Click here to view a gallery of recently departed AFTRA legends>>

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