AFTRA MEMBERS OPPOSE MEDIA
CONSOLIDATION
HELP AFTRA MEMBERS
WHEN YOU PAY YOUR DUES
AFTRA
H&R UPDATES
BROADCAST TALENT
REVIEW
NEW AT AFTRA.COM
LOCAL BRIEFS
CHICAGO
CLEVELAND
DALLAS/FT.
WORTH
LOS
ANGELES
NEW YORK
PHOENIX
SAN
FRANCISCO
ST.
LOUIS
WASHINGTON/BALTIMORE
WE REMEMBER
UPDATE YOUR RECORDS
PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY
UNION EXTRAS
AFTRA MEMBERS OPPOSE MEDIA
CONSOLIDATION
AFTRA Members speak out at FCC hearings on media
ownership
AFTRA members turned out in two Southern California
locations to tell the Federal Communications Commission that the
consolidation of media ownership by giant corporations eliminates diverse
and local sources of news, music, and entertainment programming.
Click here to read the full story and President Connolly’s
written testimony>>
Tell the FCC your media consolidation
stories
AFTRA members know the effects of consolidation of
media ownership on our jobs, our lives, and our communities. Now is your
chance to tell your stories about what media consolidation is doing to
you. AFTRA wants to include your information in our official filing with
the FCC, which has issued a new "Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" on its
media ownership rules.
Click here for more information and to take
action>>
HELP AFTRA MEMBERS WHEN YOU PAY YOUR
DUES
Support the AFTRA Foundation
You can help the AFTRA
Foundation support special conferences, educational studies, seminars, and
other events designed to benefit performers, broadcasters, and recording
artists by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Foundation with
your dues payment today. A separate entity from the union, the Foundation
is a tax-exempt, charitable, and educational organization.
Pay your dues
and make a donation to the Foundation online in the "Members Only" section
on the AFTRA website>>
AFTRA H&R UPDATES
H&R
Earnings Statements Printing Error
AFTRA H&R is notifying
participants of possible errors in the printing of AFTRA Health &
Retirement Funds 2005 Earnings Statements. The Fund office uses an outside
vendor which incorrectly manipulated the data sent by the AFTRA H&R
office by shifting some decimal points. Generally, decimal points appear
to have been shifted when a dollar amount ended in zero.
AFTRA H&R is working with their vendor to resolve
this situation as quickly as possible, and will be sending out revised
earnings statements.
If you have questions or concerns regarding the 2005
Earnings Statement you recently received, or your recorded earnings within
the Funds’s system, please contact Participant Services at 1.800.562.4690.
New dental and vision plans for AFTRA members from
Group Benefits Associates
AFTRA is committed to keeping you
covered through the health care crisis. This summer the National Board
approved new programs to provide members, who are not covered by the AFTRA
Health Plan, with options for dental and vision insurance.
These plans became available October 1, 2006. If you have
not already received your informational mailer and would like information
on these and other Group Benefit Associates (GBA) programs, specifically
designed for AFTRA members, please visit GBA
online.
BROADCAST TALENT REVIEW
AFTRA
members can securely post demos on an online talent review
The
AFTRA Broadcast Talent Review offers a private and secure system for
members to submit talent reels to prospective employers and others. This
online service provides password-protected instant access and permit AFTRA
members and their franchised agents to seek increased employment
opportunities with confidentiality and convenience. The low-cost service
is targeted to AFTRA members seeking employment as anchors, reporters,
sportscasters, weathercasters, disc jockeys, or hosts in radio and
television. Members will be able to save money and time by avoiding
mailing or overnighting countless tapes, and instead offers instant
secured access to talent reels to whomever they choose.
Click here for more information>>
NEW AT AFTRA.COM
AFTRA is proud to
recognize National Hispanic Heritage Month
In 1968, Congress
authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim a week in September as
National Hispanic Heritage Week. The observance was expanded in 1988 to a
month-long celebration (Sept. 15-Oct. 15).
Click here to find out more including statistics on the
Hispanic population in America>>
AFTRA contracts cover audiobooks
Make
sure you’re covered under an AFTRA contract to receive your fair wages and
benefits. AFTRA staff is ready to help you and your work in
audiobooks.
Click here for more information>>
Free Time Zone Conversion Software
Time Zones for PCs by
Digital Design, Inc. is a time zone display and time conversion program.
It provides up-to-date and accurate local time information for anywhere in
the world. This product is free to AFTRA members at no charge.
Click here to receive a promotional code>>
LOCAL
BRIEFS
Chicago
How to get an
agent to help with your career—October 26
Would you like the
opportunity to meet with Franchised Agents? Are you interested in
developing helpful techniques that can advance your career opportunities?
If so, then this event is for you!
Click here for more information>>
Blood drive challenge to Chicago AFTRA
members—October 30
Just as they did last year, as part of the
SAG Blood Drive on October 30 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Kaufherr
Member Resource Center, Chicago AFTRA President Dan Frick, Chicago SAG
President Todd Hissong, and AEA Central Region Vice President Dev Kennedy
are competing to see who can round up the most donors. Come out and
support AFTRA. Friends and family are welcome, too.
You must be 17 years of age or older and weigh at least 110
pounds to donate blood. There is no upper age limit and most medications
do not disqualify you from donating. If you have questions please call the
LifeSource Medical Help Desk at 877.543.3768.
To schedule your appointment, email Melissa Palmer or call her at
or 312.573.8081.
Cleveland
Hot Pizza/Cold
Readings—October 17
Focus: Voice-overs, with The Reel Thing's
Jimmy Silver as moderator.
Click here for more information and to RSVP for this
session>>
Dallas/Ft. Worth
2006
Topaz Awards
AFTRA Members Morgan Fairchild and Ada Lynn among
honorees at the Women in Film Dallas 2006 Topaz Awards on November 5.
Click here for more information>>
Third Thursdays Mixer at Hector’s on
Henderson—October 19
TxMPA applications will be available. Now
is the time to reach the Texas Legislature!
Click here for more information>>
Los Angeles
The Business
of Commercials—November 9
Hear from Mark
Measures, Director of On-Camera and Voiceover Commercials, Abrams
Artists Agency Inc., about how the commercials business has changed, how
one is cast, Internet casting, how to break into commercials and
voiceovers, and how to optimize your auditions.
This seminar is for educational purposes only and will
not secure or provide opportunity for employment in the field or
representation by an agent.
November 9, 7:30 p.m.
AFTRA Frank Maxwell Board
Room
5757 Wilshire Boulevard, Lobby Level
Los Angeles, CA. 90036
Open to all AFTRA Members in Good Standing; RSVP's
required. RSVP to 323.634.8103, leaving your name, AFTRA ID, and phone and
e-mail contact information. Reservations will be accepted until room
capacity is reached.
New York
AFTRA@Work
/ NY Local Women’s Committee present "How To Enjoy
Auditioning Part II"—October 23
Learn how to boost your
confidence & get rid of anxiety through proper audition
preparation. Panelists include: Alexa
Fogel - Casting Director and Independent Film Producer, casting
credits include the HBO series "The Wire" and "Oz," and
currently "The Black Donnellys" for NBC; Joanna
Merlin - Actor - role of Judge Petrovsky on "Law & Order
SVU," former Casting Director of theater and film, NYU Graduate
Acting Faculty; Nancy Piccione - Director of Casting,
Manhattan Theatre Club.
Monday, October 23, 2006
AFTRA - 260
Madison Ave., 7th Floor
(Between 38th & 39th Streets)
6:00
– 6:30 p.m. Networking
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Program
To reserve a space, please call Michele
Caruso at 212.863.4253. Seating is limited. Bring your paid up AFTRA card
for admission.
Phoenix
Annual
Membership Meeting—October 30
Special guests: Gay
Gilbert of Producer’s Network and Matt Gould of
Illuma Studios.
Click here for more information>>
San Francisco
AFTRA/SAG
Fall General Membership Meeting and Member Orientation—October
23
Guest panel includes Commissioners from San Francisco,
Oakland, and San Mateo film offices.
Click here for details>>
Broadcast Legends Present— October
24
Drive up the coast to Mendocino as Broadcast Legends
present “Golden Memories of Radio” featuring “The Lone Ranger” and “The
Bickersons."
Visit the Broadcast Legends website for more
information>>
AFTRA/SAG Conservatory presents a Cold Reading
Workshop—November 4
Details to be released Monday, October 19.
Check the AFTRA San Francisco Local webpage for
updates>>
St. Louis
Fall
Membership Meeting and Awards—October 30
Honorees: Bob
Hamilton of KMOX Radio and Joan Robison formerly
of Talent Plus.
Click here for more information>>
Washington/Baltimore
“Playback,” Fall 2006, now
online!
The Fall 2006 issue of "Playback"—the official
newsletter of the AFTRA-SAG Washington/Baltimore Local—is now available
online.
Click here to visit the AFTRA-SAG Washington/Baltimore Local
website and view the new issue of "Playback”>>
WE REMEMBER
Patrick
Quinn, longtime President of Actors' Equity Association, and recently
named National Executive Director, died suddenly on September 23,
2006.
Click here to read a tribute from AFTRA National President
John Connolly>>
Click here to read other tributes and condolences honoring
Patrick Quinn>>
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 website, click on the "Members Only" button, fill
out your information, and check a box to automatically forward your
address change to AFTRA H&R!
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.
UNION EXTRAS
Compare and save on
your auto insurance
Union members save an average of $398 when
they switch to Union Plus Auto Insurance. Union Plus delivers the best
benefits through the collective buying power of over 13 million AFL-CIO
union members and helps union members enjoy life at a great price. AFTRA
members enjoy discounts on credit services, legal services, pet services,
travel, computers, and much more.
Click here to visit the Union Plus website to get a free
auto insurance rate quote and discover all the Union Plus benefits
available to you>>
