TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AFTRA HEALTH BENEFITS
SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW UNION PERFORMERS IN
CANADA
AFTRA SF TESTIFIES AT FCC
TOWN HALL
BROADCAST NEWS
NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE
HERITAGE MONTH
AFTRA COMMENDS LATIN
GRAMMYS
LOCAL BRIEFS
ATLANTA
BOSTON
CHICAGO
LOS
ANGELES
MIAMI
NEW
YORK
TEXAS
REGIONAL
TWIN
CITIES
WE REMEMBER: ED
BRADLEY
UPDATE YOUR
RECORDS
PROTECT YOUR
IDENTITY
UNION EXTRAS FOR THE
HOLIDAYS
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AFTRA HEALTH
BENEFITS
Open Enrollment for New Dental/Vision Programs Ends November
20—Enroll Today!
AFTRA is committed to keeping you covered
through the health care crisis. On October 1, Group Benefit Associates
introduced new programs to provide members who are not covered by the
AFTRA Health Plan with options for dental and vision insurance. Open
enrollment for these programs ends on Monday, November 20, and there will
not be another open enrollment period. 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 click here to visit GBA online>>
AFTRA H&R Premiums Due December
15.
Have you received your AFTRA Health Plan Premium invoice?
Remember, premiums for the January 1, 2007, quarter are due no later than
December 15, 2006. If you have not yet received your premium invoice, call
the AFTRA Health Fund immediately at 1.800.562.4690 or click here to visit
the AFTRA H&R
website>>
SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW UNION PERFORMERS
IN CANADA
AFTRA’s sister union in Canada—the Alliance of
Canadian, Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA)—is currently in
negotiations for a new Independent Production Agreement, which is ACTRA's
agreement with the producers' associations, covering the work of
professional performers in film, television, and digital media
productions. The current agreement expires December 31, 2006. Click here to read the full story and the letter of support
and solidarity to ACTRA from AFTRA National Executive Director Kim Roberts
Hedgpeth>>
AFTRA SF TESTIFIES AT FCC TOWN
HALL
Longtime AFTRA member and former AFTRA San Francisco
Local Board member Peter B. Collins testified against the relaxation of
media ownership rules during the public comment portion of the October 27
FCC town hall meeting on minority media ownership held in Oakland, CA.
Collins described the effects of consolidation both on his career as a
broadcaster, and from the unique vantage point of an FCC licensee, as part
owner of radio station KRXA. Click here to read the whole story>>
BROADCAST NEWS
New Broadcast
Director Completes Senior Staff
The new National Director for
News and Broadcast was introduced to the AFTRA National Board of Directors
at the October 28 plenary meeting. Debra Osofsky, an experienced labor
executive who is currently serving executive director of the union
representing 1,400 faculty members at the University of Medicine and
Dentistry of New Jersey, will join AFTRA as National Director,
News/Broadcast, to be based in National offices in New York. Click here to read the whole story>>
Sign Up for the AFTRA Broadcast Talent Review
Today!
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 available 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 to check out this exciting service for AFTRA members>>
NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA
NATIVE HERITAGE MONTH
AFTRA Members Celebrate American
Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.
In honor of our
Native American and First Nation members, AFTRA is proud to recognize
American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. Click here for more information>>
AFTRA COMMENDS LATIN GRAMMYS
Latin
Grammy Awards Praised for Producing Television Program Under AFTRA
Agreement.
AFTRA commended the Latin Academy of Recording
Arts & Sciences for producing the 7th annual Latin GRAMMY Awards under
an AFTRA agreement for broadcast on Univision. Click here to read the press release>>
LOCAL BRIEFS
ATLANTA
How to Turn a Non-Union Offer Into
a Union Job Offer! Monday, November 13.
Award-winning
voiceover artist and former AFTRA National Board member, Sheldon Smith,
will show you “How to Turn a Non-Union Offer into a Union Job Offer.”
(Just before "Lend Me an Ear!" at the same location.) Click here for more information>>
An Evening of Old Time Radio: 3rd Annual “Lend Me
an Ear! – An Evening’s Chill with Sorry, Wrong Number." Monday, November
13.
Atlanta’s three professional acting unions—AFTRA, SAG, and
Actors' Equity—are teaming up once again to present nostalgic recreations
of classic programs from the Golden Age of Radio to benefit the Atlanta
Community Food Bank. Click here for more information>>
BOSTON
Come to
the AFTRA/SAG Conservatory: "Know Your Contracts." Monday, November 13.
Become the most knowledgeable
performer on the set.
Click here for details>>
CHICAGO
AFTRA-SAG Conservatory
Presents BiCoastal/BiLingual. Monday, November 13.
If you’re
considering opportunities in New York or Los Angeles you will be
interested in attending BiCoastal/BiLingual, which will be the next
Conservatory offering in Chicago. The event will also address the
advantages of being bilingual in any language, no matter what language is
your other language. Click here for more information>>
LOS ANGELES
AFTRA Women's
Committee Invites You to Experience “AUDITION PSYCH. 101.” Wednesday,
December 6.
Busy working actor Michael Kostroff (HBO's “The
Wire,” “Studio 60,” “Veronica Mars,” “The Closer,” touring companies of
“The Producers,” “Les Misérables”) will teach “Audition Psych. 101,”
Wednesday, December 6 in the AFTRA Boardroom. Mr. Kostroff de-terrorizes
the audition process—from preparation to callback—in this funny, inspiring
workshop, designed to help performers at every level deal with nerves and
insecurities and learn to love auditioning! Click here for more information on this and all the other
exciting events for AFTRA members in Los Angeles>>
MIAMI
Performers' Lab in Miami.
Saturday, November 11.
Learn the basics of how to record with
Pro Tools, how to edit in Pro Tools, and how to save and send your work
all over the world with the help of the industry standard for voice over
work. Click here for details on this exciting event>>
NEW YORK
AFTRANY Annual
Membership Meeting. Thursday, November 16.
6:00 p.m.
Crowne Plaza Manhattan Hotel
1605 Broadway (at 49th Street)
Hear
from elected members and staff reporting on AFTRANY's activities. To place
a resolution on the meeting agenda, submit it to the Local office before
5:00 p.m. on October 6, 2006.
GET INVOLVED…BE ACTIVE!
AFTRANY New Members Meeting. Tuesday, November 14.
You don’t have to be a new member to come to a new members
meeting. Any member with questions about how AFTRA works and how it can
help you in your career and your life is welcome at this meeting. Click here for more information>>
TEXAS REGIONAL
Dallas/Fort
Worth
Holiday Bash & New Member Welcome. Monday,
December 4.
Click here for more information>>
Voiceover Training in Dallas with Bettye
Zoller
"The Techniques of Voice Acting" - Saturday, November
11
"The Business of Voiceovers: Strictly Business!" - Saturday,
December 2
Click here
for more information and reserve your place today>>
Third Thursdays Mixer. Thursday, November
16.
Click here for more information>>
Join the Texas Motion Picture Alliance
Today!
If you haven’t already joined the Texas Motion Picture
Alliance (TxMPA), DO IT NOW! Texas needs competitive incentives in this
legislative session. When you become a member of the TxMPA, you can help
stop the loss of Texas-based work leaving our borders. Our future is in
our hands and each finger counts. Click here to visit the TxMPA website and JOIN
TODAY>>
TWIN CITIES
Twin Cities Local
Fall 2006 Annual Membership Meeting. Monday, November 13.
Guest Speaker: Lucinda Winter, Executive Director of
Minnesota Film & TV Board
"New Media, TV, Commercials,
Film: The evolving job outlook for our industry in Minnesota". Click here for details>>
WE REMEMBER: ED BRADLEY (1941-2006)
Longtime "60 Minutes" correspondent who reported on
subjects ranging from jazz musicians to the Columbine school shootings.
Bradley joined "60 Minutes" during the 1981-82 season after two years as
White House correspondent for CBS News and three years at "CBS Reports."
His reporting over the years won him a Peabody Award, 19 Emmys and a
Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, among many others. He was honored with
the Lifetime Achievement award from the National Association of Black
Journalists.
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 FOR THE
HOLIDAYS
Starting your holiday planning? Save with Union
Plus!
Don't forget your everyday savings with Union Plus
benefits - including discounts on travel, computers and entertainment.
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 save on holiday travel and more>>
Send Holiday Greetings the Union-Made
Way
Wish everyone on your holiday card list the season's best
with gorgeous union-made greeting cards from The Union Shop Online. Choose
from nine unique card selections, each set a bargain at just $10 for 12
cards and envelopes. Several offer greetings in Spanish as well as
English. Click this link to see them all and order now>>
Enjoy Your Holiday Shopping the Union
Way
The Union Shop Online—the AFL-CIO's retail store for
activists—has something for everyone on your holiday gift-giving list.
From these holiday cards to books and clothing, games and music, stocking
stuffers and kids' stuff—you'll find it
union-made at The Union Shop Online.
Stop by
now>>
