Animation Guild | We are 839 Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1257506
L E T T E R WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE ON TAG'S EXECUTIVE BOARD, ONE OF MY GOALS WAS TO PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN MEMBERS. I WANT TO KNOW EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR MEMBERS AND CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE CAN ALL GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER BETTER. I HOPE TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND CONNECTEDNESS IN OUR CORNER OF THIS LARGE INDUSTRY. One of my union fantasies is to have a union hall where members can just drop in and visit. We would provide refreshments, maybe some games, music, and a place to just hang out. I pushed for TAG to start hosting mixers so that members could have an opportunity to get to know each other in a relaxed, festive environment and we had success with those. We started hosting Lunch-and-Learns and panels. My predecessor, KC Johnson, activated our robust committee system that is yet another way for members to interact and push towards common goals. The pandemic outbreak has pulled the brakes on our in-person efforts. The Guild leadership has been doing what it can to get back on track with reaching and connecting to our members. Like most companies, we're moving to the virtual union meeting hall. The Executive Board has continued having our monthly meetings through Zoom. Committee meetings are also being held in the virtual space. Leslie Simmons, our Field Rep, is holding Zoom studio visits and shop steward training. Alexi Drosu, our Director of Communications and Content, has been busy figuring out how to best meet our members' needs, exploring virtual panels and Lunch-and-Learns. I can't wait to see what she comes up with. Our first virtual General Membership Meeting was a smooth success. We had members from all over the country join us! For my part, I have started a weekly Zoom question and answer and general discussion meeting called Office Hours. Our Business Rep, Steve Kaplan, and I along with a weekly guest field questions from attending members. We start with a particular topic in mind but will go where the discussion takes us. It takes place every Friday from noon to 12:30 p.m.. As of this letter, we've had four successful Office Hours sessions so far and I look forward to the future! Keep an eye out for Office Hours announcements and rsvps. When this pandemic lifts, I look forward to making my dream of a TAG union hall a reality but until then we have our virtual spaces to connect with each other. In safe and distant solidarity, Jeanette Moreno King | President The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839 STAYING CONNECTED VIRTUALLY ON THE COVER Clancy travels the universe in The Midnight Gospel. Image courtesy of Netflix.