Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/184869
San FranciscoNorthern California AUDIOBOOK PROS SPEAK IN BERKELEY UNION VS. NON-UNION IN A SO-CALLED 'RIGHT-TO-WORK' STATE Atlanta O n May 6, the Muriel Moore/Danny Nelson SAG-AFTRA Conservatory celebrated its one-year anniversary by partnering with the Alliance Theatre Acting Program to present a panel discussion in the Woodruff Arts Center. The topic of discussion was the single most important question facing professional actors in the burgeoning Georgia entertainment marketplace: Union or Non-Union in a "Right-to-Work" State. The panel was moderated by Conservatory Chair and Local Board member Clayton Landey, and included Georgia film icon Shay Bentley Griffin; agent Rona Burns; SAG-AFTRA Atlanta Local President Ric Reitz, who is also a DGA and WGA member; SAG-AFTRA Atlanta Local 1st Vice President Mike Pniewski; and Atlanta Local Executive Director Melissa Goodman. The evening was fast-paced and informative, garnering a standing ovation from the audience of members and nonmembers. A direct result of the evening was a number of new member sign-ups and at least two members who were on the brink of resigning their membership deciding to remain union. Cassandra Campbell and Simon Vance at the May 21 audiobooks event. M ore than 130 SAG-AFTRA San Francisco–Northern California Local members paid rapt attention to an engaging audiobooks panel held at La Peña Cultural Center in Berkeley, Calif. on May 21. Nationally acclaimed audiobook narrators Simon Vance and Cassandra Campbell presented an entertaining and informative discussion on a range of topics in the expanding field of audiobooks. Local Board member Tom Chantler moderated. Vance and Campbell provided practical advice on breaking into the book-narrating field, creating and submitting demos, and offered recording tips and techniques using Pro Tools and other software. SAG-AFTRA Organizing Director, Western Region Steve Sidawi was on hand to answer questions regarding existing audiobook contracts, terms, industry trends and organizing opportunities. Audiobook recordings present new opportunities for SAG-AFTRA members, as almost all new books are being released with an audio component now. Through a number of recently signed SAG-AFTRA audiobook contracts (see page 12), the union is establishing certain industry standards, including minimum rates for a "finished hour" of recording. CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT HONORED WITH CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD C apitol Hill correspondent for WTOP Dave McConnell received the first-ever Career Achievement Award for Distinguished Reporting on Congress from the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association in a ceremony held June 6. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle came together to honor McConnell in a video tribute that was played at the award ceremony. "I don't think there's any correspondent who is better known, better respected and better informed than Dave McConnell," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "I can't really think of a Capitol press corps without thinking of Dave McConnell. He's been the Rock of Gibraltar," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Dave McConnell has weathered eight presidential terms and numerous Congressional elections since becoming WTOP's full-time Capitol Hill correspondent in 1981. He has been with the all-news station since 1965 and is the only full-time Capitol Hill reporter for a local radio station in the entire country. McConnell served on the union's local board for more than 30 years. WashingtonMid Atlantic SAGAFTRA.org OnLoc_v9.indd 35 | Summer 2013 | SAG-AFTRA 35 8/28/13 2:42 PM