Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/216003
S AG-AFTRA is adopting as its own a longstanding AFTRA tradition: the awarding of the George Heller Memorial Award. Carried forward from AFTRA, a gold card is presented to a member or staff member who has made a longtime contribution to the unions. There were two honorees in this inaugural year of the award: National Vice President, Small Locals David Hartley-Margolin (right) and Washington-Mid Atlantic Local Executive Director Pat O'Donnell (left). Hartley-Margolin has demonstrated a deep dedication to his fellow union members. He has served in the leadership of AFTRA and SAG since 1987, and has sat on more than a dozen committees. He worked enthusiastically for merger and, in the years preceding it, acted as a bridge between the two unions. Hartley-Margolin is a voiceover performer whose credits include television, commercial and non-broadcast productions, as well as documentaries and hundreds of audiobooks narrations. Both awards came as a surprise to their recipients. "Thank you very much. I'm humbled and blown away," said Hartley-Margolin. "I'm speechless." SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard praised the selection of Hartley-Margolin, known to friends as DHM. "Having worked with DHM pre-merger, I can't think of a more appropriate choice for the first gold card," Howard said. "His dedication to the union has truly served as an example to others." O'Donnell's record of service to the predecessor unions is equally impressive. She started in the AFTRA/SAG office of the Washington-Baltimore office in 1976. She worked her way up to chief negotiator and then to the office's executive director. O'Donnell has had a hands-on role in the two previous merger attempts, and served on the Group for One Union in the most recent, and ultimately successful attempt. "I want to thank my mom, because she convinced me 37 years ago to take this job because she said it would change my life. It did," said O'Donnell. SAG-AFTRA Executive Director David White offered his congratulations on behalf of the union's employees. "Pat has been a stalwart presence in the Washington, D.C. area for more than three decades," White said. "She is someone that everyone — whether employee or member — knows they can count on. She has given so much to the union and this honor is truly deserved." The award's namesake, George Heller, was a co-founder of AFTRA's predecessor union, AFRA. Heller left a successful stage career to serve radio performers on the staff of AFRA, eventually serving as the union's national executive secretary (what today would be called national executive director), and he later headed up AFTRA. He is credited with securing retirement and health benefits for members of AFTRA. VALERIE MACON/SAG-AFTRA Dedicated Officer and Executive Director Strike Gold