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40 SAG-AFTRA | Summer 2014 | SAGAFTRA.org On Location MEMBER VISITS THE BAR D allas-Fort Worth Local 3rd Vice President Sharon Garrison paid a final tribute to her recurring role as Judge Amelia Sanders in Drop Dead Diva by appearing at the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas, on June 26. Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the bar asked the age-old question, "Does art imitate life, or does life imitate art?" Garrison had the opportunity to discuss the portrayal of judges and lawyers in film and television, featuring clips from the show. WOMAN OF THE YEAR T his spring, SAG-AFTRA member Alma Washington was named Chicago's Labor Woman of the Year. The award was presented by the local Chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) at the organization's 35th annual awards ceremony. A longtime member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors' Equity, Washington is serving her third term on the Chicago Local Board. She has also been a convention delegate and participates in several SAG-AFTRA committees, including serving as co-chair of the conservatory. Demonstrating her strong advocacy for women's rights, she is a board member of Working Women's History Project and the Illinois Labor History Society. Held to celebrate International Women's Day, the event was a chance for the labor coalition, which was founded 40 years ago, to pay tribute to those whose activism has helped advance both women's rights and the labor movement. The award Washington received, the Olga Madar Award, is named after the first woman to be elected to the UAW International Executive Board and the coalition's first president. Alma Washington, center, with SAG-AFTRA members, elected leaders and staff HOUSTON MEMBERS JAMES JACKSON FRIEND AND LEE STRINGER join panelists Kerry Beyer of Kerry Beyer Photography and Amelia Ornelas of Ricornel Productions for Houston Conservatory's On Your Mark II workshop June 21. The workshop focused on the latest trends in headshots, resumes and demo reels, as well as a start-to-finish demonstration on the process of self-recording and creating compelling actor bios. REACHING OUT EN ESPAÑOL S tudents of the Adriana Barraza Acting Studio had the opportunity to learn about SAG-AFTRA, the benefits and protections of working under a union contract and the benefits and responsibilities of being a member. On June 2, Miami Local Board member Memo Sauceda and Miami Local Executive Director Herta Suarez spent several hours with the students of Maestra Adriana Barraza (pictured) and Maestro Arnaldo Pipke at their studios. The orientation and the sharing of experiences and advice were eye- openers for many of these students. The entire event was held en español. The Q&A was a testimony of the need for SAG-AFTRA to continue educating performers and other media professionals as they enter and seek employment in our industry. Sauceda and Suarez were surprised when they were presented with a plaque recognizing their contribution in furthering the education of the students. Chicago Miami Houston-Austin From left, Judge Jim Jordan, member Sharon Garrison and attorney Bill Chris Dallas- Fort Worth