Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/48976
ON LOCATION REGIONAL BRANCH DIVISION Detroit SAG Reaches Out to Youth Market M embers and staff of the Detroit Branch have put much effort in engaging youth in their SAG activities. During a strategic planning session of the Detroit Branch Council Organizing Committee, one councilor repeated the mantra, "We need to engage our Michigan students." Further interest was sparked aſter reading an article in The Michigan Citizen (January 20, 2011), "Unions Seek Ways to Link with Younger Workers." The article discussed how union activism has dropped among younger workers. It explained that when unions grow, they generally grow with a strong young worker presence. And yet, Michigan unions are seeing a smaller presence of these younger members. So now it is a Detroit SAG priority to try to address this important concern. Aſter speaking about SAG to students in high schools, colleges and film trade schools, no clear signs of success followed: no queries, no student contracts, no interest in membership. It became obvious that SAG members had to prove to the students that there was great value in hiring SAG members or becoming members themselves. From classroom table readings to the creation of the CADET program (where middle and high school students participate in workshops with SAG members), to workshops for students of higher education, young filmmakers and actors learned that their projects were only as good as their actors. In fact, the latest tactic in Michigan is to make a trade with colleges: free space for membership A student in a University of Michigan–Dearborn producers class gives direction to table readers, SAG members Sonja Crosby, Jan Stano, Ele Bardha and Nicole Hakim Yohn. meetings in exchange for a workshop for their students. Every college that has enjoyed some demonstration of SAG members' talents has resulted in at least one student or school contract, if not more. As the saying goes, the proof may be in the pudding, but it is also in the SAG member as well. CHICAGO PERFORMERS DONATE BLOOD Hissong, the Chicago Branch's annual blood drive has a new name this year: the SAG/AFTRA One Union Blood Drive. "As SAG and AFTRA move ever-closer to W unification, it seems only right to dedicate this year's blood drive to merging these two great unions once and for all," explained Hissong. Open to members of SAG, AFTRA, AEA and Chicago Branch 2nd Vice President Craig J. Harris donates blood. industry friends, the event was held on October 17 in the Kaufherr Members Resource Center. Now in its seventh year, it has expanded to include The Actors Fund, supplying free flu shots along with information about services offered by The Fund, and free headshots by Lila M. Stromer Photography. the Guild. They will receive their honors at the Regional Branch Division Board conference this spring. Costley has been a National Board member since 1991, and helped to establish the HOWARD KEEL HONOREES NAMED T 70 SCREEN ACTOR - Fall 2011 SAG.org National Finance Committee. Seibel served on the SAG Chicago Council for 27 years, including being a member of the SAG National Board for 19 years. The award is the highest recognition given by the Regional Branch Division. hat began as the brainchild of then-Branch President now-National Board member Todd BOSTON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RETIRES T his summer, Boston bid a fond farewell to retiring Executive Director Dona Sommers aſter 21 years of distinguished work on behalf of our members. Stepping into the executive role is Boston's former assistant executive director, Tom Higgins, who has an excellent history of contract negotiations and organizing within the Boston community (see page 32). Sommers will be staying on as he 4th Annual Howard Keel Award will be presented to New Mexico Branch member Roy Costley and Chicago Branch member Mary Seibel for their tireless contributions to needed in an advisory capacity over the next year, and she has been appointed as one of the AFTRA staff members working with elected leadership to craſt the merger proposal between SAG and AFTRA. Boston offers its heartfelt gratitude to Dona Sommers for her dedication and service, and its warmest welcome to Tom Higgins as he moves into his new position. Todd Hissong