DGA Monthly

September 2017

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 I 2 9 PRIMARY CATEGORY CHANGES Dan Coffie to UPM Stephen W. Moore to 1AD Kathleen M. Tull to 1AD IN MEMORIAM James R. Aseltine, AD Craig Conolly, 1AD Frank Ferrara, DIR Paul D. Forrest, DIR Rob Fox, DIR Don La Cava, 2AD George A. Romero, DIR Robert E. Vitarelli, DIR Glenn R. Wilder, DIR WESTERN REGION ADDITIONS Graham B. Geraghty, 2AD Clark S. Jackson, 1AD Timothy M. Lynch, 1AD William C. Marshall, 2AD May Nejati, UPM Jim D. Townsend, UPM MEMBERSHIP REPORT The DGA mourns the passing of News Director and 1998 DGA Lifetime Achievement in News honoree Robert E. Vitarelli, who passed away on August 4, 2017. Vitarelli's distinguished career was most notably spent in the CBS Washington News Bureau for over three decades where he contributed to such shows as Face the Nation, the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite, CBS Evening News with Dan Rather, CBS This Morning, Nightwatch and 60 Minutes Point/Counterpoint. Vitarelli also directed news coverage of some of the most significant events in modern U.S. history – from the first launching of an American (Alan Shepard) into space in 1961, the 1964 Civil Rights Hearings, and the first live coverage of a US President's (Nixon) trip to the People's Republic of China in 1972, to five Presidential Inaugural ceremonies, six political conventions, and funeral services of Robert F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, and Presidents Kennedy and Eisenhower. He will be deeply missed. Remembering Robert E. Vitarelli (1930-2017) MEMBERSHIP AND DUES NOTICE MEMBERSHIP Under the union security clauses in DGA collective bargaining agreements, every individual employed by a DGA signatory employer in a DGA-covered category is required to be (or to become within the period specified by law) a "member in good standing." These union security provisions are enforceable in many states, including California and New York, but are not applicable to work performed in certain states where an individual is not compelled to join the DGA or to pay the fair share fees described below as a condition of working in those states. Therefore, the obligation to pay dues or fees described in this Notice is only applicable to work performed in states where DGA union security provisions are enforceable. An individual who works under a DGA collective bargaining agreement that includes a union security provision in a state where such provisions are enforceable must be (or become) a "member in good standing" to be eligible for employment in any DGA-covered category by any DGA signatory employer. Under federal law, the term "member in good standing" does not mean that an individual must actually join the DGA; one can instead elect to pay the DGA initiation and upgrade fees and the percentage of dues which are germane to the DGA's collective bargaining, grievance adjustment and contract enforcement functions ("fair share fees"). You have the right to object to paying for union activities that are not encompassed by the fair share fees. An individual who elects to pay fair share fees instead of joining the DGA and paying membership dues is not a DGA member and has no rights or privileges of membership. If you elect not to become a DGA member, you will not enjoy the significant benefits that DGA membership provides. You will not be eligible to run for or hold elected office. You will not be entitled to vote in any DGA election, including the elections of DGA officers, National Board members, category Council members and Biennial Convention delegates. You will not be entitled to vote on amendments to the DGA Constitution and Bylaws. You will not be entitled to vote on ratification of DGA collective bargaining agreements. You will not be entitled to attend or participate in National Board, category Council or Committee meetings. You will not be entitled to attend or participate in Special Projects and other events and activities reserved for members, including screenings, symposia, workshops and mixers, except those open to the general public. You will not be entitled to have your name published in the Membership Directory or appear on DGA availability lists. Finally, you will not be entitled to receive membership mailings, to access the members-only section of the DGA website, or to attend the Annual Awards Dinner or the Children's Holiday Party. You have the right to obtain additional information from the DGA to assist you in deciding whether to object to paying DGA membership fees and dues. Any non-member who desires to pay only fair share fees must expressly so notify the DGA in a writing signed by the individual making that request. At the end of each fiscal year, the DGA conducts an audit of its total expenses to determine which expenses are included in the calculation of fair share fees. Any non-member paying fair share fees may challenge the DGA's inclusion of certain expenses in the calculation of fair share fees. Such challenges must be in writing and signed by the individual challenger. All challenges for the fiscal year ending December 31 must be received by the DGA by December 31 of the following fiscal year. In the event an informal resolution cannot be reached with the individual making the challenge, the DGA will consolidate all challenges for that fiscal year into a single arbitration proceeding to be held in approximately February of the following calendar year. This proceeding will be conducted through the American Arbitration Association (AAA), and the DGA will pay the AAA's administrative costs and arbitrator's fees. In the event of an arbitration, the Guild will open an interest-bearing, separate, and identifiable escrow account to hold the disputed portion of fair share fees received by the Guild from a non-member who is challenging their calculation. Please note that any Unit Production Manager or Assistant Director who elects not to become a DGA member nevertheless is still subject to qualification list requirements on all theatrical and television motion pictures and certain made for new media productions produced under the DGA Basic Agreement, and on all commercials produced under the National Commercial Agreement. DUES Dues are based on DGA-covered earnings. Earnings are reportable and the corollary dues are payable quarterly. DGA members are required to pay basic dues of $50.00 per quarter, income dues equal to one and one-half percent (1-1/2%) of their annual gross income between $10,000 and $300,000 from employment in any DGA-covered category, and residuals dues equal to one- percent (1%) of all residual payments they receive from employment under a DGA collective bargaining agreement. Robert E. Vitarelli accepting the 1998 DGA Lifetime Achievement in News Award

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