Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1237518
M A Y 2 0 2 0 I 1 Dear Member: We hope you and your loved ones are safe during this time. By now you've received the emails we've been sending regularly on all the work your Guild has been doing to keep you protected throughout this coronavirus pandemic and into the future. As you know, well in advance of the "Stay at Home" order, we appointed a rapid response team and consulted with medical and other experts on safely conducting our operations and transitioning our staff to work remotely. The DGA's commitment to its members has remained the same throughout, and we are fully operational, and available to you by phone or email. We also quickly put into motion our ongoing work for members you've read about in our prior letters including: • Fighting for your compensation • Keeping our members still working in news safe and protected • Fast-tracking residuals so that you can quickly benefi t from this well-earned source of income • Providing leniency on dues to those members who need it • Expanding member aid through a new COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund from the Directors Guild Foundation • Working with a coalition of sister Guilds and unions for federal and state relief for our members • Appointing a National Board committee, spearheaded by Steven Soderbergh, and with members from all categories to develop a comprehensive guide that will help us return safely to work when production resumes The DGA-Producer Pension and Health Plan Board of Trustees has also instituted changes to help participants at this time. Among the latest are: three months of premium-free COBRA coverage for participants losing eligibility July 1; allowing the deferral of dependent premiums due at the beginning of April to July 1st; and temporarily allowing participants to take hardship loans from their Supplemental Benefi t Plan. You can read about all these efforts throughout the pages of this special edition of DGA Monthly, which includes an overview of Guild resources to keep nearby. This information and more can also be found in our COVID-19 electronic member portal accessible directly from the homepage of our website (www.dga.org). We hope you continue to be safe as we continue our work fi ghting for you, navigating every decision with kindness and compassion. Thomas Schlamme DGA President A Message From DGA President Thomas Schlamme