Production Sound & Video

Fall 2021

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Fall 2021 – LOCAL695.ORG 31 whom were present, to support the committee's work. Many members have expressed interest in joining us for our next quarterly meeting, to be held in the fall. A post-COVID quandary arose as we faced the dilemma of how to navigate our first social gathering. Coming out of a worldwide pandemic wasn't an easy task, and some anxiety existed: To mask or not to mask? Would single-serve packages of chips, or pre-packed cheese and crackers suffice? Would a large bowl of guacamole be OK? (Answer: Guacamole is always OK!) As the afternoon unfolded and members arrived, we all realized how nice it was to see faces and smiles again! Soon enough, talk about masks was replaced by easy conversation amongst our sisters and kin. As we relaxed and enjoyed each other's company, we shared stories, ate and drank, laughed, and commiserated, we listened with empathy, to the horror stories many have lived through in our past. The food was plentiful and the mood was powerful! It wasn't all social however; we tackled some tough issues facing women working in tech within the film and TV industry. I had a goal to achieve for this first meeting. In particular, I was determined to identify four to five objectives for the committee to work on this year. I designed a group activity that I called the "Hot Topic Boards." The activity began with poster boards (decorated beautifully by Anna's daughters) with large colorful Post-it notes, listing issues ranging from unequal level of promotion, to microaggressions at work. Together, members chose their top five issues from more than forty hot topics presented. When the results were compiled, we sat down and got to business. The meeting portion was rather spirited, and the survey of topics led way to epic levels of conversation. As soon as we selected five pressing issues of focus for the committee's first efforts, many members came to a consensus that we have much work to do to create lasting change amongst our ranks. The members read, discussed, and shared their valuable feedback on the following Local 695 Women's Committee Mission Statement. I'm a female mixer working in Los Angeles, and this opportunity to meet with fellow technicians old and new made me so grateful. Discussing matters that mean a lot to us, and hearing everyone's feedback was so beneficial. I really value the relationships that we as a community are growing. It makes me feel very empowered. Can't wait for the next. Thank you. Chantilly Hensley The Women's Committee meeting was engaging on many levels. The members in attendance put forth what they felt were the most pressing in order of priority and it was a very welcoming environment all around. Hats off to Jennifer Winslow for putting it all together and for Anna Wilborn's use of her lovely home. Best regards, Heidi Nakamura Assistant Business Agent Jennifer Winslow, Committee Chair, in front of the hot topics wall.

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