Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1467606
18 SAGAFTRA | Spring 2022 | sagaftra.org For Members Continues on page SAG AF TRA Na Ap Board Hears Positive Report on Union's Financial Health A t its April 30 meeting, the SAG-AFTRA National Board voted to arove the fiscal year 2023 budget, which includes significant investments in new technology, business innovation projects and increasing staff in order to continue providing member service at the necessary level. The one-day plenary was conducted remotely, and President Fran Drescher videoconferenced into the meeting from Washington, D.C., where she was attending the White House Correspondents Dinner and advocating for various union issues. In his national executive director's report, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland told the board that covered earnings and employment overall reached a new record high in , even with ination factored in The made-for-new media, animation, sound recordings and audiooo categories saw inationadjusted record highs. Secretary-Treasurer Joely Fisher and Chief inancial fficer Arianna anto reorted that SAATA is in a strong financial osition oth revenue and expenses are tracking better than planned through the third uarter of FY 2022, and reserves have grown significantly isher reported that the union's PPP loan was forgiven and the union is seeing an unprecedented surge in new memershi, reresenting confidence in the union and new income. Fisher also announced the formation of the Real state Investment Subcommittee, which will explore potential options for acuiring real estate in the os Angeles area xecutive Vice President Ben Whitehair, General Counsel Jeffrey Bennett and Chief Governance and uity nclusion fficer ichelle ennett reorted on various legal and governance matters. At its April 9 meeting, the National Board approved, by 92.92% to 7.08 , the 2022 Commercials Contracts tentative agreement reached with The Joint Policy Committee on April 5 and recommended the membership vote yes. The agreement was then SAG-AFTRA Accredits Intimacy Coordinator Training Programs' A s part of SAG-AFTRA's groundbreaking 2020 introduction of Standards and Protocols for the Use of Intimacy Coordinators, which created a framework for use and outlined the responsibilities of intimacy coordinators at every stage of production, eight newly accredited international intimacy coordinator training programs have een estalished that will safely eand the ool of ualified intimacy coordinators on set. The accreditation system allows interested candidates to identify high-q uality training programs and ensures a commitment to eq uity and inclusion for all applicants. It is the culmination of a yearslong process in which the union and the intimacy coordinator community collaorated to imlement the first industrywide standards for training to enter the profession. Actor and os Angeles Vice resident ichelle urd, who is the chair of the Sexual Harassment Prevention Committee, highlighted the need for the new system and guidelines. This new accreditation system is one part of our long-term strategy to ensure safe and eq uitable workplaces for SAG-AFTRA members and drive real industrywide change. Setting a standard for high-q uality training programs that foster eq uity and inclusion will help protect members and create an environment where they can expect consistent and uality intimacy coordination wherever they perform in the world," Hurd said. Hurd was an early advocate of the intimacy coordinator profession and has been dedicated to making sets and audition rooms safer. Her activism earned her SAG-AFTRA's President's Award last year. SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher signaled her agreement with the new guidelines. Intimacy coordinators set the bar even higher on protections for our members and help raise consciousness on what's considered appropriate behavior as well as being sensitive to the feelings and comfort zone of performers," Drescher said. In an industry that for decades turned a lind eye to the casting couch, d say this is most definitely a ste in the right direction! The accreditation program is not intended to imply an endorsement of any individual or comany y SAATA, ut rather to confirm that the minimum training standards for the program are being met. Once accredited, a biennial review of the organizations will be conducted to ensure continued compliance with the accreditation program. SAATA will also soon introduce a registry of ualified and experienced intimacy coordinators that have met the minimum standards for training and experience on set, as well as a pre-registry list of intimacy coordinators entering the field For intimacy coordinator resources, visit sagaftra.org/intimacycoordinator. For updates on COVID– workplace protocols, visit sagaftra.org/ backtowork