DGA Monthly

N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 4 I 7 The 4th Annual Dolores Huerta Spirit Awards, hosted by the nonprofit Labor Community Services, took place on September 27, in Los Angeles. The event celebrated the achievements of community partners and labor leaders who contributed to improving the lives of families throughout the city. Among the distinguished honorees this year were all of the Entertainment Industry Labor Unions, with the Directors Guild of America (DGA) listed among the recipients of the Workers Champion Award. DGA Associate National Executive Director/Western Executive Director Rebecca Rhine accepted the award on behalf of the Guild, which recognized the collective efforts of these unions in supporting workers and families in the entertainment industry. The ceremony was made even more special by the presence of Dolores Huerta herself, the renowned labor leader and civil rights icon and the event not only honored the recipients, but also highlighted the collective efforts of those striving to make a positive impact in LA. The Huerta Spirit Awards are a fundraiser for Labor Community Services, a non-profit organization in partnership with the LA County Federation of Labor, which has been assisting unemployed and underemployed union families with food pantries and other assistance for more than 60 years. DGA Honored at 4th Annual Dolores Huerta Spirit Awards photos courtesy Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Photos: 1. DGA Associate National Executive Director/ Western Executive Director Rebecca Rhine accepts the Dolores Huerta Spirit Award on behalf of the Guild. 2. Labor leader and civil rights icon Dolores Huerta speaks during the event. New DGA members from every category received vital information about the inner workings of the Guild during an orientation event in the Los Angeles Theater on October 10. Following a welcome from Associate National Executive Director/Western Executive Director Rebecca Rhine, the attendees viewed Director Michael Stevens' short DGA 75th Anniversary film, DGA Moments in Time, Part 2: Doubling Down, which describes a crucial incident in early Guild history in a story narrated by Director Martin Scorsese. DGA President Lesli Linka Glatter welcomed the attendees with her story of becoming a member. "I will never forget how I felt when I got that card from the DGA with my name on it, saying that I was a member. It was a very special milestone. When I got that DGA card years ago, I had so many questions — but back then we didn't have an orientation. That's why we're here tonight — to introduce you to the DGA, to be your partner in the process as you begin this next phase of your career as a Guild member." After detailing a bit about her personal history and the history and primary purpose of the Guild, Glatter remarked, "The DGA is a lot more than just this beautiful building with the great theaters — it's hundreds of people working tirelessly on your behalf. Now that you are Guild members, these same protections and safeguards are available to you, and I encourage you to learn more about the DGA community to which you now belong." After detailing a brief history of the Guild, DGA National Executive Director Russell Hollander summarized its mission to protect the membership and explained the organizational structure and how the National Board, Councils and Committees all work with the professional staff in those efforts. Rhine then returned to the podium with more details on the Guild staff and explained how the DGA contracts protect the economic, legal and creative rights of the membership. She also touched on some of the services available through Guild membership such as the Pension and Health Plans as well as the rights and responsibilities that come with a DGA card. The evening then transitioned into an informal cocktail reception in the Los Angeles headquarters atrium where the attending new members could mingle with their peers, meet Guild staff and other Guild representatives and have their questions addressed in the informal setting. See more photos and coverage from this event online at www.dga.org. DGA Hosts New Membership Orientation for All Categories photos by Howard Wise 1 4 2 1 2 Photos: 1. New DGA members from every category learn more about their Guild during the Orientation. 2-4. President Lesli Linka Glatter, National Executive Director Russell Hollander and Associate National Executive Director/Western Executive Director Rebecca Rhine address the audience. 5. New DGA members mingle with their peers, meet Guild staff and other representatives during the post-event reception. 5 3

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