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RBD MEETS, HONORS SMITH WITH HOWARD KEEL AWARD Branch Division Conference in Washington, D.C. on May 22 and 23. Highlights of the weekend included the T Sheldon Smith welcome address presented by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, memorial tributes to past RBD Board members Jim Huston and Lucky Hayes, and the presentation made to Philadelphia Branch President Tom McCarthy, who will retire from Guild service at the end of his term in September aſter more than 30 years of continuous service in that role. For the members of the Washington- Baltimore Branch, however, the pièce de résistance was the Saturday evening awards dinner at the National Press Club honoring SAG/AFTRA Washington-Baltimore Branch member Sheldon Smith, who received the 2nd Annual Howard Keel Award for his many contributions to SAG. Te award is the highest recognition given by the Regional Branch Division. “As someone who has received far more than my share of honor and recognition during my lifetime, I can honestly say this was perhaps the only one which came as a complete surprise. I am very gratified and truly appreciate it,” said Smith. “To me, it reflects the gratitude I have for my membership in Screen Actors Guild and in AFTRA. Being a union member has afforded me professional opportunities I would not otherwise have enjoyed and my earned union benefits have allowed me to be a full-time working actor with a long and rewarding career.” A member since 1968, Smith is an award-winning actor/narrator and perhaps the best-known voice of Republican media campaigns in America. He is a four-time winner of the Peer Award for Voiceover/Narration, the recipient of 19 Telly Awards, multiple Pollie Awards and Reed Awards, and a CINE Golden Eagle Award, among other recognitions. For several years, Smith has presented a very popular workshop nationwide that teaches members how to convert non-union work into union jobs. Smith also has participated in every Branch Wages and Working Conditions Committee for both the Commercials and Industrial Contracts for more than 20 years. “Sheldon epitomizes service to the union. He has lent his time, energy, intellect and considerable talent to an extraordinary number of efforts that have benefited members across the country,” said SAG 3rd National Vice President David Hartley-Margolin. “Sheldon’s service has been tireless, staggering, and offered for years without regard for recognition, making him more than deserving of this distinguished award.” Named for the legendary actor-singer and former SAG president, the Howard Keel Award is annually presented to persons who make a significant contribution to the promotion of SAG and to the welfare and benefit of members in their Branch, or nationally, as part of the Regional Branch Division. Keel was SAG’s 10th president (1958-59) and during his term, the SAG National Board was increased from 39 to 52 seats, allowing for Branch representation — for the first time — from New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit and Boston. More than 200 attendees, including the RBD participants, AFTRA National President Roberta Reardon, AFTRA 1st Vice President Bob Edwards, Branch members and guests from as far away as Anchorage, Alaska enjoyed a moving video tribute, a written tribute from Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, remarks by President Ken Howard and others during an evening of fellowship and fun. SAG.org he Washington-Baltimore Branch was very pleased to host the SAG Regional Florida inked film legislation. Te Entertainment Industry Financial Incentive Program, a five-year, $242 million transferable tax credit incentive, will stimulate production and sustain employment. “Te new tax incentive was essentially legislated as a jobs bill,” said State Film Commissioner Lucia Fishburne. “Television shows such as Burn Notice will be favorably impacted. Studio and independent motion pictures and commercials are anticipated to significantly increase as a direct result of our competitive legislation.” Senate Bill 1752 comes at a critical F time. In the wake of economic crisis, last year’s incentive was swiſtly cut, resulting in an immediate — and yes, desperate — action from industry leaders to develop high-level lobbying strategies and organized grassroots campaigns. Florida SAG members and our local council played a pivotal role, initiating ongoing meetings with local legislators, covering county delegations and conducting communication campaigns by telephone and e-mail. SAG staff signed up to serve on every alphabet soup film coalition, traveled to Tallahassee and coordinated additional outreach with our franchised talent agents and casting directors. Te results are already in. “We have been inundated with calls from projects that are interested in coming to Florida contingent on the passage of this monumental legislation,” said Fishburne. At press time, more than 550 applications were submitted for review. “Our substantial professional talent pool serves as a major draw for producers,” said Commissioner Fishburne. “We are most appreciative of the efforts of the Florida SAG Branch and members who worked tirelessly over the past year. We could not have achieved this far-reaching impact across the state without everyone’s collective voices.” Summer 2010 - SCREEN ACTOR 31 Members Bring Back the Work lorida Branch members will soon return to work, thanks to our freshly Allen Clark