Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/377629
4 SAG-AFTRA | Summer 2014 | SAGAFTRA.org Letters to the Editor NEW LOGO Just wanted to say, as a member for over 30 years, the new logo brings an element of added sophistication, grace and strength which is an appropriate symbol for those of us who have dedicated our lives to this industry. It makes me proud to be a member of SAG-AFTRA. Keep up the good work. Nan-Lynn Nelson New York Local THE COMMERCIAL WORLD I would like to welcome Gary Saxe as the new SAG-AFTRA commercial strategist. I encourage efforts to "meet the needs of advertisers." I support your desire to "find ways of protecting our members' wages." I embrace the future "with the recently instituted Ad-ID system." But it is time to acknowledge the elephant in the room: SAG-AFTRA is losing advertising signatories. As terrific as it is to track ads, secure residuals and address new media, what is it all worth if non-union commercial production is escalating every day? This must be a strategy priority. Buddy Powell Los Angeles Local Ed. Note: We are excited to have Gary on board. He is a great addition to our Commercials team and his extensive organizing background will help us secure more work under the Commercials contracts in the future. EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief Pamela Greenwalt Managing Editor Damon Romine Associate Managing Editor Leslie Simmons Art Director Yvette Youssefia Senior Writer/Photographer Tom Leupold Magazine Staff Hope Barkan, Tom Flynn, Jennifer Lurey, Ulisses Rivera, Ron Thomas, Gwen Walker, Valerie Yaros Editorial Subcommittee Liz Zazzi (chair) Assaf Cohen (vice chair) Joe Krebs (vice chair) Jeff Austin Susan Boyd Joyce Angela Bullock Mike Hodge Mary McDonald-Lewis Woody Schultz Rik Deskin (alternate) John Carroll Lynch (alternate) Jenny O'Hara (alternate) Sharon Washington (alternate) Contributors Trish Avery, Richard Baldwin, Chris Comte, Julie Crane, Jim Damis, Chelsea Danley, Marcia Fishman, Melissa Goodman, Bernadine Goldberg, Deeann Hoff, Ellen Huang, Nancy Kelly, Ilyanne Morden Kichaven, Caroline O'Connor, Pat O'Donnell, Donna Reed, Herta Suarez, Linda Swenson, Charli Wilson Advertising Sales Ron Thomas (323) 634-8144 2013 ILCA Award Winner for Best Publication Design LETTERS TO THE EDITOR must be signed with your full name and local affiliation (limited to 150 words). Selected letters may be edited for accuracy, space and clarity. Every effort will be made to preserve the author's intended substance. This section is not available to sitting national board members. SEND LETTERS TO: Letters to the Editor SAG-AFTRA Magazine 5757 Wilshire Boulevard, 7th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90036 Letters may also be faxed to (323) 549-6500 or emailed to magazine.editor@sagaftra.org 'IT ONLY TAKES A SECOND' Gabrielle Carteris' column in the recent magazine (Spring 2014) is on the mark. I suffered a broken shoulder on the set of Men in Black III. I still have a major loss in my shoulder since that disastrous day in New York. I was less fortunate when this happened. I was then a non-union background performer on set. I know if I was union at the time, I would have had some understanding of safety in the bylaws in SAG-AFTRA. Lying on the pavement after another background performer hit me hard, my life passed me in the "second" Gabrielle speaks to. I know now when I am on set, the good cloud of union safety looms over me. Thank you, Gabrielle, for reminding me to take care of myself always on set. We need [to treat] our bodies well so we can act for our best performance. Jerry Monaghan New York Local Ed. Note: Please see page 25 for more on safety. ARE YOU GETTING SAG-AFTRA EMAILS? Your union communicates with members primarily through email and digital newsletters. If you are not receiving emails from us, go to SAGAFTRA.org right now and register online so you don't miss out on any of the happenings at your union. - 9