EQUITY News JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010
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JANUARY/ “If you really want to help FEBRUARY the American theatre, 2010 don’t be an actress, darling. Volume 95 Be an audience.” Number 1 EQUITYNEWS —Tallulah Bankhead A Publication of Actors’ Equity Association • NEWS FOR THE THEATRE PROFESSIONAL • www.actorsequity.org • Periodicals Postage Paid at New York, NY and Additional Mailing Offices A New Decade ofTaxation Mark Zimmerman Resigns By Sandra Karas especially, our late Conard Volunteer Income Tax Fowkes, whose dedication to as Equity President; Paige Price Assistance Program them and this program were begin this year’s articles on valuable gifts indeed. Carries Out Duties We are Volunteers – As Mr. a personal note. My friend ark Zimmerman and Council will continue to created the groundwork for Fowkes often stressed, we are and one of the founders of resigned as Equity build upon our solid foundation Equity’s centennial, which will I unpaid and well-trained Equity’s Volunteer Income Tax President, effective of leadership and serve the volunteer members of the M take place in 2013. Assistance (VITA) program, December 11, 2009. First Vice members with the same Internal Revenue Service’s Paige Price was elected to a Conard Fowkes, died this past President Paige Price is dedication that Mark has Volunteer Income Tax Principal Council seat in the December, leaving a legacy of carrying out the duties of the demonstrated.” Assistance Program. This Eastern Region in 2001 after assistance to actors that is Office until a new President is A member of Equity since particular program, located at serving on the Production unparalleled in the program’s elected. 1976, Mr. Zimmerman stepped the Equity building in New York Contract Committee and being a history – indeed, rarely seen at In his resignation statement into the role of President in 2006 and at other union offices as member of the 2000 Production any level of union volunteerism. to the Officers and Council, Mr. when then-President Patrick available, is supported by Contract Negotiating Team. She In 1977, Conard, Michael Zimmerman said he wanted to Quinn resigned to become the Equity, SAG and AFTRA to served again on the 2004 Enserro and Shorling Schneider devote more time to his Executive Director. Mr. provide tax assistance to Production Contract Negotiating formed an unofficial committee personal life and his career. “I Zimmerman led the Union members of those three unions. Team and was elected to a of individuals who ventured didn’t go into this business to be through the difficult time It is not a function of union staff second Council term in 2006. bravely into the Internal a President of a Union. I did it to following Mr. Quinn’s sudden in any of its locations, in spite of When Mark Zimmerman was Revenue Code and founded be an Actor. I miss that, and I passing and the extended the perception to the contrary. AEA’s VITA Program in an effort want to devote my time to doing search for a new Executive elected President to fill the We remind each member who to help fellow performers what I love.” Mr. Zimmerman is Director. Under Mr. position vacated by the late may benefit from the free tax navigate the waters of the IRS. currently in the Broadway Zimmerman’s leadership, Equity Patrick Quinn in 2006, the help that the individual assisting Since that time, VITA has company of West Side Story. achieved a 401(k) plan for its Council elected Ms. Price to fill you is probably a union member served tens of thousands of “Mark has been an important members through collective Mr. Zimmerman’s post as First him or herself and is doing AEA, SAG and AFTRA part of the Equity family, first as bargaining and, together with Vice President until the next his/her best work possible to members, saving them millions a Vice President and then as his fellow officers and executive election in 2007. At that point, help you file your tax returns in of dollars in taxes. Yours truly President,” said Ms. Price. “He staff, conducted Expanded she was elected by the accordance with the terms of joined the effort a year or so has helped to shape the Regional Board meetings from membership to serve until 2009 our agreement with the IRS. after VITA was founded and, direction of the Union with which the Union’s strategic long and was reelected to that office Questions may be directed to inspired by our founders’ energy and vision. The Officers term plan was set. He also in 2009. examples, I was determined to the VITA Site Coordinator at learn everything I could learn your location or sent to the IRS about performing artists and nearest you. their relationship to our system Are you being audited? – of taxation. Michael Enserro and The New York office of VITA is Council Resolves to Continue Schorling Schneider passed currently compiling audit away many years ago and, with information and providing some Efforts to Improve Health Care; Conard’s death, we have lost assistance to these members in our last founding member of the form of official Commits to Lobbying Campaign correspondence and other VITA. But, we continue the work By Rachel Laforest and to safeguard the best for millions of Americans - on behalf of our fellow means. If you are one of our Public Policy Director components.” hangs in the balance and the performers, as we have for more members who has experienced It has been a long and picture is becoming bleaker with than 30 years. We hope that an audit or examination, we ask t its meeting on January difficult road to health care each passing day. Rapidly each member who has you to please contact our office 19, 2010, Council and provide information for our reform. Reform - which is crucial escalating health care costs are benefitted or will benefit from Acommitted to continue crushing family, business, and files and determine if we may be this program will pay a tribute of its efforts to improve health care of help in resolving your case. government budgets. Employer- thanks to the founders and and resolved that “upon Equity Mourns Unemployment benefits: sponsored health insurance passage of any health care Taxation and Withholding – Passing of premiums have doubled in the reform bill by Congress, Equity While most of you already know Conard Fowkes last nine years, a rate three agrees to commit to a lobbying times faster than cumulative that you pay tax on (See campaign over the next three wage increases. This forces unemployment insurance, this page 4) year you might be pleasantly years that seeks to address the families to make impossible surprised to learn that you’ll get ills of the bill. Either by choices between paying rent or some relief in receiving the first legislative amendments or by paying health premiums. Given $2,400 tax-free! We recommend the regulatory process and rule- all that we spend on health care, that you withhold both federal writing, we will work to eliminate American families should not (continued on page 3) (continued on page 3) the worst components of the bill Yéle Haiti. You may visit the BC/EFA Contributes Help for Haiti Equity website, f you would like to help the www.actorsequity.org , to click on $100,000 for Haitian Relief people of Haiti who have any of these organizations to n response to the devastating theatre community’s remarkable Isuffered in the devastating make a donation. earthquake in Haiti on fundraising efforts prior to the tragedy of the January 12, 2010 January 12, 2010, Broadway recent Gypsy of the Year earthquake, the AFL-CIO has Index S I Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has Competition, BC/EFA has been compiled a listing of service President Mark Zimmerman W d e contributed $100,000 to UNICEF able to make a contribution to organizations accepting resigns ................................ 1 t E t s e e 6 e u e in the name of the theatre UNICEF to support the UN’s 3 donations. They are: Doctors Council commits to lobbying N g r q 0 Y t a e t 0 N S campaign on health care reform .. 1 s R community to assist in the Haitian relief efforts.” Without Borders, Partners in 1 , Y o k h e r P t Y c i T o 6 Haitian relief efforts. For more information on how Health, Red Cross International A new decade of taxation .......... 1 s v N Y r s 4 I , e a w t l k e Paul Libin, President of the to help and a listing of other S Response Fund, RN Response r s C Tribute to Conard Fowkes .......... 4 U N e s o d s Y n n i Board of BC/EFA, and Tom organizations accepting W Network, Solidarity Center e r o Postcards from the Regions ....... 5 w d Q 5 d c i e d e 6 a Viola, Executive Director of contributions, visit Equity’s Education Fund, United Way 1 A N S P E Changes in health coverage ....... 8 BC/EFA, said, “Thanks to the website, www.actorsequity.org . Worldwide Disaster Fund and 2 / EQUITY news JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 2010 Annual Election U.S.Postage Letters to The Editor 44 Letters received from paid up members on subjects of concern to Equity member s will be considered and published as soon as possible. The Editor reserves the right to limit letters to 150 words and to select one Calendar or two representative letters when many similar letters are received. Letters must be signed, but names Tuesday, February 23, 2010 Deadline for Reports of all will be withheld on request for those letters which may affect members’ employment.