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OCTOBER/ “Have the courage to follow NOVEMBER your heart and intuition. 2012 They somehow already know what you truly want to Volume 97 become. Everything else is secondary.” Number 8 EQUITYNEWS — Steve Jobs 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 Voting and the 2013 Diversity and Inclusion are Nominating Committee: Focus of Worldwide Concern Be Heard and Make Equity Continues to Fight for Access, Opportunity a Difference! By Mary McColl must continue. After years of working closely By Brian Myers Cooper both a right and an One speaker in particular, with Equity compiling statistics ver the course of four Chair, Election obligation. At Equity, it is Kimberly Rampersad, a of auditions and hiring for weeks in September Procedures Committee your chance to shape our Manitoba/Nunavut Councillor of Broadway productions, the and October, diversity highest policy-making O Canadian Actors’ Equity Broadway League has created lection. Just when was the focus of important body. In the last Equity Association, spoke eloquently of an EEO Committee to take the you thought you’d discussions within theatrical election, 41,856 ballots her own experiences. A idea of inclusion in hiring to the never have to hear communities worldwide, and E were sent and only 5,827 daughter of immigrant parents next step. After discussion with that word again (at least Equity was a participant in all of valid ballots were returned. and an Actor of mixed race, she AEA, it was decided to take the for four more years), it’s them. That’s less than 14% spoke directly to the Labor conversation to a broader that time again. But if there In September, I attended the participation. By contrast, Leaders in the room saying, “Let audience and expand the scope is one thing that a national 20th FIA World Congress in the 2008 Presidential me tell you what my Union can of the talks. Representatives election like the 2012 Toronto. There, panel election had a 62% turnout do for me.” She challenged from each of the unions and Presidential race teaches discussions were held on and the 2010 midterm those of us in attendance to guilds whose members work on us is that elections matter. diversity, equal employment election sported a 42% “create and maintain a Broadway and tours, and in Every election. And the opportunity, and discrimination turnout of eligible voters. workplace environment in which several cases, at regional closer the election falls to in hiring. Panelists from around Given the sheer volume of I can be considered for any role theatres around the country, met you, the deeper the impact the world told us of their decisions the Equity I audition, limited only by my to bring focus to the topic and it will have on your life. ongoing struggles, confirming Council makes for you skill as the Artist.” She further advance the issues surrounding School boards, state for all of us that the fight for regarding every contract went on to say, “I don’t want to diversity. Equity was legislatures, city councils access and opportunity for all of and code, public policy, be singled out. I wish to be represented by a delegation that and, yes, even the Equity our members continues. Theatre budget and finance, included.” At its core, this included Members Julia Council in some ways have is the reflection of the human negotiations, strikes, major ‘diversity’ work is about Breanetta Simpson, Co-Chair of more immediate and condition and yet, as I sat in the purchases, investments, inclusion. How will your Union Equity’s Eastern Region EEO profound impact in your audience, I heard testimony hiring of the Executive work to ensure that everyone is Committee, Peter Jay day to day life than from around the world that Director and the included in the process of Fernandez, Anita Hollander, national elections. proved our work in this arena appointment of pension & creating work? (continued on page 4) We all remember this health trustees, committee from Civics 101: Voting is (continued on page 2) Pension & Health AEA Joins Unions From November is Open Enrollment Around the Globe At FIA Month for Health Fund World Conference inToronto he Annual Open Enroll- plan, or vice versa. epresentatives from over ment Period for the Equi- If you do not have any 50 member countries ty-League Health Fund is changes to your present cover- T attended the 20th World November 2012. During this time, age, you needn’t do anything dur- R Congress of the International you can change your benefit op- ing the open enrollment period. Federation of Actors (FIA) held in tions, such as dependent and But, if you want to make a Toronto over three days in dental coverage, and switch from change, enrollment forms and full September, 2012. It was hosted an available HMO to the CIGNA payment for the coverage being by the Alliance of Canadian elected must be received by the Cinema, Television and Radio Fund Office by November 30. In Artists (ACTRA), Canadian the event the Office does not re- Actors’ Equity Association ceive your enrollment forms (CAEA) and Union des Artistes and/or payments by November (UDA). 30, you will still be able to make FIA President Agnete these changes up to December Haaland and Canadian hosts 31, 2012, in which event you also Ferne Downey (President, At the FIA meeting in Toronto are (l to r) Flora Stamatiades, pay an additional $100 penalty. ACTRA), Raymond Legault Paige Price, Ira Mont, Mary McColl and Nick Wyman. (Photo: Chris After this date, you will lose the Blanchenot, Canadian Actors’ Equity Association) (President, UDA) and Allan opportunity to make a change for Teichman (President, CAEA) one year, until the following No- conditions for all performers, Congress by President Nick welcomed the attendees and vember. All changes take effect intellectual property rights, global Wyman, First Vice-President Ontario Lieutenant Governor on January 1, 2013. production contracts and Paige Price, Third Vice-President David C. Onley joined in greeting Note: In an effort to be green, promoting equality and non- Ira Mont, Executive Director the delegates. The Congress the Fund Office no longer auto- discrimination in the workplace. Mary McColl and National officially opened with a traditional matically mails paper enrollment The conversations that Director, Organizing and Special Aboriginal welcome and prayer packages to eligible participants. developed out of the Projects Flora Stamatiades. by Wanda Whitebird, a traditional All of the necessary forms are presentations resulted in a healer, and Chief Bryan available online at www.equity number of important resolutions Index LaForme, Mississaugas of the league.org/health/index.html. that took strong positions in Diversity and inclusion .............1 New Credit First Nation. support of arts funding, core However, if you call the Fund From the President..................3 The Congress agenda was labor rights and diversity, among NEWS Office, 212-869-9380 or packed with universal topics that Theatre Spotlight ....................6 800-344-5220, you may request others and against the affect each Union and the a paper kit. persecution of artists. Other Centennial feature on performers they represent. December 1 is Due Date for business included the election of Developing Theatre .................8 UITY Panels, each with a new President of FIA, ACTRA’s $100 Quarterly Premium Final curtain ........................11 Q representatives from several The $100 Premium Payment Ferne Downey. 165 West 46th Street New York, NY 10036 Address Service Requested Second Class Postage Paid in New York, NY E countries, covered issues such National News......................12 (continued on page 3) Equity was represented at the as arts funding, decent working 2 / EQUITY news OCT/NOV 2012 Voting lead Equity for the next few Area Liaison Questions About The years. The Nom Com consists Hotline system continued from page 1 of Councillors in each Region, New Health Exchanges? chairs & vice-chairs (just to and approximately two to three Call 877-AEA-1913 name a few), and given the times as many members-at- The Actors Fund is Set to Help impact these decisions have on large. These members-at-large Equity has a National toll-free the day to day lives of every are selected at the January hotline system for members who By Jim Brown for eligibility for health Equity member, I am stunned 2013 Membership Meetings: live in Area Liaison and office National Director of Health insurance programs. In that every year 86% of us don’t Eastern–January 11; Central cities. The number is 877-AEA- Services, The Actors Fund addition, The Fund collaborates use these precious ballots to and Western–January 14. To with MusiCares and the Venice 1913 (honoring the year of Eq- ow that the Supreme shape our highest elected body serve, you need to be paid up Family Clinic to offer low-cost uity’s founding). Each Area Court has upheld most to reflect our needs and and eligible under one of the medical services twice monthly Liaison city has its own exten- of the Affordable Care desires. three employment categories: N to low-income musicians, sion, where members can ac- Act (otherwise known as the So next April when your Principal, Chorus or Stage dancers, actors and others at cess news and information in ACA, or “Obamacare”), it Equity ballot arrives–hopefully Manager. You don’t have to be the Performing Artists’ Medical their region. seems a good idea to take a via email because you’ve at the Membership Meeting if Clinic in Los Angeles. This closer look at one of its most registered to eVote and if you you send a letter or email of (1) Dial 877-AEA-1913 experience makes The Actors important provisions: the health haven’t, sign in to the Members acceptance to the Committee/ Fund uniquely qualified to (2) Dial your city extension: insurance Exchanges, which Only section and register now– Board Secretary in your become a Navigator, 811 Atlanta come online in 2014.