AFTRA New Orleans Annual Membership Meeting

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written by Frank Boimare III

AFTRA New Orleans held its annual Membership Meeting on June 11 at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). This combined business and social gathering gives the members of AFTRA in Louisiana the opportunity to learn more about AFTRA activities on the local and national level, acknowledge the on- and off-camera work of the members, conduct local elections, and meet and network with their fellow performers. The meeting was well-attended by local members, including new members, the Local Board, and Herta Suarez, the AFTRA Southeast Regional Director. Lainie Cooke, the AFTRA National Recording Secretary and National Board Member, was the guest speaker. Those in attendance enjoyed a delicious catered luncheon. Door prizes this year: two microphones were awarded. 

Lainie Cooke came from New York to explain the importance of  “One Union”  of  AFTRA and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), the platform of which will be developed by joint committees of both unions. She noted that both unions were formed in the 1930s to fight for and win the strongest possible protections for media artists. The new combined union is necessary to preserve those hard-won rights and to extend and expand the protections into the twenty-first century and beyond. No one from either union will lose anything and the combined membership will have a more powerful voice at future contract negotiations.  Check your mail for updated information. Please make sure your physical mailing address and contact information is up-to-date with AFTRA! Send info to neworleans@aftra.com.

Robyn Ryan Sprehe was named 2011 Member of the Year and presented with an etched glass award. President Diana Boylston noted that “every so often a performer joins AFTRA and she means to join. This person wants to be actively involved, so she attends meetings and puts time and effort into building the local union and making it stronger.”  Robyn is that person! She is always searching for ways to get AFTRA more involved with the production and industry events. She writes articles for the AFTRA magazine. Most recently, she has taken on the task of conducting market research to help us plan effective organizing activities in Louisiana.

George Sanchez was given our most prestigious local award, the 2011 Star Award, to celebrate his long-term pivotal role in the operations of the New Orleans local and his illustrious career in the performing arts in New Orleans. He was cordially “roasted” by local Vice-President and National Board Observer Charles Ferrara and members Peter Gabb and John Wilmot.

George, a member of AFTRA, SAG, and the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), has performed on many of the local theater stages. George has extensive broadcast and film credits: educational videos, industrial films, theatrical films, radio and television commercials, and voice over narration. In his work as a director, a producer, and an educator, George has groomed young actors who went on to professional careers. He is a talented playwright and has won the top prize in several one-act play competitions.

In his “spare” time, George has been a driving force behind AFTRA New Orleans. He has served as the local President and currently serves as the local Secretary, scripting eloquent and to-the-point correspondence. George almost single-handedly drafted the Constitution for the New Orleans chapter, which has shaped the operations of the local for a long time.

The meeting elected the 2011-2013 Local Board and the 2011National Convention delegates. Diana Boylston, Charles Ferrara, George Sanchez, and Frank Boimare were reelected and retained their respective offices: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Boylston and Ferrera were also reelected as Convention delegates, and Ferrera continues on as National Board Observer. Jimmy Bower, recently retired from WWL-TV, was reelected to the Board as a Member-at-Large, representing broadcasters. New Members-at-Large Lea Sinclair Filson and Lorraine LeBlanc joined the Board representing performers. The members of AFTRA New Orleans wish to extend their thanks to outgoing Board member Susan Parker for her help and support over the past four years.

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