Monday, September 26, 2011

Politics are not just in Washington DC




Nevada SAG moving forward (with your help and support)

It does not make friends, but within the limits of confidentiality I am know for telling the truth as I see it.

Your union is a union, not a club, conservatory or social networking group.

And we have a very dedicated board of officers and members looking after the business of the Guild in Nevada. This election showcased how the system works, once the membership has a voice.

There are politics underway that I feel need to be addressed. I thank the membership for their votes in this election, selecting candidates who were not nominated by the nominating committee among their choices.

Those who are doing the job, who have the connections and who have the experience, can be heard at the national level. For the first time that anyone can remember incumbents who were working hard and getting their jobs done were not nominated by the nominating committee, the president last year and myself this year, along with two sitting council members, one of whom choose not to run by petition. Local officers endorsed not voting incumbents back into office.

I am not the type to blow my own horn, campaign or ask for help. This year I had to do all three, and I did not enjoy it. I thank all of you who made calls, sent e-mails, donated to the campaign and supported by reelection. I did gather endorsements, but only after knowing the politics behind my not being nominated.

It would hope that our top local officers, as well as Rick Rockne, take the time to allow me to represent the branch on the national level. The local level has always been in the hands of the officers and council. I have one vote and other than advising from experience and the perspective of my office, I carry no more voice or vote than any other member of your elected council. Except for my one year as president, I never have, regardless of the rumors that circulated during the past two campaigns.

As I shared in today's membership meeting, it is my hope that, whether we merge or not, members continue to step forward and run for office, volunteer for committees and do all they can to turn potential work union in Nevada. We are the union.

It is also my hope that the type of backdoor politics I have seen over the past two years comes to an end and that we move forward as a branch proudly into a new union or as the Screen Actors Guild, continuing to put membership first.

I feel that you have a strong council, working on many projects for our branch. We have a strong executive in Steve Clinton, and strong support from many key players in the community.

Solidarity.


Art Lynch
(as a private citizen and member of SAG, not an official correspondence).

In part to support what I indicated above about the nominating committee and the need to keep experience I present the folowing excerpt from the Hollywood Reporter:


"In Nevada, Art Lynch won a contested national board seat. Six other national board seats from the Regional Branch Division were uncontested, and the winners were previously announced: Boston – Bill Mootos; Dallas – Suzanne Burkhead; Detroit – Ed Kelly; Houston – Robert Nelson; Nashville – Cece DuBois; Washington, D.C./Baltimore –Stephen F. Schmidt. All of those are three-year positions, and all of the regional winners are believed to favor merger."

Wednesday, September 7, 2011


Why I serve.


























Art Lynch is an actor
and educator who serves
on the National Board of Directors
of the Screen Actors Guild
representing Nevada.

In his over 20 years of Nevada
based Guild service
he has chaired committees,
served on the elected council,
served as Nevada Vice President
and President. He co-chairs
the New Technology Committee
and has long been active
in other national committees,
including the Young Performers
Committee, dedicated to
helping young talent and
their parents to prepare
for and deal with the needs
and demands of the industry.

The guild does not
compensate members
who serve in offices or on committees.
His work is voluntary and for the benefit
of all talent and future talent.

A veteran of Chicago theatre and both film
and commercial acting,
his belief is that all those who find enjoyment i
n the crafts and take
the time to train and pursue work,
should call themselves actors,
has been at the center of his over
a decade of coaching acting full-time.

Lynch is an instructor at the
College of Southern Nevada,
where his focus is communication
and helping students
to achieve their personal goals.

His voice can be heard on Sundays
over Nevada Public Radio
(based through KNPR 88.9 FM)
statewide as the state voice
of Weekend Edition Sundays and
as on-hair local host from
5 AM to midnight on Sundays.

After two decades living
in the heart of Las Vegas,
he and his wife Laura,
relocated to historic Boulder City
seven years ago,
where he works with the Park and
Recreation District serves on the board
of the Dam Short Film Festival,
31ers. He and with his wife are establishing
a social services life counseling opportunity.

Lynch is currently completing a
PhD in Education
through Capella University.

Art Lynch writes and edits this blog,
along with sagactor and others.

You may e-mail Art Lynch at
art.lynch@artlynch.org