IATSE_3rd2017_web

Local 839 and has significant experience
in the animation and visual effects fields.
In 2017, I appointed Stasia Savage as an
International Representative in Stagecraft.
In addition to previously functioning
as an IA Special Representative, Sister
Savage serves as Business Agent of Local
26. Additionally, in 2015, I appointed
International Representative Jason Vergnano.
Jason has been a member of Montreal’s
Stage Local 56 since 1999. Brother
Vergnano, who is bilingual in English and
French, has extensive organizing experience
and serves our many Locals across
Canada.
The International has also lost several
staff members to retirement. In 2016,
Barny Haines retired after twenty years
of service as an International Representative.
Representative Haines completed a
successful career in Canada with integrity
and deserves our utmost respect. Later in
2016, IATSE Special Representative and
Local 700, Motion Picture Editors Guild
National Executive Director Ronald
Kutak retired after an exceptionally long
career. At the time of his retirement, Ron
was the longest serving executive of any
entertainment union or guild. His knowledge
and experience will be missed. Additionally,
in 2016, International Representative
Joel Youngerman retired from the
International’s staff. An IATSE member
for twenty-five years, Representative
Youngerman devoted his service to the
International with dignity and pride. I
also wish to acknowledge the retirement
of Colleen Paul. Colleen served as office
manager of the General Office in New
York for many years until her retirement
in 2015. Colleen’s professionalism will
long be remembered.
In 2014, Dale W. Short submitted
his resignation as General Counsel of
the International Alliance. He has served
the International as well as many local
unions for years. The Alliance, its Locals,
and members remain appreciative of his
impressive service and sound guidance.
Counsel Short has continued to serve as
special counsel to the International. To fill
the vacancy created by his resignation, in
2014 I appointed Samantha Dulaney to
the position of IATSE General Counsel.
General Counsel Dulaney previously
served as in-house counsel in the IATSE
General Office since 2008 and has made
countless outstanding past and current
contributions to IATSE. To further
expand our in-house legal capacity in the
General Office in New York, Adrian D.
Healy, an attorney formerly with the law
firm Spivak Lipton LLP, joined the IATSE
as Associate Counsel in 2014.
After twelve years in the West Coast
Office, our IATSE West Coast Counsel,
James G. Varga, retired from that position
in 2016. A union lawyer for thirty-eight
years at the time of his retirement, Counsel
Varga served the Alliance with extraordinary
wisdom and dedication. To fill the
post left open by Counsel Varga’s departure,
Jacob J. White joined the West Coast
Office from the law firm of Weinberg,
Roger & Rosenfeld in 2016 and now serves
as Associate West Coast Counsel. Finally,
I regretfully report that Assistant to the
International President Deborah A. Reid
retired from the International Alliance effective
October 2015. She first joined the
staff of the Alliance in 1974 as a secretary
in the General Office working for International
President Walter F. Diehl. She was
appointed as an International Representative
in 1994 and later promoted to the
position of Assistant to the President in
2004. At her retirement, Assistant to the
President Reid had spent over forty years
working for the International under four
consecutive International Presidents. Her
unprecedented dedication to the IATSE
has been sorely missed and she deserves
our collective gratitude in recognition of
her long career.
IATSE OFFICE OPERATIONS
For many years, leaders of the Alliance
reported to Delegates in convention
about the need to explore purchasing
fixed property to house the IATSE
General Office. I reported to you during
our last Convention in 2013 that under
my leadership the International finally
accomplished that goal by purchasing
office space in New York City to house the
General Office. Since that time, we have
continued to maximize the new work
environment in the General Office and
secured revenue-generating rent from
tenants in unused portions of our space.
To improve workflow, we have made
minor strategic rearrangements and enhanced
the building infrastructure to
increase the reliability of our technological
tools (including fiber optic internet).
Overall, the functionality of the General
Office is outstanding and it inures to the
benefit of the members we serve. Statistics
show that the costs of commercial real
estate in New York have increased by drastic
percentages over the past five years and
reached record highs within that period.
These trends demonstrate the growing
economic value of the General Office. After
decades, we are no longer subject to record
rental costs and have added to the future financial
stability of our organization.
30 OFFICIAL BULLETIN