Executive Board Meeting Number 99-3, 26 May 1999

Meeting called to order at 10:15am. All officers and Board members in attendance except Stuart MacDonald and Randy Singer.

Minutes of 4/19/99 meeting read and approved. New member applications read and approved. About 100 members are still suspended.

Treasurer's Report: Income above budget (particularly BPO WD and Local WD and initiation fees) and Expenses at or slightly below budget. FPO escrow account has $21,000.

VP Report: VP Fox recently attended the Film Florida conference, including music and Right to Work seminars. The keys to bringing more production companies to Florida is to be friendly, cooperate, and be flexible. Production companies don't have large budgets, and are hindered by the lack of a large soundstage in south Florida and the permitting process (we should try to make this a 1-permit town).

Committee Report by Rene Barge: *** was started by the Film Commissions of all the states. Florida's goal is to bring films to the state (to market the state). Nationally, production is down by 20%. IATSE and others are working to make this a Union state, and NY and LA are pushing for south Florida to come up to their standards. Producers are willing to pay more upfront if they do not have to pay residuals later. Producers would also be more inclined to film in Florida if the tax rebate for filming in the state was paid upfront, rather than after they are done filming.

President's Report: The Chruszcz grievance is moving to arbitration. The Florida Grand Opera grievance is being sent to the NLRB. There are still 9 outstanding grievances with the FPO. FPO members have assessed themselves $100 each for a war chest/to pay for a PR campaign. The FPO committee wishes the Local to hire William Thompson, who spearheaded the PR campaign for the Louisville Symphony. PBO negotiations are on track and the Federation has given approval for a membership drive in conjunction with the PBO negotiations. MCS is delinquent in Work Dues and Pension contributions for the 1997-9 seasons. NWS management has agreed that they will no longer assist in hiring NWS members for outside jobs. Coconut Grove Playhouse negotiations are in progress. The Local will not be able to offer members a health insurance policy because of liability issues.

Old Business: Scale committee work is in progress. Elections for all officers will be held in November.

New Business: Office hours have been changed to 11am-3pm to match the hours of our office clerks.

Meeting was adjourned at 12:21pm.