February, 2008
Dear Fellow SMA Member,
Welcome to those who are brand new members. Welcome back to those of you who
have returned. You have picked a great time to take part in the Stage Managers'
Association!
You have paid your dues, gotten your website access information, now what?
The SMA is a member-driven organization. Therefore, it is truly as strong
as its members' participation. How can you have the best SMA experience?
What can you do to feel involved and have a voice in the organization? The first
and easiest thing to do is to find out who your nearest Area Contact and
Regional Representative is; his/her e-mail address is listed on our website. I
encourage you to make contact and introduce yourself. Maybe you signed up to be
on a Committee such as "The Headset" or Mentoring? Do the same thing -- contact
the committee chair or board liaison. On some committees, no chair has been
identified; in that case, click on the roster and find someone who lives in your
part of the country and make contact.
To me the life-long benefit of the SMA is its people. "When you're a Jet,
you're a Jet all the way.…" Your short message of introduction could foster a
friendship that quite probably would not have presented itself otherwise.
I wrote above that this is a great time to be a member. The board is actively
pursuing avenues to improve our "brand awareness" which will lead to improved
use of our job posting service, as well as build our membership nationally. Our
website continues to be a source of history, events, information and tools. You
can learn more about everything I am mentioning in this message by going to
www.stagemanagers.org . An enhanced website is in the planning stages and once
complete will offer additional services.
In the past six-months, co-Secretary Erin Swank has single-handedly developed a
monthly on-line chat program. "Drink Nights" are taking place across the
country, typically organized by the Regional Representative. Announcements about
these events are sent via e-mail. No drink night in your city? Take the
initiative to set one up; the SMA can help you with resources to do so.
Our Operation Observation program provides members with the opportunity to
shadow another stage manager in rehearsal or performance. An invaluable
networking and learning experience for stage managers at all stages of their
careers. The experience is reciprocal when you offer an Observation. Send
Observation details to Ms. Pat
Sabato. Please
include [SMA OpOb] in the subject line. Operation Observation offerings are
posted on the website and via e-mail.
Our newsletter "The Headset" sees twice yearly publication due to the efforts of
Members Robin Gray and Rich Abrams. This is another resource for information,
ideas, and connecting us to other stage managers.
Don't be afraid to get involved. No effort is too small. Make the time. Network.
The SMA is about building relationships among stage managers so that we
never feel alone and can share ways to do our jobs better. Send that "hello" to
a fellow member - you'll be glad you did.
Warm Regards,
Margie Price
Chair, SMA
September 30, 2007
Dear Fellow SMA Members,
Just last year at this time, we were celebrating the
twenty-fifth anniversary of the Stage Managers’ Association. In just a few
weeks we will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the vote to create
Stage Manager seats on AEA Council. We have grown and evolved as an
organization over the past quarter century and some of our original by-laws no
longer reflect who we are and what we wish to accomplish. Therefore, the
membership has proposed a set of amendments to our Constitution that are vital
to the continued growth and health of the SMA.
Many hours and dozens of members have been involved to bring
us this far. We must have a strong turnout for any of these
amendments to be ratified. You have a good track record as voters; let’s
maintain that reputation. We need each one of you to vote. You know the
number: two-thirds majority. That’s a big number to achieve, but if we all do
our part we will get there.
On the enclosed document
[password required] you will find each proposal,
along with a short interpretive statement just below the proposal heading. The
existing language is listed first, then the proposed language, followed by when
the amendment would go into effect if it is approved.
Many of you express that you want to be more involved –
this is a great opportunity to do just that. If you don’t make the time to
vote, all the work was for naught. Please don’t let us down. Vote.
This is a quick turn-around for voting. Mailed
ballots must be received by Friday, October 12, 2007. Ballots can also
be hand-delivered to the General Membership Meeting on Monday October 15th
no later than 3:45 p.m. The meeting will be held at Playwright’s Tavern
beginning at 3:30 p.m.
On behalf of the Executive Board and the Constitution
Committee,
Margie
Margie Price, Chair
September 5, 2007
Dear Fellow SMA
Members,
There are several weather-related and dangerous situations in
the news. If you have been affected in any way and need help, please contact me
at chair@stagemanagers.org.
Please know that you are in our thoughts and we hope that each of you and your
families are safe.
Enclosed with this mailing you will find the transcript for
the Annual Meeting that was held on May 22, 2007. In addition to officially
thanking our Founding Members with Lifetime Membership, we devoted much of the
meeting to the subject of our Constitution. This is an excellent document that
our Founders created. Amendments were changed only once before and we are
proposing additional changes to clarify, update and provide detail as we move
forward and strengthen the Association. Later this month, you will be able to
review and vote on the official language proposed for each amendment. In the
meantime, we wanted you to have the transcript to read at your leisure. Hashing
out the new language was an exhausting and, at times, confusing process, but now
makes for fascinating reading! There were many knowledgeable people in the room
that day. Thanks must go to Marci Glotzer, 2nd Past-Chair, who typed
the transcript for us.
Our Discussion with AEA Senior Staff is being planned
as part of the Fall General Membership Meeting this October. We will also
commemorate the 25th anniversary of the vote to create five seats on
Equity Council for stage managers. Details regarding time and place will be
sent along in the weeks ahead.
Over the last several weeks, two CPR classes were held, one
in Philadelphia, the other in NYC. I take this opportunity to encourage any
of you, if you can organize a drink night, a CPR class, a computer class, a
discussion with your Equity Liaison Committee, there are funds available to help
cover your costs. Starting at $200! Write to me at the address above, let me
know what you are planning and we will send money your way. Go to the Regional
Rep Committee page of our website to find information on how to get started
Over twenty-five of you participated in our first on-line
chat on August 20th. By all accounts it was a success and will become an
on-going source of education and networking for our members. The transcript is
now available at our website, www.stagemanagers.org, in the Members Only section
under “Downloads”. We thank the SMNetwork for sharing their space with us until
our “new & improved” website is up and running. An ad hoc website re-vamp
committee is in place to coordinate & oversee each step in the process. Keep a
look-out for a special survey regarding your use of the website
The Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Flea Market on
September 23rd is fast approaching. Sandi Bohle, chair of the Flea
Market Committee, still has slots available for people who want to be part of
the fun and staff the table at the same time! If you have theatrical items to
donate but cannot get to NYC for the event, please be in touch with Sandi.
Contact her at:
fleamark@stagemanagers.org.
The Executive Board is considering being an exhibitor at the
January 2008 Entertainment Industry Expo. If any of you attended the Expo this
past June, would you send me a message about your experience. In fact, as we
weigh various means of increasing our visibility nationwide, consider this an
invitation to offer suggestions and assistance in this endeavor.
And, the next issue of THE HEADSET will be out later
this Fall!
Warmest Regards,
Margie
Welcome to the 2005-2006 25th Anniversary season of the SMA!
We will use this page to post the latest goings-on of the SMA Board --
ideas we're developing, issues we're debating, and upcoming events. Check back
here for the latest in SMA news and information.
If you have anything you'd like the Board to know -- an idea for a Forum, say,
or a suggestion for an SMA event -- you can email us en masse at
board@stagemanagers.org.
Thank you for being a member of the SMA! We look forward to an active,
exciting year!
Marci Glotzer
Chair
Only SMA members may access these pages:
▪ February 2007- Minutes from Board meeting
▪ October 2005- SMA member
update -- Fall 2005
▪ July 2005- Letter to membership
▪ August 2005- Update Summer 2005
