AFTRA PRESIDENT ELECTED TO 3RD TERM.Byline: Greg Hernandez Staff Writer Incumbent John P. Connolly John P. Connolly is an American actor and the Executive Director of Actors' Equity Association. Mr. Connolly assumed this position in March 2007, after serving six years as the President of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists ("AFTRA"). won election to a third term as national president of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) is a performers' union that represents a wide variety of talent, including actors in radio and television, as well as radio and television announcers and newspersons, singers and recording artists (both royalty , the union said Monday. Connolly's victory over actor Marvin Kaplan Marvin Kaplan (born January 24, 1924 in Brooklyn, New York) is a character actor and voice artist. Kaplan is probably best known for his recurring role on the 1970's sitcom Alice where he portrayed a phone company employee named Henry who frequented Mel's diner. came during AFTRA's 60th annual convention at the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood. ``I am most grateful to be re-elected,'' Connolly said in a statement. ``I will do my best to maintain the trust that you have placed in me.'' In addition to Connolly, 11 national officers were elected to two-year terms. Delegates at the convention approved two cost-saving moves: trimming the size of AFTRA's national board from 116 members to 73, and eliminating a requirement that the union's national headquarters be located in Manhattan. AFTRA AFTRA American Federation of Television & Radio Artists plans to relocate to Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . AFTRA represents nearly 80,000 professional performers, broadcasters and recording artists in 32 Locals throughout the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . The union's new National Executive Director Kim Roberts Hedgpeth told delegates during a wide-ranging speech that the union will be diligent in retaining its reach as technology continues to change the radio and recording industries. Some companies, she said, are also attempting to deprive performers of their right to organize. ``We must not forget that we are living in an anti-union environment in which those who choose to be our adversaries grow bolder by the minute,'' Hedgpeth said. ``While we may have to take a beat to re-think, re-assess, re-tool, re-allocate, re-direct and reconfigure, one thing we are not going to do is retreat.'' Greg Hernandez, (818) 713-3758 greg.hernandez(at)dailynews.com |
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