New Years Eve Resolutions

Do you have anything you want to pledge in the next year?

Considering the last few days, maybe the Election Judges resolve to have a better grip on the voting process.

All the run off candidates can resolve to want to serve more than want to win.

Maybe Evil Santa can resolve to get over himself and his identity crisis.

Maybe all the politicians can resolve to stop the madness.

Shame on You!

Got a disturbing email from one our members concerning a candidate involved in a runoff. The story we get is that this candidate asked the Election Judges for a list of the members who didn't vote in the last election.

The ability to vote for your officers is a privilege that we feel all member should take advantage of, to insure that the elected officers are the majority's choice. It is also the voters right not to vote for specific candidates or even not vote, if they feel their choices are less than optimal.

The action of voting, not voting is private matter and should be considered as such. After the votes are counted, the matter is finished. Each person acts in the way they feel proper and all voters should be considered as having done their duty, regardless.

To have candidates call or write and mention the fact that some hasn't voted is a direct attack on the purpose behind secret ballots. What were the Election Judges doing in revealing this information to anyone?

To have some one who has been around long enough to know better, we say - What length will you go to be elected? Haven't we had enough of officers who put themselves above the Union, when it comes to their ambition?

Admit it - you missed us!

Suggest a topic and we will reopen the dialogue. Please keep it civil and realistic. This will have to do for discussion until the new administration has time to reconfigure the old web site.

in the spirit of giving, final part

The blog would like to thank all the contributors of comments since it's inception way back in September. Even some of the more rank comments served a purpose in providing a forum for our members to express hope, frustration and humor. We hope the 'official' website will keep this in mind and allow some leeway to the fringe element that is part of all groups.
We will be taking a few days off, maybe, unless something comes up that needs attention. Until then, Happy Holidays and Best Wishes.

in the spirt of giving, part 5

To our returning Secretary/Treasurer, Scott Firth, we send wishes of continued success and hope that he finds new ways to conserve resources and make us a stronger Local financially.

in the spirit of giving, part 4

A holiday wish goes out to our returning Business Agent Butch Lange that he lead the Local into it's most prosperous and secure era to come. Our wish is that he listen to the concerns that have been voiced here and in meetings and to expand our influence in all things concerning the entertainment business. Our thanks go to him for staying in a job that has many demands that need be met.

in the spirit of giving, part 3

Our Holiday wishes go out to exiting Vice President and incoming President Barry Thomas. With him goes a lot of expectation that the next three years will bring a more open administration, staffed with members that want to serve the Local and improve our training, communication and employment situations. With his drive and demeanor, we hope he becomes an example to other E Board members to be active, not passive, in improving our image and presence in the Entertainment community.

in the spirit of giving, part 2

Today's recipient of good will is our departing chairman of the board of trustees, Kevin Van Orden.
Besides working an ungodly amount of shows at the Hobby Center, he has tirelessly given his time to chair the member watchdogs. Thanks for making the time to look out for our interests and our finances.

in the spirit of giving, part 1

Since our elected leaders give so much of themselves to fill jobs that are at time thankless, let us now give thanks to them and offer suggestions for the next year.
We will start with our departing officers and finish with the new and/or returning ones.

In the spirit of giving, please try to stay positive as we extend our hands to those that serve.

Today's recipient is out going President Tom Sprague, who has been an integral part of our Executive Board for many years. We hope he finds a joyous holiday and a bit of peace in the days to come.

To blog or not to blog...

What features do you feel will be essential to the 'official' blog? There must be a member section for all the commentary that really should stay 'in house' but what else would you like to see on your website?

And in case you missed it, run off elections between Mike Grawl and Ron Ellis for VP
Steve Tristan and Peter Dolan for Sergeant at Arms.

Christmas Wish List

Back to the positive! What do you wish for in the coming year for yourself and your Union brothers and sisters?

Sour Grapes

Most people, when given the opportunity, to reflect upon their past accomplishments would use it to mention the positive aspects they brought to their office. After decades of elected office, you would think that they would have a few special moments in which to remind us of their sacrifice and time.
That what makes it so puzzling that the last topic out of the mouth of one of our departing Executive Officers, who has been the subject of previous posts, would take the time to rant against this ‘stupid, idiotic’ blog.
If there had been any semblance of open discussion at meetings, if there was even a hint of giving credence to any ideas other than his, and if there was any honest dissent allowed, there would have been no need for this blog.
This blog, for good or bad, provides a forum. It serves the purpose until an alternative is provided and will continue to do so.
Vox Populi.

And the winner is...

We know who the BA and the President are, now we will find out who the other elected officials will be.
We also have all the campaign letters on file, so we will keep tabs on the progress of keeping those promises. The Stagehand Forum blog will continue until a viable Local 51 website is created for the membership.

Today's the day

Congrats to all the candidates for being part of the process and for volunteering to serve.
Results as we get them, if not, see you at the meeting.

Comings and goings

Houston Ballet nutcracking at the Brown
It's A Wonderful TUTS Life at the Hobby
Mercury Baroque praises the Messiah at the Cullen
A Very Merry Houston Symphony Pops at Jones Hall
Election Polls close - new officers (and old) announced on Sunday...

Last Call

If you don't have your ballot in by tonight, it will probably not make the deadline of December 14. No matter who you planned on voting for or against, it is for nothing if you don't mail it.

Who's Making the Calls

We all know that when things are jumping, the office has to pull in everybody from all aspects to fill the calls. But what is the story will calls being filled by the individual producers with just a passing acknowledgement to the roster? Why are people showing up that are not even on the work roster ahead of members and regulars? Why, after the requested heads and assistants, do friends and family work ahead of senior people who sit at home?
If these people are working from the producer's call, should not all of them be receiving premium pay as the contract demands? Or are they just 'happy' to be working?
The request system was meant to allow producers the option to have someone they believe would be best qualified to run their shows. A request is also asking permission to use these people. Some have forgotten that a request can be denied. Is anybody asking permission any more or is the fact that 'we want them' good enough?

Topics

In two sentences or less, suggest a topic and we will post it. After it is posted, then leave your comment on it.

Open House Today

Go by the Union Hall, have something to eat and say hello to your fellow members. Put your differences aside and share the Holidays with each other. Be grateful for what you have and thankful for all the rest.

Exchange of Ideas

What is the fixation with the 'yo mama' type of commentary? Do we not have enough real issues to talk about or have we just run out of intelligent and respectful ideas? How boring is it to read tasteless grade school insults? Spend time looking for solutions instead of showing your behind...

Three little things...

Remember
1 Make sure to turn in your ballot. A vote not cast is a vote wasted.
2 Open House on Monday at the Union Hall. Take time to come celebrate the holidays with your brothers and sisters.
3 Do unto others as you would have them do unto you...

Yesterday's news...

Yesterday started off as a real low point in the life of the Blog. It became the playground of people, who, in lieu of a good or funny comment, resorted to adolescent vulgarity. We shut down the blog for a while to determine whether or not to leave it open.
After consideration and a bit of comment removal (only of the aforementioned type), we reopened the Blog and, lo and behold, some real humor presented it self, in a slightly perverse but not mean way.
Hopefully, some of this will invite people to contribute to the general dialogue but we also serve as a guide to the content. As much as we would like to hear positive suggestions to the problems of our Local, occasionally a good satirical, topical, or irreverent rant is a good thing too.
Most people know the person mentioned in yesterday's flurry of late night commenting is not what it says about him (not that it would be wrong if it were true - thank you Seinfeld!) but the give and take was in a fraternal manner and seemed to be just messin' with a popular guy.
The comments that were removed were done so because the use of profanity for profanity sake.
This must be to make up for an obvious inability to communicate with a bit of intelligence and more than three adjectives. Hopefully, the other commentators will be an inspiration to our challenged friends...

Reader's Poll

It has come to our attention that this blog's comments can be read by the blogger before posting. It would mean that each comment would be individually judged by the blogger. In lieu of a real members website that would require a log in, this would 'moderate' some of the commentary.
How do you feel about this? Can we keep the open dialogue or is it time for a little prudent pruning?

the grass is always greener...

The intent of the last couple of blogs were to create a forum for what you feel is needed in your Local. Instead there has been personal attacks, comments that can be only described as inflammatory since there is no way to judge to verify the information without a name to go with it.
The anonymity part of the forum is to allow you to make comments without fear of retribution but some people feel it is important to throw major mud.
The recent comments on the economic status of some of our members is a perfect example.
By stating someone was a 'house' guy and made X amount but could have made 2X, if not for some, is either a sad plea for attention or else a need to instigate resentments. The truth maybe that the 'house' guy isn't really a 'house' guy but someone who just enjoys trying to widen the 'gulf' that comes between the haves and the have not.
Until you walk in someone's shoes, their situation may or may not look better than yours but if the only way you can succeed is by pulling someone else down, we hope you realise that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

What would like to see in the next year?

The elections are upon us and the possibility for a different direction is appealing but what would you like to see changed? What is the major issue you feel needs addressing?

Ballot Box

Two schools of thought:
One that the majority of the ballots are in and there are just a few undecided.
Two, that people have committed to voting for candidates and haven't mailed in their ballots yet.
If your ballot is on your desk and not in the mail, it doesn't count and you have wasted your vote.
If you don't vote, don't complain about the results...

Requesting and Assistants (or I just play one on TV)

This seems to be a hot topic.
Please refrain from profanity, as some of our readers are uncomfortable with it, and try to keep it from being a rant.
Requesting became a reality when some of our members would not do the job they were asked to do and other could. It has mutated into something not intended but will not change unless the rank and file prove that they have the skills and the attitude to do the job.
There are ways for the Local to reclaim some of it's past control of these jobs, but it is our own members that are our worst enemies.
Look to the big picture of what each member needs to contribute to make us a viable body from top to bottom...

From the mail bag

A member emailed the other day to comment on one of our regular’s comment. He said he wished he had a card so that he could be eligible for an open assistant’s position. It seems to us that he is missing the point of union membership. The union is there to protect the rights of the worker from management and sometimes even ourselves. What does it say for the Local when members are cutting there own deals with producers and not considering the long-range effects of their decisions? Why should anybody deal with a collective group when they can erode the conditions by co-opting an individual? All deals should be to exceed the Collective Bargaining Agreement, not diminish it. The easiest way for success at the bargaining table is for your representatives be able to really represent all of our members and regulars, not just those who don’t have pull.