So there your Every Member Counts Editor was ‘dining’ with Peaches Johnson at Carneys. What can I say. I like to hang with celebrities!
Anyway, after arm wrestling with Ms. J for the last fry, she smiled and washed it down with her soft drink, and we both hopped into our classic cars and headed for the AFTRA/SAG Studio City Credit union to see what was “happenin’!”
Rather than paying to park at the SAG/AFTRA Credit union, I pulled into the small mall adjacent to it. Anyway, I found a ‘customer’ parking space, and while the parking attendant eyed me suspiciously I headed for Subway where I plunked down a buck forty nine for a small drink. Hey, I was now officially a customer, and would now take advantage of all the benefits that entailed.
However, just to be on the safe side I stood nonchalantly in front of the sandwich place until the attendant suspiciously eyed a little old lady in a walker--- and I hurriedly slipped past the hedge, and walked gingerly over to the credit union entrance where PJ was already chatting with a lady named Linda who was handing out Membership First Flyers.
You just missed your girl friend, Peaches teased. It seems that my middle-aged nemesis from a SAG Consolidation meeting had heard that I was about to make an appearance and had split.
Well, I unfolded my canvas chair and placed it in a nice shady spot. Hey, even though one is an activist, there is no need to be uncomfortable. Anyway, it wasn’t long before a dark, ominous SUV rolled past us, parked, and Mike Farrell emerged. Once, he entered our area, and not wanting to treat him any different than other SAG member whom I had offered a flier, I asked politely. “SAG member?” Mr. Farrell was not amused. With a small grimace, he also found some shade! Ah, ha! A common bond. A short time later he was joined by my “girl friend” Tess Harper!
So there we were on opposing sides of the sidewalk. On one side, Tess and Mike trying to Restore Respect. On the other side, myself and Linda trying to not only to make sure that every member counts--but that our guild puts the Membership First. Mike seemed slightly annoyed as Linda passionately informed a member that her side was against consolidation because SAG would lose its autonomy! Finally, he couldn’t retain himself and inquired to the Linda “And why would SAG lose its autonomy?”
And, well, Linda, ah, told him. Poor Mike had met his match! As, I watched. I tried to suppress a superior smile. Hell, I was no Einstein but I knew better than to make such a foolish move. Later, Mr. Farrell was engrossed in a discussion with a stuntman. I couldn’t hear what it was about---but it lasted for a full forty minutes. During that time Mike had not passed out a single flier, or talked to a single member. I now openly smiled. Hey, dude, I had passed out about thirty. But to Mike’s credit during that entire time he managed to follow the shade.
Oh, yeah, during a lull Tess tried to explain to me that AFTRA hadn’t taken a 500 hundred thousand bribe to sign the ATA/NATR deal! “I never said they did.” I responded. But you wrote on the IdoTVads bulletin board that… “Not me!” She quizzically scrunched up her face “Oh, maybe it was…”
“Yeah, probably was.” So, anyway there across from me stood Mike Farrell and Tess Harper. 
Now, I don’t think Mike has ever written an e-mail where he didn’t use it as an opportunity to accuse his opponents of yelling, or at the very least talking loudly to Miss Harper. Now, this is curious because at my first informational meeting on consolidation, it was none other than Tess Harper who tried to yell me down—a mere15 seconds into my question. I confronted her with this while Mike watched. Tess admitted that perhaps she had over reacted, and to her credit said that she was trying to watch that sort of stuff now. I said that was fine. But keeping her behavior in mind, wasn’t it time that Mr. Farrell stopped portraying her as a victim in every damn one of his e-mails. Mike was not amused.
Later, after talking to a member, I turned and Tess and Mike had disappeared. And without even saying goodbye. I was amused.
Linda and I were still determinedly holding down the fort when a tall gangly gentleman wearing what my niece refers to as an “Old Persons” hat joined us. It was James Cromwell. Jamie as his friends call him did not flash his usual engaging smile. Hmmm, I thought--maybe James has seen the AIMA Gothic picture.
As usually happens, it wasn’t long before James and I were both trying to convince a fellow member of the merits of our positions concerning consolidation. I read to him from my flyer “…there has been speculation within the two unions that they might pursue an INDEFINITE EXTENSION of the TV/Theatrical contract to allow for another crack at consolidation.” James shook his head “NO!” and said, “Where did you hear that?”
“It was in one of the trades.”
James responded with a role of his eyes “ Oh, yeah it's that guy Dave McNary, he’ll…”
“No, James wrong again. This is from ‘your side's go-to guy, Peter Kiefer of the Hollywood Reporter!” James eyes momentarily glazed over when he realized that he had misspoke. I flashed a superior smile and applied the coup de grace. “Well, James is it true or not? Have there been discussions at the two guilds about an indefinite extension of the TV/Theatrical contracts-- so you guys can take another “crack” at consolidation?” James was not amused. And quickly changed the subject.
Well, my work was done here. So shortly after James had left, ah, without saying goodbye! I shook the hands of his two replacements then graciously thanked them for showing up for their union. And then I proudly walked into the sunset in my best John Wayne stride! Aw, Huh!
Arl Stay Tuned 
Oh, my god! I forgot my canvas chair!
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