E-DRIVE [WESTERN OFFICE UPDATE]

[CAEA e-drive]

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E-DRIVE - WESTERN OFFICE UPDATE
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Executive Director Arden R. Ryshpan and Equity staff would like to thank
members of the Vancouver theatre and opera communities for attending
Equity's recent member information meeting in Vancouver on January 25,
2009. The candour and passion of Equity members was appreciated by all
in attendance that evening. 

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the situation continued longer than
anyone could have anticipated. However, Equity commits to full-time
staffing of the Western Office as soon as possible. The Association
trusts that this shall put to bed any rumours regarding the future of
Equity's Western Office. 

Notices for the position of Business Representative in the Western
Office have been placed in several national and local job boards as well
as being distributed to labour colleagues across our industry. The
deadline for applications is February 18 and interviews will be
scheduled in the week of February 23-26. Executive Director Arden R.
Ryshpan and Senior Business Representative Ken Burns will be on hand for
these interviews.

We hope to begin training a Business Representative for the Western
Office on March 23. Staffing the office with a knowledgeable and trained
Business Representative will no doubt take some time, and we ask the
western membership's patience while this necessary training takes place.


Until such time as the position is staffed onsite in Vancouver, Equity
will continue to deliver service to the western region in a number of
ways. Senior Business Representative Ken Burns will work in the Western
Office next week, February 9-13 and intermittently throughout March. In
addition Business Representative Leigh Kerr will continue to handle the
Western Office workload from both the National Office (working on a 9:00
am - to 5:00 p.m. PT schedule) and onsite in Vancouver February 9-13 and
March 2-20.

Interviews for the position of Administrative Assistant were held
January 26-27. Unfortunately, for several reasons, these interviews did
not result in an immediate hiring. However, the position will now be
filled with professional temporary worker who starts in the office on
Monday, February 9. Equity Controller Douglas Irons will conduct
additional Western Office Administrative Assistant interviews next week,
February 11-12. Once filled, training of the Administrative Assistant
will commence immediately.

The best interests of the membership are at the forefront of these
decisions. We trust that this dedication of resources to Western Office
staffing will allay community concerns.

We will continue to keep all members informed of developments regarding
the Western Office and the Association's commitment to improving service
to all Equity members across the country.
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Canadian Actors' Equity Association
44 Victoria St., 12th floor
Toronto, ON M5C 3C4
communications at caea.com
http://www.caea.com


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