SAG to assess board trim
Plan to cut members from 107 to 72
The recommendation was sent to board members this week in advance of the weekend plenary. Plan will also boost Hollywood's share of members -- currently at 46% -- to a thin majority and give fractional votes to 16 of the smaller of SAG's two dozen branches.
This scheme was selected by a SAG committee tapped to review close to two dozen plans submitted on the hot-button issue. Given the factionalism within the boardroom, however, the issue may not be decided this weekend.
Idea of revamping the board arose 18 months ago when the SAG-commissioned Towers Perrin report recommended a board of 40 as a way to cut more than $650,000 in annual expenses. SAG's national board voted Aug. 16 to return the matter to its governance work team, with instructions to review all plans and make a recommendation at this weekend's meeting to "more accurately" reflect SAG's membership.
A coalition of reps from Gotham and regional branches has blocked attempts several times to cut the panel to 62 and raise Hollywood's share from 46% to 54% to reflect the region's actual proportion of members.
