Follies Update

Plans have moved forward for this fall's debut of Pittsburgh Gridiron
Follies, a charitable fund-raising event co-sponsored by the Newspaper Guild and AFTRA. The steering committee overseeing the satirical show has set Wednesday, Oct. 10, as the date, to be held at the Westin Convention Center Hotel (formerly Vista or Doubletree).

After review of a dozen worthy candidates as charitable beneficiaries,
the committee has tentatively settled upon the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank as the primary recipient of proceeds, which will also be shared with the CWA's pediatric AIDS fund and AFTRA's internal scholarship fund.

While rehearsals won't take place until September-October, a cast audition is planned in July to find a wide range of talent to take part on stage.

Guild members and other Post-Gazette staffers can expect details soon on that casting call.

Call for talent

The joint Guild-AFTRA steering committee announces auditions for "Off the
Record," (title may be changed) Pittsburgh's own first annual (we hope) gridiron follies. We need versatile actors, singers, mimics and any combination thereof. Special audition for Guild Members: Tuesday, Aug. 7, 6-8 p.m., at Point Park College, Downtown -- 2nd floor auditorium (you must use 3rd Ave. entrance, take elevator to 2nd floor).

If you sing, come prepared with a show tune (bring music for the piano
player we'll provide).

If you act, we'll have a short bit of dialogue for you to read.

You don't have to make an appointment, but it would help us plan if you would send a message about your intention to audition and your preferred time (6:00-8:00) to Chris Rawson or Liz Gray.

Running the audition will be out director, Greg Lehane (CMU, TV, etc.), and joint producers, Chris Rawson (Guild) and Dan Kamin (AFTRA).

If you want to audition but cannot come on Aug. 7, contact Chris for
possible other dates.

Rehearsals will be Mid-Sept. onward.

We also need volunteer stage managers and volunteers to work with costumes, props, lights, sound, video. If you have skills and/or interest, please contact Chris or Liz.

2001 scholarship winners

The Executive Committee is pleased to announce the winners of the Guild's 2001 scholarship competition. After a great entry turnout, the scholarship committee vote resulted in a tie so two checks in the amount of $1,500 were awarded. The winners are Elizabeth Bowen, a senior at the University of Pittsburgh and managing editor of the Pitt News, and April Johnston, a senior at Duquesne University and currently a reporting intern at the Beaver County News.

What do you want?

The Guild Executive committee will begin a series of meetings this month with different departments to listen to concerns and ideas from members about issues for the upcoming contract negotiations. (The meetings are in addition to a contract issue survey that will be distributed next week.)

We're scheduling two-hour sessions at the Guild office next door, but feel free to stay as briefly or as long as you like. Just make sure you stay long enough so your voice is heard.

July 25 - 2 p.m.-4 p.m. 
BUSINESS
July 26 - 2 p.m.-4 p.m. 
ISSUES/HEALTH
Aug. 1 - 2 p.m.-4 p.m. 
FEATURES/A&E
Aug. 2 - 2 p.m.-4 p.m. 
LIBRARY/CLERKS/NEWS ASSISTANTS
Aug. 22 - 2 p.m.-4 p.m. 
CITY DESK
Aug. 23 - 4 p.m.-6 p.m. CITY DESK
6 p.m.-8 p.m. ZONES/BUREAUS
Aug. 29 - 4 p.m.-6 p.m. 
GRAPHICS/PHOTO
Aug. 30 - 4 p.m.-6 p.m. 
COPY EDITORS/PAGINATORS
Sept. 5 - 4 p.m.-6 p.m. 
WEB
Sept. 6 - 4 p.m.-6 p.m. SPORTS

Save the date

The Guild's annual picnic will be on Sat., Aug. 18. It will be held at the
Spang Road picnic area in Marshall, as it was last year. Come out and spend some time catching up with fellow Guild members. It's also a fun afternoon for kids, with lots of activities for them and lots of good food. Time and directions will appear soon on the Guild's web site (www.pghguild.com) and on the guild bulletin boards around the newsroom.