I.A.T.S.E. President Thomas C. Short Announces Retirement | Playbill

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News I.A.T.S.E. President Thomas C. Short Announces Retirement Thomas C. Short has officially announced his retirement from his position as president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.

Short's official announcement at I.A.T.S.E.'s mid-summer general executive board meeting July 31 in San Diego comes shortly after Directors Guild of America president Michael Apted referred to the departure in a recent letter to guild members.

"I have put forth my energy and every effort to enrich this organization and enlisted the help of what I believe to be a phenomenal staff of intelligent, sophisticated and progressive individuals who have stood ready to work hard and assist in accomplishing the goals I believe we had to achieve in order to survive the many challenges facing this International," Short said in a statement before union members today.

He added that he is "extremely proud of these accomplishments and the I.A.T.S.E. has been such an important part of my life. As hard as it is for me to believe that this time has come, I am now prepared to move on. I am not leaving for political reasons or for health reasons, but rather because I have learned that life is short and there is a great deal that I have yet to experience and enjoy."

A replacement for Short has not been announced; however, Variety has reported that fifth national vice president Matthew Loeb is the likely candidate.

Short has been a member of I.A.T.S.E. since 1968. He was elected to the position of eleventh international vice president for the union in 1988 and served until 1993 when he became the general secretary-treasurer. He succeeded international president Alfred W. Di Tolla in 1994. He is currently serving the final year of a four-year term. During Short's tenure, I.A.T.S.E. has become the largest entertainment union in the world with an increase in membership of more than 50 percent, covering over 400 Locals and more than 110,000 members in the U.S., its territories and Canada. As a result, the assets of the Alliance have increased to nearly $50 million. Under Short's leadership, the union has been restructured to include five divisions: Stage Craft, Motion Picture and Television Production, Organizing, Trade Show & Display Work, and Canadian Affairs.

For his work, Short has been awarded the Lew Wasserman Spirit of Democracy Award, the DGA Honors Award, the Heart to Heart Award presented by Encore Community Services in New York City, the Motion Picture and Television Fund's Silver Medallion Award, and the Actor's Fund Medal of Honor.

 
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