PLASA-ESTA elections usher in a new era

In preparation for their merger on 1 January 2011, PLASA and ESTA have just completed month-long elections for positions on the European and North American Regional Boards and the over-arching Governing Body.

The elections usher in a new Governance structure for both Associations as they unite under the PLASA name: the two Regional Boards will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day affairs in their respective regions, while the Governing Body will take a high level strategic role, acting in the best interests of the membership worldwide.

During the transition period into the new structure, every effort was made to allow current members of PLASA’s Executive Committee and ESTA’s Board of Directors to serve out their full terms of office.

As a consequence, seven positions were up for election on the new European Regional Board. Matt Lloyd of Global Design Solutions becomes the new Secretary for the Board, with the following taking on the representative roles created as part of the merger. Malcolm Burlow of Highlite becomes the Dealer/Retailer Representative, James Gordon of DiGiCo is the Manufacturer Representative, Mark Surtees of Outback Rigging is the Production Services Representative and Adam Blaxill of Stage Electrics becomes the Professional Services Representative. Steve Macluskie from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama takes a place on the Board as the new Organizational Representative, while Ed Manwaring becomes the first Individual Representative. They join existing Board members Rob Lingfield of Martin Audio (Chair), Ed Pagett of Panalux (Vice Chair), Martin Hawthorn of Hawthorn’s (Treasurer), Bob Mundy of Adam Hall (Distributor Representative) and Duncan Bell of Autograph Sound (Rental Company Representative).

Three positions were up for election on the North American Regional Board: Eddie Raymond, IATSE Local 16, was elected as Chair, with Brian Lawlor of IATSE taking the Organizational Representative role and Ed Condit joining the Board as Individual Representative. They join existing Board members David Taylor of Arup (Vice Chair), Mike Wood of Mike Wood Consulting (Treasurer), Kasey Coffin of Event Tech (Secretary), and Representatives Dinna Myers of Musson (Dealer/Retailer), Fred Mikeska of A.C. Lighting (Distributor), Charlie Davidson of ARRI (Manufacturer), Evan Williams of Riverview Systems Group (Production Services), Jules Lauve of Theatre Projects Consultants (Professional Services), and Steven Way of ALPS/Advanced Lighting & Production Services (Rental).

The Governing Body elections, which ran in parallel with the Regional Board elections, focused on the three ‘at-large’ positions which were voted on by the entire Business and Organizational memberships. Elected to office were Individual member John McGraw, Bill Sapsis of Sapsis Rigging, and Steve Terry of Electronic Theatre Controls. Joining them on the Governing Body are the Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer of each of the Regional Boards. The Governing Body members will internally elect their officers prior to January 2011.

The Regional Boards, which will meet quarterly, will hold their first meetings in January 2011, while the Governing Body will meet in March in conjunction with the USITT Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina and in September in conjunction with the PLASA Show in London.