Michael W. Proscia is retiring from his position as General Secretary-Treasurer of the IATSE, it was announced by International President Thomas C. Short. The Executive Board at their regular quarterly meeting held in Vancouver, BC elected his successor, James B. Wood.
“There are no words to express the respect, love and gratitude that the IATSE has for Mike Proscia’s service to our Alliance,” Short said. “He has dedicated his life to the IATSE. Mike can be singularly credited with helping the fiscal base of the IA grow into a solvent, comfortable, secure position in spite of all the economic turmoil going on around us. We will miss his guidance and commitment.”
Proscia has been a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, its Territories and Canada, AFL-CIO, CLC, for over 45 years, with membership in New York Locals No. One, Local 52, and Local 702, as well as more recent membership in Local 477, Studio Mechanics in the State of Florida.
He served as President and Business Representative for Local 52, for a number of years, as well as serving as Chairman of the East Coast Council. He was elected in 1980 as an International Vice President of the Alliance, a position that he held until he was elected as General Secretary Treasurer in 1994.
Proscia will remain with the IATSE as Assistant to the President, to work on special assignments from President Short.
James B. Wood has been a member of the IATSE for 23 years, initially joining the Motion Picture Studio Production Local 873 as a grip and then the International Cinematographers Guild Local 667.
At the time of his election to the position of General Secretary-Treasurer, Mr. Wood held the position of Sixth International Vice President and Director of Canadian Affairs.
Wood was elected as Eleventh Vice President in 1995, making him the youngest Vice President in the history of the Alliance. Mr. Wood was twice re-elected at the International Conventions in 1998 and in 2001. He was appointed Director of Canadian Affairs in 1999.
Prior to joining the IATSE on a full-time basis, Mr. Wood served as the Business Agent for IATSE Local 873 in Toronto and was returned to office in eleven consecutive elections.
Mimi Wolch, currently Business Agent for Toronto’s Local 873, was elected to fill the vacancy created by Wood upon his acceptance of the position of General Secretary-Treasurer. Wolch has been a member of the IATSE since 1984, originally as a member of Local 210 and later as a member of Local 873. She has worked across Canada and around the world as Script Supervisor on both television and feature films.
Wolch was elected to the Executive Board of Local 873 in 1994 and was re-elected to that office in four subsequent elections. In December 1998, Wolch was elected as the business agent of Local 873 and was re-elected for a second three-year term in December 2001.
