WV Labor History Assn. provides funds for labor film
Terry Lively and WVLHA prez Gordon Simmons with camera purchased with a WVLHA grantWest Virginia Labor History Association to support
film project about WV labor unions in 21st century
The West Virginia Labor History Association has awarded a grant to WV filmmaker Terry Lively to support production of a documentary on public sector organizing in 21st century West Virginia.
The project is expected to chronicle efforts by state workers and other public employees to organize unions and win collective bargaining and other labor rights. WVLHA will present the world premiere of the film when it is finished and distribute it throughout the state and country.
WVLHA has been active during the last 30 years, promoting awareness of labor history by exhibiting many films including two new WV labor history films in May, 2007. One film was about the 1991 Ravenswood Lockout and the other about Spanish immigrant workers in Spelter, Harrison County.
About Terry Lively
Ms. Lively is presently the Creative Services Manager at the WV Dept. of Transportation and an adjunct faculty member of the Communications Dept. at West Virginia State University. She is the current president of the WV Filmmakers Guild and director of the award-winning film, “Crossings - Bridge Building in West Virginia.” She has worked on many TV and film programs in the last twenty years. This will be her first film on labor history.
About The West Virginia Labor History Association
The WVLHA was founded in 1976 by a group of labor leaders, teachers who specialize in WV labor history, and others who want to promote awareness of the role labor has played in the state’s history. President Emeritus Dr. Fred Barkey was one of the co-founders. It has inducted more than 30 individuals and groups into its WV Labor Hall of Honor including two new members in October 2007 - Larry Ratliff and Manuel Ojeda. It recently co-sponsored with The South Charleston Museum a visit by 96 year old, Greek-American author Christopher Janus who presented the film version of his autobiographical book, “Goodbye, Miss Fourth of July.” In his honor Gov. Manchin proclaimed November 10th, 2007 as the first Greek-West Virginia Day and honored Janus as a “Distinguished Mountaineer.”
Membership is open to anyone interested in promoting West Virginia labor history and is $10 annually. Please contact Gordon Simmons by mail at the following address:
West Virginia Labor History Association
P. O. Box 5156
Charleston, WV 25361
#30
WVLHA board meeting with Dennis Rhodes, right, and prez Gordon Simmons, at the UE Building on the East End of Charleston, WV.
PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- from Filmmaker Terry Lively
West Virginia Labor History Association Awards Vandalia Productions Grant
To Fund Labor Documentary
Charleston, WV – The West Virginia Labor History Association announced a grant of $2,500 to Vandalia Productions to help fund the production of a one-hour documentary concerning the formation of West Virginia’s newest labor union, UE Local 170.
Terry Lively of Vandalia Productions will track the growth of the new union for the next two years. The history of the state’s white-collar labor unions will also be explored in the finished documentary, which has an anticipated completion date of June 2010. It will feature interviews with state labor historians, labor activists, politicians and other stakeholders. The documentary will also track UE Local 170 organizing efforts, offering labor historians and social engineers invaluable archival material.
Lively, president of the state’s Filmmakers Guild, is an award-winning filmmaker, garnering awards for her latest documentary on the state, national and international level. Her writing skills have won prizes for the past fifteen years and she is in negotiations with a national literary agent.
“This is an exacting project and I look forward to producing a documentary that future labor historians and social engineers can study for clues about union organizing and growth,” said Lively.
Gordon Simmons, president of the West Virginia Labor History Association said, “Our association is thrilled to have such an outstanding talent working on this worthwhile project. It will give future labor historians more than just a glimpse at the inner workings in labor organization.”
November 20th, 2007 at
[…] Slideshow at Slideroll - Flash Slideshow Creator, Photo Slideshows for MySpace, YouTube, and Everywhere! wrote an interesting post today!.Here’s a quick excerpt [IMG terry-and-gordon.jpg] Terry Lively and WVLHA prez Gordon Simmons with camera purchased with a WVLHA grant West Virginia Labor History Association to support film project about WV labor unions in 21st century The West Virginia Labor History Association has awarded a grant to WV filmmaker Terry Lively to support production of a documentary on public sector organizing in 21st century West Virginia. (more…) […]