September 10, 2000

It is with deep regret that I announce the resignation of Guild Executive Director Paul Basista, who has decided to accept a position with another association. His long tenure with this organization (nearly 14 years) is a rarity among member organizations. I know that Paul stayed with the Guild for all these years because of his commitment to the goals and principles of the Guild and not from lack of other opportunities. He has been presented with a great opportunity with a salary the Guild is unable to match and has decided to move on.

During the years I have worked with Paul, I have come to admire his passionate and profound respect for the graphic arts industry. Through his insightful writing and public speaking, Paul has admirably represented the Guild and helped countless artists.

Paul navigated us through the affiliation process, which was 20 years in the making, and built strong ties within the UAW. His stewardship of the Walter Hortens Distinguished Service Awards turned them into a world-class event for recognition of service to our industry. He guided the growth and influence of the Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines (PEGs) into an industry standard; built our relationship with the international reprographic rights community; and oversaw the geographic expansion of the Guild. Through his leadership, Artists for Tax Equity (AFTE) successfully gained the needed exemption from uniform tax capitalization in 1989. Ten years later he helped us limit the 1999 copyright registration fee hikes to $30, a $10 increase instead of the proposed $25. He was a tireless advocate involved with numerous court cases, congressional testimony and other lobbying efforts -- that have all helped to influence the course of US copyright law. These are only a few of his achievements during the past 14 years - the list too long to recount here.

As the chief staff officer Paul managed the Guild National office, and the long tenure of our staff speaks volumes about Paul's management skills. Paul has seen the Guild through difficult financial times and an entire reorganization from the ground up. He leaves the Guild financially and structurally sound, and focused on our core purpose: to be a strong community that empowers and enriches its members through collective action.

While it is a blow to the Guild to lose the only Executive Director a lot of us have known, we are thankful for his many years of guidance and leadership. We are grateful that he leaves the Guild in a strong position, one that is on the upswing.

The process of selecting a new Executive Director has already begun—the Officers have appointed a search committee that will be meeting next week. With any luck, we will find someone who will be able to continue Paul's legacy and to build upon it.

Thanks,
Jonathan Combs, Guild National President

The Graphic Artists Guild, UAW Local 3030, is a national union whose core purpose is to be a strong community of graphic artists that empowers and enriches its members through collective action.