During the first week in May, DGA President Michael Apted and National Executive Director Jay D. Roth traveled east to meet with members in New York and Chicago.

On Monday, May 1, 2006, Apted and Roth attended the Eastern AD/SM/PA meeting chaired by Dennis W. Mazzocco. The Guild leaders were there to hear the concerns of Associate Directors, Stage Managers and Production Associates who work on the East Coast. The following day, Apted and Roth attended the Eastern AD/UPM meeting chaired by Louis Guerra. During the two meetings, the members expressed their feelings about a variety of subjects including the impact of new technology on their jobs, the effects of runaway production, and the lack of work opportunities. Apted and Roth informed the members of the many avenues the Guild is involved in to address these subjects.

On Wednesday, May 3, Apted and Roth went to Chicago to meet with members of the Chicago Coordinating Committee (CCC), co-chaired by Tom Busch and Jef Kos. Over forty local members welcomed President Apted back to Chicago where he had directed the feature films Blink and Continental Divide. Apted and Roth heard concerns similar to those expressed by members in New York with the inclusion of the subjects of Guild representation of Location Managers, working in Canada, access to special projects and the lack of work opportunities. President Apted also told the CCC members what the Guild is doing on a number of fronts including: new technologies, the pension and health plans, efforts to increase diversity hiring, organizing and overall plans for the future.