Under the union security clauses in the DGA's collective bargaining agreements, every person employed by a DGA-signatory employer in any DGA-covered category is required to be (or to become within the period specified by law) a "member of the Guild in good standing." Under federal law, the term "member of the Guild in good standing" does not mean that a person has to be an actual member of the Guild; instead, this "membership" obligation may be satisfied by paying the Guild initiation and upgrade fees and dues.

If you elect not to remain an actual member of the Guild, you will suffer significant losses, for you will no longer enjoy the rights and privileges of membership. You will not be eligible to run for or hold Guild office. You will not be entitled to vote in any Guild election. You will not be entitled to vote for Board or Council members or Convention delegates. You will not be entitled to vote on amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws. You will not be entitled to vote on ratification of DGA collective bargaining agreements. You will not be entitled to attend or participate in events and activities reserved for members.

You will not be entitled to attend or participate in Board, Council or Committee meetings. You will not be entitled to attend or participate in film screenings, symposia, workshops, mixers and other events. You will not be entitled to attend or participate in Special Projects events and activities except those open to the general public. You will not be entitled to have your name published in the Membership Directory. You will not be entitled to have your name appear on the availability lists. You will not be entitled to receive membership mailings. You will not be entitled to access the members-only section of the DGA website. You will not be invited to attend the Annual Awards Dinner or the Children's Holiday Party. If you later decide that you want to rejoin the Guild as an actual member, you will have to reapply. If the Guild does accept your application for membership, you would have to pay the then applicable initiation fee in full.

A person covered by any Guild agreement who elects not to remain an actual member of the Guild may satisfy the "membership" obligation by paying the Guild initiation and upgrade fees and dues, but also has the right to object to paying for activities which are not germane to the Guild's collective bargaining, grievance adjustment and contract enforcement functions and to obtain a reduction in dues attributable to activities which are not related to these functions. Anyone who does not wish to remain an actual member of the Guild should contact the Membership Department Administrator.

You must always remain a "member of the Guild in good standing" (as that term is explained above) to be eligible for employment in any DGA-covered category by any DGA-signatory employer. Furthermore, any unit production manager or assistant director who elects not to remain an actual full-fledged member of the Guild is still subject to qualification-list requirements on all films produced under the terms of the DGA Basic Agreement.

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