The Presidents View
Wasatch Camera Club - a personal perspective
Updated: 2 hours 2 min ago
End of Club Year Message
August 31st marks the end of the Wasatch Camera Club’s formal year. As I mentioned to the assembled masses at the Thursday evening meeting, we’ve made some big strides during the year. These included the George Lepp event that doubled the club’s membership and with the event’s proceeds allowed the purchase of the new projector. We’ve had numerous competitions with strong judging, well attended field trips that took our photographers out to some unusual spots, and workshops that covered both hardware and software. Our club had some success with our entries in PSA (Photographic Society of America) and we will do even better in the coming year.
We’ve also participated in the Outdoor Photographers Expo that certainly raised awareness of the club among a number of key contacts. Our membership is now 139 paid members. This is a number that has beneficial effects for the club. It is a size that gets attention from both local and national parties that want to offer their services or share information. This is good for everyone because it gives us new opportunities and some club discounts.
Happily, we have had good response to requests for volunteers from our members. Fred DeSmet (et al), Jon Scarlett, Matt Copeland, Brad Crezee, Sterling Sanders, Dave Sanders have all donated their time to make the club more successful. Of course, we couldn’t do it without our “heavy lifting” directors, Jeff Clay, Steve Scott, Mary Whitesides, Chris Miller, and Jim Berneike. (Sorry if I’ve left your name out thanks for suffering in silence.)
Lastly we have a new president (yours truly) who accepted the position from Steve Scott who asked to step down for job related reasons. (Work just seems to intrude in everything!)
We also have a promising year ahead of us. Immediately ahead is the Working with Models Workshop which as of 8/24 is sold out. Following the models is the Bonneville Salt Flats Photoshoot October 1st, the Mentoring Summit is October 4th and Tom Till’s three day workshop based around Moab at the end of the month. Of course, the regular workshops, field trips, competitions and presentations will continue. Also, we’ll be working to meet your needs better with our member surveys that give the directors feedback and we’ll be making some requested upgrades to the website.
Fiscally your club is sound. As of August 24, the club has $1,654.09 between our PayPal and regular bank account.
In closing, now is the time pay club dues, which remain unchanged from last year: $40 per individual, $50 for families $10 for students and $25 for seniors. As I like to point out regularly, if you attend two events over 11 months your charge is $1.82/meeting for individuals. Compare this amount with going to a movie at $8.00! So, if you’re feeling like dues are too low, as about a third of our members do, you can ease the pain to pay more by making a tax-free donation to the club. Remember, the money is spent directly on making our club better – we don’t have any paid staffers. Just add any amount in the donation window when you pay your dues.
