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Guests: 5, Members: 0 ...
most ever online: 27
(Members: 0, Guests: 27) on 17 Jul : 07:23
Members: 91
Newest member: Pam W
most ever online: 27
(Members: 0, Guests: 27) on 17 Jul : 07:23
Members: 91
Newest member: Pam W
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President's Message
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
I want you to know my objectives and plans for WWPS. I have three objectives (1) for us all to have fun with photography and our organization, (2) for us all to learn more about photography and share our knowledge with each other, and (3) to continue to support the arts and our community.
Most meetings will have three parts. First, we’ll have a guest speaker on one of a variety of subjects. I’d like us to see a broad range of photography and techniques that guest speakers can bring. Second, each meeting will feature a mini-class on photography. We’ll take about 30 minutes and have an instructor teach some aspect of photography. For example, we’ve had lessons on lenses, one on exposure and properly using light meters, another on depth of field, a lesson on histograms and how to use them, a class on digital painting, one on posing and lighting, and several sessions on techniques such as shooting portraits, landscapes, sports, and children. The third event at each meeting will be a “photo challenge” in which I’ll give you an objective of the month and ask you to photograph something that best meets the objective. Bring a print of any size to the meeting for display. We’ll all vote on the image and the winner will receive a very nice “people’s choice” ribbon. The image will then be placed on the website for all to see and admire. Our meetings should be enlightening, we’ll learn something, and we’ll have fun.
We have a great website with lots of information you need to know. It is important for you to check the website often. Put it in your favorites list or on your desktop links. I intend for the website to be the primary means of getting information to you, instead of trying to email everyone or make a zillion telephone calls. If something changes, we'll post it in the news section on the front page. Everything you want to know about WWPS should be there. Got a question about something? Check the website and you’ll probably find the answer. But remember, it’s your responsibility to check the site often to stay up to date.
Now a word about your role. As members we have some exceptional benefits that most organizations only dream about. First, we rent a great place to meet without cost to you, with a permanent work room and equipment that all members can use free. We have a mat cutter, framing tools, a shrink wrapper, a set of studio lights, a lightmeter, several backdrops, and a backdrop stand. We get some great guest speakers for our meetings without cost to the members, and we can attend meetings without charge. This is not the case in many organizations. We have a wonderful display at the Carmike Theater where you can display your work without cost to you. We have a website which offers a lot of benefits. We get a booth at the Annual Arts for All festival where you can display and sell your photographs, again without the cost that the other vendors have to pay. And the best part is that our annual dues are only 10 bucks. Do the math and you’ll quickly see that $10 each isn’t even a measurable fraction of what it costs to provide the benefits we enjoy. The reason is that, thanks to our founders, our photography is accepted as an art form by the Lawton arts community (extremely unusual!!). As such, the Lawton Arts for All organization funds our club and its activities (nearly unheard of anywhere else). In exchange, they ask that we support the arts community and its activities with volunteer work. They expect us to help with fund raising, setup/teardown/serving breakfast to the artists, and manning a booth at the Arts for All Festival. They ask that we get donations for the auction at the Gala event in October and that we sell tickets. Most important of all, they ask us to help spread the appreciation of art to the community through displays, presentations, art shows, and similar events. The more we do these things, the more funding we get and the more benefits you get to enjoy. We need your help with these activities. Every one of us is busy in life and no one has extra time, but some of our members always find a way to help. However, it tends to be the same ones volunteering over and over and we need more people to help. Even if you can donate just a little of your time this year, it will make a real difference. If you enjoy the benefits of WWPS, then raise your hand and be able to say you helped assure the future of WWPS. Besides, we have a great group of people and always have a lot of fun working together.
The Officers, Board members, and I are dedicated and excited to make WWPS even better. We’ll have a lot of fun, we’ll learn a lot and share a lot, and we’ll all become even better friends than we were before.
See you at the next meeting,
Clem Wehner