1.    Working Together Seminar Report

     You will find attached to this Email a copy of Kevin’s report on our meeting held in Talbot Green on 25th November, I would like to personally thank the members of the 23 Clubs that attended the day and provided detailed feedback to the WPF – it was great to hear their thoughts and ideas. We will be repeating this in 2008 – see you there? We are always interested in feedback!
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Copy of Kevin’s report

WORKING TOGETHER
A workshop held 21st November 2007 with the aim of encouraging the Clubs and Photographic Societies in Wales to review the WPF Services and to help us to improve/modify these to meet their needs. Less than half the clubs within the Federation sent delegates and therefore the organisers can only assume that most clubs are happy with their own way of doing things and are also happy with the way the Federation operates on their behalf! This document draws together most of the ideas presented and discussed at the workshop and is meant as a reminder for those who attended. It is also an invitation to add your own thoughts and offer feedback whether you were there or not. All communications should be addressed to Roy Thomas, your President who will ensure that any and all feedback will be fully discussed and used to improve the environment in which clubs and the Federation work together for the benefit of all our members.

COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS
It has long been apparent that communication amongst WPF, camera clubs and individual members needs improvement. Though today many prefer electronic methods of communication there are still quite a few who don’t have the necessary facilities. The group compared the various methods employed currently and alternative solutions were discussed.

Combine Bulletin and In Print (2 per year, by email and hard copy) **

NEWSFLASH – an important vehicle to be further developed. **

Communication/publicity officer at club level would ensure contact with WPF and any other bodies offering services to clubs. Would also be responsible for co-ordination of information between committee and club members

Ensure all clubs have at least one email contact. **

WPF has a welcome leaflet explaining aspects of influence – should clubs think about offering the same to members to encourage a greater understanding of the network that exists?

Encourage greater use of feedback in all areas of club life

Electronic version of the Directory for ease of update – information in the same format could
be printed and physically be stuck into the hard copy version.

Information to be shared regarding grants/ funds and sources available for improving club environment.

JUDGES AND LECTURERS
As the mainstay of the club programme we are fortunate to have a number of committed members who gladly give their time for the benefit of clubs. Without this valuable input our programming would be greatly inhibited and the club experience could end up most uninteresting. Issues raised and discussed by the group ranged widely.

More seminars for both judges and lecturers. **

Use of feedback forms (on lecturers too) – reluctance **

Feed back from judges and lecturers on clubs. **

Scoring issues range of marks/consistency

Differential in judging technique

Careful handling by judges

Need for judges and members to experience work outside the camera club environment – exhibitions wider reading etc

Use of internal talent

Guest speakers and judges from a distance

Expenses – plus mileage – need to compensate for amount of work other than on the night.

Ensure early payment of expenses

Need for greater courtesy to guests on the night, before the event and after the event.

Need to telephone to discuss, email or letter for confirmation and map, thank you letter later.

Start on time

Announcements at the interval or at the end so as not to cause delay

Clubs joining together for some larger events

Use of advice in PAGB handbook

Use of WPF Directory

Use of WPF Portfolio

Investigate local and national grants to assist with the cost of visiting speakers

COMPETITIONS
As well as the monthly and inter-club competitions we are now experiencing greater interest in Federation, inter-federation, national and international competitions. This is all good for improving standards in photography. The WPF is here to help and advise as well as run its own competitions.

Ace of Clubs – change to digital format. **

Ace of Clubs – New venture - print format. **

Show Salon at several venues around Wales

Raise the profile of the Salon

Use more judges from outside the Federation

18 month calendar of events to enable more notice for entries. **

Advice on what is in vogue in the form of a portfolio

More photographs in the catalogues. **

Retain Salon successes for one year for use in other competitions. **

Are competitions held too close to each other?

The inability of smaller clubs to enter the bigger competitions.

Make available portfolios from other Federations to show the standard of work elsewhere

Relevance of the Celtic Challenge

Revise and standardise entry forms

Guidelines for competition entry - on line. **

Integrity of individual photographers – entry of same image in various media – inappropriate – should clubs help in the vetting process before entry

CONVENTION

A photographic experience for an entire weekend

Value for money

Ability for smaller clubs to see photographers and here speakers they might not be able to afford

Is it too intense?  Could there be more opportunities to see work in closer detail?

Bigger names costing more but less of them – more time for inter-action

Make it more of a themed weekend

More publicity

Smaller groups – varied activity

Workshops during the weekend – drop in sessions

Why the indifference at club level?

Is the programme good enough?

Is the programme varied enough?

Take a long hard look at what was discussed at the workshop. These are ideas that came from a small group of people from a selection of clubs. They are not a work of fiction devised by the Executive of the Federation. If you can see anything that was missed, or that you feel needs an airing then let us know.

The items marked with ** have been taken to heart and it is our intention to incorporate and introduce each of these ideas during 2008, hopefully the Clubs will also consider some of the suggestions for improving their operation and will also be putting them into practice. All ideas put forward will be considered by the WPF Executive during their next few meetings. – The AGM next March will give an opportunity to air views about how we operate so you should consider getting your Club to nominate you as a Delegate and maybe even nominate you for a position on the Executive – we are always looking for enthusiastic workers to assist us.

We intend to repeat this exercise in the future. The idea is to use the next event to provide support and information for the committees of our member Clubs and maybe arrange for group working during the sessions with Chairpersons, Secretaries, Treasurers, Competition/Programme Secretaries to sit as specialist units to share their experiences and issues – leading to a common level of understanding on Club management.

Please ensure that all members of your club get an opportunity to feed into this process. Don’t just stash it away with the paperwork – hand it over!

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2.     Swansea International and Welsh International Projected Image Exhibitions

     Christmas is the time to get your entries ready for both of these events. The Swansea closing date is 11th January 2008 and entry forms are available from Philip Davies at davies37@btinternet.com this competition is for prints as well as projected images. The Welsh event has a closing date of 2nd February 2008 and entry forms are available at www.thewpf.co.uk under the Events page or contact our organiser Linda Baldwin at welshinternational@thewpf.co.uk . We all need to expose ourselves to International and National Competition so that we can better judge and improve our abilities. I’m looking forward to seeing all your entries!

3.     Abergavenny Camera Club Move and Change of Night

     I received the following from their Secretary Sue Eley: -

    As of January, Abergavenny Camera Club will be meeting at
Saint Michael's Centre
10 A Pen Y Pound
Abergavenny
Monmouthshire
NP7 5UD

and on a Monday, not a Tuesday night.

4.     Swansea Camera Club Information

     Swansea Camera Club Annual Exhibition in the Grand Theatre, Swansea from January 3 to 30.
Members' prints and digital images will be displayed. Entry free.

5.     WPF Memorial Trophy
The Memorial Trophy will take place on Sunday the 20th January 2008 at Barry Camera Club.
The closing date for entries to The Memorial Trophy Competition is the 18th of December 2007.
Please arrange to get your entries to Mike Lewis who can be contacted on 01446 710770.

6.     Builth Wells Camera Club Exhibition

Builth Wells Photographic Club are holding an exhibition in the Wyeside Gallery in Builth Wells from Friday 23rd of November to Sunday 30th of December 2007.

As well as prints by members of the club there are some from people who attended the Photoshop workshops the club ran during the year. The workshops and the exhibition are supported by a grant from Awards for all Wales. The Wyeside is a cinema, theatre and gallery so its opening hours are unusual.

Monday – closed
Tuesday to Friday 12.30 to 16.30 and 17.30 to 21.00
Saturday and Sunday 17.30 to 21.00

 Wyeside arts centre – 01982 552555           www.wyeside.co.uk   Located at LD2 3BN

7.     Update on Aberdare’s Stolen Equipment

Hi Roy, Just to let you know that the projector which 'went missing' has now been recovered and is in ok condition. Unfortunately the lap top is still out there somewhere. Regards, John Davey

8.     More International Competitions to Consider and Enter

20th Salon National de la Photographie
6th Salon International de la Photographie
Contact jean.jacsque.milan@wanadoo.fr
Get PDF 1 for details
Closing date 19th January.

2nd APS International Salon of Photography 2008
Closing date 2nd February 2008
For details get two PDF 2

MINIATURES 2008
Closing date 14th February 2008
For details get two PDF 3

XXX11 Trophy Hotograph Competition ''TORRETES''
Closing date February 1st 2008
Get word document 4

 The PDF’s and Word Document need to be obtained from Jan Cawley at pagbfiapdist@thewpf.co.uk
6th HOLLAND International Image circuit 2008
Closing date January 31st 2008
For entry form see     http://www.ho;;andcircuit.nl/

9.     Unlikely in this Digital Age but if you need an Enlarger

Arthur Mallett Secretary of Llanelli Camera Club has a friend who wants to dispose of: -
Gnome Universal Alpha II with a universal neg tray for all neg sizes and a fixed 35mm neg tray. Minolta E.Rokkor 1:45   f = 50mm and a Kaginon 1:3.5  f = 50mm, both with Lieca threads
So if you are interested contact Arthur at arthur.mallett@talktalk.net

10.  Finally

    May I take this opportunity to wish you, your family, your friends and of course your Camera Club a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year – and lets see more Welsh Photographers being recognised for their ability and winning the trophies they deserve!