AGM & OPEN MEETING 1994, REPORT
There was the usual hussle and bussle involved in setting things up and there was a good display of secondhand `goodies` plus the Club`s Film & Chemical sales, and TFM`s sales stall. However, only 25 actual members attended, with a few wives and children.
Many thanks must go to Mrs. Jane Mundell, and her family, who handled the refreshments. There was an excellent selection, from Sandwiches to a full Ploughman`s lunch, with tea, coffee and biscuits and soft drinks.
Alan Panes, of Didcot, supplied the Print Stands, as he has kindly done for ALL of the years we have been holding these meetings. However it was a big disappointment that after all his efforts, there were NO prints exhibited this year!! Very unusual indeed and we hope that things will be better next year. However, Alan explained that the print stands may not be available from now on as they are taking up so much space in his garage (They belonged to the now defunct Didcot Camera Club) and the CRC are the only ones using them, and so Alan is going to dispose of them, probably to another camera Club in the outlying area of Didcot.
If you plan to exhibit prints next year, please take this into consideration. However our grateful thanks must go to Alan for the very helpful and friendly service he has given us. Many Thanks Alan.
At the AGM, there was the usual matters to get through, and the re-election of the Executive Committee. However a letter sent in grumbled about the use of the `Computer` image, shown on the front page of the Newsletter, and that something more appropriate should be used!! It`s been explained before that the computer image is used to show the part they play in producing the Newsletter, and that members can now exchange letters by disc, rather than typing on paper.
However, Kevin Craske came up with the suggestion that, instead of complaining what others do, why not do something YOURSELF! and suggested a competition among the membership for an `Emblem` that would represent the Club properly. Ron Croad then added that there would be a reward of a film or two for the winner,
So get your pens and paper out and start putting your ideas into a `line drawing` and send them (As soon as possible) to your Editor, Bill Reid (Address at the bottom of page 16). Bill will select the best `three`, then a final winner and, the drawing will be displayed on the front page of the National Newsletter. Just remember that it must be as simple as possible, and that it has to be `reduced` to fit the available space, on the lines of the present computer image.
There was a very nice surprise for Ron and Susan, when, Brain Savage, in collusion with Pete Guy, proposed and seconded that, for the excellent service Ron & Susan have given to the Club, that they be awarded a "Life Membership".
I am sure you will all join in thanking and congratulating them for a very well deserved award. Ron worked hard on perfecting the CRC E6 Formulae, and has worked wonders finding stocks of the necessary chemicals at prices well below commercial ones. The `special` deal he gained from Konica for film makes the œ5 Subscription, the best value going. The profits also allow us to afford the new style Newsletter. And, of course, he has had the full backing of Susan who has also done some fine work behind the scenes.
With such a small gathering and only `one` obvious slide presentation set-up in the projection room, it looked as if the days viewing was going to be rather short. However Kevin Craske (Area 9) started off with the excellent Audio/visual programme he presented last year, "Travelling Fair", but with quite an extra `punch`! A lot of work has gone in to up-dating the programme using three Kindermann 25AS projectors, which he has modified, and are controlled from a PC Computer.
In spite of the two tables being completely covered with a mass of projectors, computer and monitor, strange flashing L.E.D. lights and wires, stretching out like spider legs, the programme ran silky smooth and without a hitch.
The presentation portrayed the arrival of a Fun fair and the hard work the people put in setting it up, then the magic of the public arriving and the adults and, children, enjoying all the fun and colour of the fair. Although we had seen it before, the extra slides and work made it fresh and interesting and Kevin and Sandra deserve considerable credit for their efforts. The films used were Agfa 100 & 1000 asa.
Kevin explained that there is a "Mark 3" in mind, using FOUR projectors! and, also a completely new project. We look forward to seeing that next year.
Next, Frank White (Area 20) presented a good number of Konicachrome slides of a recent holiday to Madira. These were very colourful and well processed.
This was followed by Ron Hardy (Area 9), with some more Konicachrome of, another fine holiday, in Italy, taking in Florance and Rome and a visit to the Island of Elba, again showing very nice home processing results.
Ron Croad (Area 20) then, using a Prestinox projector, with a long focal lens, took us around Kent & Sussex, using the Club, Konicachrome film and Formula, with visits to Brighton, Canterbury, Whitstable & Sandwich and, Chatham, visiting Castles and Gardens and the Bentley Motor musium and Whitbread horses. Very nice too.
Nick Williams (Area 20) then gave us a short, but colourful excursion around the lovely market town of Malmsbury and, his local area, around Sharpness Docks. Nick normally uses Fujichrome film and a `hybrid` formulae, which Folio members have long experienced.
The final presentation came from Henry Jenner (Area 20) which was a very colourful reminder of a another very nice holiday
And, surprisingly,, that took us right up to our closing time of 6pm, and the end of another very enjoyable day. While our numbers were smaller than usual, it is interesting that most had travelled quite
long distances to attend. The farthest being Area 4 Co-ordinator, Dave Morrell, who had driven all the way from Middlesbrough, which is a round trip close on 500 miles.
Kevin & Sandra Craske came from Norwich, Bill Brown, from Lincoln, George Sparkes, from Swanage, Peter Guy & Frank White, from Essex, Brian Savage, from Worcestershire, and Colin Powell, from Shropshire, Nick Williams & Henry Jenner, from Gloucestershire, while others came from as far away as Hampshire and Hertfordshire.
Our thanks must go to everyone for the effort they made to attend. While we had half a dozen apologies, we are sure many more of you, living a lot closer, could have tried a little harder. Obviously, there are as many good and personal reasons why many of you can`t attend, but please try to increase our numbers next year.
While no date is set, it will most likely be the same week next May, which should be Sunday 14th, fuller details will be printed in the Newsletter, so if you can take note of that period and start to plan, hopefully we will see you there next time. Many many thanks to those who came this year and we hope that you all enjoyed the day too