A.G.M. and OPEN MEETING 1989
CHAIRMAN`S REMARKS
It gives me great pleasure to take the chair on this the third Annual General Meeting of the Colour Reversal Club and be associated with an Executive Committee which since their appointment three years ago have made nothing but progress in the administration and running of the Club.
Colin Powell, our Treasurer has succeeded in unravelling our tangled finances and with the help of our Auditor, Sue Croad, has presented a healthy balance sheet with every penny accounted for, despite many complications arising owing to the passing of a few of our members some of whom were Area Leaders.
Our Membership Secretary, Bob Lewis, who is unable to be with us today, has at last made some sense out of the nominal role. He has worked hard in badgering Area Leaders into making their returns as early as possible so that the nominal roll can be kept right up to date, and all this under the pressure of the re-organisation of Areas and the resignation and re-appointment of Area Leaders. This has cut down the cost of the Newsletter in as much that issues are not over produced for members who have left the Club.
Our Librarian, Eddie Pearce, complains that not enough members use the Library. He regrets that he cannot attend the meetings at Didcot owing to the fact that his commitments make it impossible for him to travel so far south. But rest assured if you have any enquiries which the library might help you with don`t hesitate to write to Eddie enclosing a stamped addressed envelope.
Our Technical Advisors, Brian Savage,and Kevin Craske are also doing an excellent job and are getting quiries from members. I am glad to say they haven`t been stumped yet.
And now last, but by no means least, I would like to draw your attention to the magnificent contribution made to the Colour Reversal Club by our Hon. Secretary, Ron Croad. It is difficult to put into words the admiration and gratitude I feel personally for his efforts on behalf of the Club. Thanks to Ron we now have an E6 formulae which is 100% reliable. After exhaustive tests and hundreds of slides, I know, I have seen the results and cant wait to get back to processing. Ron also holds stocks of film and chemicals on sale to members at privalaged prices, sales of which are increasing weekly and make a major contribution to the finances, and I may add, the survival of the Club.
The new formula and the subsequent increase in the sale of chemicals are indictive of the weighers and mixers going great guns, so much so that there are rumours abroad that a CRC Processing kit may be produced so that kit users can enjoy the new found quality of the new E6 formula and the new `Scotch Chrome` film.
In conclusion I would like to thank the Executive Committee for their unstinting cooperation in making my job as Chairman so easy. Also to all those members who sent so many cards and letters and well wishes during my recent illness, my deepest gratitude and thanks. To all Area Leaders, or Area Co-ordinators as I prefer to call them, thank you for your efforts and help in helping to hold the Club together. Please send in your dues as soon as possible, at least by the end of each month, so your Treasurer and Membership Sec. can return accurate records. Many many thanks to you all and best wishes for the future.Herbert H. Sanders, National Chairman, C.R.C.
Ron and Susan set up a stall selling Club film and chemicals and alongside two light boxes and a Wotan table-top projector showing many samples of Ron`s processing with the latest formula.
Kevin Craske and his wife Sandra ran a sales stall with numerous items including slide frames,under the TFM banner.
Your Editor`s processing set-up was displayed with the UNO Electronic Heater & Thermostat controlling water temperature and a Maplin Electronic Thermometer keeping check on the Bottles. A fish tank air pump took care of the water circulation showing how simple your processing set up can be.
Chris Nicholls of the Visual Impact Projection Company Ltd. ran a continuous demonstration of their "ROYALE" Audio Visual Projector. You simply place your tape cassette into the machine and it stores the programme into memory and the dual projector will run your programme completely syncronised, as often as you wish. The Royale was put through it`s paces as a 3-D projector and by simply fitting two polaroid filters and a silvered screen you have instant 3-D projection. Two members went away planning to sell the family silver to own one and there was one sale of the Royale projector Stand. Initially it seems expensive, but when you are starting from scratch and seeing how the whole thing folds up into a small carrying case, including the two speakers, then it becomes very good value indeed. Our thanks to Chris for a very enjoyable demonstration and being so easy to talk to and explaining the merits of the projector.
The Print Exhibition was shared with the C.R.C. and the Didcot Camera Club and once again an excellent display of prints. It was a welcome return to Margery Meadows and her superb Safari prints. The Didcot C.C. did themselves proud and one print, a fish-eye view of a coal train going round the Power Station found a buyer. The sad point of the day was when Frank Redhead`s prints arrived from Ireland two days after the event, after almost two weeks in the post.
First off with an A/V programme was our Treasurer, Colin Powell, giving his first presentation at Didcot. This was a two part programme taken at Portmeirion in North Wales on a weekend semina. Colin can be proud of his selection of slides which combined music made a very entertaining show.
Next our Secretary, Ron Croad, also put on his first A/V at Didcot, and well worth the wait. The first selection "Seasons" (an no prises for naming the music accompanying it!) consisted of Scotch Chrome, Konicachrome, Ektachrome and Fujichrome, all processed in the latest formula. They were big bold and colourful giving an excellent report on what to expect from this formula and as we progressed through the season demonstrated how well the films handle all situations.
The second section "The Chilterns" again took us on a colourful and musical trip around this lovely area. These were all on 3M Scotch Chrome and Ron is to be congratulated on his success with this processing.
After the interval with plenty of chatting among members, the second part of the programme was started off by Area 9 member, Harry Williams. Another first, though Harry had brought his A/V to Didcot before, but having planned to use another member`s equipment, found his tape was incompatible. Last year he missed out as he couldn`t manage to attend. Once again it was worth waiting for. His first programme "Custom Cars" may not have been everyone`s favourite subject but along with some pleasant music it made for a colourful event with all sorts of crazy designs of machines which were obviously lovingly re-built.
Harry`s second programme "Walsall Illuminations" certainly took everyone`s attention. Walsall wouldn`t be the first place you think of for this event but this proved every bit as good as other places in the country and a fine bit of photography too. Well done Harry.
Next, the only selection in the `Member`s Slide` section, Area 11 member, Fred Wells, projected a few slides which had been masked for wide-screen presentation. The film was from the Jessop film and processing kit combined offer and both film and processing looked very good. Anyone know what film this is? I recently looked in on Jessop in Oxford and thought their 300ml 3 bath Kit very good value at around œ4. Fred`s results show that this kit will satisfy anyone who hasn`t yet considered weighing and mixing, and find other kits rather expensive.
After another short interval the final programme of the day was the welcome return of Bill Crumplin. Bill just missed out last year when he had to go into hospital and though not yet 100% we were glad to see him up and about and able to attend our meeting. Bill started with a widescreen 16mm cine film projected onto a 16` x 8` screen using a Bolax 321 PR projector with anamorphic lens. Filmed at Brands Hatch we had motor bikes racing across the full width of the room and into the distance and we were made dizzy when the camera was strapped to one of the bikes and took corners at hair raising speeds and angles, to great acclaim from the audience.
And so once again our Annual Meeting came to an end with everyone well satisfied with the day`s events. Next year we shall go back to our later period in the hope that more of you will be able to attend. For those close enough to come but couldn`t or didn`t, you missed a very pleasant day and hope you will try harder next year.Ron.