SECRETARY' S NOTES
JOHN PEARLE, 1 ELDON CLOSE COLCHESTER ESSEX CO4 3HA 01206 861604 thepearles@compuserve.com
FROM BIRMINGHAM comes news of our presence at Photo Action 99. In the last issue of the News I wrote that the show would be over when you read it, wrong!. Now it is and we can look back on a lot of work and quite a successful appearance. This was due in no small measure to the work of those who took it in turns to man the stand over the three days - Geoff Lowe, Brian Savage, Arthur Comer, Eric & Mrs. Dugdale, Dave Morrell, Pete Guy, Nick Williams and Kevin Craske. Plus guest appearances by Lawrence Edwards and Bill Reid. Special thanks, too, to Area 13 Co-ordinator Margery Maskell for letting us display some of her prints. Thank you all.
As I write this, I don't know how many people joined as a result of our efforts, but five joined up at the stand and there will no doubt be more to come. May I take this opportunity to welcome all the new members to what appears to be the only Club catering for people who really make their own pictures. A report on the event from Bill is elsewhere in this issue and, if everything gets done in time, there are pictures too. Unfortunately, we forgot about taking pictures of the stand, so we had no camera at the start, then no batteries for the flash.....I know.....I know. Some (from Kevin Craske, I think) are on the CRC web site. If anybody else took pictures showing the stand, we'd like to see them, too.
THE CRC QUESTIONNAIRE promised in the last Notes is on the way. We won't be able to get it in with this issue of the News - I've held Bill Reid up enough as it is, but will come as a separate posting along with details of the AGM. When you get it, please return it as soon as you can.
AGM matters are now at the top of the heap. At last year's AGM some changes to the CRC Constitution were adopted for a period of one year. If they are to remain, or are to be changed further, propositions are needed for consideration at the AGM. Under rule 10 this means by mid March - latest. The CRC Constitution, as amended at the last AGM, will be sent with the questionnaire. We hope to be able to put the results of the questionnaire to you at the AGM.
PHOTOGRAPHICALLY SPEAKING - if you can imagine such a thing - the weather hereabouts has been pretty poor, damp and dismal, but a good time to get the darkroom cleaned up and back into as near order as things round here ever get.....
With best wishes for a happy and successful year ahead.
THANKS TO John and Rita Pearle.
After spending the last day at "PhotoAction 99" on the club stand I was so very impressed with the way the stand was presented, filled with some excellent prints, and the large format light box that John had made up especially to show the various large format slides, made a very good stopping and talking point for passers by and therefore breaking the ice for conversation, this was something that was lacking last year.
During my day, I never noticed a time when one of our members was not talking to a visitor, so with this in mind may I say, A Very Big Thank you to John and Rita for all the hard work they put into the whole event, and Very well done.
Also I think a vote of thanks to the other club members that attended on the various days and for giving up their time. I do not know how many new members the club gained from the show, but I do feel that the CRC is now very firmly established at this event, and for myself, many thanks also for a very enjoyable day!
Pete. Guy, (Area 20).