Our major concern in the recent months has been the fall In the
total Club membership. There does not seem to be any reason for this. I
suspect that it is for a combination of several reasons such as our lack
of a Publicity Officer to see to some advertising and the fact that with
modern Kits, once you get, used to it and perhaps make a few minor
modifications in timing, they do give good consistent results, Whether the
Club can offer members something more to keep them once they have aquired
some expertise is something which we have long wondered about.
The Central Committee will be
holding a meeting later in the Autumn to which Area Leaders will be
invited to attend if they so wish. Alternatively they can send me or Bill
Reid suggestions as to how they think the Club can be improved. It is
therefore up to members to think of innovations and send in suggestions to
their Area Leaders to see if we can reverse the down trend in membership.
The Annual meetings at Didcot showed that the Club does not lack expertise
or talent or even enthusiasm.
There have already been several ideas mentioned, these have
included competitions, both for slides and in combination with music to
produce Audio-Visual shows. Some sponsorship of expert members to produce
a reliable “Club Formula” for E.6 processing preferably using only 3
or 4 bath. I wonder how, many members regularly now weigh and mix their
own chemicals? - only a few I suspect.
Finally I must now announce that I will have to give up the
Chairman/Secretaryship after the April issue of the National Newsletter
next year 1986. I have a vastly increased work load these days and I need
all the spare time I have to try and relieve the intense pressure under
which I am working and I feel I must shed just a few worries and
responsibilities. ‘Unfortunately I feel I have not been able to devote
as much time and energy to the Club as I would have wished or felt
necessary. I do hope someone will come forward to take over next year.
Hoping you have all managed to Salvage something from this very
wet, cool, dismal Summer (if this has been Sunnier
- I am dreading the Winters).
With best wishes for good shooting and successful processing this
Autumn.
Brian
Savage.