SLPS President’s Welcome To The 2007/08 Season

As I am now four months into my first year as President of the South Liverpool Photographic Society I am delighted to say that we have had a great response from the membership especially in the new satellite events that have been introduced, the Tutorial days out and the Photo walks have also been well supported.

A completely new idea recently introduced to enable members to have their work critiqued by the clubs experienced and successful members.This has been introduced at the club rooms on a Sunday afternoon and has proved to be a big success and will continue into the 2008 season.

Following the success of last seasons New members evening a further meeting was organised and was attended by all our new members including a member from Russia now working in Liverpool who has also been doing exceptionally well in the monthly competitions . Members were taken through the clubs history and introduced to various competitions in a relaxed informal atmosphere. .

The L & C P U and Royal Photographic society distinctions were also explained to members and a number of photo panels were used to highlight the various distinction levels .

Tony Myers FRPS

The Alec Balmer monochrome annual competition attracted a record 104 prints and clearly indicated that monochrome digital work is still very popular at club level. The evening was judged in print format and presented both as prints and digitally on the large screen. The evening also attracted a record audience for an in house club night.

Monthly competitions have shown a big increase in entrants and I find it very encouraging to see many new members coming away with some very high marks.

Our last meeting of the season was our Christmas social when we were entertained by our own members who turned their photo skills to music skills, including one of our longest serving members who also has the highest distinction from the Royal photographic Society the Fellowship award .

The new Capital of Culture trophy was introduced to the membership which was designed by the Capital of Culture sub committee, the trophy was sponsored by Cavern City Tours and Mr Dave Jones, Managing Director .

I am pleased to announce that the Capital of Culture committee have also organised a members photographic exhibition at the Quakers meeting house in School Lane , it is hoped this will be a semi permanent exhibition running throughout 2008.The exhibition is expected to open in mid January 2008 .

The highlight of the club year is the Annual print and slide exhibition and we have Mr Gordon Jenkins , President of the Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union to judge the Print section and Mr Tony Redford from North Cheshire PS to judge the slides. The awards ceremony will be held on the last club night syllabus year on June 26th 2008 at 7.30.

I am very pleased to say we have the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral to exhibit all our print and slide entry, following last years success when almost 4,000 visitors saw our exhibition. This exhibition will run from Monday 27th October for two weeks and will be open every day including Saturdays and Sundays from 9.30am to 5pm. We expect to double the amount of visitors with Liverpool being Capital of Culture this year.

As I mentioned on the Presidents evening back in September, the club can only function well by the many members who give up some of their spare time to organise and assist in the many club functions, we are still short of committee members, if you feel you would like to give some of your valuable time back to the club we would be very glad to hear from you.

Finally, I would like to thank the very hard working committee, many of them taking on committee rolls for the very first time, to the members who are always there to to give a nice warm welcome at the door to the new members arriving for the first time, to welcome the Speakers and Judges on arrival. To the committee members who give hours of their time working on the web site and other projects that are completed away from the club rooms.

Also the many non committee volunteers who arrive early every club night to set up the chairs, the fantastic raffle, bring the refreshments, set up the digital projector, print stand, slide projector and work the light switches who without their help we would never get started at 8pm .

I do find it very encouraging that hardly a week goes by when we do not have a new member at the club or emailing me for details on our club details.

And finally for supporting me in taking the South Liverpool Photographic Society forward during 2008 .

Very best wishes to all our members for a happy, healthy and successful 2008.

Tony Myers FRPS

President
South Liverpool Photographic Society