On my mind …

When thinking about what the Photographic Society of America (PSA) means to each member, it is easy to dwell on the showcase events and programs. These include the largest exhibitions, the jewel-like PSA Journal, the name presenters and writers, and of course, the annual conference. Sometimes an activity or program that seldom is mentioned or highlighted in the Journal is the most meaningful to participating members. I would like to mention a few programs from the Chapters, Clubs and Councils venue that fall into this category.

Think about the venerable PSA International Newsletter Contest started over 40 years ago, administered for over 30 years by the late Margaret Estes, FPSA, and now in the capable hands of Elena McTighe, a member of the camera club committee. This contest is to recognize and reward hardworking local club, chapter and council editors. Elena reports that there were 59 total entries in 2006, including 8 from Chapters and Councils, 31 from small clubs and 20 from large clubs. Each entrant receives a detailed evaluation from the judges with winners and prizes announced at the annual PSA conference. Each entry is rated on content, layout, good use of space, neatness, clean print, ease of reading, simplicity and style. Files of submitted entries are available at the annual conference and for this old editor of club, chapter and council newsletters, looking through these entries was always a conference "must do" even if always a little deflating.

Elena McTighe has also started an Online Photoeditors Group, where club editors assist each other with articles, technical information, links to other newsletters, and discussion of newsletter issues. The group's goal is to include as many camera club editors as possible. Therefore, all camera clubs, councils and chapters are invited to have their editors enroll by going to http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/PhotoEditors/and requesting to join.

Janet Bigalke of the Camera Club committee is director of the PSA Website contest started just four years ago. Any PSA Chapter, Club or Council currently maintaining an Internet Website is eligible to participate. Websites maintained by individuals are not included. Two website competition sites are included: websites that are not professionally designed and maintained, and those that are professionally designed and maintained. Experienced webmasters serve as judges and rate each entry for total presentation, content, layout, good use of space, ease of use, ease of reading, use of links and general overall design and style. Check the PSA website for the list of the 2006 winners and their URLs. The underlying purpose of both the newsletter contest and the website contest is to foster and maintain communication which is one of the mainstays of a successful local camera club.

I will also mention two other more traditional photographic competitions. The Chapters Showcase is a long running event that originally accepted only slides. In this competition each chapter is now invited to submit 10 images electronically for judging by the host chapter, reports Jim Mahoney, APSA, Chapters Committee chair and Director of the event. The images are judged and ribbons are awarded to the three chapters accumulating the highest number of points. Also, ribbons are awarded to individuals scoring the highest number of points in each chapter. Showcase images are reproduced on a DVD, in program form. This program is presented at the annual PSA Conference. Following the conference, the DVD is available for rent by Chapters and Clubs.

A similar program has been developed for Councils, called the Councils Challenge. Mary Hall, APSA, Camera Club Committee chair and event director, says that each member-council may participate in this competition. Entries consist of 10 images each (slides, prints and digital). Awards for winners are presented at the annual PSA Conference.

I cannot conclude without mention of the PSA Youth Showcase ably presented in the September 2006 PSA Journal. Miss Ali Malmberg was the 2006 winner of the Youth Showcase with its Goldberg medallion and was in attendance with her parents at the PSA Conference in Baltimore to receive her award; Dr. (APSA) and Mrs. Gerald Goldberg were in attendance at the banquet and spoke to the presentation in memory of their son, Brian Michael Goldberg. The Youth Showcase is a part of the Chapters Committee and is directed by Kathleen Braun, APSA.

James A. Baker, APSA

Vice President

Chapters, Clubs and Councils

COPYRIGHT 2006 Photographic Society of America, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning