AGM
This Saturday, 7 October, we hold our AGM at Bovey Tracey Golf Centre. It starts at 10.30am and will hopefully be fairly brief. We do need as many people as possible to attend and for clubs to send up to two representatives to vote. It would be lovely to have a good turn out. As you know, the Golf Centre has ample parking and excellent food.
Talks by Sue O'Connell and Peter Brisley
We are offering you two fantastic talks at 2pm in the afternoon - and they are free. Sue O'Connell will be telling us about her 'Travels in Ethiopia' and 'My Journey to an FIPF' and Peter Brisley will give us 'Miscellany' including architecture, abstractions and impressions of Japan. They have a digital presentation including AVs and lots of wonderful prints to look at. They are Fotospeed lecturers and Fotospeed will be there. Sue and Peter are two of the country's top travel photographers and their work is wonderful. You really don't want to miss the opportunity to see their work close up and have the chance to ask them questions. Both are members of Bristol Photographic Society.
Exec Vacancies
We still have an immediate vacancy for a Publicity Secretary. The Exec have been muddling through this year but it's not easy to both organise an event and write about it or photograph it. You don't see the whole picture. Furthermore we are missing the more personal and interesting stories from our region - the achievements, milestones, club successes and activities - not to mention dedicated publicity for our own events. It's a fun role if you enjoy writing - there must be someone who'd love to give it a go!
We are also giving a year's notice that we will need a new WCPF Secretary from October 2024. Stephen took on the role last year to support me as President and although he has enjoyed it, after a lot of thought he has decided not to continue for personal reasons. Event photography commitments, increased family responsibilities and chronic health issues mean that we will both be taking a big step back next year. The role of secretary is mainly involved with managing the WCPF Gmail account, organising our meetings and the taking, writing and distributing of minutes. Most of this work can be done remotely as all our meetings, other than the AGM and the March Council Meeting are held by Zoom. We have had a succession of very efficient secretaries over the years so everything is well-organised and in good order and Stephen will make the handover as smooth as possible.
The WCPF really can't function without a Secretary which is why we are giving plenty of notice. Please give this some thought. Stephen will be happy to have no obligation chat if you want to know more.
Kingswood Salver
Saturday is also the hand-in for the year's Kingswood Salver - a print panel of 5 photos on a theme chosen by your club, featuring work from 5 different photographers. As someone who loves working in panels, this is one of my favourite competitions. Eddy and Pam Lane will be on hand to collect your entries in (don't forget to fill in the form online and send in your digital copies). Leo Rich will be judging the competition at Bovey Tracey on Saturday 11th November and giving a talk in the afternoon.
Make Southwest
In the morning, after the AGM, or at lunchtime, you could pop into Bovey and visit Make Southwest where there is a beautiful exhibition called 'Responding to the Light:the diversity of Modern Photography' curated by Susan Brown FRPS. Exhibitors include Joe Cornish, Mandy Barker, Marianthi Lainas, Ray Spence, Susan Derges, Valda Bailey and Charlie Waite. Sue will be there until 2pm if you'd like to say hello and talk to her about the exhibition. It runs until the 4th November if you can't make it next weekend.
I hope to see lots of you on Saturday - I will try to be at the door to say hello although we are having a brief Exec meeting at 930am so apologies if you arrive when this is in progress and I can't greet you personally.
Helen
Helen Jones ARPS DPAGB BPE1*
President - Western Counties Photographic Federation
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