Minutes of the Southern Photographic Federation
Quarterly Meeting No.155
12th September 2003
Peter Symonds College.Winchester

1. Apologies

Trevor Muston. Steyning CC. Chichester CC.

2. Present. Representatives of the following clubs:- Alton CC.Andover SIPS, Basingstoke CC, Bognor Regis CC, Bournemouth PS, Burghfield CC, Disabled Photographers Soc.,East Berkshire PS, Fareham and Portchester CC, Farnborough CC, Fordingbridge CC, Gosport CC, Haslemere CC, Havant CC, Highcliffe & Infinity CC, Horndean CC, Jersey PC, Locks Heath and Sarisbury CC, Newbury CC, Ordnance Survey CC, Petersfield PS, Poole & Dist. CC, Prism PC, Salisbury CC, Southampton CC, Southern D.I. GroupSouth Reading CC, Spectrum, Viewfinders of Romsey CC, Winchester PS, Woolston CC, Yately CC.

3. Minutes of Meeting 154 (AGM)

The minutes were corrected i.e. David Toft would only be running the Print Championship. and then signed.

Welcome back is Jack Whitemore as Correspondence Sec. During the summer months all council members have been active. New members of the council, David Kessel and Trevor Muston have shown great endeavour. The newsletter in its new format is here, and David is beavering away at publicity problems. Thank you.

The Handbook, despite many problems has appeared, Ernie has had a mammoth task and our grateful thanks go to him. As Ernie was the only person to volunteer to take over from Pat C at short notice he was faced with completely starting from scratch and did so despite considerable personal difficulties. As he is now building up a database, we hope to put all the amendments in it so it will be more accurate next time.

It is a salutary lesson to have back-up files that other people can access.

Since the last meeting the PAGB Slide Championships took place at Warwick University. Viewfinders of Romsey and the Disabled Photographers Soc. represented the Southern Fed. Although neither won awards they gained good average marks in the Plate competition. It was a splendid day and some wonderful work was seen.

One of the new initiatives that sprang from the AGM was the institution of a Roll of Honour. It was decided to show appreciation to all those dedicated club members who work hard to ensure club life is maintained. A Certificate and entry in our Roll of Honour book for those who made exceptional contribution to their club or federation. That is:- over 10 years service, and taking official responsibility. We invite clubs to send written recommendations to the council. Each application will be decided on its merits.

Information about PAGB Insurance has gone to all clubs and please ensure the electrical safety issues are studied and acted on. Summer is not a closed season, some carry on with meetings , others have held successful public exhibitions. The Havant exhibition was excellent, as was Chichester CC's, which I did not get to hear about until too late to visit.

Now we have a web site for all clubs to use to let everyone know what is happening. It is being revamped and I hope will be easier to follow for non-computer mad folk. Notices will be there and competition rules and lots more. Please use it. If you are having a special open meeting or exhibition there is a club notice board for you. Farnborough have a notice about their exhibition at the moment.

I am pleased to announce that Debbie Bradley of Bracknell has gained her CPAGB. Well done.

The diary has plenty of events coming up. Firstly the PAGB Print Championships at Connah's Quay on Deeside, on the 25 th Oct. We will be represented by Ordnance Survey and the Disabled Photographers Soc. This looks like being another great occasion. I'm only sorry I can't be there. Tickets are available from Rod Wheelans, address in PAGB Handbook. We wish our team all the best and hope they have a wonderful time.

Now we look forward to this new season, with the league soon starting and the new SPF Print Championship to look forward to. Finally, our new way of working by E-mail is proving invaluable.

The financial situation at this time is as follows :- Cash in Hand - £97.62. Current Account - £294.68 and the High Interest Account - £ 4498.64. John thanked the 59 clubs paid up already, which is ahead at this time compared to most years. There is only 8 clubs who have yet to pay. The Handbook which was usually printed by Pat C was produced by a commercial printer at a cost of £526.40. Additional copies of the handbook are £1.50 and the PAGB handbook is £ 4.00.

Various competitions are all on the web site. The list of club events compiled by Glyn Edmunds has gone to most clubs, but some copies are still available. The lists are proving very valuable to programme secretaries. Glyn would prefer copies to go e-mail to save costs.

The letter from the MCPF was discussed. The subject was the decision by the PAGB to adopt the FIAP definition of Monochrome for all PAGB Competitions from 2004. The definition of monochrome would seem to prevent and discourage creativity. For example bromo chloride (blue black) emulsions are to be found on off-white (cream or ivory) these are no longer, strictly b & W. The same applies to warm tone emulsions and papers. Full or partial toning adds to the anomalies, as does printing a B & W print on an ink jet printer. The PAGB decision was deplored by the MCPF. After a full discussion, the SPF agreed with the MCPF. It was proposed by Yately CC to support the MCPF and seconded by the Disabled Photographers Soc. The proposal was carried, with only one club in favour of the FIAP decision.

Everything is in place for the start of the league. Dave Rigg asked that any changes of address or contact be advised as soon as possible. David Toft, referring to the Print Championship said that all was under control, judges selected, scoring system OK, now we need entries. All information is on the web site.

The judge for our Annual Exhibition will be Bill Aven, President of the WCPF. Judging takes place at Sparsholt Village Hall on 7 th Dec. The print section is full with 37 clubs taking part. It is preferred that all prints are on 20 x 16 mounts to help hanging the exhibition, the curator thinks it looks neater too!. The exhibition will be hung on 8 th Jan 2004. help will be needed as usual not only then, but for stewarding. The slides from 32 clubs will be on tour after opening evening. The acceptance forms are available together with the numbers for the back of the prints. The acceptance stickers (the elaborate ones) are not ready yet.

The trophies are needed by the December Quarterly. Please return them. Prints and slides are also needed at the Quarterly.

The Print exhibition is touring the country, and our accepted prints were few in number, for instance, one mono by Bob Elliott and six colour prints from various photographers, a disappointing result from what we considered to be a strong selection. All the other prints have been returned and are ready for collection. The slides, which have been collected will be selected on 25 th Sept, then submitted to the PAGB.

Progressing steadily. David is finding his feet and making changes. Suggestions made to him include putting advert prices up considerably and exploring the possibility of approaching local firms not necessarily connected with photography for adverts in our catalogues/ handbooks. We have been offered headed notepaper for all council members in return for an advert in the handbook/newsletter. David would like suggestions for future approaches.

Apologies.

Apologies.

A very full report from Ernie Fulbrook was sent to council. The difficulties experienced were well explained. Having to start from scratch was no mean feat. Printing, adverts, and setting up the database took many hours. Details from lecturers, judges and secretaries, in some cases were wrong or incomplete. Our grateful thanks to Ernie for his efforts.

14. PAGB Delegate

There has been no meeting since the PAGB AGM. One item brought to our attention was a suggestion that PAGB distinctions should be held twice yearly in Birmingham instead of countrywide, with each federation making the preparations according to the rota. We quickly agreed that the concept was totally impractical

15. Web Master.

Peter Read said that the web site was growing and improving. The average number of hits during the summer months was averaging 2600 approx. Clubs are reminded that the web site contains full details of SPF news, events and club activities, and is continuously updated.

16. AOB

Would all clubs on the rota for the PAGB slide exhibition please make certain that all contact names etc. are OK.

Communications. Some are not being received are not being passed on to club members. Bob McLeod of Haslemere CC was very concerned that reminders for speakers are sometimes left to the last moment or even not at all. He would like to see a reminder and a map sent two weeks before the event. The maps at times have been inadequate. What is also needed is a contact at the club with a mobile, many clubs have no telephone at their venue, so if the judge has traffic problems the club may well find itself with no speaker for the evening.

East Berks CC is missing from the handbook (this will be rectified).

President. Minutes Sec.

Next meeting Monday 1 st December 2003.