ONWARDS & UPWARDS
Aug 8th, 2008 by Keith Chaloner
It is often said, businesses either strive to grow and progress or tend to shrink and decay. One could argue that is a bit sweeping, but, like many generalisations, there is more than a grain of truth in it. Individually, particularly as we reach ‘maturity’ (!), setting our sights higher and learning new skills helps us keep our marbles polished.
Why, you might ask, do I sully a nice clean sheet of paper with such ramblings? Well I will get to the point in a minute; and it did seem slightly relevant when I started.
It is generally acknowledged that Club standards have improved in many ways; there is noticeable enthusiasm and a willingness of members to get involved in the many and varied Club activities & ventures.
Recently your committee agreed to a project to replace the display panels used in our annual photographic exhibitions. The old ones have served us well for many years but are now suffering a little from age and old technology. The method of using pins to hold mounted prints is not as secure and tidy as it could be. Most current display methods involve the use of ‘velcro’ compatible surfaces which enable prints to be displayed securely ………….and also look better.
The new panels will be 8ft x 4ft with a frame and with both surfaces covered in a grey material. The frames will be painted in a darker grey. We already have a quantity of neat plastic mounts (courtesy Eric Langley) with ‘velcro’ hook material on the reverse. These will be slipped over the top and bottom of the mounted prints which can then be easily attached, and adjusted, onto the panels. Our display at future Club exhibitions should therefore step up a little in presentation to match the ever increasing quality of our prints.
The manufacture of the new panels is about to start and is aimed to be completed in August (yes this year!). A team of committee members is involved with individual members responsible for specific aspect of the work. If any of you are handy with a paint brush and would like to be involved, please give Ken Stevens a call in case he needs any more help.
This project of course has a cost and if any of you are able, and feel you would like to contribute, a little extra on top of the membership subs fee would be appreciated.
Well, are we growing and prospering? I think so. We have new members ‘knocking on the door’, we have a new look program for the coming season and even a new points cup category (digital image, or something)
Enjoy the rest of the ‘summer’.
Keith
Regarding the Gallery:- I think it is very good. I look forward to it going live on the main site. I will, in the fullness of time, contribute more images to the site. However I would like to see a lot more contributors first. We have a sizeable number of our more,(normally), prominent members who have yet to contribute their profiles, let alone gallery images! No names, but you know who you are. Lets see some action THIS season!
Regardng feedback etc. :- Speaking only for myself I look at the main site several times a week. I suspect many others do the same. Finding out how to log on, is challenging. You not only need to find the cunningly concealed “log on” button but you also need to know the password. In addition you have to have your profile already on the site so that you will be recognised. I suspect that a combination of the three hurdles are the main reasons for lack of feedback. If there were a prominent “LOG ON” button and members were told their password without having to ring up and ask, this would also help. Some more profiles would also be a boon.
Thank you for the comments Peter. I have now out a login for members on the website. You are right in saying the password problem needs to be addressed. I will look into it.
“A few good men” has been an oft used phrase during history to celebrate daring deeds, or examples of exellence. For our Club it should more accurately be stated as “A few good Men and Women” and I am referring specifically to this website, although there are many other examples where the club has shown great progress in the last few years.
The old site, I may have referred to once in a blue moon and for more specific Club information, I would have picked up the phone and asked the questions. On this version, I refer to it many times a week, primarily for the event calendar and upcoming events, but as I become more familiar with the site, I tend to stay longer and read more.
My congratulations to those involved, for their vision to make it happen, their long hours, hard work and their diligence in keeping it up to date. Contributions from more members will add to the success of this site and if a confirmed sceptic like me can contribute, there is hope for other members.