EARLY HISTORY OF PHOTO ARTS CLUB TWEED

2006 to July 2008

by Founder, Ray Richardson

In August 2006 I made the decision to establish a Camera club in the Tweed Shire. The region, being one of artistic flair, seemed to me to be open for such an undertaking. I had already belonged to a few camera clubs and had a working understanding in the area of marketing, so I felt reasonably confident of success.

I felt that everything necessary to build a club like this should be in place before its first meeting. I wanted prospective members to plainly see that the club was serious in its endeavour, well prepared, and ready to go. My basic priorities were to find a suitable meeting place, to build an appropriate website and plan an advertising programme. Raising funds would follow.

Meeting Place

It took some time and a few refusals from prospective venues before I was able to present my plans to the then, and still, CEO of the South Tweed Sports Club, Gordon Rhodes. I was able to make a presentation to Gordon detailing how a traditional Camera Club operates. Details were soon agreed and after a short period of time the Club Committee gave formal approval. This development was a wonderful start for the club as the venue and facilities were by far the best I had ever encountered.

It was agreed that we would become a sub club of the South Tweed Sports Club. This meant that we would have an independence of operation whilst becoming a branch of the parent club. Members would need to become STSC members before joining our Photo Arts Club. There would be no charge for our meeting room, a fantastic advantage. We were also granted the privilege of selecting our own meeting room. In addition we also agreed that we would help each other in any way possible. On our part I promised that we would do our very best to satisfy, without charge, all photographic needs STSC routinely have.

WebSite

Fortunately my son, David, was a professional web designer and volunteered, without charge, to create a website for the club. We worked together to design the clubs first website: www.photoartsclub.org The site was up and running, not totally complete, before our very first meeting.

Advertising Club cards were then designed and printed, enabling me to visit and introduce the club to every local retailer in our shire having a professional interest in Photography. Small advertisements and press releases were then placed in local papers.

Secretary. Until a committee was formally established, my wife, Mary, thankfully volunteered to help me with the paper work as temporary club secretary.

Club Rules. Detailing all the necessary club rules and regulations came next. This was not a great problem because of my experience in other clubs.

Club Constitution. Our clubs constitution was also established. This was, naturally, blended in with our parent clubs guidelines.

Club Philosophy

My aims and objectives were to create a fellowship within which the art of photography, in all its forms and skill levels, is encouraged, respected, shared, enjoyed and celebrated by all.

We would also respect and value the combined knowledge of our membership and endeavour to share this by giving what we know and receiving what we don’t know, with a generosity of spirit.

Whilst the artistry of the end product would be our main goal, the processes involved, in all its forms and preferences, should always be welcomed.

I believed that this simple philosophy would create a space within which members can achieve their own aspirations, and do so within an environment of mutual respect and celebration.

The philosophy as regards to club competition was what interested me more than anything else. I was anxious to establish what I saw as an opening up of established Camera Club protocol.

For more than 100 years Camera Clubs have stuck to a set of procedures that have, over time, differed very little. Club nights invariably consisted of just viewing, as in a cinema, with hardly any membership participation.

Adjudication was, in my opinion, stuck by a set of soft unwritten rules created in the early stages of photography itself, with very little or no acceptance of the changes that digitalisation was presenting.

I could plainly see that Digital photography and its up and coming companion, digital manipulation, would release photography from its tethered existence to a wonderful expansive art form open to all.

At this time, March 2012, this has proven to be the case. Now we view a blossoming of new and exciting photos that have lifted the art an enormous step forward.

Club Name

Since the very early days practically all Clubs were known as Camera Clubs or Photographic Societies. As far as my research went the word Art was not included in any club name. Seemingly, photography was not seen in the same way as what some see as true art. To emphasize the direction the new club would develop, I decided to name the club: Photo Arts Club.

Committee

Prior to the first meeting I endeavoured to establish the beginnings of a committee. During this period volunteers were very hard to come by and many changes took place before a meaningful committee was established. The first stable committee consisted of: Ray Richardson, Flo Stotz, David Richardson, Dianne White and David Thompson.

In this document it is notable to thank Mary and David Richardson for their hard work, and Mahendra Blackman and David Thompson for their contribution and determination to stay the course. Club member, Gay Land, also deserves a special thank you because it was she who, from day one, organised and ran the club raffle. At this time, March 2012, she and her occasional helpers have raised very close to $5000. Gay is also the only club member to have continuously held a functioning position.

Logo & Artwork

Our club logo, designed by Flo Stotz, the clubs first Vice President, was to become a very popular and an extremely successful marketing tool. Club badges and all necessary artworks were designed and implemented by myself and Mary, my wife, who was a graphic designer.

Our first meeting

Our first meeting was on the 29th of November 2006. It attracted an attendance of over 35 prospective members. A comprehensive presentation was given and many questions and answers followed. An enthusiastic response highlighted a successful introduction.

Members

As one would expect in a new club, the vast majority of members were beginners. Only a few had meaningful photographic experience. As a result emphasis was placed on tuition with much help from our more experienced members.

Meetings, Group Studies

Group Studies was the term used for passing on knowledge. Three large circular tables were used for members to take apart in the tuition of different skills. This enabled members to receive more personal tuition on the subjects of most interest to them.

Competition Nights

Initially a panel of three club members gave basic feedback to each author without grading the images. As skills developed beginner’s confidence gradually improved and local artists and professionals in the field of photography were invited to Judge. In those days basic formulas for judging were passed on verbally.

Judge to Adjudicator

I then chose to change the word ‘Judge’ to ‘Adjudicator.’ This was to define the act of adjudication as being without the restrictions of written laws.

Sponsorships & Finance.

I managed to sell several sponsorships and make applications for a few grants. We also had help from our parent club, some donations from a member and a donation from Paul Hart who forwarded funds previously acquired by an obsolete club he had managed.

Equipment

Initially, some equipment was loaned to us for our meetings but due to income from subscriptions, $2 door fees, and income from sponsors and some successful grant applications, we were soon able to purchase important equipment.

Progress

Soon after our first meeting, thanks to my son David, our website was fully complete and members were able to keep in daily touch with the club. Our committee was functioning smoothly and membership was moving along nicely.