CSCPG One Minute Update (27 Feb)

Hi everyone,

The most exciting news is that our plans for the 'Community' Photo Contest & Donor Appreciation Night on March 6th at 6 pm are on track. There will be framed ribbons, trophies, and plenty of food & drinks.  There also will be a small silent auction to raise funds for the 2014 'Community' Gala which will be at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts.


All we need is you.  So please plan on attending or coming by the East Library in March to check out the winners- and see the fantastic talent that we have here in the Springs.  It is inspiring.

No Letters to the Organizer this week.  FYI- There also will be a Coffee with the Organizer on Sunday the 2nd.  So I think there are lots of ways for you to give me feedback.  And you can always just write me an email: springsboys@gmail.com if its something private.  Oh, and yes I always appreciate hearing about when things go 'right.'

News:
'CSCPG Live' the new service we are offering to members who can't make it to MeetUp on weekends is up and running.  Simone, Jim Harris and I will be offering online classes very soon.  I have a CSCPG Live session planned for March 4th at 6pm to discuss the Animal Category of the 'Community' Photo Contest.

From PPA Magazine: Here is an interesting article titled David Sixt Pairs Passion with Patience.  There are other great articles in the Professional Photographers of America's magazine.  I suggest you subscribe and find out first hand. ($19.95 a yr)

Sochi Winter Olympics: Stunning Photos From National Geographic Magazine Members

Member Profile:  One of our talented Co-Organizers Don Savage is a photographer who loves to take pictures and comes up with some amazing results.  He is a great example of how our members seem to always be trying new things.  He posted some infrared images that were just amazing.  We don't get to see much of him since he moved out of the Springs,  but it is so great to have him staying in the 'Community.'

Rants&Raves:  I would like to see more people at the Gala & Donor Appreciation night, but it is already nearly double the attendance we had last year so I am 'happy' for the size that we have attending.  I am also happy to have found a space for our 2015 event.  You have no idea how fast calendars can fill up.  I think it will be interesting to have our show in an Art Center.  It is a difference audience than exhibiting to the public.  It does come with a fee, but I am betting that next years 'Community' Photo Contest will be as profitable as this years was.  Thank you all for your tremendous support.  I think we are headed to another great year for the Group.  We do continue to grow and I don't see any problems in our future. (But sometimes they do sneak up on you, don't they :-)

Last words:  Please go online and vote (by leaving comments under the image) for the 'Best of Show' trophy.


Let's have FUN! Charlie

Our Vision: Educate, Showcase and be 'Community' Minded

One Minute Update (20 Feb)

Hi everyone,

First things first, I am going to try to make this blog a little (or a lot) more about what is going on with photography here at home, around the State and Nationally/Internationally.  Here is an excellent article on Reviewing your Annual Marketing Plan by Bridget Jackson (Bridget Jackson is manager of PPA Studio Management Services, which helps photographers make their business profitable. She is a certified pubic accountant. Reach her at bjackson@ppa.com.)  I encourage YOU to get a subscription to the Professional Photographer magazine ($22 a yr I think) and also to message me or drop me a link to things that you find.

I will also start a 'letters to the Organizer' campaign where I will publish your letters of concerns, noteworthy subjects, debatable issues and opinions.  You need to get those to me by close of business on Wednesday.  I will print as much as we have space for.  Please limit your writings to 100 words.  (we will start with this and see if that is too much or too little).  If no one writes, you'll be stuck with just me.  Also if there are any request for articles on a specific topic, I can do that too.  I am also going to structure the blog a little more and have sections like a News and weekly Member profile.  I will continue to have a very short section on Vision and talking about the Group's Future (the working title is Rants&Ravings)

In general I thought my focus on us growing last week was a little long.  My revised opinion is that the 'size' of our group is immaterial.  What is important is the health and well being of the 'Community'- whatever its size.  Thanks to the Event Leaders and Co-Organizers I think your all in pretty good hands.  So here we go...

News:
Wedding Videographer sued for $50,000 This is a very interesting piece for many reasons.  To start the piece appears to be very well made.  But the bride(zilla) went into hysterics when she watched it. Very important for all you photographers out there to recognize upfront is that you could be sued by your clients.  So suddenly that $500 or $1,000 payoff becomes you paying for the ceremony to be re-enacted (with another photographer).  Google 'Photographers sued.'  It happens more than is talked about.  Thank you to Cori Hickman for finding this and sharing the story.

Thanks to Janet Smith, send her kuddos, for sharing this terrific story about These Regular Women Watch As They're Photoshopped Into Cover Models.  I think it is wonderful that all these women where so comfortable and confident with themselves.  We 'assume' that everybody wants to look perfect, when in life some people just want to be seen for who they are- and that includes freckles.

CSCPG Live is launched.  We held our first CSCPG webinar on Tuesday night.  I am excited to see how this new venue grows.  If your one of those people who can never make time to attend a MeetUp we hope that you will join us some time online for one of our CSCPG Live sessions.  The next one is scheduled for 4 March and we will be looking at the Animal category from the 'Community' Photo Contest.  Giving all of you animal (domestic and wild) photographers some insight into what the judges picked and liked.

*my intent with these member
 profiles is to 'Showcase' our
community.  We are Creative :-)

Member Profile:  I would like to introduce Arnett Luce to you this week.  Arnett is a photography student who pursuing a BS degree online at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.  I think it would be great if she held a MeetUp to tell us how she does it. Go to her MeetUp profile and email her if you agree.  Weekly assignments.  Challenging tasks.  She is my hero because she served in the military and now they are paying for her equipment for school.  Isn't that cool!  What is even better is that Arnett was a big winner in the 'Community' Photo Contest- so come and check out her work at the Gala.  A little reminder is to remember that our Vets SERVED long and hard to have these benefits :-)

A testing of how the logo will look.

'Community' Photo Contest/ Donor Appreciation Update:  Four BIG things this week.  The trophies have come in and are being engraved.  They are crystal, heavy and frankly gorgeous.  These are definitely worthy to be put on your mantle. To attend the Gala rsvp today!  I used a local vendor (C&A Trophies) and the trophies are not just gorgeous but this year they will also have our logo on them.

2nd thing, I met with our caterer.  Just FYI this will truly be a Gala with nice food and drinks.  The budget is $10 a head, soooo... come get your monies worth- that means we're doing everything else we do with $2 a year (I think that is impressive, don't you?).  This will, I hope, become a signature event.  Great 'Community' photography, great food/drink and great people.

3rd, The grand prize category winning prints are off to be matted and framed.  They too will be gorgeous.

4th, I have reserved space at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts for the 2014 'Community' exhibit.  I think it will be a great, little bigger & more public, venue with lots of easy available parking  Come check it out.  We will be doing a silent auction at the Gala to fund our 2014 'Community' contest and exhibit.

Rants&Ravings:  Ok... yes, I take us being 'Community' minded seriously.  It's been my mantra since I took over.  Here is where I want to take us in 2015.  I want us to do an Arts for At Risk Kids program.  I am reaching out to The Concrete Couch, a local 501(c)3.  I love their mission statement: "To work with kids and community groups to create public art, to build community, and to create environments and experiences that humanize our world."  So cross your fingers and toes, but I think we will be a great fit with each other and that an event in 2015 would be exciting.   So if you want to share your passion for photography with kids and 'make a difference' stay tuned.  The Creative Group and the FaceBook Group are taking off!

Paid Intern Position Available:  Volunteers will always be what keeps this group going.  We are SO blessed with the Event Leaders, Co-Organizers and even the time I give to the Group, but there is some work that as a Group we need done and none of us Leadership people have time to do it.  So I am looking for a CSCPG Intern.  You must be organized.  Be able to recognize the difference between a Portrait, Landscape or Photojournalism image.  Pay is negotiable based on how skilled you are.  Work would be 1-2 hrs a month Mar-Oct and 10-20 hours Nov-Dec. 

We had over 200 entries in this years contest.  This was a notable improvement over 2012 contest.  I can only think that we will continue to grow this 'Showcase' program.  I am going to encourage everyone to submit at least (1/$10) image.  I see it as an investment and as a great way to market your work.  But even more it will give you the opportunity annually to look at your work and get a strong sense of where your individual photography stands.  Come to the Gala and pick up a trophy, it will definitely excite and motivate you to get one of your own :-)

Let's have FUN! Charlie

Our Vision: Educate, Showcase and Community Mindedness

and obtw- I do notice my bad writing and how I occasionally write bad sentences (paragraphs), but I only ever claimed to know something about Photography NOT be a perfect writer.  If you want to edit, let me know.  I am always open to doing better :-)

One Minute Update (13 Feb)

Hi everyone,

We passed 900 members on our Facebook account last week.  I was happy.  It is nice to see the community growing.  But a member commented on my post about reaching 1,000 by our 7th anniversary in May by saying 'why so big?'  I think that is a GREAT question.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/CSCPGinfo/

I know too well that big is not neccesarily better.  And as it happens by chance, I had to write up a plan this week for a possible dissolution of a non-profit as school homework assignment.  Here is the case study:

Arts for At Risk Youth

Ten years ago a charismatic artist founded Arts for At Risk Youth (AARY).  The founder deeply believed in the transformative power of the arts to overcome past adversity.  By providing the opportunity to be involved in the creative process through workshops, the participants develop

Photo by Randy Platt

relevant work, communication and conflict management skills.  Academic studies find that youth involvement in the arts reduces truancy, reduces juvenile crime and violence, improves academic performance and builds critical communication, self discipline and problem solving skills.  In the last decade over 2,000 young people have been served.  In 2008 AARY was an Award for Excellence finalist.  Approximately two years ago the founder left AARY for personal and professional reasons.  A new executive director was hired.  In the past year issues have risen regarding cash flow and sustainability.  Efforts were made regarding reducing expenses and cutting staff.  With the economic downturn, drastic cuts have been made in funding for the arts. Historical funding sources have dried up or been reduced dramatically.  The Board has scheduled a meeting to discuss closing the organization. 

Well, I see myself as the semi-charismatic organizer and that the CSCPG has been doing a lot of growing since I came onboard, but are we headed down a path where one day the group will implode or simply 'not work.'  Because sometimes communities do fail.

So simply, I 'think' growing new members is a positive thing.  Our diversity is our greatest asset.  I also think in terms of Colorado Springs  and when you consider the fact that we are a community of some 600,000 people.  So... if we reach 6,000 members on FaceBook by our 10th Anniversary we are still only representing .00001 percent (plus or minus a 0) of the community.

Some of you may remember Bruce Hinson who was a Co-Organizer until he moved away to be closer with his family.  Before he left he said to me 'Charlie, what your doing is making a difference in the 'community.'  They were nice sentiments and 'I' see it happen every day.  But do you see it?  Maybe I am a dreamer, but I would like to see us come together to be a 'Educate, Showcase and be Community Minded' group that is still around not just for 3 more years to reach our 10th Anniversary, but also our 20th and beyond.

In my mind I see us continuing to become a 'community.'  Photography has been a part of my life for more 35 years.  I see the challenges photographers face today and have insights to what photographers will face in the future.  So stay tuned, get involved and let's continue to have FUN!

Charlie

Our Vision: Educate, Showcase and Community Mindedness

One Minute Up (6 February)

Here is a look at the top winners of the Animals Category.  We started with 15 entries and judging was tough.  Not being a judge myself, I could only smile and laugh at the cat winning an Honorable

Mention.  I really don't dislike cats.  I actually do enjoy herding them.  But it is a funny way to have fun with Amy Martin and others by sharing images of fun things like a cat piano- which appears to not be available on Amazon (Amy looked, not me ;-)

I think we will definitely keep an 'Animal' category in next years competition.  We'll see if it grows, so all you animal lovers grab your cameras and keep shooting.

On to business.  In case you haven't heard yet, I made a mistake.  The somewhat good news is that I make enough of them that I have learned to check myself.  Let me tell you this one would have been HUGE if I hadn't caught it.  The Gala is on THURSDAY night NOT FRIDAY-- so that is the 6th and NOT the 7th.  We would have a little problem on Friday night.  The Library closes at 6 p.m. on Fridays.  Yeah, just a little bit of a problem there.  Hopefully everybody can adjust their calendars.  I am sorry if this causes anybody major troubles.

I actually have panic attacks where I panic that the trophies will say Creaative Photogrphy lol.

Some days are tougher than others, but they all end happily one way or another.  Thanks for your patience.

It appears that everybody is getting into voting for the 'Best of Show' award.  If you haven't voted yet, go here and leave a comment.  Comments under photos count as 'votes.'  The grand prize winner will get a very special trophy at the Gala Event.  That's the Gala Event on THURSDAY night. <grin>

Ok, here is me getting on a soapbox as your Organizer.  I think we are at a turning point with this Group.  We have become over the last 3 years much more of a 'Community.'  And people seem happy with that.  I have steered us towards having a 'Community' impact by starting a Student Scholarship Program.  The contest date is set for Apr 23rd.  The winner will receive a cash reward of $250.  Many of you are Scholarship donors (your dues paid for the prize.)  I hope that we can add a school every year.  Let's see where this program goes.  But I see the Student Scholarship as an opportunity for this Group to be something different.  For us to do something collectively as a group that we all can feel good about, more than just attending MeetUps.

Don't get me wrong.  We are still going to do Meetups.  Our vision is Educate, Showcase and be Community minded.  And we take the Educate part very seriously.  Everybody knows that we are open to photographers of all skill levels, but nobody thinks you need to 'just stay where your at.'  Even your Leadership wants and is eager to learn.  Being a place where our passion fuels endeavors makes us a great group.  I hope your excited about growing too.

So stay tuned,
Charlie

"Educate, Showcase, Community-Minded