As we conclude the Canberra Photographic Society's 57th year, the affairs of the society are in a very healthy state. Finances are sound and imaging standards high. The membership reduced slightly. We continue to see high levels of participation in all core activities. This year, the committee was organised to put all its effort into organising these core activities.
The competition nights have been well supported by members all year. The competition director will elaborate in his report and he and the sub-committee are to be congratulated on another successful year.
The activity nights have continued to be well supported this
year. Many members attended lectures organised on aerial photography,
photographic illustration, world travels, nature and stock photography
to name a few. We ran a practical workshop on creative photography
that included tabletop photography, UV photo-microscopy and other
lighting effects. The open image nights have really gained momentum.
Four were held during 2002. Up to ten short presentations were
made on each of these evenings on a wide variety of topics. Offers
for presentations for the coming year came in a rush during late
winter. For the first time in the five years I have convened this
activity, my draft program was almost full before September when
I usually ask for volunteers for the following 12 months program.
The club ran three exhibitions during 2002. In February
/ March, the Society mounted a boutique exhibition of 28 landscape
photographs entitled "Terrafirma" in conjunction with
the Belconnen Community Centre. Our Second exhibition was a similar
thematic boutique exhibit of 32 portraits entitled " A Good
Likeness." Both Exhibitions were well attended, received
favourable press and reflected well upon the society.
As is obvious from the work that surrounds us this evening, the Tuggeranong Art Centre was chosen again as the venue for our annual exhibition entitled "Right Place, Right Time!". The exhibition you see around you was opened two hours ago (November 18th 2002) by Bronwyn Jewell, Chair of the board of Management and former artistic director of Photoaccess. I'd particularly like to thank the other members of the exhibition sub-committee for their professional approach to organising this and other exhibitions this year the twenty three members who have exhibited work and the team of the fifteen dedicated volunteers who hung this exhibition last Sunday afternoon with a minimum of fuss.
Groundwork began on two other exhibitions during the year. A retrospective exhibition of the work of Maurice Weidemann will be held in the next couple of years. The Weidemann retrospective exhibition committee completed the considerable task of cataloguing some five hundred pieces of work and has considered a number of possible venues. The society committee began to discuss the possibilities for our 60th anniversary exhibition scheduled for 2005.
Excursions have been held regularly throughout the year and have been well organised. In February, another photo rally was run in Central Canberra. 50mm f8 and legal road speeds were the limitations placed on participants. A successful long weekend trip to Beechworth and Rutherglen took place in March, a day trip to Yass during May and a half-day trip to London Bridge in July rounded out the official program. A proposed walk from Kambah Pool to Pine Island in September unfortunately had to be cancelled at the last minute. A number of members are joining my expedition of Swedish, English and North American eclipse chasers to watch the upcoming solar eclipse from the Sturt National Park near Cameron's Corner NSW on December 4th. It is because of this trip that a number of society committee members will not be in attendance for the last meeting of 2002 - the print and slide of the year night. At the same time, the final excursion for the year is a planned weekend trip to Cowra district from 6 to 8 December.
The newsletter has continued to be produced at the very high standard we have become accustomed to over the past decade.
The committee attempted to deal with two problems without success during the year. The CPS Achievers Book was completed and successfully launched at the 2001 print and slide of the year night after a year of hard work by the very dedicated members of the project team. A minor dispute arose with the publisher over issues relating to payment of costs and copyright that remains unresolved at this time. The committee investigated the acquisition of a public liability insurance policy during the year. We took advantage of Ron Travers legal expertise in a field related to insurance. We were unable to find an insurance company willing to offer a policy at a reasonable price this will be discussed later in this AGM. The society's equipment has been maintained over the past year. The society's frames continue to be available to members through the loans system developed for exhibitions. Through normal wear & tear, projection equipment will need to be replaced over the next few years and the display board's are now in need of cosmetic maintenance. The collection has continued to be well maintained. The supper catering continued to be provided through the good graces of Loralie Mason. The library continues to be well maintained if under-utilised by members. Raffles and fund raising activities have been successfully conducted on a regular basis throughout the year and judges' and speaker's prizes have always been available when required. The Society's financial and procedural records have been well maintained. The 2002 program has been drafted and should be finalised at the next committee meeting and ready by the December competition night.
Free publicity continues to be used with little paid publicity being taken out by the society. This has eased the financial pressure on resources. The web site sponsorship by Michael Ashcroft and CENART (The Canberra Central Artists Network) continue to provide us with a fully sponsored and maintained web site. A web site is no good unless it is constantly updated. I urge members to supply fresh images and material for the site. We gratefully acknowledge Michael's continuing support of the society. Members continue to participate in many photographic activities outside the Society. Some members enjoyed success in the APPA's. Several members held private exhibitions or participated in outside group exhibitions or public competitions during the year.
The Griffin centre's lease of the present building continues and no further news of the redevelopment has been forthcoming. The committee intend to continue to support the Griffin Centre and to monitor the situation. A number of committee members are leaving the committee tonight. I would like to thank all those members for their hard work and dedication over many years service to the society. Finally I would like to thank all members of the committee for their hard work and good-natured support and the membership as a whole or their support of the 2001 program. It's been a pleasure serving you and I look forward to the year ahead.
Joseph A.Cali
President.