Announcement
Proposed Change to the Nashoba Valley Photo Club Bylaw
August 10, 2009
The committee working on the redesign of the way we classify members as to their level of proficiency in photography has completed its work and has submitted its proposed club bylaw change to the NVPC Board. The goal of the committee was to devise a plan where a member’s rating is based on their performance during a given season and which provides a method for each member to set an achievement goal for the season and be able to measure their progress against that goal as the season progresses. A further objective was to create an environment where the members can enjoy the fine photographic work presented each month without pitting the members against each other in a “competition.” Whether, or not, the committee has achieved its goal is up to you, the NVPC members.
The proposed change to the bylaw is attached to this announcement and is hereby presented to the NVPC members for review, comment, questions and proposed revisions to the proposal.
A change to the NVPC Bylaw requires a majority vote of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. A quorum for this purpose is defined as two thirds of the paid up membership. It is further required that the proposed change be presented to the members fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting at which the vote is taken. The plan is to take questions and comments during August and September and to vote on the proposed change at the meetings in October 21st. Should the proposed change to the bylaw be adopted, it will be retroactive to September.
Please submit your questions, comments and proposed revisions, by e-mail, to both Walter Harrington (wsharrington@comcast.net) and Dick Kenyon (rekyrek@verizon.net).
The NVPC Board wishes to thank the committee for their fine work. The committee members are Dick Kenyon (chair), Tom Briere, Ed Perkins, Meyer Franklin and Mike Los.
You should read the proposed change to be aware of the details of the proposal. The following summary of the change is provided to help you to understand the details.
Benchmark System Overview
The proposed change will do away with the Classes of B, A and Star. The use of the word “competition” will be replaced by “salon,” a gallery for the presentation of works of art. The digital and print salons will be scheduled as before. Each member’s entries will be scored by an outside judge, who will provide a constructive critique for each entered image. The scores received by each member will be used to rate that member’s photographic proficiency. There are nine digital salons in the season, for which a member may enter a maximum of 27 images. There are five color print salons and five black and white print salons including the Mini-Print salon in each season. Thus, a member may have a maximum of ten color and ten black and white entries. Each member will be rated by the number of entries in each category that meet a defined score criteria, or “benchmark.”
The benchmark score requirements for digital photography are:
· Benchmark 1 – Competent Photographer – Nine (9) entries scoring 22 points or higher.
· Benchmark 2 – Accomplished Photographer – Nine (9) entries scoring 24 points or higher.
· Benchmark 3 – Distinguished Photographer – Nine (9) entries scoring 26 points or higher.
The benchmark score requirements for print photography, where color prints and B&W prints are rated separately are:
· Benchmark 1 – Competent Photographer – Four (4) entries scoring 22 points or higher.
· Benchmark 2 – Accomplished Photographer – Four (4) entries scoring 24 points or higher.
· Benchmark 3 – Distinguished Photographer – Four (4) entries scoring 26 points or higher.
Recognition will be given each month for entries that receive a benchmark qualifying score. As the season progresses, recognition will be given as each member achieves the requirements for a benchmark. Note that each season a member starts out with an empty slate and develops his, or her, personal rating as the season progresses. To help you understand how the system will work, the above criteria has been applied to the member entries for the 2008 – 2009 season and a rating calculated for each member. A copy of the list showing the results is included herein.
This system allows each member to establish their own personal goal for the season. That goal may be to reach a given benchmark by the end of the season. Or if in the previous year the members had achieved Benchmark 1, with three entries that qualified for Benchmark 2, they may set a goal of Benchmark 1 plus seven entries qualifying for Benchmark 2. The incentive is to strive for improvement.
There are a number of annual awards included in the proposal. They are similar to the current awards but are modified to fit the new Benchmark paradigm. Please read the proposal for details.
Feedback
Please give us feedback. If you are in favor of this change your comments can help to make the change better. Remember that you the members are in control. These changes will only be made if voted by a majority of the membership at the meeting on October 21st.