What's New @ FrodshamPhoto

News in brief.

Competition Set subjects

The competition subjects for the next season (2009 - 2010) are now listed on the competitions page.

PhotoForum

We have a discussion area to our website and all members are encouraged to use it. Here you can comment on our talks and competitions. If you wish advice and guidance on the use of your camera or photo editing software then use the forum to ask for help. If you have discovered a new technique and wish to share it with other FDPS members then the forum is the place to do it.

To use the forum click on the link on our website menu and register (this only takes a few moments). Registration is necessary to ensure that your comments and questions are shared only with other members of the FDPS not the whole world. As a member of the forum you can post new topics, respond to other member's postings and send private e-mails.

Following feedback at the AGM we will look again at the Gallery area. It should be easy to display and discuss your pictures there but that has proved difficult. Over the summer we will see what can be done to improve this.

If you have any questions about the forum then post it as a new topic, or email me!

Summer Activities

DAY	DATE	ACTIVITY	CONTACT
Sun	12 April	Open Day at Eaton. Visit Gardens and Exhibition see Phil Manns photographs. Meet at 2.30 pm in courtyard.	Phil Mann
W/e	Prior to 24 June	FDPS have been asked to photograph environs of Frodsham to support an Exhibition in connection with the 800 Charter. 12 pictures to be framed (20 x 16) and displayed over 6 weeks starting 24 June.	John Hughes
Sat	4 July	Halton Hospice Twilight Walk, 9 pm start. Invitation to Society to photograph this event, Spike Island to Runcorn and back (in fancy dress). Authorisation badge required.	Lynda Haney
Sun	5 July	Festival in the Park, 1 4 pm. Visit our stall in Castle Park grounds. Better still, come and help man the stall.	John Smart
Mon	6 July	FDPS Annual Exhibition commences in Frodsham Community Centre Lounge. Will be refreshed twice over 8 weeks.	John Smart
Sat	29 Aug	Annual Exhibition closes.
Mon	7 Sept	New Season start.

AGM, 30th MARCH 2009, Chairman's Report

Membership has increased since last year but only by 2, which suggests we could be coming onto a plateau. Average attendance continues at around two thirds. There is some way to go before we reach the theoretical maximum capacity of our current venue, but the committee feels obligated to start serious consideration about alternative premises.

We made some further purchases for the start of the year, this time out of our own capital. However, we think that we should be in line for a new grant from the Lottery Fund this year, and we shall be discussing potential purchases.

The programme has had its moments of brilliance and disappointment. We continuously update our list of good/bad presenters and judges, but, where we have trialled presenters who come with high recommendations, we have been very satisfied - as you would expect.

In general the quality of members' work shown at our competitions has been commended by judges. A couple of set subjects clearly put us to the test and posed some difficulties, and I think we came in for some undue, but in a sense justified, criticism for some poor images. Part of this results from a further decline in transparencies, both quantity and quality. We are seriously contemplating replacing transparencies by digital projection next year in the Advanced group.

We have placed increasing emphasis on asking members to give presentations this year, not entirely because we are mean on the finances, more on the feeling of involvement that results. At least 10 members were involved directly and the list is testimony to the effort that they have contributed. Also of note is our representative on the team associated with the Charter which commemorates 800 years of the Town. The result of their labour is a splendid poster available from today in A2 and A3 sizes. Although the project has been led by the History Society, our Treasurer's commitment and contribution to the effort has been justifiably recognised. We have also been asked to photograph the environs of current Frodsham early in the summer to form part of an exhibition in June and July.

Our special thanks to the Programme Secretary, who has asked to stand down from committee duties; however he will retain responsibility for the website. He has been a key player, particularly as regards technical issues. My thanks to all the Committee for their untiring, selfless work and to you the members for supporting the Society. We look forward to seeing you all again next season.