About the Phillip Island Camera Club

The Phillip Island Camera Club was formed by a small group of enthusiasts in mid-1994. In 2008, the Club became a special interest group of the Artists’ Society of Phillip Island (ASPI) but in May 2018 decided to once again be an Incorporated Club. Members have a broad range of photographic interests, including architecture, land and seascape, portraiture, macro-photography, sport, street, still-life and nature, especially birdlife, rocks, bark and trees. They remain committed to sharing ideas and expertise, practising photo evaluation, developing skills, promoting photography as a recreational activity and participating in exhibitions.

We achieve these aims through:

• Intra – Club competition and workshops
• Excursions
• Interclub activities
• Supporting Community activities; Cape Patterson Aquathon photographs of action & entrants; assisting in recording the National Vietnam Veterans Museum’s exhibits; World Vision Flower & Photography Exhibition, Wildlife photography for local tourist venue annual charity event; Off-Shore Theatre images for program and advertising.
• Promotion of photography: display of monthly competition winners in local venue; successful entries in district art competitions; and publishing regular local media reports
• Computer Skill development: encouraged participation in digital enhancement and photography courses that are provided by the local community centre.

Club Structure

The Phillip Island Camera Club Inc. is an incorporated Club. The affairs of the Club are administered by a Coordinator and Management Committee.

Position Responsibilities:

• Convenor: coordinates Management Committee and their activities; chairs monthly meetings; liaises with Phillip Island Centre of Adult Learning, V.A.P.S. and community groups; manages correspondence and media reports; and establishes contact with new members.
• Secretary: Handles correspondence, takes minutes of Management Committee meetings, holds attendance forms for insurance purposes, presents reports for Incorporation to Consumer Affairs.
• Treasurer: manages Club finances and membership.
• Committee: Supports the Convenor by: co-ordinating the program of activities, including arranging guest speakers, judges, printing, competition, outings and regular workshop activities for members; newsletters; displaying members’ work in public venues; and maintaining the web-site. The Management Committee meets once a month and is comprised of volunteers.
• Print Steward: manages collation of monthly competition entries & liaison with judge.
• Excursion Co-ordinator: researches, publicises, & manages participant numbers
• Club Newsletter Editor: encourages contributions, disseminates items of interest
• Medical Centre Display Manager: co-ordinate & update photographs each month
• Visitor Welcome & Introductions: greet & introduce visitors to other members

Minutes of the Management Committee Meetings shall be available for perusal at Phillip Island Camera Club Inc meetings.

Announcements about decisions made by the Committee, are usually made at the next Club meeting and/or communicated via email, or published in the Newsletter.

Should you have any ideas, issues or queries concerning the operation of the Club please do not hesitate to raise the matter with the Convenor or a Format of Club Competitions.

In addition to the formal positions described above, Club members are frequently required to assist with the tasks necessary to conduct the various activities and events of the Club. These include contributing to the setting up competition and presentation facilities, and setting up the meeting room. In this way the workload can be shared around.

Club Meetings

Ordinary club meetings are normally held on the first Monday of each month, from February to December at the Meeting Room, Heritage Centre, Thompson Avenue, Cowes. This arrangement may be varied to accommodate public holidays, and special presentations. Members will be notified of changes. Meetings commence at 1:30pm and conclude at 4 p.m. Afternoon tea is supplied at each meeting and members’ gold coin donations cover the costs of beverage supplies and hall hire.

****** Please Note: the November meeting is on the Second Monday each year to allow for Cup Eve*****

Meetings include the monthly competition feedback and usually incorporate either a guest speaker, or practical workshop, as well as a brief administrative session and an enjoyable social break.

Image Evaluation

The Club holds a monthly photographic competition. Entering any such event provides numerous opportunities for learning. You will experience: a wealth of ideas and inspiration for subjects; encouragement to try new techniques; and acknowledgement for your effort. The scoring mechanism used can provide a guide of your progress over time. Not only will you hear comments, both positive and negative (but with constructive advice), about your own images, but also about other members’ work – so at the same time you get to see where your technique needs improvement and what you should be aiming for.

Club competitions are held on a monthly basis from February to December. There are two categories – Open Print and EDPI (Electronic Data Projected Image). Monthly competition alternates between Set and Open topics. Achievements are noted as Commended, Highly Commended and a Judge’s Pick for each category. At the Club’s annual Break-up, held in December, portfolios are awarded with a Highly Commended or commended at the Evaluator’s discretion.  See full rules for Monthly Club Competition Submission.

 

Insurance

Club members sign the attendance sheets at each meeting and for each outing, to ensure they comply with the conditions of the club’s insurance policy. The membership fee for the Phillip Island Camera Club Inc, is due on July 1st each year and covers the insurance fee as well as the Newsletters and general running expenses.

Newsletter

The Club newsletter is prepared and distributed to members on a monthly basis, in electronic format. The newsletter includes announcements about forthcoming meetings and events, reports on recent activities, competition subjects for the next twelve months, and offers items of general and/or technical interest. Please contact the Editor if you have any queries about the newsletter, or any articles or items to contribute, as these are always welcome.

Facebook Closed Group

Phillip Island Camera Group Facebook page offers a weekly challenge for members to post their images and a place to share items of photographic interest or interesting web sites.

Website

The Club has established this Internet website to provide information about the Club to both members and the public, together with links to other photography related sites. If you are interested in helping to maintain this site, please contact Susan Brereton.

Contact

Enquiries about membership and Interclub activities are most welcome and should be directed to Susan Brereton (Coordinator).