October 2007

President's Message

The Finale –PPGF’s Grammy Awards

It’s late October.  We’ve just completed the final print competition for 2007 and the curtain is coming down on the close of this year.  With only two events remaining on the agenda (Officers/Awards Banquet on November 21^st and the final Training Session on November 28^th), the preverbal “fat lady” is singing.  The finale is here.

Before I get into the main topic of this message I need to commend print competition judges Sanchez Domingo, Gerry Corbato, and Butch Starke for their awesome work during the October 17^th meeting.  Their critiques and points of observations about each print or album were right on point, and give the maker a lot to think about on how to improve their work. They were gracious in their criticism and eloquent in their praise.  It was one of the best displays of judging that I’ve witnessed since competing in print competition.  Thank you, Gentlemen, for an outstanding job.

Let’s get back to the finale.  With the results of the final print competition in, Tom Collins (Salon Chairman & Secretary) will calculate the points each guild member has accrued over the passed months from the following categories:  Attendance, Print Competition, Raw Print Competition, & Service.  The ten members with the highest point averages will be honored at the Annual Banquet on November 21^st.  At stake is the Robert W. Becker Award that carries the honor of “Photographer of The Year”.  This is the most prestigious award that PPGF can bestow upon a member. 

A lot can be said about receiving the Becker Award.  I personally have had the privilege of receiving this award, but even more can be said about the other nine awards that will be given out during the Awards Banquet.  If you have been an active member in the Guild there is a likelihood that you will be in the running for one of these awards.  So, attending the award ceremony is paramount.  This event is like the “Grammy Awards”, and like the Grammy, the results are secret.  In fact, no one except Tom Collins and Laraine Ritchie (who is the Awards Chairman) will know the finalists for this year.

The Awards Banquet is a family event that includes our photography family as well as our personal families and friends.  I’m encouraging every member and non-member to RSVP his or her attendance for the banquet.  Dinner is included and you must bring along someone who can applaud the recipients who are receiving awards.  One of those recipients might be you.

 If you are a current member your RSVP will be in the mail shortly so that you can make plans to attend.  Additional information will be forthcoming in emails, but you can also contact Awards Chairman Laraine Ritchie at: L_Ritchie5@bellsouth.net

See you at the “PPGF Grammies”.  Enjoy!

Willie Hill Jr., CPP

President

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