One upon a time, there were two enthusiastic local photographers who met while out on a ‘photo jaunt.
Realising that they both lived in the same village, albeit a relatively large one, they thought it would a nice idea to start a camera club. They found a suitable venue, and put an “advert” in the local free newspaper, to see if there was enough interest.
Enough people came along to an inaugural meeting, the club was born, and in a short space of time, grew to 30+ members.
A committee was agreed, and an interesting program put together, which seemed to please everybody. Talks, internal competitions, workshops, and field trips etc.
Like this, the club had sailed on ‘smooth waters’ for two years, at which point I joined. Having found it a ‘breath of fresh air’, compared to other local clubs, who were more about competitions, and becoming ‘top club’ in the area, than amateur photography.
I thoroughly enjoyed my first season with the club, and although not being photographic competition minded (too subjective for me to take seriously), I entered the competitions to be supportive as a member, and enjoyed them. It was nice to see the work of others, and l although comments varied from judge to judge, it was interesting to hear what they had to say.
Unknown to me, until now, about a year into the club’s existence, a new member joined the club, having moved to the area from being in a senior position at another club, and also a qualified ‘circuit judge’. Given his experience, and photographic distinctions, he was co-opted onto the committee.
Having made his way onto the committee, being quite a strong character, and very persuasive, he started to steer the club in a direction that was not envisaged by its creators. It became a ‘Photographic Society’ as opposed to a local ‘Camera Club’, and affiliated to external controlling bodies.
It is now apparent, that there was/is a hidden agenda, to push the club into entering external competitions, and towards being top club in the area. Maybe even club blazers and ties, who knows (lol).
However, other more moderate members of the committee, were able to exercise some restraint on his ambitions, and things continued to tick along nicely.
With the club’s rules stating that committee have to stand-down after three years in office, and seek re-election if they wish, this season we found ourselves with another ‘hard-liner’ on the committee, with the same ambitions as the other guy, who also got back onto committee. This one making it quite clear, albeit not to the membership at large, that he considers any member who is not prepared to enter external competitions (this being the majority of members), as un-supportive.
This resulted in the new chairman, and the new secretary (both sensible and moderate people), tendering their resignations.
We are now faced with an EGM to try and get a new chairman, and secretary in-place, and bring these until now, hidden agendas, out into the open, letting the members decide what sort of club they want.
It’s amazing how two ‘hard-line’ competition types, can ‘rock the boat’ of what was a really nice, friendly, and happy little camera club.
The irony of it is, that there are at least six other clubs within easy reach, that are almost entirely competition based, and battling it out to be ‘top club’ in the area. In fact one is so competition obsessed, it has no other activities in its program.
I’m hoping that once the membership becomes aware of the direction the club is being secretly pushed, they will stand up and support the remaining moderate committee members, and save the club from personal agendas destroying what the club had.
It’s always a shame to see personal ambitions, inflicted upon others, but I guess this happens in all walks of life, the world over.
BTW, I am not a committee member.
Dave
Realising that they both lived in the same village, albeit a relatively large one, they thought it would a nice idea to start a camera club. They found a suitable venue, and put an “advert” in the local free newspaper, to see if there was enough interest.
Enough people came along to an inaugural meeting, the club was born, and in a short space of time, grew to 30+ members.
A committee was agreed, and an interesting program put together, which seemed to please everybody. Talks, internal competitions, workshops, and field trips etc.
Like this, the club had sailed on ‘smooth waters’ for two years, at which point I joined. Having found it a ‘breath of fresh air’, compared to other local clubs, who were more about competitions, and becoming ‘top club’ in the area, than amateur photography.
I thoroughly enjoyed my first season with the club, and although not being photographic competition minded (too subjective for me to take seriously), I entered the competitions to be supportive as a member, and enjoyed them. It was nice to see the work of others, and l although comments varied from judge to judge, it was interesting to hear what they had to say.
Unknown to me, until now, about a year into the club’s existence, a new member joined the club, having moved to the area from being in a senior position at another club, and also a qualified ‘circuit judge’. Given his experience, and photographic distinctions, he was co-opted onto the committee.
Having made his way onto the committee, being quite a strong character, and very persuasive, he started to steer the club in a direction that was not envisaged by its creators. It became a ‘Photographic Society’ as opposed to a local ‘Camera Club’, and affiliated to external controlling bodies.
It is now apparent, that there was/is a hidden agenda, to push the club into entering external competitions, and towards being top club in the area. Maybe even club blazers and ties, who knows (lol).
However, other more moderate members of the committee, were able to exercise some restraint on his ambitions, and things continued to tick along nicely.
With the club’s rules stating that committee have to stand-down after three years in office, and seek re-election if they wish, this season we found ourselves with another ‘hard-liner’ on the committee, with the same ambitions as the other guy, who also got back onto committee. This one making it quite clear, albeit not to the membership at large, that he considers any member who is not prepared to enter external competitions (this being the majority of members), as un-supportive.
This resulted in the new chairman, and the new secretary (both sensible and moderate people), tendering their resignations.
We are now faced with an EGM to try and get a new chairman, and secretary in-place, and bring these until now, hidden agendas, out into the open, letting the members decide what sort of club they want.
It’s amazing how two ‘hard-line’ competition types, can ‘rock the boat’ of what was a really nice, friendly, and happy little camera club.
The irony of it is, that there are at least six other clubs within easy reach, that are almost entirely competition based, and battling it out to be ‘top club’ in the area. In fact one is so competition obsessed, it has no other activities in its program.
I’m hoping that once the membership becomes aware of the direction the club is being secretly pushed, they will stand up and support the remaining moderate committee members, and save the club from personal agendas destroying what the club had.
It’s always a shame to see personal ambitions, inflicted upon others, but I guess this happens in all walks of life, the world over.
BTW, I am not a committee member.
Dave
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