EDITORIAL
As I go round the clubs in the area I still wonder why the majority of club members live in their own insular world and they are content to go to their club once a week to be entertained or sometimes to sleep through the whole proceedings. If that’s what the majority of club members want to do and they are enjoying themselves all well and good, but if they want to get more out of photography more effort is needed. How many club photographers go to EAF events or enter the Annual Exhibition - not many from my experience of going to these events and seeing the same old faces. According to the EAF statistics there are 116 clubs and approximately 3500 club members but we only get in the region of 100 attending an EAF event. There must be something wrong; have some of you any comments or advice on increasing participation within clubs and the EAF. I personally take every opportunity to see other peoples’ image making, which helps my own photography and can be inspirational. I also visit exhibitions and art galleries - even though some of the work is not my cup of tea I usually come away with ideas for my images.
I recommend all club members to get out of their own club environment occasionally to see new and different work and if they do I guarantee they will get more enjoyment from there own photography.
Eric Saul, our Treasurer, is concerned regarding the clubs who have not yet sent a copy of their 2006/7 programme to him - it is an important requirement to ensure that your Public Liability Insurance cover continues.
The 2006/07 EAF Judges & Lecturers and the Club Directories have been posted to all club secretaries, including EAF Judges and Lecturers. The previous issue of the Directories should now be disposed of. It is important that the Directories are kept up to date and changes, corrections, etc. are always published in the EAF Bulletin. There are already some changes to these new directories, see pages 6&7 for details.
Following a successful 1st Print Championship the Committee, even though the attendance was low (see my comments above) has decided to use this method of selection again in 2007. The main difference will be the venue which is smaller and therefore cheaper, but is still of sufficient size to accommodate the event. The Village Hall at Bildeston in Suffolk has been booked for the event, which will be held on Sunday 17th June along similar lines as that held in June this year.
The next Bulletin will be published in first week in February 2007 and copy is wanted by 7th January 2007 - I am in need of interesting articles and letters (with pictures if possible)
Barry Freeman, Editor
