Re: Motion for reinstatement of Photo Coordinator

[Robert Pries <robertpries@embarqmail.com>]

I am currently under a lot of stress because I have a dog (my friend) that has
pneumonia and is dependent on my making the right decisions un a life and
death situation. If I seem grumpy  This is why. But I feel the need to comment
on some statements from people I hope are my friends and I respect greatly.
I believe the board is going to receive memoranda from Keith Keppel that was
being discussed by the strategic planning committee. It was written 12 years
ago and enumerated actions that the board needed to take and still apply
today. One of Keithbs points is that we need to involve more people.
A recent e-mail implied that we do not need a photo coordinator because Rita &
Janet are handling everything just fine thank you, and they bknow all the
good photographersb.
Let me take the last part first. I know a lot of good photographers. I am sure
they do also. But no one knows all the good photographers in AIS and if we
take that attitude we are excluding a LOT of AIS members who might be
potential contributors. We want more involvement not the creation of fiefdoms
that are the property of one person. That said, They have gone a spectacular
job creating a great system of programs for AIS and should be rewarded for
those efforts. but donbt endanger the whole organization by a particular
project. We nee to involve many many people in all sorts of successful
projects. The other argument presented is it is working why change. As I said
it is working for that committee and thankfully. But is it working on all
fronts. There are many ways in which photos could be utilized by AIS. Some
have yet to be mentioned. But just talking about the ones I mentioned I am not
sure we have scratched the surface. I talked about the garden writers and a
need to have a large archive accessible to them if we are to increase Iris
publicity.  At this tome I have no idea how one would access the Known
Photographers accept through Rita. But that is not a system. What is our
library storing? There is no card catalog. I thought my suggestion of using
the wiki as a reference was a good one. I would suggest that if Terry had a
reliable source of great pictures maybe someone else would have a cover or
calendar shot other than just his. I am not being critical of Terry he uses
what he has at hand and his photos are exceptional. In other words it is not
really broke but if we are going to go for a even higher goal of bringing more
people into and involved with our society we need something like a
photocordinator that could increase the available options.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Janet Smith" <ypauls@sti.net>
To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 4:28:01 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] Motion for reinstatement of Photo Coordinator

>From Rita and Janet,
if it becomes to difficult to find any volunteers for yet another
chair position, we could always keep it as it has been for the past
few years - Rita and I take care of it and contact those WE KNOW are
good photographers and get the job done.  (P.S.  I am in training
from Rita!)

I also agree whole heartily that it should not be restrictive.  What
is needed and let them do their job.  I for one appreciate that was
my instructions and - if you have not noticed - it IS working.


---- Original Message ----
From: plankmail@aol.com
To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] Motion for reinstatement of Photo
Coordinator
Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:15:32 -0700

>I agree with Terry and Dennis:  We're talking about an exponentially
>
>expanding field (photography and all the various the ways it's done).
>
>Fluidity and flexibility is needed in every aspect of our attempts to
>
>serve and to communicate with our members and the general public.
>General ground rules and "chain of accounting" -- yes.  Severely
>restrictive, finely definitive methods and mechanisms -- no.
>    Jeanne
>On Oct 17, 2009, at 5:39 AM, R. Dennis Hager wrote:
>
>> I agree with John and Terry.
>>
>> To quote Jeff Tobe,  "When the rules are written, creativity
>stops."
>>
>> When the position would benefit from creative thinking, additional
>
>> constraints will stop it. Some of the best magazine photography I
>> have seen is outside the box of most photographers. The job
>> description should focus on what the person does and who they
>> answer to--not on how they do it.
>>
>> Dennis Hager
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Terry Aitken"
>> <terry@flowerfantasy.net>
>> To: <aisdiscuss@aisboard.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 1:50 AM
>> Subject: RE: [AISdiscuss] Motion for reinstatement of Photo
>> Coordinator
>>
>>
>>> I would agree with John.
>>> The photo coordinator thing seems to be expanding like topsy. With
>
>>> the
>>> different functions there would be a need for different criteria.
>>> Yup, keep it loose.
>>> Terry
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: owner-aisdiscuss@aisboard.org [mailto:owner-
>>> aisdiscuss@aisboard.org]
>>> On Behalf Of John I Jones
>>> Sent: Friday, October 16, 2009 11:35 AM
>>> To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
>>> Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] Motion for reinstatement of Photo
>>> Coordinator
>>>
>>> I don't think the digital characteristics should be included in
>the
>>> job position. There are likely to be many and various requirements
>>> for the digital photographs over time and  in my opinion It should
>be
>>> up to the Coordinator and the person requesting the photo to
>>> determine what is needed. We would not want to have to revise the
>job
>>> description every time there is a new requirement.
>>>
>>> I suppose you could specify a resolution higher than anything you
>>> might need it for, but then you would be requiring everyone to
>take
>>> and save massive files suitable for poster size prints.
>>>
>>> As time goes by Imaging and processing changes, and the
>coordinator
>>> will need to keep up. Perhaps another less formal document on
>>> procedures would be better.
>>>
>>> Maybe guidelines for various typical uses (website, bulletin
>inside
>>> photos, bulletin cover pictures, etc.) on the web site would be
>>> appropriate.
>>>
>>> Just my $.02
>>>
>>> John
>>> On Oct 16, 2009, at 10:13 AM, Jill Bonino wrote:
>>>
>>>> I would like to see a job description passed along with the
>motion
>>>> to formalize the Photograph Coord position...I think this would
>be
>>>> good whenever we add a new position to the Board/Committee family
>>>> so that we get in the habit of documenting each position.
>>>>
>>>> This position description would include the minimum resolution
>>>> required for photos, whether digital pics are the only ones
>>>> acceptable, and who this position reports to.
>>>>
>>>> Jill
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: Robert Pries <robertpries@embarqmail.com>
>>>>> Sent: Oct 16, 2009 5:08 AM
>>>>> To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
>>>>> Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] Motion for reinstatement of Photo
>>>>> Coordinator
>>>>>
>>>>> Terry is correct that there will be a need for high resolution
>>>>> photos. In fact
>>>>> we have that need right now if we expect to have Iris pictured
>on
>>>>> the cover of
>>>>> any national magazine. Of course this hasn't happened recently,
>>>>> perhaps
>>>>> because an outsider would not know about the wonders of Rita.
>>>>> Having an
>>>>> organized process, such as I suggested, that would go into the
>job
>>>>> description, ensures a bit of disaster planning. If you have a
>>>>> system set up
>>>>> and functioning,(perhaps promoted), it could stimulate its use
>by
>>>>> garden
>>>>> writers. We might see more interest in writng about Irises. If
>the
>>>>> photographs
>>>>> were cataloged well it we might be able to generate copyright
>fees
>>>>> for AIS or
>>>>> the photographer, depending on how it was going to be used.
>>>>> Currently we are
>>>>> dependent on a very small group of people who may not be
>thinking
>>>>> in terms of
>>>>> a cover shot. A photographic coordinator could reach out to
>>>>> several good
>>>>> photographers, at a convention for example, and get more people
>>>>> involved.
>>>>> Involving members is important to our health as an organization.
>>>>> Discs are
>>>>> easy to copy. If there is a concern that something may go into
>the
>>>>> library and
>>>>> never be seen again, it would not be too hard to make copies
>that
>>>>> go directly
>>>>> to the slide program chair, the wiki chair, the bulletin editor
>as
>>>>> part of a
>>>>> backup.
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "Terry Aitken" <terry@flowerfantasy.net>
>>>>> To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
>>>>> Sent: Friday, October 16, 2009 2:03:06 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada
>>>>> Eastern
>>>>> Subject: RE: [AISdiscuss] Motion for reinstatement of Photo
>>>>> Coordinator
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi All
>>>>> I'm a little surprised at the need to "formalize" this
>situation.
>>>>> Right now,
>>>>> Rita Gormley is our "go to person".
>>>>> Comments? One criterion for someone to go on the "list of
>>>>> photographers"
>>>>> will be the size of camera they will be using. One option to be
>>>>> discussed at
>>>>> the fall meeting will be change in size of the bulletin to 8
>1/2"
>>>>> x 11".
>>>>> Coming up with a cover photo that big will require very high
>>>>> resolution
>>>>> images. Of course, inside images are not as critical. I will try
>>>>> to come up
>>>>> with a minimum size camera. I will observe that good cameras are
>>>>> getting
>>>>> better and cheaper as time goes by.
>>>>> I try to shoot every flower as if it was going to be the
>bulletin
>>>>> cover.
>>>>> There is a flattering angle and a story to tell with every
>picture.
>>>>> We are in the business of selling "IRISES".
>>>>> Terry
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
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