May 2021

From the Board...

I hope this issue of our newsletter finds you safe and well. For those of you who will be leaving for the summer, we wish you safe travels. For those who have already left, we hope you arrived safely. We look forward to seeing all of you when you return.

At our annual meeting you elected the Board of Directors that will guide the club for the next year, and they in turn elected the officers. Members who will guide the club this coming year are as follows:

Danny Valenzuela – Interim President     Phil Rock – Vice President

John Pilger – Treasurer                           Stephen Herron – Secretary

Gene Komaromi – Education                 Julie Howard – GVR Liaison

Neil Wicai – Newsletter/Publicity             Rick Calvert – Education Assistant

John Yeager – Membership                    Michele Hamel – Social Activities

A special thanks to Linda Gregory and Patricia Ferguson who have completed their terms on the board. Their guidance the past year has been invaluable in getting us through the Covid challenges. I am also saddened to report that Board member Bob Patterson has passed. His contributions to the Club will be missed and we send our condolences to his wife, Adena, and their family.

I also want to let you know that we will be opening the club office on July 12^th with summer hours in affect. The GVR facilities team will prepare the office so that we are in compliance with GVR/Covid requirements. As soon as we know more about occupancy limits and other protocols, we will let you know. It is our intent to continue to offer our activities in person and via Zoom so that you will have options in participating in SIG’s and other learning experiences.

We have a vacancy on the Board so if you are interested in serving or if you have any ideas or suggestions for improving our club, please contact me.

Stay well. I look forward to an exciting year.

Danny Valenzuela, Interim President

Photo of the Month

The May Photo of the Month is by John Fitzgerald titled Windmill Grave Yard, taken in Eagar, AZ. Congratulations John.

The Photo of the Month is chosen from the Photo of the Day series published on the Club's Facebook page from the 26th of the previous month to the 25th of last month. Keep sending the best of your work to Judith Pollard at jmp7741@gmail.com.

♫ ♪ “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy.”♪

You’ve heard that lyric from a classic musical, and while it may be true for living, it’s not true for learning opportunities at the GVR Camera Club. Our snowbirds have taken flight and many activities have shut down or have been curtailed for the summer. Even though the Club will probably open physically sometime during the summer, most activities won’t reactivate until sometime in the fall. In addition, we’ve temporally dropped out the Best Shot SIG, but we will revisit it again in the fall.

But don’t despair, there are some things that members can do to keep interest up and skills sharp. First, peruse the Club’s YouTube website. Once there you can:

• Catch up on any SIGS you missed.
• Watch or re-watch any of the Club’s Speaker Series presentations.
• Take a look at past Showtime or Travelogue shows.
• Re-watch some classes to sharpen your skills.

Our SIG leaders and instructors will be polled during the summer to develop offerings for the fall and to decide which activities will be in person, online or both. We’ll keep you informed during the summer, Watch for our E-Blasts.

Stay safe and stay involved.

Gene Komaromi, Educational Chair

This Month's Club Activities

Jump to SIGs

Jump to Travelogue

Jump to Field Trips

Jump to Photo Ops

Jump to Showtime

Jump to Speaker Series

With the exception of the on-line Zoom meetings and some scheduled Field Trips, the Camera Club remains closed and in-person club activities remain suspended in accordance with the latest government and GVR guidelines regarding the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. We value the health and safety of all our members and encourage you to stay safe and sensible during these trying times.

Please check the club calendar here for the latest information on future club activities.

Travelogue

On Summer Break

Travelogue has been well attended this season in spite of, and indeed because of the Covid pandemic driving the format from in-person to on-line Zoom presentations, as well as the excellent presentations of the many contributors.

Thanks to all who contributed and supported our new Zoom format. Look forward to another great season of Travelogue in the fall.

Field Trips

On Summer Break

May Photo Opportunities

Another car show, Spring festivals and Wyatt Earp, great reasons to get out with your camera and enjoy the fun.

Sabbar Shriners Car Show

• May 1 - 9am-3pm - Free
• Sabbar Shriners Hall, 450 S. Tucson Blvd.
• Find more information here.

Annual Mariachi Festival

• May 21 - 9am-9pm - $20.00
• Patagonia State Park.
• Find more information here.

Wilcox Wine Festival Spring Festival

• May 15-16 - 11am-5pm - $35.00
• Willcox Wine County - 157 N. Railroad Avenue, Willcox.
• Find more information here.

Wyatt Earp Days

• May 29-30 - 10am-4pm – Free
• Downtown Tombstone.
• Find more information here.

Patty Ferguson, Photo Op Coordinator

Showtime

Closed for the Season

We hope you enjoyed our creative series of Showtime presentations this season. Look forward to another great Showtime series starting in December. We'll see you then, maybe even in person!

Speaker Series

On Summer Break

The Speaker Series presentations this season were enjoyed by the largest audience ever because of the on-line Zoom format.

Thank you for your participation.

Special Interest Groups are fun and informative. Any member of the Camera Club is welcome to attend any of the SIGs. Many are meeting on-line during the pandemic closures, but not all are meeting during the summer break. Details below.

• Multimedia SIG - Sherry Lucia, moderator.
• Learn what it’s all about. Bring your video project to share for comments & suggestions.
  
• Mondays @ 10:00 am - Meetings are online via Zoom. Register here on the GVR website to join and get the Zoom link to attend.

• Black and White SIG - Wendell Werner, moderator.
• Members bring their images to examine the special qualities of monochrome photography and share editing techniques in composition and lighting.
• Tuesdays @ 1:30 am - Meetings are online via Zoom. Register here on the GVR website to join and get the Zoom link to attend.

• Studio and Fine Art Photography SIG - Sandy Ostroff, moderator.
• Explore new techniques and broaden your skills.
  
• Monday's @ 1:30 pm - Meetings are online via Zoom. Register here on the GVR website to join and get the Zoom link to attend.

• Hit me with Your Best Shot SIG - Pat Caniff, moderator.
• Bring five examples of your best efforts to show.
  
• Thursdays at 1:00 pm - Meetings suspended until further notice.

• Photoshop/Lightroom SIG - Al Crawford, Moderator.
• Study techniques found in Photoshop CS and Lightroom that are not found in other photo processing tools.
• Wednesdays @ 9:30 am - Meetings are online via Zoom. Register here on the GVR website to join and get the Zoom link to attend.

• Field Trip SIG - Sue Rock, moderator.
• Plan, arrange, guide and advertise field trips.
• Wednesdays @ 4:00 pm - Meetings suspended until further notice.

• Photoshop Elements SIG - Linda Gregory, moderator.
• Learn how to use the magic of Photoshop Elements post processing on your photos.
• Thursdays @ 9:30-11:00 am - Meetings are online via Zoom. Register here on the GVR website to join and get the Zoom link to attend. Participants have the option to send a few photos to Linda in an email for processing here. Submit at least one day prior to the SIG. Put "Elements SIG" in the subject line and describe what you want improved. 

• Bird Photography SIG - Mike McMinn, moderator.
• Improve your bird photography skills and share your best shots of our feathered friends.
• Wednesdays @ 1:30 pm - Meetings are online via Zoom. Register here on the GVR website to join and get the Zoom link to attend.

• Rebel Rousers SIG - Al Crawford, Moderator.
• Share your interest in Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras.
• Fridays @ 9:30 am - Meetings are online via Zoom. Register here on the GVR website to join and get the Zoom link to attend.

Monitor Notes

Help us provide all the benefits the Club offers to its members by volunteering as a monitor. As you take advantage of the Club's activities and its extensive digital processing equipment, consider sharing the effort in providing these services by volunteering as a monitor.

Monitors typically check in club members, answer the phone, and welcome those seeking information about the Club. You are not expected to know how to use the equipment. Training takes about an hour.

Contact: gvrcameramonitors@gmail.com for more information.

Green Valley Recreation Camera Club

The GVR Camera Club was established in the early 1970’s as one of many Green Valley Recreation organizations to serve its members and our community. Our main interest is photography, both still and video imaging. The Club has grown into one of the largest camera clubs in the country with over 750 active members.

The Club is located on the 2nd floor of the west wing at the Santa Rita Springs GVR Recreation Center. You may contact us at:

PO Box 1423, Green Valley, AZ 85622 or GreenValleyCameraClub@wildapricot.org 

Neil Wicai, Newsletter Editor - neilwicai@gmail.com - 575-224-1238