October 2020 

From the Board

You may have read that GVR will be starting to allow clubs with dedicated spaces to open, and you’re probably wondering when the Camera Club will be opening.  This decision will be made at the first board meeting in November as well other decisions on SIGs and field trips that need to be addressed.  Ours is not the only club that is delaying the opening of a GVR club due to the uncertainty of the direction the Corona virus is taking. Our primary concern is the health and safety of our members, a good number of whom have health concerns.

In the meantime, as we have reported before, you can participate in the Multimedia and Fine Art SIGs being run via Zoom.  This month, the Speaker Series will resume, also via Zoom.  It’s possible that Showtime will soon be resumed this way also.  And I too will be checking into doing my Photoshop Elements SIG via Zoom.  Zoom not only allows us to resume these activities, but it also allows those who aren’t in Green Valley to participate.  See more on these activities later in this newsletter.

Lastly, there will be a board position open effective the middle of October.  Mort Spencer is returning to his home in Connecticut to be closer to his family. He has been an active member and dedicated board member for quite some time and he will be sorely missed.  Mort, we’ll be thinking about you when you’re up to your knees in snow.  Brrrr!

If you are interested in participating on the board, please contact me.  The board is comprised of twelve members who enjoy amiable meetings once a month from November through May.

Stay healthy and stay safe!

Linda Gregory, Interim President

Photo of the Month

The October Photo of the Month is by Carl Sparfeld, an excelent Black and White capturing the action of a Sonoita Rodeo Bucking Bronco. Congratulations, Carl.

The Photo of the Month is chosen from the Photo of the Day series published on Facebook 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.

This Month's Club Activities

With the exception of the on-line Zoom meetings and presentations, the Camera Club remains closed and in-person club activities remain suspended in accordance with the latest government and GVR guidelines regarding the still evolving 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 at http://dev.gvcameraclub.org for the latest information on future club activities.

October Speaker Series Presentation

Our monthly Speaker Series resumes this month via Zoom! Paul McCreary will be presenting a second version of his Masters of Photography for our Speaker Series at 1:30 pm (Arizona time) on October 15, 2020 via Zoom. Some featured Masters will be Edward Weston, Sebastio Salgado, Edward Sheriff Curtis, Alfred Eisenstadt, Man Ray, and Platon. Paul will include some photographs that tell a story and will conclude his showing with Green Valley Masters, including photos submitted to him following the recent Speaker Series e-blast.

Please try out our new delivery system and see Paul live as he comments on his production by registering for the Zoom presentation (here) or via your Speaker Series e-blast e-mail. You’ll have a chance at the end to make a comment or ask a question.  You may also view the presentation without commentary on YouTube at “Masters 2 Green Valley CC”.

Watch for a Speaker Series presentation the third Thursday of each month at 1:30 PM Arizona time.

Happy Trails.

Holly Chorba, Speaker Series Coordinator

Field Trip Review of the Month

Ruby, Arizona

One of our members, Dale Browkaw, is interested in a field trip to the ghost town of Ruby, Arizona. This is a great trip that the Camera Club took for many years that was led by Carl Sparfeld. However, we haven’t taken this trip for some time and it would be good to add it to our list of possibilities.

Mining in the area started around 1877. The Montana Mine produced gold, silver, lead, zinc and copper. On April 11, 1912 the mining camp's general store owner, Julius Andrews, established the post office. Andrews named the post office "Ruby" after his wife Lille B. Ruby Andrews, and the mining camp soon became known as Ruby. At its peak in the mid-1930s, Ruby had a population of about 1,200. The post office was discontinued on May 31, 1941. 

Between 1920 and 1922, the town of Ruby and the surroundings were the scene of three double homicides known as the Ruby Murders, which led to the largest manhunt in the history of the Southwest. This story of Ruby is described in the book Ruby, Arizona - Mining, Murder and Mayham by Talia Cahoon. I have this book if anybody wants to borrow it. Tailia spent her childhood years growing up in Ruby. On our field trip we took a tour of Ruby that she led with the Pima Community College. You can buy her book at www.ringbrothershistory.com/ruby.htm.

The most prosperous period for Ruby was in the late 1920s and 30s, when the Eagle-Pitcher Mining Company operated the mine and upgraded the camp. From 1934 to 1937, the Montana mine was the leading lead and zinc producer in Arizona. In 1936, it was third in silver production. The mine closed in 1940, and by the end of 1941 Ruby was abandoned.

Ruby is one of the best-preserved mining ghost towns in Arizona. It’s attractions today include about 25 buildings under roof, including the jail, houses, the school, the playground, mine machinery, and mine workings. Ruby is entirely on private property and there is a charge for admission to the site.

Find more detailed information about Ruby at these sites:

• Historic Ghost Town of Ruby, Arizona (Click on all the tabs)
• Ruby, Arizona in Legends of America
• History and photos of Ruby, Arizona
• Historic pictures of Ruby, Arizona

And here are my pictures from Ruby: 

Enjoy!

Sue Rock, Field Trip Facilitator

October Photo Opportunities

La Calavera Catrina at the Tucson Botanical Garden

• A parade of rich history and iconography through colorful and joyful large-scale skeleton sculptures. Note: The cafe Botanica is temporarily closed. Masks required, limited capacity.
• September 17 – November 29, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. Check for special evening hours also.
• More info here.

Rex Allen Days in Willcox, Arizona

• Gun Show, Film Festival, Carnival, County Fair, Rodeo and more.
• Oct. 2 – 4.
• Check here for schedule and venue of events.

Living History Day at the Presidio San Augustin Museum

• Experience the life of a soldier through the activities of the Presidio Museum’s Garrison. Note: Masks required, 20% of normal capacity.
• Oct. 10,10 am - 2 pm.
• More info here.

Events that have been canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic

• Sierra Vista Art in the Park
• Patagonia Fall Festival
• Tubac Traditional Day of the Dead Celebration
• Tucson All Souls events

Also of note: Old Tucson Theme Park has closed permanently

Special Interest Groups are fun and informative. Any member of the Camera Club is welcome to attend any of the SIGs. No need to sign up, just come on in.

When the Club reopens from the current closures, the SIGs will be meeting as listed below. Not all SIG's meet during the Summer months. Some are meeting on-line during the closures.

• Multimedia SIG - Gene Komaromi, moderator.
• Kino room - Mondays @ 9:30 am - Summer meetings are on-line. Send email to genek6@gmail.com to get on the mailing list.
• Learn what it’s all about. Bring your video project to share for comments & suggestions.

• B&W SIG - Wendell Werner, moderator.
• Ansel Adams room - Mondays @ 9:30 am
• Who knew black and white could be so complicated?

• Studio and Fine Art Photography SIG - Sandy Ostroff, moderator.
• Kino room - Monday's @ 1:30 pm - Summer meetings are on-line. Send email to gvrphotoartsig@gmail.com to get on the mailing list.
• Explore new techniques and broaden your skills.

• Hit me with Your Best Shot SIG - Jerry Marrion, moderator.
• Kino room - Tuesdays at 9:30 am
• Bring five examples of your best efforts to show.

• Photoshop/Lightroom SIG - Al Crawford, Moderator.
• Wednesdays @ 9:30 am
• Study techniques found in Photoshop CS and Lightroom that are not found in other photo processing tools.

• Field Trip SIG - Sue Rock, moderator.
• Ansel Adams room - Wednesdays @ 4:00 pm starting in October 2020
• Plan, arrange, guide and advertise field trips.

• Photoshop Elements SIG - Linda Gregory, moderator.
• Kino room - Thursdays @ 9:30-11:00 am
• Learn how to use the magic of Photoshop Elements post processing on your photos.

• Birds SIG - Mike McMinn, moderator.
• Kino room - Thursdays @ 1:30 pm
• Celebrate and share your best shots of our feathered friends.

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