October 2022

From the President...

As we wind up the summer season we look forward to cooler weather and the anticipated migration of members returning to Green Valley. There is positive forward movement with Club plans regarding the redesign of the camera club layout. The Design Review Committee submitted its recommendation to the Board, and the Board approved the new floor plan layout. This new floor plan will give us much more flexibility in meeting our space needs as meeting rooms are becoming a little more difficult to reserve. This recommendation has been submitted to the GVR Facilities Director, and they in turn have submitted it to their architect for construction documentation.

The new floor plan transforms the photo lab into a larger classroom with seating for up to 30 persons. Some of the computers and other equipment in the current photo lab will be moved into the Ansel Adams room. The current storage room will be converted to a multipurpose meeting room, and a wall will be built along the southern portion of the mat room to allow for storage. In addition, a storage room will be built in the NW corner of the new classroom to store the photo studio equipment. The drop-down backdrops currently in the mat room will be moved to the south end of the new classroom.

You can check out the floor plan of the new layout here. The drawing shows possible placement of chairs, tables, computers, etc. It is the Board’s intent to have as many events as possible meet in-person, and be less dependent on Zoom. The new classroom and multipurpose meeting room will provide more than enough room for our classes, SIGs, and other events.

We are also increasing our marketing efforts this fall to encourage new memberships so we can grow our club. One activity being considered is to set up a booth at the Wednesday Farmer’s Market. As we explore this possibility, we know that we will need help from you, our members, to work the booth so we can provide information to GVR members. For the club to continue its current success, it takes help from you so that a few are not burdened with doing all the work. Updated handouts and a video presentation are in the planning stages so we can have information ready when the time comes.

These are two important efforts that are coming to fruition thanks to the volunteer efforts of our members.

Next month I hope to provide you with an update on the status of the build-out of the floor plan and movement of equipment and furniture.

I am looking forward to seeing you soon and hope you are enjoying your activities wherever you may be.

Danny Valenzuela, President

Join in the Scavenger Hunt

It's been awhile since I've done a scavenger hunt, so for the new members, this is how it works.  I select a theme and members can send me up to five photos depicting the theme that I put into a slideshow (with music), which will be shown at Showtime. The current theme is Red.  Any photos featuring red are appropriate. I'm excited to see some new members who have already submitted photos for this event.

Photos should be at least 1 Meg in size, as they will be shown on a very large screen. Please rename the image files to show your name and the title of the photo, i.e. Linda Gregory-Fire Engine. Then email them to me at lsgregaz@gmail.com (that's a small L).  Due date is November 15.

Linda Gregory, Scavenger Hunt Coordinator

> Reminder <

Request for Photos to Exhibit

Many members will be returning from their summer away and we would like to invite you and all the year-round members to share your photos for exhibiting at East Center in November and December, as well as on the board at West Center. We also would like our members to display their works at the Camera Club.  If you are interested in sharing your art at any of these venues, please contact Sue Ready or contact Julie Howard to participate. You may also phone Sue at 612-240-2818 or Julie at 402-202-4423.

The photos submitted for display at East Center and West Center should be submitted by October 24 to the monitors at the Camera Club.  These photos will be hung November 1.  Submissions for Camera Club display are accepted any time after September 1.   

Here are some guidelines and policies you will need to get started:

1. Each artist must complete an Exhibition Center Registration Form (at the Club)

2. All photos must have the following information on the back of the art:

• Name of the Artist
• Title of the Piece
• Date Submitted
• Price (if for sale) and Email and/or phone number

3. Photos should be presented to the on-duty monitor at the Club and that monitor will place the photo and information in bubble wrap and place it on the shelves in the storage room.

4. Exhibit Committee will create labels and maintain a logbook of photos offered for display.

5. Exhibit Committee will place photos at the Community Centers and retrieve them when the display is done.

6. Photo owners will be contacted when photos are retrieved from the Centers so the owners can make plans to pick them up from the Club.

The complete list of policies will be posted on the bulletin board at the Camera Club along with the display criteria.  If you have any questions, Sue or Julie will be glad to answer them or get the answer for you.  We look forward to hearing from all our talented members.

Thanks.

Sue Ready & Julie Howard, Exhibit Coordinators

Photo of the Month

The October Photo of the Month is by former member Carl Sparfeld, taken at the Empire Ranch, north of Sonoita. Great work, Carl, congratulations.

The Photo of the Month is chosen from new and archived photos submitted by current and former members. Keep sending the best of your work to Judith Pollard at jmp7741@gmail.com so we may continue to showcase the refined capabilities of GVR Camera Club members.

Library Temporally Closed

The Camera Club Library is temporarily closed for checking out books. I am in the process of weeding out some of the older editions, books in poor condition, and those which have not been checked out for years. Fewer books on the shelves will make it easier for members to browse. Books that are currently checked out may be returned and put on the top of the refrigerator.

If you have books to donate, please keep in mind that if they are not books that we can use, they will be donated to Friends of the Pima County Library.

Please contact me if you have questions.

Thank you,

Becky McCreary, Librarian

Several times this year, I’ve gotten the reader's attention with the lyrics of a song. Do you remember this line from the song Wannabe by The Spice Girls?

“What do you want, what do you really, really want?”

That’s the question that the GVR Camera Club is posing to members. We are in the process of lining up activities for the 2022-2023 Winter Season. The Club is facing the same dilemma that educational institutions all across the country are facing: How do we get members to come back for face-to-face activities after Covid? The GVR Camera Club hopes to have high-interest offerings online, in-person, and hybrid this winter. The key to that process is knowing what is of high interest to our members.

We’re asking all members of the GVR Camera Club to fill out a short survey that will give some guidance to the Education Team on what topics and activities are of the highest interest to our members. The survey is short, so, please use the following link and take our survey. You can start the survey here.

Watch for next month’s Chalk Dust, some educational offerings should be formalized by then.

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

Check the club calendar here for the latest information on all club activities.

Travelogue

Getting Ready for November

With Travelogue starting in November, please let me know if you have one to share. Try to keep them under 20 minutes so that we can show 3 to 4 on Travelogue nights, giving more people a chance.

If you have a program to share, drop off your thumb drive with a .mov or .mpeg4 show of your adventure at the camera club. Leave them in the travelogue folder with brief information about your work.

If you have questions, please contact Paul McCreary at 970-596-1505 or email me here. 

Thank you,

Paul McCreary, Travelogue Coordinator

Showtime Coming Back

Monday, December 5

Camera Club SHOWTIME will be coming soon to a theater near you. Will it be REAL and held at the Desert Hills auditorium? Will it be Zoom only - or a little of both? Not sure – but stay tuned to find out.

And remember, in order to have a successful Showtime, or any Showtime at all, we of course need your programs to show. As of right now there are zero programs in the queue for the December event. Yes, the well is dry. So get to work…..take your photos from your favorite field trip and make them into a slide show, or show us how you have spent your summer. Anything at all will do. We need about eight or so programs from you. I know you can do it. Please contact me if you need help or have questions?

Chuck Hill, Showtime Coordinator

Speaker Series

Thursday, October 20, 2:00 pm

Arrangements for our speaker this month are still being made. The presentation this month will be via Zoom only. Watch for our email blast to announce the details and be sure to register on our website so you can receive the Zoom link to the presentation.

Enjoy the present.

Holly Chorba, Speaker Series Coordinator

Field Trips

Starting in October

An E-Blast was recently sent out announcing that registration has opened for our birding/nature field trips beginning with an October 25 trip to Santa Rita Lodge. Mike McMinn has graciously volunteered to be the leader for all our birding trips and as the Bird Photography SIG leader, he will be providing many new and exciting innovations into our birding trips. I am so looking forward to his instruction and input into better birding!

We still need your help in proposing, arranging and/or guiding additional field trips. For many, the main reason they joined the Camera Club was participate in our field trips to become better acquainted with the surrounding area! You don’t have to be a member of the Field Trip SIG to plan or guide a field trip – you just need to be a member of the Camera Club.

As an Arranger, you would propose and build the field trip, decide the date (in coordination with the Field Trip SIG), determine the mode of transportation (convoy/carpool or bus), cost, registrant fee and number of registrants allowed, and complete arrangements with the people at the destination to ensure a successful trip. As a Guide, you’d meet registrants at the Camera Club and accompany them on the field trip. Often, the Arranger and Guide are the same person for a particular field trip.

Several club members have already volunteered to arrange field trips to several sites, listed below. Their names are listed in parentheses. I sincerely appreciate their support!

• HF Coors (Jane Forester)
• Degrazia Gallery and Museum (Jane Forester)
• Tucson Windows and Doors (Wally Watson)
• Tohono Chul festivals (Patty Ferguson)
• Equine Voices (Patty Ferguson)
• Tucson Botanical Gardens (Linda Gregory/Patty Ferguson)
• Gammon's Gulch (Danny Valenzuela)
• Mescal Movie Set (Danny Valenzuela)
• Presidio San Agustin de Tucson/ Mission Gardens (Patty Ferguson)
• Pow Wow at San Xavier Mission (Jane Forester)

The following locations have been visited in the past and information for the venue is on file: It just needs to be updated with current information.  I would also suggest that you take a look at the upcoming attractions in the Photo Opportunities section of the newsletter for ideas. Trips can always be added to the schedule, time permitting.

• Tumacacori Dia de Los Muertes (All Souls Day)
• Pontoon Boat ride on Patagonia Lake
• The Neon Attraction in Tucson
• St. Anthony’s Greek Monastery
• Odysea Aquarium, Scottsdale
• Rancho de la Osa
• Wild Wild West Steam Punk Convention
• Hotel Congress/Transportation Museum
• U of A College Rodeo
• Locomotive Saturdays at the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum
• Streetcar/Art Tour
• Bisbee by Bus
• Celtics Festival & Highland Games
• Rooster Cogburn's Ostrich Ranch
• Buffalo Soldiers Museum at Fort Huachuca
• Ruby Ghost Town (West of Rio Rico)
• White Stallion Ranch
• Paul Bond Boot Factory
• San Xavier Mission tour

Please contact me  or Patty Ferguson if you’d be interested in arranging trips to any of the above locations, or if you have other photo opportunities in mind. I’ll be happy to step you through the process of arranging and guiding a field trip.

We welcome all members who wish to help plan, lead, or participate in one or more of our many planned trips. Your help in reaching this goal will be greatly appreciated!

 I’m looking forward to a fantastic field trip season!

 Monica E. Parker, Field Trip Facilitator

Photo Opportunities

First Thursdays at the Tucson Museum of Art

• Oct 6, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm – Pay what you wish, Reservations required
• Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, 140 North Main Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Tucson Meet Yourself Folklore Festival

• Oct 7 to 9, Fri and Sat 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, Sun 11:00 am to 6:00 pm - Free
• Jacomé Plaza, Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 North Stone Avenue, Tucson AZ
• Find more information here.

3rd Annual Tombstone Native American Festival

• Oct 8, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Grand Entry Parade at 10:00 am - Free
• 311 East Allen Street, Tombstone, AZ
• Find more information here.

Copper Town Days - Car & Motorcycle Show

• Oct 8, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm - Free
• San Manuel High School, 711 McNab Pkwy, San Manuel, AZ
• Find more information here.

Sky Islands Fall Artisan Market

• Oct 8 & 9, Sat 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Sun 10:00 am to 4:00 pm - Free
• Patagonia Town Park, 325 McKeown Avenue, Patagonia, AZ
• Find more information here.

Second Sundaze: Family Day at TMA!

• Oct 9, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm – Pay what you wish, Reservations required
• Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, 140 North Main Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Walking Tour of Mission Gardens

• Oct 14, 9:00 am to 11:00 am – $25, Reservations required
• Mission Gardens, 946 W. Mission Lane, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Wilcox Wine Country Fall Festival

• Oct 14 to 16, Fri 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Sat &Sun 11:00 am to 5:00 pm – Prices vary
• Railroad Park - 157 North Railroad Avenue, Wilcox, AZ
• Find more information here.

Turquoise Trail Guided Walking Tour

• Oct 15, 8:00 am to 10:30 am – $25, Registration required
• Presidio San Agustin Museum, 196 N. Court Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here and here.

Tucson Classics Car Show

• Oct 15, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm - $10
• The Gregory School, 3231 North Craycroft Road, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Barrio Viejo (Old Neighborhood) Walking Tour

• Oct 15, 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm – $25, Registration required
• El Tiradito Wishing Shrine, 418 South Main Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here. and here.

Tombstone Helldorado Days

• Oct 21 - 23, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm - Free
• 311 East Allen Street, Tombstone, AZ
• Find more information here.

Public Art & Murals Walking Tour

• Oct 22, 8:00 am to 10:00 am – $25, Registration required
• Presidio San Agustin Museum, 196 N. Court Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here and here.

Fall Ikebana Festival

• Oct 27 to Nov 6, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm – $18, Registration required
• Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson, 2130 North Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Raptor Free Flight

• Oct 28 thru Apr 9, daily (except Wed) at 10:00 am – Free with museum admission
• Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 North Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Tom Parker, Photo Op Coordinator

Special Interest Groups are fun and informative. Any member of the Camera Club is welcome to attend any of the SIGs. Most all are meeting only via Zoom.

Click on any of the links listed to get more information on each one.

Multimedia SIG
Black and White SIG

Studio and Fine Art SIG

Hit Me with Your Best Shot SIG

Photoshop/Lightroom SIG

Field Trip SIG

Photoshop Elements SIG

Bird Photography SIG

Monitor Notes

Monitors typically welcome and check in club members, answer the phone, and inform those seeking information about the Club. We are all indebted to the dedicated team of monitors who volunteer to keep the Camera Club open. Many thanks to all of you.

We are always looking for additional monitors. Help us provide all the benefits the Club offers to its members. 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.  You are not expected to know how to use the equipment. Training takes about three hours.

Contact: gvrcameramonitors@gmail.com for more information.

Green Valley Recreation Camera Club

The GVR Camera Club is one of the largest camera clubs in the U.S. with over 600 active members. Regardless of your skill level, you'll have fun honing your skills in taking, editing, and presenting photos and videos. Share your photographic passion with others. Take FREE courses and join our Special Interest Groups to get the most from your digital camera, smartphone, action camera, or drone. Learn the ins and outs of post-processing software. Use our state-of-the-art equipment to digitize and edit photos, slides, and videos. Go on Club Field Trips to practice your photographic skills. Exhibit your photos/videos at our Showtime and Travelogue events. Come make friends and photographs!

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  gvrcameraclub@gmail.com. 

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