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December 2025

From the President...

Here it is December. If you are anything like me, you are saying, “Where has the year gone?” Time certainly seems to fly by. With the weather we have been having over the last couple of weeks, it certainly seems like winter, at least for here in Arizona. Hopefully this rain that we have been getting will lead to some beautiful spring blooms.

As the year winds down, remember that there are still plenty of things that the club is doing. Travelogue and Showtime will be going on this month, while Speaker Series takes a short break. If you plan on attending one of these programs please sign up. It helps us to know how many tables and chairs to put out.

There are a few field trips with a couple of them featuring holiday lights on the schedule for December. It’s a great way to celebrate the season. Remember that Canoa Ranch has holiday lights also. So, if you don’t feel like traveling up to Tucson, check things out down here in Green Valley.

We are going to do something a little different for December. Since there won’t be a Speaker Series, let’s have a holiday gathering instead.  By now you should have received an invitation in your email for a Holiday Mixer.  Please consider coming to this event.  It will be a good time to meet your fellow club members.

I would like to thank our newsletter editor, Neil Wicai, for all of his work on the newsletter. He has helmed this position for the last 5 1/2 years and is now “retiring”. This will be his last edition. As always, it is a good one. It takes a lot of work to put together a newsletter so we should all thank him for the work that he has done.

I wish you all a safe and happy holiday season. May you have wonderful times with family and friends.

“It’s not what’s under the Christmas tree that matters, it’s who’s around it.” - Charlie Brown

Happy Hanukkah, Feliz Navidad, and Merry Christmas!

Kim Holmes, President

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the GVR Photography Club’s founding as a Green Valley Recreation club. This is the first in a series of articles focused on the club’s history that will culminate in April 2026. We’ll officially celebrate our 50th Anniversary in conjunction with our annual meeting in April.


The GVR Photography Club – The Beginning

By Tom Parker

In our quest to learn about the history of the GVR Photography Club, we were able to locate the Constitution of the Green Valley Camera Club and Bylaws of the Green Valley Camera Club, both dated October 1975. As outlined in the club’s constitution, the club’s purpose was “to aid and benefit, by mutual cooperation, those interested in photography.” At that time GVR was known as Community Recreation Association of Green Valley (CRAGV), and according to the club's bylaws, “Any member of CRAGV  may make application for membership in this club.”

The bylaws were amended in 1979 to change CRAGV to Green Valley Recreation, Inc. Annual dues were set at $3.00 per person. Of course, back then the median home price was $42,600, a new car could be purchased for under $5,000, and gas was under $0.60 a gallon.

We also came across this certificate and letter from the Photographic Society of America (PSA), recognizing the Green Valley Camera Club for 25 years of continuous membership in PSA. The letter is dated April 2000 and notes we reached that 25-year milestone in 1999, meaning the club must have actually been around since 1974.

Since there are no surviving records we can only guess, but it appears we became members of PSA as a possible first step in establishing the Green Valley Camera Club as a CRAGV non-profit organization. One of PSA's benefits included resources and consultants to help organizations start a club.


Over the next four months, we will be exploring different aspects of the club’s history. Please stay tuned for future installments in this newsletter and on the club’s Facebook page.

Photos for GVR Center Exhibits Needed

We are in need of your framed photos!

Not only would we like to display your photos at the club, we will also have the display walls at the East Center for December 2025. And now, starting in January 2026, GVR is allowing us to display at the Desert Hills Auditorium.  Overall, we need over 60 new photos to display!

I encourage you to join our photographers who are currently exhibiting. If you wish to participate, you can find instructions in the Photo Exhibit Guidelines page on the Club's website here.

Feel free to drop off your framed photos at the club.  If you have a preference of where to place your photos, leave a note on your submittal paperwork. 

If you have questions please contact Kirk Hively, kehively@yahoo.com (520-349-5593) or Julie Howard (402-202-4423).

Kirk Hively, Exhibits Coordinator

Keep Our Facebook Page in Mind

Our new season has started and our Field Trippers have put together a huge list of trips with great photo opportunities for you to take advantage of. We need your Field Trip photos for our Facebook page!

Be sure to send me your favorite photos so I can post them in Facebook. Those photos are also where I get to choose the Photo of the Month featured in the newsletter each month. Your photo could be chosen next!

Sue Ready, Facebook Coordinator

Photo of the Month

The December Photo of the Month is by Jim Gardner, taken on a trip to the Osa Peninsula in Southern Costa Rica.

Jim recalls, "We were touring a chocolate plantation on the Osa Peninsula, and just as we were about to begin this iguana hopped up and I took the shot. It was a lucky moment!

"I used a Nikon Z9 with a 100-400 lens. I was at 400mm when I snapped the picture. The only editing I did was switch the aspect ratio to 1:1."

Congratulations, Jim!



The Photo of the Month is chosen from new and archived photos submitted to Sue Ready, the club's Facebook Coordinator. Keep sending the best of your work to Sue at suready@yahoo.com so we may continue to showcase the refined capabilities of GVR Photography Club members. Photos should be submitted in .jpg format and please include its title and location. -ed

I would like to extend an invitation for all members to utilize the printing facilities at the club's photo lab.


The photo lab is equipped with two exceptional Epson printers that are available for all members to use. You can bring your own paper or get paper from the lab with a small donation to cover the expenses associated with the paper and ink. A range of paper types is available, allowing you to experiment and determine the most suitable option for your print. A Material Use Sheet that provides suggested donations for printing options using your own or the club’s supplies is available from the monitor.

Gene Komaromi has compiled a video tutorial that serves as an effective introduction to the printing process. This video is accessible on several computers in the lab. You can find it on the program list on each computer and is a great resource to review prior to commencing printing,

We are also in the process of developing a second video that will provide a more comprehensive overview of preparing photographs for printing. It will be available on the computers in the lab in the near future.

Don't Stop Learning!

Jim Gardner, Education Chair

Library News

“Thank You” to the GVR Photography Club board for including the Library in their 2025 budget. Several new books were added to the shelves.

“Thank You” to the monitors who keep the shelves tidy when books are returned, and to members who donate new and used photography books.

And most of all “Thank You” to the members who check out and enjoy the books we are fortunate to have on our shelves.

I wish you all a wonderful holiday season and a healthy and happy 2026.

Becky McCreary, Librarian

This Month's Club Activities

Check the Club Calendar for the latest information on all club activities. Photography Club members are also welcome and encouraged to attend the club’s monthly Board of Directors meetings. Check the Club Calendar for the date of the meeting and attend in-person at the club, or remotely by registering using this link. The Board is always interested in comments and new ideas from the members.

Need help with your digital camera, smartphone camera, slide/print scanning, photo printing or a photo editing software application? Photography Club Volunteer Helpers are available to help. Log in to the club’s website. Click on the three bars at the far right of the home page menu bar and select Volunteer Helpers. Once you've found a helper, scroll down to see their contact email listed. Help is just a few clicks away.


Showtime

Tuesday, 12/9 at 2:00 pm

Step Right Up to the Greatest Show in Green Valley!

The curtain has risen on our 25/26 SHOWTIME season, and what a dazzling debut it was! The excitement, the turnout, the magic. It’s clear this is only the beginning.

Now, the spotlight shifts to our next adventure at the Desert Hills Center. Prepare to be whisked away on a whirlwind of wonder.

  • Discover the secrets of unique flora and fauna
  • Watch an intriguing UFO video, “The Truth Is Out There”
  • Celebrate a King’s birthday in style
  • Meet some tough Minnesotans braving the cold
  • Drift along a serene Hawaiian coast
  • Cruise through a neighborhood aglow with holiday lights

All brought to life in an hour of captivating videos created by our own talented club members. Forget Hollywood, our producers right here in Green Valley are the real stars!

So gather your friends, bring your family, and join us for an unforgettable afternoon of stories, sights, and surprises. I’ll bring the popcorn, coffee and water, but you can bring your own beverage of choice.

SHOWTIME: The Greatest Show in Green Valley

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Todd F Taylor, Showtime Host


Travelogue

Tuesday, 12/2 at 2:00 pm

Arizona is such a special place. And with all our snowbirds returning, we thought it would be a holiday treat to visit a few of the wonderful places in our own state. A combination of short videos will include Bisbee, Sasabe, Tumacacori, Arivaca, Colorado River, Havasu Falls, Jerome, Copper Canyon, and more.

We’re looking forward to having you join us at 2:00 pm at Desert Hills.

Any questions or need help putting a travel video together? You can contact us directly, Anne Karakatsoulis at daveandanne@msn.com, and Sherrie Lee Lucia at sherrie.LCBG@gmail.com.

Thank you so much!

Sherrie Lee Lucia & Anne Karakatsoulis, Travelogue Co-Coordinators


Speaker Series

Returning in January

Our December program is on Christmas break. It will return with a new program in January. In the meantime, look for another event that will occur on the third Tuesday of December. You should have received an invitation in your email for our Holiday Mixer over the last couple of days.

Happy Holidays and I’ll see you in January, unless, of course, you come to the mixer!

Kim Holmes, Speaker Series Coordinator


Field Trips

All of us on the Field Trip Committee are thrilled with your member response and support of our field trip program. But we are still having problems in four areas when you sign up for field trips.


1. Since January, we’ve had 123 trip cancellations. That’s an unusually high number. We realize life sometimes gets in the way of your field trip plans, particularly if a medical emergency arises. However, it appears some folks may be signing up for field trips without bothering to consult their own planning calendar first.  Some who have signed up for a trip suddenly remembered the grandkids are coming to town – that event was on their calendar, if only they had checked first. Others decided they really weren’t interested in a particular trip after all – but only after they’d already signed up. Most of our field trips have links to detailed information about the site being visited – if you’re not sure about a field trip, read up before you sign up. Perhaps something better, more fun or more interesting than the field trip came along, and perhaps you’re thinking it’s no big deal – field trips are inexpensive (or free) so it’s no great loss if I cancel. That thinking is inconsiderate and inexcusable. By signing up for field trips when you haven’t FIRST checked your availability, your interest level and your commitment, you are denying other club members the opportunity to go who are available, interested AND committed. Every cancellation requires a lot of behind-the-scenes administrative actions (e.g., contacting members on the waitlist to take your place on the trip) – and it’s especially complex if a refund must be processed.

2. What could be worse than cancellations? How about registering for a trip and not showing up at all!  We’ve had dozens of no-shows since September. Maybe some were medical emergencies, but most were of the “I just don’t feel like going” variety. It doesn’t matter the reason – you MUST notify the field trip leader and Lynn Rozema, the Field Trip Co-Chair if you can’t make the trip (their contact information is clearly stated in the trip announcement). This is especially true on the day of the trip. Not only is everybody else waiting for you to show up, but we also worry whether you’ve had a medical emergency – the kind of thing that happens in a 55+ community like GVR.

3. If you are a two-member household and both of you want to go on a field trip, YOU MUST REGISTER SEPARATELY USING SEPARATE EMAIL ADDRESSES. This is the only way both of you will be included in the trip. We still have members trying to sign up for field trips using just the primary member's information and adding their spouse, significant other, or even a non-member, to the registration (e.g., Tom signing up as Tom and Monica Parker) and only paying once. Doing this only shows one registrant! This has significant impact if someone shows up with an additional person to an event with a strict number of people allowed (like Rancho de la Osa, Winterhaven, Taiko Drums, etc.). If this happens, you’ll need to decide on who will be going on the trip because it won’t be both of you. This is not a policy change. Even on free field trips, you must register both separately to meet the requirements GVR established for the Club to remain a sanctioned GVR activity. If you are having problems registering, please let me know.

4. Please do not sign up anonymously! You do not show up on the official trip roster, so my trip leaders cannot see who you are. You will not receive information, updates, or cancellation notices.

One last thing. If you are on the wait list for a trip, be prepared to go on that trip. If we have a last-minute cancellation, we will do everything in our power to get you on that trip. If you are first on the list and we can’t get ahold of you, we will call the next person on the wait list until we find someone to fill that slot.

All of us on the Field Trip Committee want to do everything we can to make each trip/event as enjoyable as possible. With your help, we can succeed.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support!

Happy Holidays to all!

Monica Parker, Field Trip Chair


Photo Opportunities

December is a great month to fine tune your night-time photography skills with plenty of holiday events from which to choose. Sadly, Tumacácori National Historical Park will not be hosting the Fiesta de Tumacácori or Luminaria this year, but Tohono Chul, the Tucson Botanical Gardens, the Reid Park Zoo and Tubac are all aglow during the holidays. You can also enjoy holiday parades in Tucson and Tombstone. And although the Winterhaven Festival of Lights has no drive-thru dates this year, you can reserve a party bike if you’d rather not walk the neighborhood.


For something a little different, check out La Fiesta de Guadalupe which honors Mexico’s patron saint with performances including mariachi bands and folklorico dancers.


Charge your batteries and make sure you have a fresh SIM card handy to catch all the action.

LightsUp! A Festival of Illumination

  • Ongoing Tue thru Sun, 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm (except Christmas & New Year's Day)
  • Fees vary, timed reservations required
  • Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 North Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ
  • Find more information here.

Raptor Free Flight

  • Ongoing Fri thru Mon,10:30 am – Free with museum admission
  • Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 North Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ
  • Find more information here.

Historic Canoa Ranch

  • Dates, times, events and fees vary - Registration may be required
  • Historic Canoa Ranch, 5375 South I-19 Frontage Road, Green Valley, AZ
  • Find more information here. 

First Thursday at the Tucson Museum of Art

  • Dec 4, 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.

Zoo Lights 2025

  • Dec 4-23 & 26-30, 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm – Fees vary, reservations required
  • Reid Park Zoo, 3400 East Zoo Court, Tucson, AZ 85716
  • Find more information here.

Winter Magic - Annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Market

  • Dec 5-6, Fri 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Sat 11:00 am to 9:00 pm - Free
  • Veterans Memorial Park, 3105 East Fry Boulevard, Sierra Vista, AZ
  • Find more information here.

Luminaria Nights

  • Dec 5-6, 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm – Free
  • Tubac, AZ
  • Find more information here.

Mainly Murals Walking Tour

  • Dec 6, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm – $35, registration required
  • Presidio San Agustin Museum, 196 North Court Avenue, Tucson, AZ
  • Find more information here.

Frontier Holidays at the Presidio Museum

  • Dec 6, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm – Included with admission
  • Presidio San Agustin Museum, 196 North Court Avenue, Tucson, AZ
  • Find more information here.

Downtown Parade of Lights & Festival

  • Dec 6, Festival from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm, Parade at 6:30 pm – Free
  • Armory Park, 220 South 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ
  • Find more information here.

Oro Valley Holiday Festival of the Arts & Tree Lighting Celebration

  • Dec 6-7, Sat 10:00 am to 6:30 pm (tree lighting @ 6:00 pm), Sun 10:00 am to 4:00 pm - Free
  • Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 North Oracle Rd, Oro Valley, AZ
  • Find more information here.

Holiday Nights 2025

  • Dec 6-21, Fri thru Sun, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm – Fees vary, reservations required
  • Tohono Chul Gardens, 7366 North Paseo Del Norte, Tucson, AZ 85704
  • Find more information here.

Fort Lowell Park Walking Tour

  • Dec 7 & 21, 9:00 am to 11:00 am – $35, registration required
  • Fort Lowell Museum, 2900 North Craycroft Road, Tucson, AZ
  • Find more information here for Dec 7 and here for Dec 21.

Modern Streetcar & Walking Tour

  • Dec 11, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm – $45, registration required
  • Mercado San Agustin, 100 South Avenida del Convento, Tucson, AZ
  • Find more information here.

Forth Avenue Winter Street Fair

  • Dec 12-14, Fri and Sat 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Sun 10:00 am to 4:00 pm – Free
  • 4th Avenue between East University Boulevard and East 8th Street, Tucson, AZ
  • Find more information here.

Turquoise Trail Walking Tour

  • Dec 13, 10:00 am to 12:30 am – $35, registration required
  • Presidio San Agustin Museum, 196 North Court Avenue, Tucson, AZ
  • Find more information here.

Christmas Balloon Glow

  • Dec 13. 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm – $50 per vehicle
  • Pima Air and Space Museum, 6000 East Valencia Road, Tucson, AZ
  • Find more information here.

Tombstone’s Annual Holiday Light Parade

  • Dec 13, 6 pm to 9 pm – Free
  • Allen Street between 6th and 3rd Streets, Tombstone, AZ
  • Find more information here.

The 76th Festival of Lights

  • Dec 13-27, 6 pm to 10 pm – Free
  • Winterhaven Neighborhood, Tucson, AZ
  • Find more information here.

Turquoise Trail Highlights Tour

  • Dec 14, 9:00 am to 11:00 am – $35, registration required
  • Presidio San Agustin Museum, 196 North Court Avenue, Tucson, AZ
  • Find more information here.

La Fiesta de Guadalupe 2025

  • Dec 14, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm – Free
  • DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, 6300 North Swan Road, Tucson, AZ
  • Find more information here.

Second SundAZe at the Tucson Museum of Art

  • Dec 14, 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. 

    Barrio Viejo Walking Tour

    • Dec 14 & 28, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm – $35, registration required
    • Rosendo Perez Park, 424 South Main Avenue, Tucson, AZ
    • Find more information here for Dec 14 and here for Dec 28.

      Birding at the Zoo

      • Dec 18, 9:15 am-11:15 am – free with zoo admission, reservations required
      • Reid Park Zoo, 3400 East Zoo Court, Tucson, AZ 85716
      • Find more information here.

      20h Annual Holiday Express

      • Dec 20, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm – Free
      • Historic Tucson Amtrack Train Depot, 414 North Toole, Tucson, AZ
      • Find more information here.

      Murals & More of the 4th Avenue District

      • Dec 21, 10:00 am to 11:30 am – $35, registration required
      • Corbett’s, 340 North 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ
      • Find more information here. 

      Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl

      • Dec 27, 2:30 pm – Prices vary
      • Arizona Bowl, 545 North Championship Drive, Tucson, AZ
      • Find more information here.
        We are always looking for recommendations for future photo opportunities. Please feel free to contact me If you have suggestions for upcoming events of interest.

        Tom Parker, Photo Op Coordinator


        Special Interest Groups are fun and educational. Any member of the Photography Club is welcome to attend any of the SIGs.

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

        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 Photography 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.

        Photography Items

        Wanted

        or

        For Sale

        FOR SALE

        Canon 5D Mark III Camera

        Professional workhorse camera, durable, with excellent image quality. Dual card slots, 22.3 MP, 61 point autofocus, 6 fps continuous shooting, high quality full frame sensor. 

        Price: $400.00

        Contact Denise LeCount O'Brien at 309-830-0177 or rurt2dede@gmail.com


        Mackie EM-91CU+ Microphone

              Including:

        • Auray OMPF-33 Pop Screen
        • Desktop stand with weighted base

        Price: $50.00

        Contact Danny Valenzuela at 602-568-5759 or dvsundevil@gmail.com

        Sony Camera and Lens Package

        • Sony Alpha a7 III Mirrorless Digital Camera Body - 24MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor, BIONZ X Image Processor & Front-End LSI, 693-Point Hybrid AF System, UHD 4K30p Video with HLG & S-Log3 Gammas. Shutter count 8686.
        • Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Lens: Combining impressive optical performance with lightweight, compact convenience, the 28-70mm Lens makes an ideal everyday lens. The popular 28–70 mm zoom range covers a variety of uses, from landscapes to portraits and snapshots. Built-in Optical Steady Shot image stabilization keeps images sharp and noise-free.

        Like new condition. Both completely inspected and serviced by Tucson Camera. Meet at the club to view.

        Price: $1,300.00

        Contact Joy Coffaro at 425-306-1188 or info@joycoffarophotography.com

        Various camera bags and large Amazon Basic hard shell travel case

        Meet at the club to view. 

        Price: Best offer.

        Contact Joy Coffaro at 425-306-1188 or info@joycoffarophotography.com


        Do you have any used photography equipment that you want to sell or are looking for to buy? List those items in the newsletter.

        All items:

        • May be placed only by current, past or families of past members.
        • Must be for used photography related equipment.
        • Must include your name, or the name of the past member, and contact information.
        • Should be submitted to neilwicai@gmail.com.
        • Must be placed by the 25th of the month prior to the month of listing.
        • Will run for one month, but may be resubmitted up to three times to be listed again.

        GVR Photography Club

        The GVR Photography Club is one of the largest photography 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 Photography 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  gvrphotographyclub@gmail.com. 

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


        The GVR Photography Club is located in the Recreation Village of Santa Rita Springs.
        921 West Via Rio Fuerte, Green Valley, AZ 85622 
        Phone 520-648-1315

        If you have any questions or concerns please call the above number during business hours or email us at: gvrphotographyclub@gmail.com

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