My parting shot…
It’s been fun, but it is time for me to go.
The presidency of the Camera Club of Brevard has been a privilege and an honor for me. It’s not easy at times, can be stressful and takes an inordinate amount of energy and time. But I love it. I love presiding over the monthly meetings, making presentations, reaching out to other clubs, representing the club and conducting workshops. I will miss the challenges, ideation and energy.
You’re in good hands.
Working with our board members has provided me immeasurable pleasure over the past several years; and a few challenges as well, as one might suspect. While we are a club around 200 members, it takes countless hours by a handful of members to fuel the engine and provide the power required to be an engaging and successful entity of like-minded amateur photographers. The current board is awesome and is a healthy combination of trusted veterans and a few enthusiastic younger members. I leave the board in excellent hands with incoming president Gordon Elwell behind the wheel. I wish you every success.
Evolution and challenges.
As you are no doubt aware, the hobby we love is rapidly evolving. Canon and Nikon no longer produce traditional DSLR cameras. Mirrorless is in until the next best thing comes along. Smartphones are unbelievably good automatic video and still cameras with worldwide acceptance as the new norm. AI is everywhere and is blurring the lines between fiction and fact. And we are a mature club with aging members. Increased competition from other activities leaves less time for our craft. Incredible new software enhances and fixes pretty much any photo. Times they are a’changing.
My advice: embrace the reality.
To thrive, the club will need to continue to evolve as well. Encourage the next generation to become involved, not only as members, but as board members too. Please don’t assume traditions are inviolate. Teach the new software. Seek both experienced and cutting edge speakers. Generate creative ways to perpetuate the club. The status quo is not your friend in the coming years.
You.
Lastly, but most importantly, I thank you for your unwavering support over the years; not only for me, but for being productive and enthused CCB members. You provided me with the desire and energy to perform my duties. After 60 + years of taking photos, what I cherish the most is not the 400,000 + photos. It is the journey I took to find them and share them with those I met along the way. For that, I thank you from deep within my soul.
Now.
I would like to thank my partner Julie for her understanding, patience and unwavering support during my tenure at the CCB. In so many ways, she made my photography better. We look forward to attending meetings and sitting in the back row and actually socializing; a rare treat for us for sure. I’ll be the one with a sigh of relief and a little smile on my face knowing I simply did the best I could do.
Stay focused,
John