AGM proposals were voted as follows:

Regards,

We are holding an exhibition of prints at the Allen Gallery, Alton GU34 2BW until Saturday 4th December.

Please encourage your friends and family to visit. Admission is free.

Open 10:30-15:30, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. (Not Monday or Wednesday)

• PDI 1: History, time passed
• PDI 2: Opposites
• PDI 3: Repetition
• Print 1: Dreams and/or Nightmares
• Print 2: Electrified

All the themes were suggested by various members, then voted for by the committee. "Dreams and/or Nightmares" was cancelled due to COVID from the 2019/20 season. As some people had already produced prints before the cancellation it was only fair to honour that theme. The first PDI competition this season will be "Song Titles".

Judith Stephens has kindly volunteered for the role.

a. Goddard-Parrack trophy: Winners of The Goddard-Parrack memorial trophy for newcomers to the club are not eligible to win it on a second occasion.

b. Progress trophy: There is a current discrepancy between the wording within the Constitution regarding the Progress Trophy, and how this is being awarded by the club.

The current wording is as follows: "Progress Trophy: This trophy, awarded by Geoffrey Jefferson FRPS in 1986/1987, is for the member who has shown greatest progress in photography over the period of the last year. The winning member is selected by the committee. Consideration is given to both progress in basic photography and exhibition successes in deciding the winner. If it is felt that no achievement is sufficiently outstanding, then no award will be made for that year. This trophy can be awarded jointly."

A previous committee decision set out that the fairest way to determine the winner of this award, was to compare competition scores from the previous season, against the current season, with the member with the greatest improvement in scores being the winner. This is fair for determining progress in basic photography as the club utilises competitions on a regular basis as an indication of success. However, the current wording is ambiguous, and how the award is currently being determined therefore, does not include the option for members who have enjoyed successes externally from the club to be recognised. I propose to amend the wording as follows:

"Progress Trophy: This trophy, awarded by Geoffrey Jefferson FRPS in 1986/1987, is for the member who has shown greatest progress in photography over the period of the last year. The winning member is determined by comparing the internal competition scores for each member for the current season against the same number of scores from the previous season. Members will have to had entered at least 50% of the competitions in both seasons to be considered." This is currently how it has been determined for the past 2 seasons.

To address the matter of external success, I am proposing a new award.

"External Success award: Members who have enjoyed success externally in salons, website competitions, gained photographic qualifications etc, can submit their work with supporting written documentation explaining the process completed, challenges faced, and number of competitors they were against etc. The work submitted will be showcased as a club evening to celebrate their work and share it with others. Members of the committee will then review the work, and supporting documentation, to determine a winner of the member who has achieved the most external success throughout the season. If it is felt that no achievement is sufficiently outstanding, then no award will be made for that year. This award can be awarded jointly".

Some proposals may be on a temporary, albeit long-term, basis due to the restrictions caused by Covid-19, eg, Holybourne Hall has restrictions that are not conducive to the ACC meeting there. So, some interim changes introduced may be reviewed once restrictions are lifted.

Proposal 1 - Virtual Membership Trial

A 4-month virtual Membership trial £20 Membership fee to cover September to December 2020 (or £25 to include all PDI competition entries during this time period). Meetings will be conducted via Zoom on a fortnightly basis, usually on a Wednesday evening.

During the trial period there will be one PDI competition and one speaker each month, expected to take place at the bi-weekly meetings. The programme is subject to minor changes to fit in with speakers’ commitments.

Field trips are included in the price.

This virtual Membership will be reviewed by the Committee during December 2020, and is proposed for a maximum 12 month period only rather than the usual 3 years.

Proposer: Wendy Davies Seconder: Lynne Harles Result: Accepted

Proposal 2 - "Chairman"

All references to “Chairman” throughout the Club, in documents, correspondence, meetings, etc, to be changed to “Chair".

Proposer: Nicky Day Seconder: Sarah Broadhead Result: Accepted

No other proposals were received by the Committee

"Dear ACC Members,

The continuing spread of Covid19, with accelerating growth in the UK, has led the government to recommend reduced social contact. This includes social gatherings in crowded places like pubs, clubs, and theatres.

Based on this advice, the committee has took the decision to cancel all further club meetings with immediate effect, and this includes the Presentation Evening on the 1st May. This will remain in effect until the government advice is to relax the newly imposed restrictions.

As there is no sign of Covid19 abating in the short term, this effectively means the season will now end with immediate effect. The hope is that the new season will start on time in September, but this is entirely reliant on the ongoing situation with Covid19 and government advice.

Of course there are still many things to work through, such as when the AGM should take place to decide on the structure of the committee for the new season and to complete the financial accounts from the prior season. It will be difficult right now to make those decisions until there is a clear path forward from the ongoing pandemic.

Numerous photography related meetings outside of the Alton Camera Club have also been cancelled, such as the Newbury Plate. Therefore if you still plan to attend such events, I would recommend making enquiries beforehand that the event is still taking place.

With regards the SCPF Championships at the end of March, this is beyond the scope of the Alton Camera Club Committee, and the decision rests with the SCPF Committee. No doubt, the SCPF will provide further guidance in due course with respect to this.

Some of you may also be aware that I myself am relocating to Oxford in the new 2 months and therefore will sadly be stepping down as Chairman of Alton Camera Club at the end of April. Since the season has ended prematurely, I will no longer be Chair when next season reconvenes. Firstly I would like to thank you for your patience in me fumbling my way through my first season as Chairman which I have thoroughly enjoyed. Secondly, a new Chairman will need to be found for the new season, so please do give it some thought if you are interested. If I can do it, I am sure you can too. I will still hope to attend a few meetings in the new season as an ordinary member.

Thank you for your patience and consideration. If you have any questions, please do post them to either WhatsApp, Facebook, or email our

We will endeavour to answer any questions, and post the FAQ's on the website and Facebook page.

Thanks,

Simon Richards.

ACC Chairman, on behalf of the ACC Committee."

A very warm welcome to all our new members.

Prospective members can come to up to three of our meetings and there will always be someone to help you. For practical evenings and talks a £5 donation is requested, which is deducted from your subsequent membership fee. You can join at any time during the season.

If you have a photo website or use a photo-sharing site such as Flickr or 500px then let us know and we'll add it to our Galleries page. Have a look at our Flickr group too.

Please note that your images entered in competitions may be shown on the Club website, in Club promotional material, in local media (online/print) and represent the Club in its exhibitions and external competitions (SCPF and elsewhere) unless you tell us otherwise.

Our Privacy Policy can be found in our Legal Stuff section.

If you have any questions, please email .

The Club regularly sends an informative and fun newsletter to all members by email (unless you choose to opt out). Old editions of our newsletter can be found by clicking here. The editor is keen to receive contributions from our Club members so to contribute or opt out contact