Feb. 2003
President's
Message
President's Message
Bob Coffey
Our 70th annual WIEP will be held at Arsht Hall on two Sundays, February
16 and 23. This is always a notable event for the DPS as it represents
a monumental effort by so many of our dedicated members. Everyone involved
is to be commended for their part in continuing a long, proud tradition.
Please support your Society by attending one of the showings.
I am delighted to report that there were more entries in every category this year. The biggest increase was in Color Prints with a 25% jump. For all four print categories, there was a solid 15% growth. Slides exceeded last year, but only by a slim margin. The unofficial count for all print and slide entries totals 716 entrants with 2864 titles, a healthy 8.6% increase. This appears to be a reversal of the downward trend in WIEP participation.
We attribute much of that to the explosive popularity of digital printing. My eyeball guesstimate of digitally made versus chemically made prints during processing puts them in the 40% to 50% range.
The interest in digital photography
has also been a significant stimulus to our membership. Our meetings have
averaged over sixty members throughout the year, which is wonderful. However,
it has begun to strain the capacity of our meeting room. Coincidently,
the First Unitarian Church needs the Brunner Chapel for adult bible classes
during February and March. As a result, we have arranged to switch our
meetings during that period to the Parish Hall. It is not only a third
larger, its configuration will allow seating arrangements that are conducive
to improved viewing of slides and prints. A number of members have complained
about not being able to see from the back. So, for the next few weeks
we will have an excellent opportunity to evaluate that room as a possible
permanent meeting room. Just remember that we will be meeting downstairs
starting with Instruction Night February 3. The access will still be via
the same parking lot door. See you there.
- Bob Coffey