September MMPC Meeting
An in-person meeting of the Mid-Michigan Photography Club is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday September 1, 2021. The story of Rotary Park and a map are at the site https://ourcommunity.org/leadership-projects/rotary-park. Given the recent pleasant weather and the response to the Fenner outing, we will try to meet outdoors. This is a unique setting with great features. There is parking near the City Market and on Michigan Ave. Additional parking is available downtown. Bring your camera to shoot. We will walk around Rotary Park and the adjacent River Trail area.
This is Michigan. In the event of inclement weather, an alternate online event will be held and an announcement will be sent to the MMPC email list and will posted on the MMPC web site at http://mmphotoclub.net. Plans for upcoming MMPC meetings are on the MMPC website calendar page at http://mmphotoclub.net/calendar/.
MMPC has been informed that First Presbyterian Church plans to reopen this Fall and that MMPC will be allowed to use the facility. The MMPC Board has decided to carry out plans for the September, and October outdoor meetings. MMPC plans to hold meetings at First Presbyterian Church beginning in November, 2021. The web site calendar has been updated to show dates through June 2022. The web site calendar has been updated to show MMPC meeting dates through June 2022.
Save The Dates – Upcoming MMPC Meetings
The Mid-Michigan Photography Club is planning to hold outdoor meetings as long as the weather holds. Plans include:
- Wednesday, September 1, 2021 – Downtown Lansing – Rotary Park
- Wednesday, October 6, 2021 – Location to be announced – Light Painting
- Wednesday, November 3, 2021, First Presbyterian Church 510 W. Ottawa St. Lansing
- Wednesday, December 1, 2021, First Presbyterian Church 510 W. Ottawa St. Lansing
- Wednesday, January 5, 2022, First Presbyterian Church 510 W. Ottawa St. Lansing
Big Cookie – September Meeting
The “Big Cookie” is the quarterly friendly photo competition sponsored by MMPC. All present at the meeting may vote for the “People’s Choice” photo. A panel of non-participating judges will offer critiques of all submitted photographs and will select a photograph for the “Judge’s Choice.” Criteria will include technique, composition, and use of the theme. The Big Cookie competition was last held in March 2020. The Big Cookie will return at the September 2020 MMPC meeting. The theme for the September 2020 Big Cookie competition is “SKY.” This is the theme that had been announced for the June 2020 meeting. We are encouraging submission of original images that are not composites. Programs such as Photoshop include tools for “sky replacement.” There is an appropriate place for these tools. We encourage participants to use good judgement in the Big Cookie competition.
September Meeting – Annual Dues
The Mid-Michigan Photography Club collects dues annually at the September meeting. This past year has been unusual, in many ways. While it was great to see the attendance and new members at the August meeting in Grand Ledge, the MMPC Board is aware that many members have not attended Zoom meetings and/or outdoor meetings. The club is in good shape and we have had limited expenses during the 2020-21 year. We are asking new members to pay dues for 2021-22. If you paid last year, for 2020-21 and didn’t attend club events regularly, there is no expectation that you pay dues at this time. Please use your own judgement when it comes to MMPC dues. We have kept the cost of being a club member to $35 again this year so please bring that with you to the meeting. If you are paying MMPC dues, and can’t make the September meeting, send payments to: Karen Towner, 10727 Keefer Highway, Portland, MI 48875.
MMPC Board Election
The MMPC Board meets regularly. The Board meeting schedule is posted on the calendar at http://mmphotoclub.net/calendar. The list of the current Board members is at http://mmphotoclub.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/MMPC-Board-Members-03212021.pdf.
Recent meetings have been virtual, rather than in-person. We continue to welcome any MMPC members who are interested in serving on the Board. An election will be held before the October 2021 meeting for the positions of Secretary, Treasurer, and MMPC Board Member at-large. Pam Hastings-Albright has agreed to be nominated as Secretary, Karen Towner has agreed to be nominated as Treasurer, and Karrie Baker has agreed to be nominated as member at-large. The election will be held during the October 6, 2021, meeting, as required by the club’s by-laws. Please contact any MMPC Board member if you are interested in being nominated.
Possible MMPC Gallery Show
The MMPC Board had started discussions about venues for a potential Gallery Show. As we move forward, we want to get input and feedback from MMPC members. We will be contacting venues with the idea of holding a Gallery Show in the future. Of course, these plans could change. Thanks to those who responded to the poll on the Facebook page. We will keep you informed as plans develop.
MMPC Photo Challenge
Thanks to all who have contributed to the MMPC Photo Challenge. The August theme is Car Insignia. It is great to see the submissions on the Facebook page. A gallery of the photos from prior months is on the MMPC web site at http://mmphotoclub.net/monthly-challenge/. If you do not use the Facebook group, send your entry by email to mmpclansing@gmail.com so that we can post it to the Facebook page. Discussion of the photos, beyond simply liking the picture, is encouraged. The current and upcoming monthly themes for the photo challenge are:
- August 2021 – Car Insignia
- September 2021 – Curly