Message from the Board (Formerly President's Message)

Each month the AzPPA Board challenges you with thoughts on photography. Here are messages from the last couple years sarting from the most current and going back...

April 2010 - AZPPA Merits and Awards, Dale Holladay, SWPPA Reresentative

A couple of months ago I wrote an article explaining the benefits of print judging and why you should get involved Hopefully all of you have had the opportunity to read that article and get motivated to join us in our next 8x10 print competition that will be held on May 3rd at the Fiesta Inn. If not, take a moment after reading this article and review that one for helpful ideas in getting started on your prints.

This month I would like to tell you “The Rest of the Story”. Many of you may not be aware of our Merit and Awards program in AzPPA, and others may not know the “whole” story. So let me begin by giving you a complete rundown and history of the AzPPA Merits & Awards Program.

First of all, why do we even have a “merit & awards” system? Many organizations survive without one. In the early beginnings of AzPPA our founding fathers decided that it would be beneficial to mirror our national organization by establishing a similar merit and awards program. Yes, it is true that many people serve simply for the satisfaction derived from such service. However, we have found that by establishing the merit system in order to provide recognition to those that have gone beyond simple service, we create an atmosphere that motivates more people to step forward and lend a helping hand.

AzPPA (formerly APPA) was organized and their first meeting held on February 17, 1951. Even though our “parent” organization Professional Photographers of America had already established their merit and awards system, it was not until 1966 that the Board created the Merit System along with the APPLE and Artisan Awards, (which are the state’s equivalent to the PPA Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman Awards respectively)

The APPLE Award (APPLE being an anagram for “Award for Professional Photography Leadership and Excellence”) is earned when an individual is successful in earning at least 13 print merits and 12 service merits for a total of 25 merits. Of course, the APPLE Award may be all print merits, if so desired.

The Artisan Award is earned when an individual is successful in earning a minimum of 25 service merits.

To receive both awards you must have a minimum total of 50 merits, 13 of which must be print merits.

To learn how to earn the print merits required for the APPLE Award, please refer to my previous article mentioned above on print competition. To learn about service merits…read on!

All of the awards that I will be telling you about today have certain requirements which are stipulated in our Policies & Procedures Manual which you can download from our website, along with the organizations By-Laws. I encourage everyone to download these and become familiar with their contents, especially if you have desires to serve on committees or board positions.

In the Policies and Procedures Manual you will find a section that describes what activities qualify for Service Merits and how many merits are awarded for each activity. For example, this article that you are reading now has qualified me for 1 service merit. You can earn service merits for serving on board positions, various committees, writing articles, giving programs, working at the convention and many more. If there is something that is not listed in the Policies and Procedures manual, and it is an activity that should be a merit activity, then the Merit Coordinator along with the Board will establish a merit value for the service rendered. (Please note: The P&P Manual is currently under revision and will be voted on at the next board meeting. So be sure to refer back to the downloads page to obtain the latest version with the updated “Approved Merits Listing”.

For the purpose of this article I have listed below the Merits List that is pending approval of the board:

MERITS - Merits will be awarded in the following manner:
President – 6 Vice-President – 3 Secretary/Treasurer – 3 Infocus Editor - 2 Convention Chair –3 Committee Chair – 2 Board Advisor – 3 Exhibition Print –1 Loan Print – 1
Board Members-3 Executive Director –10 Committee Member - 1
Webmaster – 6 Newsletter Editor – 6 Local Speaker – 2
SWPPA Board – 2 Convention Worker – 1 PPA Council – 1
Article (Website/Infocus) >1000 words –1
Article (Website/Infocus<1000 words –1/2

There is a limit of 13 service merits that can be earned in one year.

As I mentioned above, there may be additional changes or additions to this list, therefore, please refer to the new P&P Manual when it is posted.

You may ask, “Why do we have a limit on merits for services rendered?” or “Why doesn’t ALL service deserve merits?” As I mentioned earlier, many organizations survive without a merit system. With that in mind, it is important for us to realize that many times (if not most times) we should provide service for “service sake” and not expect anything in return. I guarantee you, the rewards that you receive, both seen and unseen, are far greater than the ribbons and medallions hanging around your neck. Another reason for not awarding merits for all services is that in order to maintain the integrity and value of the APPLE and Artisan Awards, there has to be a line drawn somewhere, otherwise the awards will become meaningless.

Now that you better understand the merit and awards system of AzPPA, I encourage all of you to get more involved by volunteering your time and talents to this great organization. DO NOT wait for someone to ask for your help. Step forward and talk to a Board Member or Committee Chair and let them know that you want to go to work. Believe me when I say by doing so it will change the direction of your photography career and success.

Author’s Note: There are other awards that you are able to obtain in AzPPA. I will be explaining all of those in my next article…so “stay tuned”

March 2010 - AZPPA Photographic Education, Bob Coates 2010/2011 President

First, I would personally like to thank Wendy Newman for her service as president for the past two years. It is an incredible feat especially considering how many programs and new ideas were implemented during her tenure. If you haven't had a chance to say thanks please take the time to drop Wendy a note, an email or give her a hug at the next meeting. It's well deserved!!

That said, she has left some pretty big shoes to fill. WOW! AZPPA is hosting a tremendous number of education events. Monthly meetings, All Day Programs. President's Pot lucks and the annual convention.

Which brings me to the reason AZPPA is in existence. EDUCATION & NETWORKING.

Having been in the business since March of 1993 and a member of this association for over a decade and attending almost every monthly meeting - along with National conventions like PPA and WPPI, daylong workshops and weeklong training I still feel there is a ton to learn. I can honestly say that I have learned something new from every program attended and plan to keep attending as long as there are new programs being put on and I encourage you to do the same.

AZPPA has a great line up of programs for the year covering a great cross section of topics. Many times I hear someone say I'm not going to attend that meeting because I don't do (fill in the blank) type of photography. I suggest that these members are missing out on growing their business and being more creative. Many ideas cross pollenate between the various types of photography. Please remember, marketing is marketing and ideas used by one type of photography business can be adapted by another. Lighting is lighting and techniques used by a commercial shooter can be used to create a different look for the senior photographer or family photographer or the .... well you get the idea.

I encourage you to attend every education program you can. If you open your mind you'll be amazed at how creative you'll become.

Last, but not least are the networking opportunities to learn in coversations from your fellow photographers. What happens if you get ill just before a shoot? If your networkis in place you have the ability to call a qualified photographer to cover your shoot. What happens if you have a major health issue? Again, your fellow photographers can come to the rescue. I have many stories of this being the case. Photographers who have met throught the AZPPA helping each other in times of need.

Yours in photography education, Bob