Information for new members

Welcome to the Carradale Camera Club. On this page, we have detailed some of the more useful things to know about the Club and how it runs.

Office holders & committee

There is a page in the members’ area that lists the committee members and office holders. The committee meets three or four times each year.

Constitution & membership/venue fee

The constitution can be found elsewhere in the members’ pages, and contains some useful information about the operation of the Club.

There is also a page which details the annual membership fee. This is paid, ideally by BACS, soon after the first meeting of the programme. By the third or fourth meeting, the membership list is taken to be made up of those who have paid, and a new email distribution list is then used, based on that membership list.

Members are asked to bring £3 cash to each meeting, to contribute towards the venue hire - even if they do not have any of the provided refreshments. This is applicable for when we use The Glen or the village hall.

The Club has a couple of important policies, which will be emailed (from autumn 2023 onwards) to new members. Members are asked to look over the policies, not to commit to memory, but just to be aware of the ground that the policies cover.

Programme, and types, of meetings

The programme of meetings is usually confirmed soon after the Club’s AGM, in October. It aims to be varied and accessible, and consists of a number of different types of meetings. Attendance at meetings is not obligatory and members do not need to send in an apology if they are not coming to a meeting. A register is not taken at meetings. They start at 7.00pm, and end no later than 9.00pm, and sometimes end as early as 8.30pm.

Theme meetings. Well in advance, a theme is announced, which aims to inspire photographs, based on the theme. There is no obligation for members to contribute any photographs, but all are encouraged. Typically, between one and half a dozen photographs are sent to the Club’s email address, if a member wishes to take part (carradalecameraclub@live.co.uk), usually with a deadline of lunchtime on the day of the meeting. At the meeting, the images are displayed, and comments from the audience and photographer are invited and encouraged. Images from a member’s ‘archive’ are also fine to be sent in.

Talks / presentations. We like to have two or three talks each year. Best of all is when a member offers a talk, but we do try and invite one external speaker each year.

BYOC / development. Sometimes, we ask members to bring in their own camera (including phone camera), so that we can have a practical session, learning about a particular aspect or technique.

Competitions. There is a page in the members’ area that details the competitions that the Club engages with. If it is an internal competition, one meeting will likely be dedicated to the judging and/or presentation of results. For the one external competition, there will also be a meeting to select the long list of members’ submissions.

Outdoor meetings. We try, twice a year, to meet up for a practical session, once in autumn (night-time photography), and once in late spring (daytime photography).

Meals. Not really ‘meetings’, but we have a Christmas meal at The Glen, as well as a summer ‘end of season’ meal there. At the latter, we also announce the winners of the Print of the Year competition.

Summer Exhibition. The Club aims to hold an exhibition of prints at the village hall in August.

Zoom. If at all possible, and if the type of meeting is appropriate, we offer a Zoom broadcast, to members. This is mainly so that the country members can take part, but also allows local members to take part if they are away on the night of the meeting.

Equipment / resources

The Club has a small collection of equipment that members can borrow - see the page in the members’ area. We are also trying to build up some digital resources; there is a ‘useful links’ page in this website as well as a growing collection of downloadable resources in the members’ area.

Online facilities

(This) website. This website is designed to be a moderately static window, offering information for prospective members. The galleries pages are changed a couple of times a year, and the programme of meetings is kept up to date - and is where members should look if they are unsure about what is happening when. Changes to the programme are announced to members by email as soon as they are made. The members’ area is a useful facility, and the password should not be disclosed outside of the Club.

(Public) Facebook page (here). Mostly used for trumpeting the most recent meeting of the Club, it is also used to advertise Club, and other, events.

(Private) Facebook group (here). The ‘compose, click and share’ group is for members to pose questions, offer advice, share images, invite comment, share news, etc etc.

WhatsApp. The WhatsApp group is for members to alert others of, for example, aurorae. It can be used also to suggest a meet up, say for a sunset on the next morning, etc.