The new Digital projector and Screen had been used successfully at our first meeting. It was important that we kept track of the Club’s equipment, particularly that equipment which could be borrowed by members. Jill Hargreaves would maintain the loan equipment book and it was important that she be informed before any equipment was transferred to a member. The last member notified to Jill would be responsible for the safekeeping of the equipment. John Ade, as Equipment Officer, looks after the club equipment which we don’t loan out to members (including the new digital projector!).

Colin Pickles reported on the Berlin Trip 13-16^th May 2008. Booking forms would shortly be available, and a deposit required from members. Since this conflicted with the Rolalind Bramley members Monochrome Pictorial competition, the competition would be moved to 6^th May 2007 (assuming the room at the Hazel Grove Bowling Club could be booked).

Jill Hargreaves noted that she had booked the Poynton Library for another Print exhibition (26^th Jan – 16^th Feb) to coincide with the Annual Exhibition.

Tony Rosevere noted that 4 members had not renewed but that 6 and possibly 7 new members joined.

Bill Chadband noted that the next (September) Focus was due out next Tuesday 25^th Sept.  Jack Bamford had agreed to judge the interclub knockout competition on the Thursday evening 14^th February 2008.

A general discussion on the future of the inter-club knockout Slide competition brought out the following points: There has been a steady decline in the number of Slide-workers over the past few years, and it has been noted that an increasing number of people have been producing slides for competitions from digital images. This of course gives them an advantage in removing blemishes or improving the image before a slide is made. The continued improvements made to Digital projectors has meant that for most viewers the digitally projected image is as pleasing and acceptable as the projected Slide image. The club would not wish to dissuade Club members from continuing to work with slides. Barry reported that for the next Club competition 19 print workers and 5 slide workers had entered giving him 96 prints and 20 slides. The Club had purchased a Braun Slide scanner so that all members could digitize their slides for competition purposes. We had received several impromptu queries over recent times as to when we would change from projected slides to projected digital images. The Club has prided itself on being in the Vanguard of change rather than belatedly following the trend.  

It was agreed that we would change the Thursday Interclub knockout Slide Competition to an Inter-club knockout Digitally Projected Image competition. 

Jack Bamford had expressed himself equally willing to judge either kind of competition. The new Digital projector was capable of 1400 x 1058 pixels (twice the definition of our old projector) We would need to carefully calibrate our computer-projector system and specify to competing clubs the image requirements. Barry Pearson would look into this.

            Bill Chadband

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