Reading Film and Video Makers

Issue 3 - August 2000 Magazine Articles.

Well here we are, almost at the start of another season. I am sitting writing this on the day following our most recent committee meeting where the main topic of debate was the content of the programme for the coming year. Mark Chapman and Neil Hodgson have been very busy indeed and already it is clear that we can look forward to Tuesday evenings in the knowledge that they are going to be both interesting, informative and hopefully some fun as well! Your input on the questionnaires on last year's programme have been very useful and taken into consideration in planning for the coming year. Competitions are now more evenly spaced throughout the year and on the practical side of helping members improve their techniques and knowledge, a series of evenings throughout the year will be targeted at "making the most of your footage" and will be focused on all aspects of editing and post production, which was high on the wish list compiled from members' responses.

One of the difficulties faced by all programme planners is trying to persuade people, particularly external speakers, to commit themselves up to nine months in advance to come along to the club to speak and this often leads to last minute changes and amendments to the programme. The result of this is that sometimes members come along specifically because of the planned and advertised topic and are naturally disappointed if there are last minute alterations. We cannot promise to completely overcome this problem since often the bad news is only apparent on the actual night, but where there is more warning, we hope to have a solution in place very shortly. We are in the final stages of getting our own home page published and up and running on the Internet. This will include full information about the club for both existing and prospective members, but will also have the facility to publish late breaking news such as changes to the previously advertised programme, which we hope will be useful to members.
I am well aware that currently not everyone has access to the Internet, but the numbers are certainly growing fast and as new methods of access emerge, numbers will grow even more quickly. It is already significant the number of members that have Email addresses which has led us to include an extra line on our membership renewal forms this year which our new treasurer Calum Macfayden will be asking you to complete.
The prime motivation in establishing a web page however is to open up a new means of advertising and promoting the club and its activities to potential members. None of us are getting any younger and we need to ensure that we do everything possible to encourage new members to come and join us.
Looking forward to the end of this season, this will mark my completion of three years as chairman, and although I have thoroughly enjoyed my period of office it will be time for a change. Although the advertisement in the Wanted section may be regarded as somewhat facetious it does highlight the real need for someone to volunteer, or have their arm twisted, to move up into the vice-chairman slot. Come on, surprise me someone, I can promise you that you will not regret it, and will enjoy the involvement in helping to move our club forward into this new century.

Back to Top