New President, New Year

For Flagpole Photographers

Rui Desousa became the new president of Flagpole Photographers, and Anne Eigen’s photo “Roseate Spoonbill” was the winner in the annual Nature Category when the club held its first meeting of the 2008-09 season on September 19.

Other members assuming responsibilities for the coming year were Anne Eigen and Sarah Frampton as newsletter editors; Ed Siciliano, treasurer; Don Brooks, vice president; Jim Talarino, programs and judges chairman; and Tom Coryat will manage the club’s website. In the future, the internal newsletter will be posted on the club’s website (Flag-polePhotographers.com) rather than mailed.

Mrs Eigen took the picture at a bird sanctuary in Florida this past winter. Second place went to Jim Talarino for “Yellow Jacket” and third to Rita Buonanno for “Rhino.” In the Open Category, winners were Don Brooks, Rita Buonanno and Bob Berthier. Anne Eigen also took first place in the Digital Enhanced category, Micheline Williams was second, and 11-year-old Darry Silverlieb, third.

Several new activities will highlight the club’s ensuing year. The photographers agreed to take pictures of children and Santa Claus on December 7 as a fundraiser for Newtown Youth Services. In another project, an Instamatic camera is floating among 25 members of the club who will each take one shot. The results will be the featured program for November. In addition, the November meeting and competition will focus on photos taken at The Pleasance this past summer.

The club is considering purchasing a digital photo frame that can be displayed in local businesses and institutions with a slide program featuring  pictures of Newtown, landscapes, wildlife and subject matter. The Flagpole group hopes to roll this program out in the spring or summer of 2009. The club will also enter its best work in the New England Camera Club Council competitions.

The “Best of Summer” (defined as the best photo the member took this past summer)  will be the club’s competition category at the October 16 meeting. Three out-of-town judges will choose the winners.

Anyone interested in photography regardless of skill level is eligible to join the club. Except at the September meeting, a program of interest or education is usually part of the club’s activities. The club, along with Candlewood Club in Danbury, purchased a new digital projector for use by program presenters this year.

Additional information is available at the club’s website, FlagpolePhotographers.com, or from Mr Desousa, at 364-1441.