7 minute read
Vision-21 – An Outstanding Success
By Moira Blincoe LPSNZ
Vision-21 was the end of an era for the Society’s national conventions as we have known them for so many years.
For more than five years, it has been an increasing struggle for Council to get an affiliated club to take up the challenge and responsibility to organise and host a national convention. Consequently, the decision was made by Council two years ago, to change the structure of organising the conventions (regional and national) by bringing them under its own mantle, with a separate committee to undertake the task. The committee, however, reports to the Councillor of Events, now Toya Heatley APSNZ. This becomes effective for the 2022 National Convention,
Off the Beaten Track, in Rotorua.
That being said, now backtrack to 2019 when Christchurch Photographic Society (CPS) accepted the invitation to organise and host the 2020 National Convention. Who could have foreseen the disruption that COVID-19 would bring to us all?
Not withstanding this disruption, CPS dusted off its blueprint, made some adjustments and refinements to the programme, and continued to work extra hard to deliver to us a convention that was an outstanding credit to the organising committee and CPS itself.
The most significant refinement that the committee had to make was working around the unfortunate elimination of the drawcard keynote speaker, Julieanne Kost. After all, while most wouldn’t know it, Julieanne had indicated to us some years ago that she would “love to return to the South Island of our beautiful country, and if there was any opportunity to speak at a convention…..” The rest, as they say, is history… until COVID came along! How fortuitous it was that the national convention was scheduled for the South Island in 2021. Under the guidance of the committee maestro Ian Walls FPSNZ, we had a convention that attracted record numbers in attendance; held in a venue that was an exceptional state of the art design and totally suitable for our needs, and a programme that delivered and met the Society’s mission statement of ‘Helping Photographers Grow’. There was something for everyone.
As we know, national conventions are all about bringing members together to enjoy education, practical photography time, and camaraderie among friends and, after a 12-month hiatus, Vision-21 was truly embraced by all.
From the moment delegates stepped into the college building at the start of each day, the ambience within its walls, in the auditorium or the trade area, produced a positive vibe that continued through to the conclusion on the Sunday. Not only were we in awe of the venue, but the CR Kennedy Honours Banquet at the Transitional (Cardboard) Cathedral was another feather in the organising committee’s cap.
CameraTalk Editor, Mark Chamberlain in discussion with Ian Walls FPSNZ (Chair, Organising Committee)
In discussion with Ian, it was immediately apparent that the Vision-21 Convention involved Herculean efforts from many people, dating back to 2019 from the cancelled Vision 2020 convention to the eventuality of Vision-21.
“It was full-bore - lots of effort.”
For two years, uncertainty was the critical challenge for two organising committees and over fifty volunteers from the Christchurch Photographic Society. For some people, including Ian, it was virtually a full-time job serving on both committees.
The initial planning for Vision 2020 started brightly with sponsorship and funding from Adobe, securing crowd-pulling international speakers.
As we all know, anticipation and excitement quickly turned to disappointment and worry as COVID-19 gripped the world in early 2020. By the end of 2020, New Zealand was one of the safest places globally, and planning and organising recommenced for the modified Vision-21 convention.
Vision-21 eventually proved a success with a modified schedule, including replacing international keynote speakers with New Zealand photographers. However, uncertainty persisted as one New Zealand speaker had to cancel because of COVID-19 disrupting his business. More last-minute changes to the line-up.
Keynote speakers for Vision-21 covered different genres of photography. Still, all speakers presented a consistent theme on developing their personal vision in photography, providing the cohesive central message to the convention.
A broad and diverse range of workshops, courses and photography field trips were on offer to participants. All genres of photography were covered.
“If you didn’t find something of interest, then nothing will interest you.”
Asking Ian how he felt in conclusion – after some quiet reflection, he modestly replied that he thought it was successful. Also, a sense of relief and finally …
“Woah, how did we do it?”
Well done, Ian, and congratulations to all committee members and volunteers.
Catering is often an understated issue at our conventions; however, we’ve heard nothing but positive feedback about the food offered through the four days at the college and at the Honours Banquet. Sure, catering for nearly 250 guests from a mobile kitchen is not the optimum for chefs and kitchen staff, as they did for the banquet, but overall, it was pretty fantastic.
While we couldn’t rub shoulders with Julieanne in person, it was rather exciting and amazing for everyone to have her join us from the United States via Zoom. I think we could have heard a pin drop in the auditorium while she delivered a first-class presentation, sharing her creative tips and techniques in her usual inspiring and professional style.
When the borders re-open, I’m confident Julieanne will return ‘Down Under’ for another PSNZ national convention.
For more than ten years now, when a club has agreed to organise and host a national convention on behalf of PSNZ, most committee members have never produced an event such as this before. It is baptism by fire, as Ian and his committee can attest, or any previous organising committee member as well. The learning curve is monumental; frustrations mount by the month, then by the week; panic and anxiety attacks occur as well. I can assure clubs and members that none of this has been taken lightly by any PSNZ President or Councillor. We have always been indebted and appreciative of the organising clubs’ commitments and enthusiasm to deliver a first-class event.
It is under the guidance of a chairperson such as Ian, and those before him, that the organising committees can work their way through the quagmire of ‘PSNZ essential items’, balanced with their wishes, and come out the other end in one piece.
From a PSNZ perspective or from someone who has had almost daily communication with many chairpersons over the years, it is truly rewarding to see the acceptance of responsibility and growth in the people as they rise to the occasion, meet the expectations and deliver first-class events.
My impression of Vision-21 was of delegates always smiling and feeling energised and happy. I believe there was a ‘higher than usual’ level of excitement, happiness and enthusiasm among the delegates. Whether or not that was because we hadn’t seen our friends or trade partners or got out of our hometowns for over a year, I don’t know. But the energy was palpable, and that sentiment was shared to me by many others as well.
Council has gleaned much from the organising committees over the past five to eight years, all of which has been developed into a blueprint for future conventions that will now be managed through PSNZ, in association with a local club within the chosen geographic location for each convention (regional and national).
On behalf of Council, once again, I extend our gratitude and appreciation to Chairman Ian Walls FPSNZ and his accomplished committee of John Hawkins, Mike White APSNZ, Jo Curtis APSNZ, John Hunt, Nelson Boustead, Diana Andrews LPSNZ and all of the CPS volunteersYou did an outstanding job which at times you probably thought was thankless. Still, I hope that you all take great pride in knowing that you delivered a very memorable and successful event in the history of PSNZ national conventions.
Our thanks also go out to all those who gave their time to present a keynote presentation and/ or lead a workshop, whether it be on or off-site. Within the PSNZ family, we are fortunate to have a rich pool of talented and creative photographers who are not only skilled with the camera but have the ability to be informative and entertaining as they share their wisdom. For those combined talents, we salute you too.
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