Blue Ridge Region November 2014
Thoughts from the Secretary...
As the wheel of the year turns it brings many changes. The change of seasons cascades us into darkness and a chill settles over the land. We warm our houses with fire (literally or more modern versions!) and we invite folk over to warm our hearts. Change within the VPPA comeas as well as we welcome new officers for the new year. I will be accepting a new role in my corporate job that will require more of me, this will leave the Lt. Gov. position to be filled. Step up into this wonderfule organization and make things happen in 2015, it is a great experience to help with eveything that happens!
this issue From the Governor P.1 From the Lt.Governor P.2 Upcoming Events P.2
From the Governor... Holy Smokes, it’s November already! Where has the year gone? Seems like it was only yesterday that I started my year as your Gov’ner and here it is, time to hand over the Reigns of Power, the Scepter of Authority, and the Golden Mace of Leadership to incoming Governor Jen Chaconas. It’s been an eventful year for me, learning how the VPPA is governed and what it REALLY takes to keep this organization going. Not to mention putting together the Summer Seminar, which to my dismay was skipped by all too many Blue Ridge members! But not to fear, the VPPA annual convention is coming up in February. It’ll be back in Richmond, and I certainly expect Blue Ridge to make a good showing. Attending the Convention, the Summer Seminar, and the monthly programs is how you really wring your money’s worth out of your annual dues. Not to mention how you connect with colleagues around the state and across the country.
It’s also the best way I know of to get solid answers to your most pressing business and creative questions, you know, the ones that you’ve been puzzling over for weeks or months. So please, please, do make it a point to attend some of these many learning experiences, and take you home some of the camaraderie afforded you by your peers. Jen has plans for the annual Holiday dinner in Roanoke next month. I’ll be putting together the slide show and I’d love to show off YOUR work as part of that show. This is your invitation to wow us all with the great work you’ve been doing this year. All I ask is a few jpegs emailed to Michael@expression-photographics.com. Slap a watermark on ‘em so we’ll know whose they are, and come out to dinner with us. Please make them 1024 pixels on the long side. Share a few with us, won’t you? I’d like them no later than December 5th so I’ll have time to put ‘em all together. Don’t make me call you and beg . . .. Michael Corbin
Pet Photography
From the Lt. Governor...
Side Notes...
I bid you farewell as the secretary of this fine publication and wish you all the best. Robert Hedge will be taking over as secretary shortly. Everyone have a fabulous new year! - Michael Sink, CPP
Tis the season... As the holidays are fast approaching, so is the end of a great year with the Blue Ridge VPPA. We have an awesome meeting planned in November with the amazing David Lee Michaels! This meeting will take place on November 10, 2014 from 1-5pm at his studio, more info for David Lee http:// www.davidleemichaels.com. We will be meeting at the Wasena Tap Room for lunch at noon, then walking over for a great program on “Pet Photography”. We are hoping for a live subject so we can get the more “hands-on” approach... This is an avenue I feel we could all benefit from in the new year and David Lee is the right person to get us moving into the right direction for the new year! Please RSVP to me via email at jollyjenphotography@ gmail.com prior to the meeting so we can plan accordingly for lunch and meeting space. As we all know with a new year, we will have a new Blue Ridge VPPA board. I am thrilled to serve as Governor for the 2015 year and I am very much looking for attending VPPA meetings in Richmond to bring back exciting news to all throughout the year. We currently have Robert Hedge in place as our Secretary. Robert will be collecting information for our monthly newsletter and sharing with the district. A big “shout out” to Robert in advance for his expertise in this area. Sharon Davidson has graciously offered to remain as our Treasurer for the 2015 year as well. A sincere THANK
YOU to Sharon! That leaves our Lt. Governor position.... Michael Sink has recently been promoted with his current job and will be unable to serve as the Lt. Governor for the 2015 year. We are actively seeking anyone interested in taking on this role. I thoroughly enjoyed the position, as it allowed me to meet some exceptional talent throughout the VPPA. Please contact me via phone or email, if interested in pursuing this great opportunity!
David Lee Michaels CPP,AFP is an award winning Pet Photographer, David has developed the brand and recognition as the go to studio for pet portraits, with and without their people. This program will show you how David handles pets in his studio. How he preps the owner for the session, things to look out for and some on the spot training for this pets who become anxious or excited. The goal, to have fun and sellable portraits of Pets and their People. And he will do this through a live session. Bring your cameras and notebooks and be ready for fun!
Lastly, I have booked our “End of the Year” Celebration for December! If anyone knows me, I like to be a bit different... therefore we have changed venues this year... New location is The Quarter, which is located downtown Roanoke. You can check it out at http://www. thequarterrestaurant.com. It is excellent New Orleans-styled cuisine at an affordable price.... We have the upstairs room reserved for December 8th @6pm. Please RSVP to me by Wednesday, November 3rd with headcount. Reminder: This is a nice dinner with our spouses/ significant others to share our stories & successes that we have ALL achieved throughout 2014. Please forward images you would like to share the night of this event to Michael Corbin by November 3rd. More details forthcoming from Michael... Hope to see you all at the November meeting! Keep your eyes open for David Lee’s bio... it will be sent via email prior to the meeting...
Upcoming Events November 10 - Pet Photography with David Lee Michaels December 8 - VPPA Holiday Dinner at The Quarter
-Jen Chaconas
David Lee Michaels AFP, CPP Associate Fellow of Photography Certified Professional Photographer DavidLeeMichaels.com 540.342.9129 Executive Board Member of the Virginia Professional Photographers Association Member,Professional Photographers of America PPA Councilor for Virginia, Professional Photographers of America CPP Liason for Virginia Wedding & Portrait Photographers International 2012 Recipient, South Eastern Professional Photographers Association Award for Outstanding service to the profession