2007 PPA
Council Report
Annual Meeting of
Council
Report to Missouri PPA by
Janet Bonsall – Councilor
January 15, 2007
San Antonio Texas
Hilton
Hotel, Mezzanine
6:30
Registration
7:00 am
Ann Monteith, Chairman, called the meeting to order
Invocation – Timothy Walden
Pledge of Allegiance - Warren Motts
Monteith introduced the President and the Board members
209 Councilors (197 + 12 proxy) were present = Quorum
Raymond Linesch read the Adoption of Rules
Adoption of the Agenda -Monteith
Ann Monteith read a resolution proposed by Susan Michal: Susan was
making a presentation in the convention concerning the digital
revolution.
Michael Taylor, President reported on his
“numbers”: He had traveled 183,622 miles, PPA has 17,400 members
world wide.
He has 30,000 days to live.
Dennis Craft, Treasurer, reported that PPA’s
operating expenses exceed 1 million, there has been a 48% growth in 5
years. The magazine has a 20% growth up by $384,000. Growth is due
to the Austin convention, Educational Workshops, and Management
Services. We have equity of $7 million.
Jack Resnicki, incoming President had a few
remarks.
David Trust, CEO: The best time to plant an oak
tree is 100 years ago. The second best time is today.
In 2003 we had 12,500 members.
In 2007 we have 17,5000 members
Value must equal or surpass cost
A discount = lack of perceived cost.
There was a question from the floor about so many
board members presenting at National. It seemed to be dismissed.
The Elections Committee presented their slate of
officers:
Carol Andrews – TX
David Dickson – TX
Susan Michal – FL
Sandy Puc – CO
Timothy Waldon – KY
Nominations from the floor were:
Suzanne Pepis
J. Michael Mc Bride
The original slate was elected.
The nominating committee will take on rotating
one and two year terms:
One Year: Kent Englebert NC and Robert McCarty,
IN
Two Year: Craig Schmidt ND and Deborah Scott
TX
Earned Degrees were voted on – pass
New Business
The following MOTIONS were brought to a vote
A: A Director’s term is a maximum of 3-2 year terms ( 6 years in a
lifetime) PASS
D: That the requirement of for Certification be removed as a
prerequisite for the Master’s Degree. PASS
E. Staggering the terms of the nominating committee – PASS
G.
Expediting the awarding of an honorary Masters and Craftsman degrees
in time sensitive situations – PASS
Council was dismissed at 10:15
2005 PPA
Council Report
Subject: Council report
Hi Group:
It was a great convention. See you in KC for HOA.
PPA Council Report by Janet Bonsall
Imaging USA Monday January 17, 2005
Missouri PPA was represented by Martha Dameron and Janet Bonsall
Chairman Best called the meeting to order at 7:00 AM. An invocation
and the Pledge of Allegiance followed with a round of applause for our
international guests. A Board election took place and the slate was
elected although one
nomination was made from the floor.
Membership in PPA has increased 30% since 2000.
The even Department has a profit of $200,000. Some of this is due to
staff reductions.
Professional Photographer Magazine revenues are up $128,000.
Print Competition broke even with print cases * this is good.
Cash and investments are at 6.3 million which is 8.2 % higher than in
2003 with equity of 4 million dollars.
The staff owes this success to the motto of "Question Everything" * to
respond to today's challenges. PPA takes reasonable chances for
creative growth.
Financial strength is a goal. Our greatest threat is our success
(becoming comfortable).
It was stated that PPA has underrepresented the commercial
photographer.
Through an umbrella group called the AVA: Alliance of Visual Artists,
commercial groups will be considered more in the future. They will
be grouped under the name of Commercial Photographers International.
At this point Martha and I began to wonder what this AVA really was.
As it turns out, the other councilors were wondering too.
Two years ago at Council meeting, the governing board of PPA described
AVA but did not give it a name, so there was some confusion. AVA will
be the governing body of many organizational "under the umbrella". It
is hoped that ASMP, advertising and editorial groups will come under
the umbrella to be served by AVA. The coverage of this AVA umbrella
was not made "perfectly clear".
Seven Motions were made to Council. Motions A, B, D and G were passed
with no debate.
They were, in brief, Motion A: giving merits for work done July *
January.
Motion B Concerned councilors: date change due to January meeting
instead of July.
Motion D Wording changes in the By-laws to accommodate ACTION TEAMS
instead of Specialty Interest Groups.
Motion G. Name change: Continuing Education Committee to the Education
Committee
Motions that were discussed were:
Motion C passed with some discussion. Concerned By Laws wording to
adhere to Action Teams rather than Specialty Interest Groups.
Motion E failed * concerned absenteeism of Councilors. It was decided
that this was a State's issue not a national issue.
Motion F failed (again) the motion asked for Certification NOT to be
mandated for the Master's degree.
Council voted in all Degree recipients
An announcement was made that the Gallery award from Kodak could be
awarded to all products not just Kodak.
Councilors from Arizona (Phoenix) and Hawaii invited PPA to hold
Imaging USA in their states.
The next two Imaging USAs will be in Texas: 2006 in Austin and 2007 in
San Antonio.
Submitted January 27, 2005 by Janet Bonsall
=================================
2-1-05
The Council Meeting of the Professional
Photographers of America was called to order at 7am on Monday, January
17, 2005, in New Orleans, LA. Helene Glassman provided the
Invocation, and Warren Motts led the Pledge of Allegiance. Chairman
Best introduced the platform and made announcements including the
personnel for the Credentials and Balloting Committees. A preliminary
Credentials Report was given by Christopher Gill.
Sergeant At Arms, Ray Linesch, read the Rules of
Order and they were adopted. Chairman Best presented the Agenda and
the Consent Calendar for adoption. A slate of names was presented to
be voted upon to fill the board of directors. The following people
were nominated by the credentials committee: Gary Meek, Ron Nichols,
Sandy Puc`, Don Dickson, and Christopher Gill. Tom Lazaroff was
nominated from the floor. The vote was taken, and Meek, Nichols, Puc`,
Dickson, and Gill were elected.
Motions to Council:
Adopted Procedures:
A. The extended term of office from Sept. 2004 through Feb. 2005 be
treated as an additional year of service and that those volunteers
who served during that time receive additional merits accordingly.
CARRIES
B.
Each state affiliate and local affiliated chapter may nominate
Councilors from the PPA membership within that state to which the
state may be entitled as of April 1 of the election year.
Justification: To allow new councilors to be in office for six months
before Council meeting. CARRIES
C.
Name changes from Specialty Interest Groups to Actions Teams. Amended
and CARRIES
D.
Name Changes from SID to Actions Teams:CARRIES
E. By
law change: ‘If an elected councilor misses two consecutive annual
Council Meetings, a vacancy for that position will be declared. That
Council member shall not be eligible for the next Council general
election.” PROXIES ARE NOT CONSIDERED AS ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION.
FAILED: This issue should be handled by the state—not the PPA
national.
F.
Board of Directors, PEC, and Bylaws, Rules and Ethics Committee move
that the Certification requirement linked to the Master Degree program
be eliminated. THERE WAS MUCH DISCUSSION FROM THE FLOOR, AND
CONTINUES TO BE A GREAT DEAL OF DISCUSSION ON LINE ABOUT THIS. IT HAS
BEEN PROPOSED MANY TIMES, BUT THE COUNCIL FELT THAT HAVING THIS
REQUIREMENT ADDS TO THE PRESTIGE OF THE MASTERS DEGREE. FAILED
G.
Name change to the PPA Continuing Education Committee to Education
Committee. CARRIES
Reports to Council:
Business Initiative Committee:
The PPA BIC shall exist to provide accurate and standardized business
education for PPA members; to assist members with their business
related questions and challenges; and to provide or recommend
resources to help members succeed in their businesses. The
Certificate of Business Management, CBM Business Modules, PPA
Approved Business Courses, and PPA Approved Business Instructor
programs are all doing well and seeing increased interest from PPA
membership. ( On a personal note, I enrolled my daughter, Elise and
myself in the Business Modules and they are terrific programs.)
Photographic Exhibitions
Committee: Creation of the PPA Photographer of the Year Awards.
At this years IUSA in New Orleans 167 individuals received the
Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze Level. This multi-level
award recognizes our members who do well at our International Print
Competition. Entry forms have been reduced to 3 pages which may be
downloaded from PPA website.
President Lloyd: 2005 Convention has the
largest pre-registration ever.
The buddy pass, and the all inclusive 3 day
convention registration has been well received. The Women’s Retreat
is doing well. PPA is in a strong financial position. Incoming
president Ann Monteith brings great strength to the board. PPA is
moving forward.
Michael Taylor, Treasurer: 2004 convention is
unaudited until February, 2005. In 1993 PPA was on the verge of
bankruptcy. Council and board made courageous decisions that have
lead to its strength today. The quick business ratios from 1993 and
2004 are very different.
1993: 1:2 (assets to liabilities)
2004: 64:1
Dues are up $182000.00 over 2003; Event Revenues
are up $200000.00 over 2003; PEI magazine was taken out of business;
PPA magazine is up 128000; Gross revenues are up $50000 over 2003.
PEC broke even for the first time ever. Cash and investments are at
6.3 million dollars. PPA equity is at 7.5 million dollars.
Ann Monteith, Pres. Elect: PPA operates on the
following principles:
1.
Question Everything
2.
Take Reasonable Chances
3.
Meet with everyone—receive input for betterment and growth
David Trust, CEO:
1.
PPA is stronger today than at any time in its history
2.
New Members are up
3.
Sponsorship is up
4.
Subscriptions to the PPA magazine are up
5.
Advocacy, Copyright, Indemnification are the most popular ones in the
industry
6.
The greatest threat is our own success. We need to keep up the
pressure to grow and take risks
7.
Keep financial reserves high
8.
Operate on the strategy of the LUGE competition: lie flat and try not
to die!
9. Be
bold, push forward, spend money in ways that lead to best benefits to
members.
Commercial Task force: PPA is perceived as a
Portrait/Wedding organization. We need to attract the Commercial
Photography organizations to our umbrella organization: AVA. The
Association of Visual Artists is the umbrella organization that PPA
started, runs and governs to provide a visible lobbying effort in
Washington DC. By having many groups under this umbrella we can serve
the various needs of each group but have strength in numbers when
approaching Copyright, indemnification and group health insurance.
Council voted in all Degree recipients
Kodak announced that the Gallery award will be
available to images on all products. The Kodak Elite Award will be
reserved to images made on Kodak products
Councilors from Arizona and Hawaii invited PPA
to their states—it was cold, windy and rainy in New Orleans—these
suggestions went over well.
IUSA 2006: Austin, TX
IUSA 2007: San Antonio TX
Report submitted by Martha J. Dameron 2-2-05
2004 PPA
Council Report
July 26, 2004
Las Vegas Nevada
Stephen Best called the
meeting to order at 7:00am at the Las Vegas Hilton.
It is a great time to be a
member of PPA! President
Robert Lloyd of Illinois announced the move of Imaging USA to January
16-18, 2005 in New Orleans. Many
members of PPA have been waiting a long time for this move.
Our summers are full of seniors and weddings—making money!
It was logical to move our national convention to an off-season
business wise—hopefully this will allow more members to attend with
out taking time off from their business. On half of all the trade show
booths are already sold for the January Imaging USA.
The combined specialty conferences will be moved to the July
17-25, 2005, time frame in Las Vegas.
There will be one trade show for all the specialties.
This benefits the vendors as well as those photographers in
attendance.
R. Lloyd also announced that our
investments were up $500,000.00, income was up $500,000.00 for a total
of $1,000,000.00 profits. The
treasurer’s report indicates that we have had the best year ever.
More photographers are taking advantage of PPA Studio
Management Services: Accounting,
Consultation, and help with Tax Preparation.
PPA is known on Capitol Hill for its vigorous defense of
copyright issues. In February of 2004 PPA sent a delegation to Washington, DC
to promote Health Care, Copyright, and to participate in the debate
over creative and artistic rights.
PPA is working to educate the public that once an image is
published, it does not belong in the public domain—the photographer
still owns the rights to the image
PPA is facing many challenges. The strength of this organization is in its members.
At this time, 61% of affiliate members do not belong to the
National PPA. That is a
potential 7744 additional members. The success model of photography is
changing. We are moving
from the traditional storefront studio to ‘photo-moms’ who spend
hours with each client and charge less for the product.
PPA wants to reach out to these people, get them involved,
educate and encourage them so that they will see that they are on the
way to experiencing the same problems that any other under funded
business has. Hallmark school of photography is enrolling all students
into the Student Photographic Society and all graduates as PPA members
in an attempt to show them the benefits of being a member of the
largest professional organization of photographers.
There is a steady growth of members.
In 2003 we had 3,000 new members.
PPA is projecting 4000 new members for 2004; the first 6 months
have produced 2005 new members. There have been 540 members reinstated for the first 6 months
of 2004. There is a
reward plan for Affiliates to encourage new growth in the National
organization. They are
offering ‘buddy’ rates for the January show.
Our mission is broader and that translates into greater cost.
PPA is making constant course adjustments to better serve
members and to keep costs down. The more diverse our members become,
then the vastly different their needs, requirements, and perspectives.
When reaching out to other groups we must have a commodity to
offer them… Certification is one of the commodities.
PPA is looking at trade marking each group. One of the bylaw changes that were adopted at this convention
concerned Certification. The
change involved the name of the test.
We currently have computer-generated tests that is capable of
making an individualized test for each specialty.
If you were going to attempt getting a second or third masters
degree (EI or Art Tech) you would only need to take one test and then
enter competition, speak and receive education merits for the
additional degrees. To
recertify, you must indicate whether you will be recertifying with
education or prints.
PPA is looking at
making governance changes. There
was a task force formed to gather information about committees and
groups. The task force
was to speak with committee chairmen and members to hear their
feelings and get their ideas on the effectiveness of committees as
they exist. The
conclusions were as follows:
1.
The committees are inefficient at best.
2.
There is confusion due to poor communication
3.
Most committee heads felt that it was an honorary and political
appointment and that they were not really needed
4.
The staff of PPA picks the speakers and they do not understand
photography well enough to choose great speakers
5.
It was also felt that the Board of Directors should run it all
This left all Committee members
feeling frustrated, not needed, and created dissention and negativity
toward PPA. The Task
Force recommended the following:
1.
Better educate leaders before taking an office:
a.
Give them a job description
b.
Read group hand book
2.
Abandon group structure in favor of a task force oriented
structure
a.
Need support of the board and members
b.
Councilors play a greater role by bringing needs of the
affiliates to the Board
c.
Send questionnaires to members at the state level
d.
Maintain the program committee
e.
Education Committee should be maintained with information from
i.
Affiliate schools
ii.
Councilors
f.
Educate staff members about photography.
The staff makes decisions about things that they have no
knowledge
g.
Implementation of changes makes a stronger and more relevant
PPA
There was concern raised by the councilors
that there were no committee reports from Art Tech, Seniors, Digital,
Wedding, Portrait, and International Groups.
These committees represent the greatest number of PPA members,
and it is not acceptable for the committee chairpersons to fail to
file a report.
The following Missouri Members received
Degrees from PPA:
Lorie Kuhn: PPA
Certified, KC MO
Stephaine L. Lagow: PPA
Certified, Joplin, MO
Kevin Braun: M.
Photog., Clinton, MO
Karen Hacker: PPA
Certified, M.Photog., Independence, MO
Please, make sure to congratulate these
people when you see them.
Meeting adjourned 9:00am
Respectfully submitted, Martha J. Dameron
