Bylaws

La Crosse Area Camera Club By-Laws
Revised October 2005

1. GENERAL INFORMATION
1.1. This organization shall be called the La Crosse Area Camera Club, a non-profit group dedicated to sharing photographic interests and promoting photography in the community.
1.2. Membership
1.2.1. Eligibility. Membership is open to any resident of La Crosse and area who has an interest in photography. There are no membership restrictions.
1.2.2. Participation. Any person who has joined the club is free to participate in all club activities, except while in arrears of dues when he/she may neither vote nor enter or judge competitions.
1.2.3. Member. The term, member, as used in these bylaws shall mean, one who is not delinquent in payment of dues. Any exceptions shall require the approval of the Executive Board.
1.2.4. Classes.
1.2.4.1. There shall be two classes of members based on photographic skill as defined below. The purpose of these classes is to provide some degree of equivalence among members when engaged in competition.
1.2.4.1.1. The "A" Class is composed of the more experienced advanced photographers.
1.2.4.1.2. The "B" Class is composed of beginning photographers or those generally less skilled than "A" class members.
1.2.4.2. A person, when first joining the Club, has the prerogative of joining either the "A" or "B" class.
1.2.4.3. Status-Changes
1.2.4.3.1. Any "B" member winning a first place in an end-of-year-competition in any division automatically will be placed in the "A" class.
1.2.4.3.2. A member may be placed in the "A" class by decision of the Executive Board based on demonstrated excellence in his/her photographic work.
1.2.4.3.3. Any member desiring to change his class status, either from "B" to "A", or from "A" to "B", shall make an appeal to the Executive Board requesting a change. The Executive Board is authorized to grant such a request based on the quality of the member's photographic work.
1.3. Representation Any activity in which the Club is represented, or the name of the Club is used, such as (but not limited to) photographic contests, publicity or conventions, shall be under the complete directorship of the President with the approval of the Executive Board. The Chairperson of any such activity shall be appointed by the President, as approved by the Executive Board.
1.4. Competitions.
1.4.1. Subject to revision by the Executive Board, each year there will be held at least:
1) Eight general interest (open) projected competitions.
2) Five general interest nature projected competitions.
3) Three general interest people & human interest projected competitions.
4) Four general interest (open) black & white print competitions.
5) Four general interest (open) color print competitions.
In addition, there will be an annual end-of-year competition in each division (note 2.2.2) for both class "A" and "B" members. Entries for this competition will be taken from those selected in accordance with 6.2 from the competitions listed in (1 through 5) above.
1.4.2. If there are only entries from one member (one or two slides or prints, in that class), those entries will be judged. Any award given, will be at the judges discretion. If less than four entries are entered in a given class, by two or more participants, those entries will be judged and places awarded at the discretion of the judges. If there are five or more entries, then awards will be determined per 6.2.4.
1.4.3. All entries submitted to Club competitions must have been photographed by the member.
1.4.4. All entries, which have been awarded at least Acceptance in a Club competition, are not eligible to be re-entered in future Club competition without substantial modification.
1.4.5. All entries should be picked up immediately after the competition. Any entries not picked up will be retained by the Judging Chairperson at the maker's risk. It is the maker's responsibility to resubmit to the Judging Chairperson all accepted entries for the year end competition.
1.4.6. A cumulative point merit system is also available if club members choose to participate (see addendum).
1.5. A Camera Club "year" is defined as beginning with the day after the annual Club banquet and ending with the annual Club banquet the following year.
1.6. The Groundglass is the official publication of the Club.
2. PROJECTED IMAGE DIVISION INFORMATION
2.1. Open Competitions.
2.1.1. An open competition is one in which there are no restrictions in subject matter.
2.1.2. Slides entered in competition must be regular 35mm mounts (2X2 size). The slide itself may be a 35mm, superslide, or smaller size, so long as it fits the regular mount.
2.1.3. A member may enter not more than two slides or digital images in the "projected" competition.
2.1.4. Slides shall be turned in to the Judging Chair prior to the start of judging.
2.1.5. Slides must be legibly marked with at least the following information:
1 ) A thumb spot in the shape of a donut in the lower left corner when in the desired viewing position
2) A title.
3) Name and address of entrant.
4) The words "La Crosse Area Camera Club" or letters "LACC".
5) The competition designation ("A" or "B", "The Category, Open, Nature, People & Human Interest ").
2.1.6. For digital images submitted via email, the message text should include:
1). Title (filename).
2). Name and address of entrant.
3). The competition designation (Class "A" or "B", "The Category, Open, Nature, People & Human Interest ").
For images submitted on a removable storage media, that media shall be labeled with:
1). Name and address of entrant.
2). The words "La Crosse Area Camera Club" or letters "LACC".
3). Included should be a text file defining the competition designation (Class "A" or "B", The Category , Open, Nature, People & Human Interest), along with image title(s) (filenames).
2.1.7. Projected images entered in open competitions may have been taken at any time during the past.
3. NATURE PROJECTED IMAGE DIVISION INFORMATION
3.1.1. The rules for images in Open competitions also apply to the Nature Competitions except as noted in 3.1.2.
3.1.2. Nature constitutes subjects based on the absence of the hand of man. This also means there shall be no cultivated plants, domestic animals, tame birds, contrails, or museum scenes allowed as entries in this division.
4. BLACK AND WHITE (B&W) PRINT DIVISION INFORMATION
4.1. All Black & White competitions will be open.
4.2. All entries must be mounted. Either 8X10, 11X14 or 16X20 are acceptable.
4.2.1. When using 8X10 (12) mounts, the print must be 5X7 or larger, up to 8X10 (12).
4.2.2. When using 11X14 mounts, the prints must be 8X10 or larger up to 11X14.
4.2.3. When using 16X20 mount, the print must be 8X10 or larger, up to 16X20.
4.3. A member may enter not more than two prints in each competition.
4.3.1. These prints will be divided into class "A" and "B" as defined as in 1.2.4.1.1 & 1.2.4.1.2.
4.4. Print Identification.
4.4.1. Prints must be titled, on the reverse side.
4.4.2. Prints must be marked on the reverse side, upper left-hand corner, with the following information:
1) Makers Name and address.
2) Title
3) Class designation ("A" or "B") .
4.4.3. The name or logo of the entrant must not appear on the front of the print, unless covered to conceal it.
5. COLOR PRINT DIVISION INFORMATION
5.1. Color print competitions will be open.
5.2. A color print must have come from a negative, transparency or a digital image originally shot by the member, but may have been commercially or personally printed.
5.3. All entries must be mounted. Rules for mounting B& W prints also apply to color prints.
5.4. A member may enter not more than two prints per competition.
5.5. The rules on B&W print identification in 4.4.1 through 4.4.3 also apply to color prints.
6. JUDGING
6.1. General Information.
6.1.1. A judge must be a member, except for outside judges invited with the approval of the members.
6.1.2. Physical conditions should be as conducive as possible to judging, i.e. quality projector and screen, controlled lighting, temperature, sound, etc. In slide competitions, judges should be seated as close as possible to the axis drawn from the projector to the screen.
6.1.3. Class "A" entries shall be presented and judged as a group separate from the class "B" entries.
6.1.4. Typical sequence of monthly judging is as follows:
1) Judges briefly view all entries in the competition by class.
2) Judges view the entries and evaluate them.
3) Results are computed and given to the Judging Chairperson.
4) The entries are critiqued one at a time.
6.1.5. The names of the makers, titles and scores shall not be revealed until the judging is finished.
6.1.6. During the judging, no one shall make statements about any entry that will influence the judges.
6.1.7. All challenges (see 6.2.5) shall be made only after the judging is completed.
6.2. Point System of Judging.
6.2.1. There shall be three judges: two from "A" class and one from "B" class.
6.2.2. A maximum of 15 points is to be awarded for each entry by each judge on a scale of 2 to 5 points for each category defined in 6.3, except in the People and Human Interest category, where a score of 2 to 4 points is awarded for technique and composition and 2 to 7 points for interest. Each category shall be given equal weight except as noted in 6.2.3.
6.2.3. Weighted Judging.
6.2.3.1. Judging of "A" class entries shall be done equal weight to each of the 3 categories specified in 6..3
6.2.3.2. Judging of "B" class entries should place emphasis on composition and interest, and less on technique.
6.2.4. Recognition shall be given in each competition for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. If there are more than 25 entries in a single competition, the judges shall award 3 Honorable Mention and Acceptance awards up to the remaining top 25% of the entries. If less than 25 entries, the judges may use their discretion in awarding up to 3 Honorable Mention, and as many Acceptances as they deem deserving.
6.2.5. In case of strong disagreement about an entry that did not receive at least an Acceptance, a simple majority vote, by members present, may be taken which could assign it an acceptance.
6.3. Judging Criteria. Entries shall be objectively evaluated against a standard of achievement of excellence in three categories:
TECHNIQUE: Includes focus, lighting, color rendition, exposure, print quality, and mounting.
COMPOSITION: Arrangement of all elements within the picture area so that the subject matter is presented as a harmonious, well balanced photograph.
INTEREST: Includes originality, imagination, interpretation, subject impact, mood, and humor.
7. OFFICERS, EXECUTIVE BOARD AND ELECTIONS
7.1. President. The function of the President is to preside over all Club activities, to ensure that proper photographic equipment is available for Club competitions, and to coordinate the efforts of the Executive Board.
7.2. Vice President. The function of the Vice President is to perform the duties of the President in his/her absence, and to assist the President in administrative decisions. (Note: The Vice President normally runs unopposed for the position of President the following year.)
7.3. Treasurer. The function of the Treasurer is to collect membership dues and maintain financial records including a Club checking account. The Treasurer shall submit to the President a financial statement following completion of his/her annual term of office or within 30 days of leaving office.
7.4. Secretary. The function of the Secretary is to maintain Club minutes and membership list, handle correspondence, Club notices, edit the Groundglass, and record results of Club competitions.
7.5. Directors. There shall be two directors, one who is the most recent past-president and the other who is elected by members, who's function is to assist the President and other officers in Club policy-making and organization.
7.6. Judging Chairperson. The Judging Chairperson will collect and organize entries for the monthly competitions and arrange outside judges for the end-of-year competition. At no time is the Judging Chair or his/her associates liable in any way for any entry due to loss or damage.
7.7. Executive Board. The officers listed in 7.1 through 7.5, who must be members, constitute the Executive Board whose function is to provide direction and continuity to Club activities. The Board shall serve as nominating Committee for election of officers.
7.8. Election of Officers.
7.8.1. The Nominating Committee will present a proposed slate of officers to the members prior to the elections. Nominations will be accepted from the floor.
7.8.2. Nominees shall be elected by secret ballot at a regularly scheduled meeting prior to the Annual Banquet with a simple majority of the members voting as the basis for election.
7.8.3. Elected officers assume their duties following the banquet.
7.8.4. A person may succeed him/herself in office.
8. DUES
8.1. Dues are used for ordering programs, paying postage, publishing the Groundglass, purchasing awards, and further financing Club activities.
8.2. The Executive Board will establish dues.
9. REVISIONS AND CHANGES
9.1. Bylaws.
9.1.1. Any member may propose a change to the By1aws by submitting that change to the Executive Board.
9.1.2. A bylaw change becomes effective when passed by a simple majority vote of the members present at a regularly scheduled meeting.
9.1.3. Notice of a proposed bylaw change must have been published in the Groundglass prior to voting on the change.
9.2. Executive Board Actions. Any action of the Executive Board may be annulled or changed without prior notice by a simple majority vote of the membership present at a regularly scheduled meeting.