Events

Regular meetings are on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays September through May, except the 4th Tuesday in December due to the holidays. We do not have the monthly meetings over the summer because many of our members are traveling, but we often have field trips and other special events during that time. Most regular meetings are held at the Black River Beach Neighborhood Center (1433 Rose St. La Crosse) but are occasionally held at a different location so be sure to check the schedule before attending.

• Fundamentals
  
  Each meeting starts off with Fundamentals, which is usually 30 minutes of instruction on a beginner photography topic. Those interested in trying out the instruction should bring their cameras and manuals.
• Business meeting
  
  About 7pm we have the business meeting where we the Leadership Team reports and club business is discussed. If the main program is a speaker from outside the club, we mat defer the business meeting until after the speaker is finished.
• Main program
  
  Following the business meeting is the main program.
  • The first meeting each month, the program is the results of the monthly competition. We see each of the images, are told their score and place, and the judges share their comments.
  • The second meeting each month is an educational program, speaker, or workshop. You will need to bring your gear for workshops, so be sure to check the schedule.
• Cookies and Conversation
  
  After the program, we have informal social time where you can talk to other members and ask questions while munching on a snack.

Each month during the regular club season we have a workshop outside of regular meeting times. The date is chosen by the presenter so will vary from month to month. Workshops are sometimes educational with the presenter teaching a skill or technique and sometimes a more general photo outing.

Past workshops have included:

• Jerry B's Wizard Workshop
• Sue's Photoshop Elements class
• Austin's 3 part HDR and Panorama workshop

Workshops are a great way to learn and practice new techniques or brush up on ones you already know.

At various times throughout the year we have field trips to places offering a photographic opportunity. Many of these field trips are to places not open to the public or public places where we are granted special access.

Past field trips have included a private bluff in Minnesota with aged buildings and a gorgeous view of the Mississippi, the Shrine with its lights turned on for us (a rare event), ice caves at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, and many more.

Most field trips are free and require only a current club membership.

Our club volunteers for the La Crosse Park and Rec department and charitable organizations throughout the year. We are given badges that provide full access to photograph all parts of the event. In return, we give copies of our photos to the organization to be given out to the participants as well as used in marketing future events.

Regular events include:

• RecFest (January)
• Special Olympics Polar Plunge (March)
• Grandad Bluff Festival Foods Half Marathon (May)

Socializing with other photography enthusiasts is a big part of the club. Along with the "Cookies and Conversation" after the meetings, we have several social events throughout the year:

• Summer Picnic (First meeting of the year)
• Pizza Party (usually February)
• End of Year Banquet (early June)
• Lunch/Dinner Meetups (Thursdays on non club weeks all year)