OUR BEGINNING

During my activities in the Photographic Federation of Long Island (PFLI), I realized how few people of color participated in their photography events. I was aware that in northern Queens there are two camera clubs (Flushing Camera Club (FCC), Fresh Meadows Camera Club (FMCC)) and each with a few people of color. I was also aware that residents of Southeast Queens have: hobbies, surplus funds, cameras and take vacations! How do I get more people of color into photography?

I contacted Ron Caldwell, Hughe Williams (FCC) and Jim Grant (Freeport Camera Club) and I discussed the possible creation of a camera club in Southeast Queens. All agreed! We planned our strategy, advertised our meeting, and placed an article in the Queens Chronicle for our Open House on January 31, 2005 at Roy Wilkins Park. As we waited for the attendees, Jim asked: where are the people? I responded with a line from the “Field of Dreams…If you build it, they will come!” To our amazement and joy, forty residents arrived! We discussed the role and value of a camera club in Southeast Queens and the vote was unanimous to organize the Southeast Queens Camera Club (SEQCC)!

The next SEQCC meeting was held on February 8, 2005 and the Officers and Chairs were elected:

President: Hughe Williams
Vice President: Verdell Lawton
Treasurer: Judson Dinkins

Secretary/Newsletter Editor: Sylvia “Cookie” Hodge
PFLI Delegate/Membership Chair: Audley Smith

Webmaster: Ron Caldwell
Publicity Chair: George Spence
Hospitality Chair: Nat Howard
Advisors: Ron Caldwell, Dorothy Gist, Jim Grant

We used the FCC and Freeport Camera Club as we shaped the SEQCC organization and worked long and endlessly for our successful creation. Some of our initial accomplishments were:

• Tuesday meetings: Board 1 st ; General 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th and occasional 5 th from September to June.
• Provided free 6 week intensive photography course during the summer for the community.
• Applied/obtained tax exempt status for the 501-c3 status
• Developed the By-Laws
• Established dues at $30.00 for adults, $20.00 for students; created a bank account.
• Developed the Website
• Advertised widely in the community – all channels – to recruit new members; strong/consistent membership: at times 70-80 members
• Scheduled annual Dinner and Picnic; occasional Auction
• Immediately started field trips, including a Florida trip with 16 participants in 2007
• John Ruffins created the SEQCC new Logo – 2005
• February 2005 created the “Keeping in Touch” 2-page Newsletter. Sylvia “Cookie” Hodge assumed the newsletter and provided an improved version in November 2005 as “Our New Look.”
• Ron Caldwell suggested our slogan: “Bringing the Photographic Arts to Our Community.”