Camera Club holds holiday party

By Rex Dolby

It may have been cold outside when the Wassenberg Camera Club met on Thursday evening, Dec. 12, for their annual Christmas dinner and year-end judging of the winning prints and slides, but it was certainly cozy inside the new Wassenberg Art Center at 214 S. Washington St.

Director Hope Wallace and office manager Matthew Temple had decorated tables ready and chairs in place. A long table was available for all the hot dishes, salads, and desserts, and there was even a simulated fire in the simulated 1970s vintage fireplace!

Following the meal President Will Hawkins presented a slide show of the prints and slides that had won in the monthly competitions. Nancy Gribler’s photo of a horse taken at the Van Wert County Fair was selected as the best slide. Joe Schramm’s photo of an owl taken near Holland, Mich., was selected as the best print and the best overall.

Business then turned to the election of officers for the new year. Chris Wilson was elected President, Stuart Jewett is Vice President, Karl Gribler accepted the Treasurer’s position and Rex Dolby was picked to serve as Secretary.

Wilson announced that his goal was to see the club offer more programs and activities to its members and the community. He passed out a questionnaire to be returned to him by mail or e-mail by Jan. 6, so they can be tabulated for the Jan. 9 meeting. The form can be found at “vanwert.com/CameraClub” and you don’t have to be a member to fill it out. Wilson also expressed appreciation for the efforts of Will Hawkins on behalf of the club while he was president.

You can check out the club’s new Facebook page by typing “Wassenberg Art Center Camera Club” in the search space. Winning photos, news of future programs, and items related to photography can be found there.

The club’s next meeting will be Jan. 9, 2014, at 7 p.m. at the Wassenberg Art Center located at 214 S. Washington St., Van Wert. The competition theme that evening is “Happy Holidays 2013”, so you can include any pertinent seasonal holiday images. You may submit three 4×6 prints or three slides for a dollar.

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas!