Leo has communication problems!

From John: I’m including this message from Leo in case anybody urgently needs to get in touch with him. Leo does a magnificent job for the Awards for Photographic Merit and I feel for him struggling with a laptop in a cafe trying to keep us all informed about what is going on.

“Dear All,

I regret to inform you that my telephone and internet connection failed on the 31st October and, I have just been informed, that they will not be reconnected before 16th NOVEMBER at the earliest!!!! I am trying to establish links where possible and will try and deal with the backlog of emails. This could not happen at a more inconvenient time – and is the second such occurrence in two months. I may be notifiying you of a new email and ISP address very shortly.

Awards in November – Belfast. I am aware of mail from some entrants and will try and respond asap

April 2013 Adjudication Applications have been coming in at 5-6 per day and the we are more than full. I have not been able to maintain my 24 hour acknowledgement service but will endeavour to do so shortly. I will be opening the List for November 2013 as soon as possible bearing in mind all my PAGB Awards files are on my main computer and I am having to transfer them to a laptop and rely on friends/family who have wifi to invade their homes for a few hours – there is only so much time you can linger over a cup of coffee in Costa!

If you need to contact me urgently my mobile number is 07553 075150.

Despite all, I am still smiling (but as the days go by) through gritted teeth.

Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Leo!”

News from Leo about AV, 23 October

We have now entered phase two of the review of the PAGB Awards for Photographic Merit (AV) building on the work of the Standards Committee in defining what would be an acceptable “production” This entails the Awards Committee completing an in depth look at our procedures etc and it is hoped to present our provisional thoughts for consideration to the PAGB Executive in February.

It is very unlikely that we will be in a position to run an Adjudication in Audio Visual in 2013. However I would like to hear from anyone who is interested in applying when our plans have been finalised. There was a great demand/interest when the Standards Committee were carrying out their consultation but this did not translate into Applications for the 2012 event. We have no way of knowing what the demand will be and registering an interest with me could be mutually beneficial.

Supplementary note from John: the AV adjudication in Braunstone on the 20th October didn’t have any entrants from the KCPA but is interesting because two joint applications were successful. The Gees, a husband and wife team, from the Norwich & District PS gained Distinctions, whilst the Gibbs, another husband and wife team, from Gwynfa CC were awarded Masters; a very rare honour in AV.

Latest news from Leo, 24 August

April 2013 Adjudication – Birmingham remember changed dates 20^th/21^st April

Applications are being received at a steady flow. For the Distinction day (Saturday) we have 27 spaces available. The Credit/Masters day we have 30 places. I am delighted to say we have already received Four Master Print applications and only need one more for this to run. Master PDI is not so good with only one applicant and I doubt this will take place. Remember that every Master application (20 images) takes up two Credit places.

AWARDS IN AV – Adjudication Braunstone, Leicester 20^th October.

Despite all the furore over AV in the last couple of years the AV fraternity have been very slow in entering this event. We only have eight in total and need ten for the adjudication to run successfully. This is despite a note issued by Rod in a recent e-newsletter. I am told AV workers leave things until the last minute. Well the closing date is 6^th September and, in my book, this is pretty close to last minute. It would be a shame to cancel and then receive applications subsequently.

Now that the “silly season” has passed, many clubs will be gearing themselves up to start again. Let’s hope it’s a good one!

Best wishes

Leo

6 June — more news from Leo

23 May — news from Leo

PAGB Awards November 2012 in Belfast

News from Leo 6 May — about APM at Pontefract

We had a really splendid event at Pontefract both in terms of success and the way the whole weekend ran. YPU did us proud and it is a delight to see so much determination to make the event run smoothly, not just the two days but the months before.

Thanks YPU.

Update from Leo 3 April

Belfast November 2012

I have been trying to issue an update for a little while but, each time, circumstances have thwarted me.

I mentioned in my last update the number of applications, particularly at Credit level, has been quite staggering and I had reached the point where the Credit day was full and still they were coming in.   The same cannot be said at Distinction level where applications have been as slow as I can remember.

The Awards Committee have reviewed the situation and, in order to satisfy as many as possible, have agreed that Saturday 24^th November will solely be devoted to Credit Print applications.    On Sunday 25^th we will hold the Credit PDI adjudication and Distinctions Prints and PDI (not necessarily in that order!)   There are no Master Section applications and it is too late to consider them for this Adjudication.

NB   This is a complete change to our normal timetable and all applicants will be notified when I send out confirmation of their having a place which should be around Easter.

By adopting this change (for this Adjudication only) it does mean I now have another 18 Credit Print (only) places available on Saturday.    At Credit PDI level I can absorb another 10 applications.    At Distinction level there are six places available which will be allocated to Prints or PDI as they come in on a “first come…” basis.

Hopefully I will be able to produce up to date details for the PAGB Executive meeting on the 14/15^th April and your Exec member will advise their Federation AO accordingly.

New Leaflets

Rod, our Chairman, has cast his “editorial eye(s)” over our present leaflets and completely updated them.

Any intending applicant can be pointed in the direction of the PAGB Website where they can download their own or copies can be posted out but, if doing the latter, please be aware this may incur a large letter charge if you also enclose an Application form, Fed requirements etc.  My Fed asks for an SAE if an applicant wants details and I must remember to update our Website to insist on a Large Letter stamp – KCPA applicants, please note carefully, John may stop posting the leaflets with the Application Form if the charge is too great. If he does. he will include the PAGB web-site address in his covering letter.

Awards in AV

I can confirm, as of today, we have received six applications which leaves only four remaining.  This Adjudication is also likely to be filled by the end of this month.

Best wishes for Easter

Leo

Updated news about AV from Leo 23 Feb

News about AV from Leo 8 Feb

News from Leo 18 Jan

Awards – January Update

Please accept my apologies for the delay in the issue of this update. Just when I thought I had things sorted something else came along which I wished to include.

November 2011 Adjudication – Llanberis

All Entrants have received their results and the inevitable queries from some of those who were not successful have been answered. I can confirm that Certificates for all those who passed were despatched to Federation Secretaries (or those nominated to receive on their behalf) on the 2^nd January -yes my Post Office was open on the Bank Holiday- so any going astray and needing replacement will attract the “duplicate charge”

April 2012 Adjudication – Pontefract

I eventually closed the books on this event in mid December and Entry Packs were sent out, by email, over the 14/15^th January. A number have already acknowledged receipt and we have only had one person, so far, who has been unable to correctly print off the details. I have sent him another pack and, if these do not print, will post him copies. It is too early to say how successful this mailing has been but most seem to find everything worked satisfactorily.

November 2012 – Northern Ireland

I had to open the list for this event immediately after closing Pontefract as applications were arriving.

I thought that support for this event might be a little slow as normally around 50%+ of entrants like to attend and the extra cost of a trip to Northern Ireland might put them off. How wrong can I be – at least for the Credit level? I have already processed 34 applications which means Credit day is already 45% full!

I do not anticipate we will run a Master Section at this event in view of the large entry at this level at Pontefract.

The Distinction day, just like Pontefract, is painfully slow in filling with only three entries to date.

I will keep you posted on how things develop.

News from Leo 8 Dec

Adjudication 26/27^th November 2011 – Llanberis

Please accept my apologies for the slight delay in the issue of the results of the latest Adjudication. Many of you will have picked up the information from the latest E-news letter from Rod anyway but this is to ensure that all the addressees have this information, if they do not subscribe (shame on you!) I have included Federation Secretaries in this as they will need to retain the list for reference..

I can confirm, despite a delayed return from North Wales, all entrants were personally advised of their results by email before the close of play on Friday 2^nd December and all badges have been dispatched to those who were not in attendance.

I will be preparing the Certificates in the next week or so, which will require signature by the President and will then be released to the Federation Secretaries (or other nominated recipient). You may need the list to identify which club etc. May I remind Fed. Secs. it is in your interest to keep a note of what happens to the Certificates, especially if you are not going to present them at a Federation event as any duplicates will attract a charge of £9.00. If you have a note of it being sent to the Club and they have lost it you may be able to recoup this from them!

This was the first Adjudication where the Entry Information packs and results have all (well nearly all) have been issued by email. I will be preparing a report for the PAGB Executive meeting in February outlining the way the new system coped.

April 2012 Adjudication Pontefract

At the time of writing I still have a few spaces available at Distinction level. From the number of enquiries recently I anticipated we would have closed by now but some have not materialised. As mentioned before this is an Adjudication not to miss with some “class acts” having a crack at achieving the heady heights of MPAGB.

November 2012 Adjudication Northern Ireland

Once I have cleared the Certificates etc I will be opening the books for this event and already have a number of Credit applications pending.

Workshops

Both at Llanberis, and since my return, I have received a number of enquiries about workshops for intending applicants. Some Federations are very pro-active in this respect and ensure that they plan a workshop a couple of years before they are due to host. In the interim it might pay Federations to advise clubs that the Awards Team will be making available a CD of successful images in the near future so that prospective candidates can see the standard of the “passing range” at both Credit and Distinction level.

Keep your eyes open for a bulletin advising when this CD will be available from the Recorded Lecture Service.

Have a relaxing Christmas and action packed 2012.

Leo

News from Rod Whelan DEC 2011