May PUG Update

I will now be disseminating info in three ways - so I am sure to get everyone's attention. I will be sending out this email following each month's PUG as well as posting the update on our blog: dcpug.blogspot.com, and on our new facebook group page. As soon as dates are announced for upcoming meetings, I will notify everyone, but we've got an exciting summer planned our June meeting featuring Jim Collins, new CEO of Pictage, a summer outing in July, and a visit from Joe Buissink in August.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the May PUG to hear about some of the new product updates from Pictage and the great direction that the company is heading under direction of the new CEO Jim Collins. We also got a chance to hear from our friends at Critical Exposure that some of our photographers have already been volunteering with. From this month's meeting we have decided that Critical Exposure will be our official philanthropic partner.

This means a few things: First, we will be starting our own fundrasing drive to help with the wonderful work that this group does (make a donation here: http://www.criticalexposure.org/support.php).

Second, we will be starting a used digital SLR drive (thank you Nicole Wolf for this great idea) so that the students, who are currently using digital point and shoots, can improve their technique and can better capture images and tell their stories.

Third, we will make announcements about upcoming opportunities for our PUG members to serve as mentors to the young students, training them on the digital SLRs and helping them learn more about photography.

Fourth, this will also provide opportunities for promising students to tag along as assistants to learn more about possible careers in photography.

Here are some links to view some of the work that Critical Exposure has been doing:
From Books to Bottles (focusing on teen pregnancy in Alexandria):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQJJAp8wo2s

Eyes on Education (our Pennsylvania project):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcRWnQZDP8g

In addition, you can search for Critical Exposure on Facebook or go to: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Critical-Exposure/79944774450?ref=mf to see what is going on currently.

Hope to see all of you in June - date to be announced shortly.

Best,
Geoff