The
Photographic Society of Vineland, founded in 1968, is incorporated
as a Nonprofit Organization under the the laws of the State
of New Jersey.
Objective:
"The
objective of the Society shall be the encouragement, mastery
and the promotion of photography through cooperation and
camaraderie of it's members."
History:
We
need a place to compare notes, share experiences, learn what
the latest trends and techniques are, what is new and what
is coming into the fast breaking camera world. A place to
pick each other's brains and generally improve our skills...and
there is nothing like a good old-fashioned "bull session"
to stimulate and get the brain waves moving again!"
So with this idea in mind, Paul Heritage brought together
several other photo enthusiasts and conducted the first meeting
of the Photographic Society of Vineland on February 23,1968.
The meeting was held in the Navy Club building on Mt. Vernon
Street. As the club grew in membership, meeting places changed.
The White Sparrow Restaurant and Rubinoffs Feed Co. were among
the meeting places for the club..
There were field trips every week. Every Friday night, several
of the members would gather around the old pot bellied stove
at T&F Camera Shop and discuss photography and then decide
where to go on Saturday to take pictures. The group was into
"calhouning" and a lot of time was spent photographing
wild flowers in various of South Jersey, such as Batsto, Parvins
Park, Quinton and Atsion.
In the early 70's membership had grown so much that a bigger
place was need to support the club. The Vineland YMCA met
the need.. And here it stayed until around 1990 and then located
at the Christ Community Church in Newfield, NJ. The year 2008 PSV celebrated it's 40th year and also a new meeting place; the Newfield Senior Center on Catawaba & Church.
The structure of the club remains much like it was in the
beginning. There are contests, field trips, workshops and
Awards Banquets. In earlier years, contests included "8mm
movies" .The rule was that they could not be longer then
20 minutes. Judging the contests was by secret ballot and
each member, scored from 0-9. Today, scoring machines are
used.
The "Merit Awards System" was incorporated into
the club in 1972. This System awards points to members for
things such as attending a meeting, chairing a committee,
becoming a club officer or trustee, entering competitions,
winning outside awards, one man shows, and many other means
of accumulating points. Goals of 75 to 2500 points, and accomplished
by members, are rewarded with medals. Twenty seven years later,
this Merit Awards System is still a unique part of PSV.
In 1973, the "Tri Club" competition was initiated.
Atlantic City, Ocean City and Vineland Camera Clubs joined
in a "friendly rival" competition. Only Vineland
and Atlantic City participate now.
The Photographic Society of Vineland began with an idea and
a handful of enthusiastic photographers. Meeting places changed
and membership grew and declined and grew again. Today, PSV
remains the high standard Camera Club that was initiated in
1968 by Paul Heritage.
