Here's my two cents on the date issue: I love the energy and enthusiasm that everyone is showing about this. I think we should plunge in and see what happens with a Spring 2001 date. Though I think it's great to get the word out to as many people as possible, it would also be great to see what is generated just from the folks on this list alone.
This is slightly off-topic, but I think the point is relevant. I once read an article arguing that non-profit comunity service organizations should only get public funding for the first 5 years. The idea was that these organizations are started by a group of people who see a need and have the idealism and energy to try to fill that need. Everyone pitches in wherever needed, it's chaos, and somehow, amazing feats are accomplished. Once organizations have been around for 5 years, everyone starts to fill a certain job descriptions and not want to step out of them, and some on the great manic energy is lost (or exchanged for stability, which is also important). While I ultimately stongly disagreed with the thesis of the article, I think the point about the joy of something new and fly-by-the-seat-of-it's-pants is well taken. It would be GREAT if this pinhole day grew into something well-established, well-publicized and efficient. But for this first year, maybe we should just dive in and see what happens out of the mania. I totally understand Jean's points (and those of others who have argued to put this off a bit), and will be happy with whatever day is chosen. But those are my thoughts, for your consideration. Jessica -----Original Message----- From: Jean Daubas To: pinhole-discussion@p at ??????? Sent: 3/2/01 6:03 PM Subject: Re: [pinhole-discussion] the Pinhole Polls are open... Hi all, Considering the date for the first edition of the future Pinhole Day, which is one of the issues which we have to vote for and which is the most discussed issue about Pinhole Polls until now, I would like, if you allow me, to add short comments. It has been not even 3 weeks now since the idea of creating a Pinhole Day has been generated by Valentines' Day. Such an idea, if we want to make it into a successful event, needs a minimum of coordination, information spreading, technical preparation. Even if we do not have oversized ambitions (and don't worry, we definitely have not!), we discover everyday that the list of tasks to do is increasing in number, needs for help and volunteers and that it will take a lot of energy to have all the issues well mastered. And of course, not everything is depending on the work of the members of the organizing team. It depends also on help of the members of the list (= you!) and on the reactivity of the external actors that we have to work with if we want to succeed. Do not forget that one of the main features of the event is to have a "world-wide" dimension; even if we know that we shall not have participations from all parts of the world, we want to really place this event on an international basis. That alone requires distributing spreading tasks (translations, sending info to "target" organizations, contacts with local media, etc.) between volunteers and coordinating the coherence of these tasks... Publications of Press Release in various media supports must be synchronized with each publication or magazine editorial rhythm (often more than 5 weeks for monthly mags...). Without taking care of these constraints, we shall not be able to reach our goals : -have a large number of pinholers everywhere on Earth creating pinhole pictures on the same day and loading them on the official Pinhole Day site -display on a quality site all the pictures made on pinhole Day so that a very large number of visitors can discover and/or appreciate the Pinhole Day exhibit. It is why, taking in consideration all these elements , my preferences go to a distant date : 1st Sunday in June. Of course I may be wrong but I truly fear that choosing a closer date (April) does not allow to work in appropriate conditions and that it leads to a very unsatisfactory result. On the opposite side, I would rather not wait for the fall (being admitted that Summer months are not a good choice for reasons already discussed here) because I think It is too far and there is a risk that our enthusiasm will have difficulties to maintain at the top level we know at the present day! June seems realistic to me, even if we have still a lot of tasks to execute! In the Pinhole Polls at http://www.p at ???????/discussion/polls.php (closing date : Sunday 24:00 GMT), you will notice that there are 2 equivalent choices offered : Sunday June 3rd and First Sunday of June(that is June 3rd in 2001). First Sunday of June could become a regular basis for next years Pinhole Days. If you have not yet expressed your vote, I wish these comments will help you to build up your choice. In all cases, it is a democratic mode of taking decisions and I shall respect the will of the majority which will express, my only concern being to contribute creating a true moment of pleasure for the largest number of persons (photo submitters + web-site visitors) Thanks for your patience reading my bad English Happy pinholing ! Jean ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---- ---- Jean Daubas, auteur-photographe Rue de Bourg-Sec 25440 LIESLE France jean.dau...@freesbee.fr ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Vande Bunt" <mike.vandeb...@mixcom.com> To: <pinhole-discussion@p at ???????> Sent: Friday, March 02, 2001 6:54 AM Subject: Re: [pinhole-discussion] the Pinhole Polls are open... > The other reason to avoid "summer" is that summer does not > happen at the same time in both hemispheres... > > Mike Vande Bunt > > _______________________________________________ Pinhole-Discussion mailing list Pinhole-Discussion@p at ??????? unsubscribe or change your account at http://www.p at ???????/discussion/
