1. Announcements were made by President Bob Athanasiou after the Pledge of Allegiance:

1. Our Club’s Annual Showcase will be held Feb 18 at La Hacienda Center.
2. The Photography Club at Sunset Pointe’s first annual showcase will be held Jan 24 from 10 - 2 at Lake Miona Recreation Center.
3. The Blue Sheet is available for members, if there are any changes notify Arne. Copies will be printed for the showcase.
4. A REAL digital camera was lost by one member, call Bob if you have any information about it.
5. A member has a Camera for sale, a description will be posted on the webpage. Bob recommended checking the webpage DPReview.com for information on buying all brands of cameras.

2. Members welcomed four guests and two new members

3. The Treasurers Report was provided by Paul Nistico. The previous balance was $874; after the 50/50 and new member dues, the current balance is $902.24.

4. A Raptor Field Trip near Apopka was discussed. The cost is $100/hr for groups, and open to the public on Saturdays. Barb will follow up on scheduling.

5. The Sun Photo Contest has new categories. Our club members did very well last year. Today’s contest will use both last year’s topics and the new topics.  The Sun’s deadline is noon on Feb 18, 2009. (No Photoshop enhancements will be accepted.)

6. A member suggested that she and less experienced photographers would benefit from mentoring in the group. Bob suggested that alternate Wednesdays might be a good time. Sign up would be needed. All agreed that this was a good idea.

7.  A member reported that the Seabird Recovery System was not the best photo op as many people were in the pictures.

8. All agreed that the Butterflies Museum field trip would be worthwhile. March or April would be good months. Barb will follow up with scheduling.

9. An opportunity to meet Clyde Butcher will be Feb 4th or 5th. The swamp slog in the Everglades will be held Feb 14 at 9:00 am.

10. One member is writing a book documenting day trips to 40-50 places for photo ops. It should be finished soon.

11. A Georgia mountains trip is being planned. Bob suggested this be scheduled during the ‘colors’ time of year.

12. The 50/50 drawing was conducted.

13. Bob reminded the group of our new policy to bring non-perishable food items or donate cash to the food pantry at each meeting.

14. A Webpage review was presented by Bob. Photos with 11 or 12 ratings are scanned and posted on the webpage, and displayed at Lil’Bits Restaurant. Resources, meeting minutes, and judging guidelines are also on the webpage. Bob announced that our photographers of the year are Barbara Athanasiou and Eileen Sklon. Congratulations to them!

Congratulations to our webmaster Barb for her very professional work!

15. Barb provided a discussion of filters, describing graduated neutral density and circular polarizer filters.

16. Bob made a fantastic travelogue presentation: ‘Bob & Barb’s Trip to China in October 2007’. Members were referred to their website to view  more pictures, barbandbob.org. A future tech-talk topic was requested on storage and management of large number of photo cards.

17. Bob reminded members to bring their 2008 high honors winners, those with scores of 11 & 12 from Jan to Dec 2008, to the next meeting on Feb 4 for selection of Photograph of the Year.

Respectfully submitted,

Conniei Hagelshaw, Secretary(sub)