HISTORY OF GULF STATES CAMERA CLUB COUNCIL
BY MATTHEW W. DAURA
The Gulf States Camera Club Council (GSCCC) was organized at a meeting in Baton Rouge, LA in October, 1954 at the Old Louisiana State Capitol. This meeting took place on the occasion of the First Annual Gulf States Camera Club Photographic Exhibition held under the sponsorship of the Louisiana Art Commission. This annual photographic competition was continued by the Louisiana Art Commission until 1966.
The first elected Council president was William G. McClanahan of Lake Charles, LA. L. E. Stagg, Jr. of Beaumont, TX and C. Jerry Derbe of Jackson, MS were elected as vice presidents, with Allen T. Turpin, of Monroe, LA serving as secretary - treasurer.
By the end of the first year, 25 clubs from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas made up the Council roster.
The second annual get together was a convention held in Shreveport, LA in late October, 1955. Convention activities included a get acquainted party, a field trip in the Shreveport area, model setups, a museum tour, viewing of the GSCCC Exhibition of Photography from the Louisiana Art Commission, a trip to the Louisiana State Fair, a buffet supper and a day of programs.
Annual conventions have continued, having moved to the spring of the year. They are hosted by member clubs from around the entire Council area. Conventions nowadays include the Council year-end competition, a photographic field trip, model shoots, and a day and a half of programs, ending with an awards banquet and a grand finale program.
Today 35 clubs from Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas continue the organization and the convention tradition.
Conventions are a time for a gathering of friends from around the Council area, and for making new friends, exchanging ideas, and learning from programs. The host clubs have the pleasure of serving and entertaining their fellow photographers.
Recent GSCCC Conventions have been held in Dallas, Baton Rouge, Fort Worth, and Austin.
Interclub activities includeslide and print competition. Beginning in 2006, digital photography was recognized and added to the competition categories. Clubs may now compete in Pictorial, Nature, and Photojournalism categories in digital and non-digital images, as well as prints in all three categories.
For the benefit of camera club program chairpersons, a library of slide programs has some 20 programs available for borrowing at a slight cost to member clubs.
One thread tying the clubs together is GSCCC News, a monthly newsletter of from six to eight pages, carrying news of individual club activities, and the results from the interclub competitions. It usually also includes an article containing useful photographic information.
July1, 1979
Revised 01/2005
CONSTITUTION of the
GULF STATES CAMERA CLUB COUNCIL
ARTICLE I. - NAME
The organization shall be known as the Gulf States Camera Club Council. The official abbreviation shall be GSCCC.
ARTICLE II. - PURPOSES
The purposes and objectives shall be to effect a federation of camera clubs in the Gulf Coast Area, to promote the mutual enjoyment of photography, to encourage advancement of its members in the knowledge and practice of the science and art of photography, to make mutual contributions to the progress of photography, to render services to its members for the purpose of promoting enjoyment of photography through membership in local camera clubs, and provide a means of exchange of ideas and ready communication through its various member clubs.
ARTICLE III. - MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open to any organized camera club in the Gulf Coast or adjacent areas, subject to approval by the Executive Board. A member club shall be considered in good standing as long as it is not in arrears in payment of dues. Membership confers one vote to each member club for matters to be decided by a vote of member clubs.
ARTICLE IV. - OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
The GSCCC NEWS, a monthly publication shall be the official organ for the transmission of the Council business and results of Council activities, news of member club activities and other items, which may be of interest to the membership. The President of the GSCCC shall appoint the news editor.
ARTICLE V. - OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
The following officers and directors shall be elected every two years by the member clubs (1) a President, (2) a First Vice President in charge of competitions, (3) a Second Vice President in charge of Services, (4) a Secretary-Treasurer, and (5) three Directors.
ARTICLE VI. - EXECUTIVE BOARD
The Executive Board shall consist of the officers and directors named in Article V above, the immediate past president and the editor of the GSCCC NEWS.
ARTICLE VII. - COMMITTEES
The Executive Board shall appoint such special committees, as it deems necessary to carry
out the purposes and activities of the Council. The authority may be delegated to the President during his or her term of office if such action is approved by a majority of the Executive Board.
ARTICLE VIII. - POWERS AND MANAGEMENT
The powers and management of this organization shall be vested in and exercised by the Executive Board. A majority of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of Council business at meetings. Matters requiring action by the Executive Board may be decided by correspondence among themselves by a majority vote on the matters before the board.
ARTICLE IX. - ANNUAL CONVENTIONS
The annual Conventions of the membership shall be held in the Spring (mid March through mid June) each year at such times and places as may be determined by the Executive Board. In the event of extenuating circumstances, the Executive Board may vote to hold a convention during a different month. If a convention is held later than June of any year, the officers who serve during June of that year shall preside at the convention.
ARTICLE X. - ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
The officers and three directors shall be elected by U.S. mail or e-mail ballot of member clubs. They shall serve for two years beginning 1 July of each year and ending 30 June two years later. A list of candidates for the various offices nominated by the Nominating Committee will be published every other year in the February issue of the GSCCC News and repeated in the March issue of the GSCCC News with any petitioned nominations in accordance with Article II, Section 2 of the Bylaws.
ARTICLE XI. - REPLACING OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
In the event that any officer, director, or nominated person shall for any reason be unable or fail to fulfill his or her duties and responsibilities, the position held by such person shall be filled by appointment by the President.
ARTICLE XII. - MEETINGS
A regular meeting of the members of member clubs will be held at the annual GSCCC Convention.
ARTICLE XIII- AMENDMENTS
Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by a duly appointed committee or by any member club, in writing, to the Executive Board. If approved by the Board and approved by a majority of the member clubs by a mail or e-mail ballot after publication in the GSCCC NEWS, such amendments shall be incorporated into this Constitution. Amendments to the Bylaws may be proposed by any member club or Board Member and if approved by the Executive Board, such amendments will become a part of the Bylaws.
ARTICLE XIII- RATIFICATION
This Constitution shall be in force upon ratification by an affirmative vote of a majority of member clubs by a mail ballot, after the same has been published in the GSCCC NEWS.
ARTICLE XV - DISSOLUTION
The organization may be dissolved by a written majority vote by mail of a majority of the member clubs, in which event any funds remaining in the treasury shall be distributed pro rata to the member clubs.
July1, 1979
Revised 01/2005
BYLAWS of The
GULF STATES CAMERA CLUB COUNCIL
ARTICLE I - DUES
Section 1. The annual dues shall be prorated to the size of the club and stated on the membership form.
Section 2. Dues shall not be prorated during the year except clubs joining or being reinstated after 30 June shall pay one-half of the full annual dues to cover their membership through the month of December.
Section 3. Club membership shall be for one calendar year, January 1 to December 31, with subsequent year’s dues payable on or before December 31. A member club shall be in arrears if their dues are not paid by February 1. Clubs in arrears will lose all rights and privileges of membership, but may be reinstated by payment of a full year’s dues.
ARTICLE II- ELECTIONS
Section 1. A nomination committee composed of the three directors shall correspond as soon as possible after 1 November every other year and shall nominate a slate of officers and directors. The Committee shall consider the qualifications of each proposed candidate and secure agreement of the qualified people to serve and perform the duties if elected. The slate of officers and directors nominees is to be published in GSCCC NEWS according to ARTICLE X of the Constitution.
Section 2. Member clubs who wish to nominate candidates other than those proposed by the Committee may petition the placing of such candidates in nomination. Such petitions must conform to all requirements of the Constitution and Bylaws, must state that the candidate(s) understand the duties of the office and have agreed to serve and perform the duties if elected. Each petition must be signed by two officers of record of the petitioning club. Copies of each petition must be sent to the chairman of the nominating committee and to the GSCCC NEWS editor.
Section 3. Elections will be held by mail or by e-mail ballot. The ballots will be sent to the President of each club with the March GSCCC NEWS. Ballots must be mailed or emailed to the secretary-treasurer by April 15. If no ballot is sent it will be considered a yes vote for the slate provided by the nominating committee.
ARTICLE III- SUCCESSION
If the president at any time becomes unable or ineligible to serve, the line of succession to President shall be in the following order: (1) First Vice President (2) Second Vice President (3) Secretary-Treasurer.
ARTICLE IV - ELIGIBILITY OF PRINTS FOR GSCCC COMPETITION
All print images submitted for judging in GSCCC competitions must be exposed by the maker. They may be self printed or commercially printed. Competition rules may be adjusted by the Executive Board as needed.