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View Full Version : Not Sure I agree with Guidelines For Posting


epayne
09-20-2010, 09:03 AM
Our Administrator has just posted the Guidelines for listing events here on this forum and it states:

"This forum should not be used to promote Professional workshops unless all or most of the proceeds from the workshop goes to a non-profit organization.

Our CNPA Pros should not use this forum to post their workshops. We have a Pro calendar set up especially for that purpose. It can be accessed by logging on as a member using your username and password. You will be directed to the Member's Landing where there is a link to post your workshop."

There are occasionally events of broad interest to our members that do not meet all the criteria and I as well as other members have sometimes posted them here in an effort to make the membership aware of these learning opportunities. The recent Foto Fest is one good example. I am glad the post was not removed by the administrator as it's presence there in my opinion helped direct many of our members and some potential new ones to the event. Locating the "Pro Workshops" on the site is not as obvious for some one who is just browsing the forums and I feel some of them should be given a higher visibility due to their potential mass appeal.

Many of the workshops and seminars that have been by the pure definition of the guidelines, "Incorrectly Posted" , are being offered by CNPA members, some others are not but I believe the guidelines need to be amended or a separate forum be added for this type of information. This information is useful not only in helping us improve our craft but in recruiting new members as well.

These comments are just my take on this but I am curious as to what others think. I realize that the likely reason for wanting to restrict the posting as the guidelines suggest, is to reduce or eliminate free advertising for the "For Profit" entities out there with something to sell us. But in this situation and context I don't think it is a bad thing. If we aren't aware of these opportunities we cannot learn and grow from them.

This is my 2 cents that I cannot now spend on another workshop or lens....

Edgar Payne
Charlotte Region

dlindey
09-20-2010, 12:52 PM
I agree with Edgar on this issue. As a new member who has relocated from a foriegn land and one who resides in a location that makes it difficult to attend CNPA Chapter meetings, I rely on this forum to get information on workshop and seminar opportunities outside of what the CNPA offers. As was stated this past weekends Western NC Foto Fest was very well attended by CNPA members. I learned of this weekend seminar on the CNPA forums and for my personal growth as an amateur nature photographer this was an excellent learning opportunity that I would have otherwise missed.

My 2 cents makes 4 cents in the pot!

ncbobd
09-28-2010, 08:24 AM
I concur with Edgar. I can see restricting mention of for profit events involving professional members of CNPA from inside this board, but not mentioning of any event that may be of interest to the general membership just because it's being done by a pro seems restrictive. I'm even a bit on the fence about restricting our members from making a brief mention of their upcoming events. After all, the pros have the potential to provide some wonderful input to our members via these forums and at meetings if we can encourage them to do so. A little forum space in trade for some expert guidence doesn't seem to high a price to pay.