Do you sometimes feel like you have to be a comic to book jobs?
James Alberson did. He become a standup comic in order to grow his ability to entertain, tell stories, and think on his feet, just to be a better salesman. But now he knows a easier, less confrontational way, and he wants  to share it with us at our March 6 meeting.

March 6, 2012 ~ SPPA Meeting ~ The Polish Home, 1714 18th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
6:30 – 7:00pm Networking
6:45   Competition Print Entries are due
7:00  Meeting starts – Announcements, SPPA business
7:15   Guest Speaker James Alberson

James Alberson is the Owner and Principal of Top Tier Training & Development, Inc, a Sandler Training Licensee, operating in the Seattle Metropolitan area.  He works with business owners and motivated individual salespeople to deliver and implement professional development strategies which help to foster the growth of individuals, teams, and organizations.

James started his career as a sales representative for Baxter Healthcare.  Originally having his sights set on an eventual career in marketing, he realized early in his sales career that his talents would be best suited to coaching and teaching.  With that realization, he set a goal to pursue a career in sales and become the best.  James even spent time doing amateur stand-up comedy in order to grow his ability to entertain and tell stories with clients and “think on his feet.”   Since then, James has earned top producer awards in sales and management for Fortune 500 companies like Johnson & Johnson and Genzyme Corp., as well as two start-up ventures.

With 20 years of sales, sales management, and sales training experience, and having held leadership positions with companies ranging in status from start-up to Fortune 500, James’ varied experience allows him to relate in some manner to the great majority of the sales issues, problems, and situations his clients currently face.  As a Sandler Training Franchisee, James was the recipient of the Rising Star award, and is a sought-after speaker by various organizations in the Greater Seattle area.

James is active in the Seattle, Renton, Bellevue, and Southwest King County Chambers of Commerce.  He continually looks for ways to increase his involvement to support and help the growth of the businesses and individuals in those respective business communities.

James earned both his BS in Computer Technology and MBA in Marketing from Purdue University.

View his company website at www.toptier.sandler.com.  View his LinkedIn.com profile at www.linkedin.com/in/jamesalberson.

We will be handing out the awards for the Annual Print Competition winners, and we’ll be having our first monthly print competition for 2012.

6:30 – 7:00pm Networking
6:45   Competition print Entries are due
7:00  Meeting starts – Announcements, SPPA business
7:15   Guest Speaker: James Alberson
8:00 – 8:15  Break – voting for prints
9:00   Speaker ends
9:00 -9:30 Announce print winners and then for those that want to stay – an informal critique.

Do you sometimes feel like you have to be a comic to book jobs?
James Alberson did. He become a standup comic in order to grow his ability to entertain, tell stories, and think on his feet, just to be a better salesman. But now he knows a easier, less confrontational way, and he wants  to share it with us at our March 6 meeting.  Click here for more information about James Alberson.

The monthly competitions will be a little different starting in March, so be sure to read all of the new rules for 2012 here.  Some of the new rules that you need know are…

A digital reference file must be submitted with each print entry at the time of entry.
(You can bring your reference file on flash drive, CD, or email it ahead of time to info@seattleppa.com)

Each category needs to have at least three entries, or that category will be closed.
(This has been one of the unspoken rules for many years, but now it is listed in the rules so there can be no confusion.)

Photo Critiquing!   At the end of each competition, after the winners are announced, a few entries will be critiqued by a panel from the membership at attendance.

Remember, participation is not required, but it is highly recommended and desired!  We can grow as an organization with your input, ideas, and participation!

Open Division
Architecture  – Susan Marsidi  – “Architectural Wonder”
Illustrative – Barbara Roser  – “Hot, Wet, Wonderful….”
Nature  – Ken Lapp  – “Just the right resting spot”
Landscape – Marv Heston – “Perfect Storm”
Best in Division – Open:  Ken Lapp – “Just the right resting spot”

Portrait Division
Child/Children  –  Lara Grauer  –  “Dad’s Joke”
Family (Tie)  –  Barbara Roser  –  “Loving Heart, Loving Hands”
Family (Tie)  –  Elena Scott  –  “My Son is Here”
High School Senior  –  Russell Lorne  –  “Kelsie”
Outdoor  –  Marv Heston  –  “Seaside Passion”
Studio  –  Rob Resing  –  “Lady in Red”
Best in Division – Portrait: Rob Resing  –  ““Lady in Red”

Wedding Division
Photojournalistic  –  Susan Marsidi  –  “Rain or Shine here we come”
Posed  –  Marv Heston  –  “Winter Wedding”
Best in Division – Wedding: Marv Heston  –  “Winter Wedding”

Judges Choice Awards:
Judge 1 – Victoria Lapp – “Building 5 Star Accommodations”
Judge 2 – Andrew Crain – “Seeing Red”
Judge 3 – Rob Resing – “Jokers Wild”
Judge (Alt) – Susan Marsidi – “Architectural Wonder”

People’s Choice Award:  To Be Determined

See the winning images here!

Our Annual Print Competition is coming up next Tuesday, on Feb. 7th. 

LOCATION:   The Polish Home, 1714 18th Ave, Seattle WA,  98122

DATE / TIME:   Tuesday February 7th between the hours of 5:00pm-10:00pm

Print Check-in starts at 5:00pm.  Print Competition starts promptly at 5:45pm.

See complete details, rules, and entry form here:  http://seattleppa.com/2012-sppa-annual-print-competition/

Prints and digital files are accepted.  Digital images will be accepted for ALL entries.

The purpose of this competition is to allow photographers to enter photographic prints, photographic albums, digital albums and prints to be judged relative to the 12 Elements of a Merit Print.   More information on Merit Print Elements.

The judges this year are:

Ralph Allen III, M.Photog., CR, FP
Faye Johnson, M.Photog., FP
Joanne Murray, Cr. Photog., FP

Also, for those of you who plan to compete in our monthly print competitions in 2012 to vie for the coveted SPPA Photographer of the Year award, to be eligible you need to have at least one entry in the annual competition.  The requirements for the Photographer of the Year are as follows:

• Contestants must participate in a minimum of five competitions (any category) during the year.
• Contestants must compete in three of four categories.
• Contestants must have at least one entry in the SPPA Annual Photography Competition.
• Contestants must be an SPPA active member in good standing.

The Entry form is available on our website here:  http://seattleppa.com/2012-sppa-annual-print-competition/

Entry Payment and sign up must be submitted by  10:00 pm Saturday, February 4^th, 2012. Payment can be made via PayPal to info@seattleppa.com

Images must be submitted no later than Midnight,  Sunday Feb, 5, 2012

Photographer of the Year
Kerri Kirshner

Award of Excellence
Folio/Collection Photography
Russell Lorne

Award of Excellence
Open/Nature Photography
Victoria Lapp

Award of Excellence
Portrait Photography
John Perea

Award of Excellence
Wedding Photography
Ken Lapp

View the winning images in our 2011 SPPA Photography Annual;
http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/325039

For more information and to see the NEW RULES for 2012, click here.

Prints and digital files are accepted.  Digital images will be accepted for ALL entries.

The purpose of this competition is to allow photographers to enter photographic prints, photographic albums, digital albums and prints to be judged relative to the 12 Elements of a Merit Print.   More information on Merit Print Elements.

LOCATION:   The Polish Home, 1714 18th Ave, Seattle WA,  98122

DATE / TIME:   Tuesday February 7th between the hours of 5:00pm-10:00pm

Print Check-in starts at 5:00pm.  Print Competition starts promptly at 5:45pm.

Start preparing your images now for competition!

Prints will only be accepted in printed format.  PPA rules still apply.  A CD of digital images should be included with your prints but only printed images will be judged.

Albums can be entered in a digital format.

I have not gotten information on printed albums being entered.  So look for that information.

Join us for our first meeting of 2012 on Tuesday, January 10th, 2012, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm.
(We moved January’s meeting to the second Tuesday so be sure to note the change!)

We will announce our 2011 Photographer of the Year and present plaques and other awards  based on our 2011 monthly print competition. You could be a winner!

As we prepare for the new year we want to hear from YOU!  What kind of programs do you want to see?  Want to see any changes to the monthly print competition?  How can we better serve you? Join us on January 10th and give us your ideas and opinions – we want to hear what you have to say!

Just around the corner is our PPA based Annual Print Competition on February 7th.  New rules and regulations will be shared (and are now online on our website – under the Awards menu) so you’ll have plenty of time to prepare your entries.

There will be no monthly competition this month.  With our annual print competition happening in February, our first monthly competition will be in March.

And don’t forget – your 2012 annual dues are due! We appreciate your membership and look forward to seeing you all in the new year.

LOCATION: 
The Polish Home1714 18th Ave, Seattle, Wa. 98122

DIRECTIONS:
From I-5 North take exit 165B James St. and on 1st lights take left on Cherry St. On next traffic lights take another left turn to Madison St. Go up the Hill on Madison to 18th Ave. and take a left into 18th Ave. Polish Home is on the right hand side.

From  I-5 South take exit “Madison St.” Go up the Hill on Madison to 18th Ave. and take a left into 18th Ave. Polish Home is a big building on the right hand side.

Free Parking in their lot! Feel free to double park if necessary.

Growing up in the 60′s and 70′s meant fun holiday times.  Photos were sent off to the local drugstore and you got all of them back, good or bad. (No option to just hit delete!) They certainly showed the family dynamic of the times and behind each photo was usually an interesting story.

Remember what it was like to be looking for one thing and then stumble instead upon these wonderful memories in a drawer or shoebox? I think you’ll agree that there is something emotional that happens when you find an image [even if it's faded and scratchy] from an era gone by. Photos are ‘dated’ by the hairstyle and fashion of the day. No signs of photoshop!

Photos from yesterday seem to have physical value – they were never thrown away – good or bad. The photos may have had more meaning because cameras were usually brought out for special occasions and the photos actually cost something to produce.

My  point is, enjoy the season, enjoy your family and friends. Don’t let them get lost in the digital world even though it seems more permanent. Have a formal or lifestyle portrait done of your family by a professional.  You don’t know how many times I’ve heard,  if only we’d done this before grandma passed away.

Oh, look what I just found….It’s my mom and my uncle.  My uncle is gone and mom is the last of 8 kids. Imagine what our family would be missing had I not found this image….yet again! ~ gail ann, gailannphotography.wordpress.com

Images from the evening, from Leon Barber

[Show as slideshow]

Images from the evening, from Trisha Ordonez

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Images from the evening, from Alison Jensen

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A few ‘behind the scenes’ and ‘pull-back’ views…