When the LPA was formed most of the members were serious, dedicated enthusiasts and professionals. Because of the technologies of the day they almost had to be. I'm sure that there were a few hobbyists but it was a small group and the close social environment made for an amicable relationship. Today, with the availability of inexpensive digital equipment and the internet, the club membership has moved from being primarily dedicated professionals to primarily hobbyists.

These two groups hold photography in common but have very different interests, goals, equipment, software, and end uses for their photographs. The hobbyists may want to know more about online photosharing while the professionals may want to know about the latest version of Photoshop. The hobbyists may want to know more about photo printers while the professionals may want to know more about high-end studio equipment.

Here's how I think we can enhance the experience of both.

The room we use at the Senior Center has a moveable partition that can be used to allow two different programs to run at the same time. On one side of the curtain would be a presentation, competition, workshop, or whatever geared toward the professionals while on the other side would be something geared for the hobbyists. Individuals could participate in whichever program suited their needs and interests. No one would be asked to declare themselves a hobbyist or professional and everyone would be encouraged to sit in on whichever side interested them more that day.

We could start out our meetings with a short session on club business, announcements, and snacks. After that the curtain would be drawn and the two programs would begin. Developing the two programs might even be easier than just one because the audiences would be more narrowly focused. Developing a program that keeps the interest of both hobbyists and professionals can be very challenging.

Thoughts?