Part of this month’s program was a Member’s Choice Photo Competition.  Christine Brady-Rubio, our Competition Chair, and Vice President thought it would be fun to have an additional opportunity for a 4th chance (normally we only have 3) to qualify for the year end competition.

Our “Open Competition” evening was well attended with over 50 people present. We had 3 visitors and 2 brand new members. New member Linda Swanson even walked away with a ribbon at her very first meeting. Congratulations Linda!

Numerous prints and slides were entered, and it was great to see some of our newer members competing and getting ribbons.

Our March meeting was well attended with 45 people present, including 4 guests.  By the end of the evening, we gained 6 new members!  Welcome Woody & Kathy Munich, Ken and Arlene Moeller, Val Freeman, and our 100th member, Jim Cherry.  Ted Ayers, a former LPA member, traveled here all the way from Rapid City Iowa, just to visit, and check out the wildflowers.  Ted loves to drive, and covered 700 miles in one day, to check out the flowers in and around Death Valley.

Our February meeting was well attended with over 40 people present, and 4 new visitors.  It’s exciting to see our club grow, as we just gained two new members, and are now up to 90 members.

Many exciting events are coming up soon.  Next up is our big trip to Death Valley on March 9-11.  Dean Webb and Lou Hoffman will be leading us to some of the unique places in the northern part of Death Valley.  Ubehebe Crater, Scotty’s Castle, the Dunes, and an old ghost town await us!

As members made their way into the building, most seem to gravitate towards the HUGE 10 foot long, beautiful, panoramic photos that Rene Caro brought in to share with the group. Multiple photos were stitched together, and then printed on an Epson 9600, which can handle paper 44” wide! Oooohs, and ahhhs were plenty, and Rene managed to keep up with all the questions that flew his way.