Official Status?

A few notes from today's meeting about potentially seeking official status under the Student Organization Forum.

PROS

SOF resources including mailbox, locker, bulletin board, event funding, matching fundraising.

Ability to reserve rooms or event spaces

University web address

CONS

Hassle of officer responsibilities, monthly SOF meetings, bi-annual risk meetings, etc.

Rules regarding activities (travel, event catering, etc.)

Potential liability to university and officers from photos published under UTD club auspices.

Ethical concern of university resources used to promote for-profit photography.

CONCLUSIONS

The club will continue to meet for the foreseeable future without formal officers or official sponsorship by the Student Organization Forum. The primary website will remain Facebook, using links to photo archive sites.

"UTD" will need to be dropped from the club's title (but that would've been the case either way).

Club will remain focused on UTD students, faculty, and staff, seeking to build constructive relationships between the those groups.

Meetings will be Fridays at noon at the Multicultural Center. Some meetings will include presentations or discussions, while others will be all picture taking. Bring your cameras. Bring your friends.

IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE

-As a group, address monthly "topics." A member may be asked to coordinate each, including topic-related guest speakers, trips, "assignments," and critique sessions.

-Have occasional challenges and friendly competitions.

-Make arrangements as a group to secure special photo ops (early admission to museums, supervised admission to rooftops, etc.) and/or discounts.

-Formalize critique sessions, inviting faculty and professionals to participate.

UPCOMING TOPICS

July: portraiture

August: street/candids (note Welcome Week, freshman events)

September: event photography (note Labor Day Anime Convention, Plano Balloon Festival

October: dark/macabre (note Halloween events)

November: TBA