[Leica] Re:LHSA incompetence and some praises :)

[leicachris at worldnet.att.net (Christopher Williams)]

Wow! Frank was the youngest! I was 33 at the time. And yes, the expressions
on bored wives is priceless(mine included).

I wish I had more time during the New Orleans Spring Shoot but the LHSA
booked it during my wedding season! I enjoyed meeting everyone and "hanging"
out with Seth Rosner at the Sazerac Bar. Sadly, the Fairmont Hotel is still
a victim of Katrina and has yet to reopen. But then I was able to try out
allot of gear I would otherwise never have to use, seeing the almost entire
Leica Catalog in one hotel room is something to see!

Again since the next Spring Shoot is around wedding season, I'll have to
skip it but I am looking into the NY meeting.

Frank, I think there's going to be enough interest in film for awhile so
maybe students may get into some Leicas as the prices are slightly lower now
due to digital(or lower because someone just Ebayed all their M6's and 7's
to get an M8). Leica has to me always seemed to be that nonconformist in the
crowd, and younger people like to be nonconforming(little South Park joke
about conformists).

Chris



----- Original Message -----
From: "Frank F. Farmer"
Subject: Re: [Leica] LHSA incompetence


> Dave,
>
> I think you're exactly right about the LHSA.  I believe we met at the
> Spring Shoot in New Orleans (didn't you have a recently painted M3?)
> and I was probably the youngest person there.  I think I was 29 at the
> time.
>
> There have been several movements over the years that I've been a
> member that hoped to attract the younger set.  Of course, the bulk of
> these revolved around removing "historical" from the name in an attempt
> to shift to a more centered position of collectors AND users.
> Obviously, the name never changed.  I don't really think that changing
> the name will accomplish anything anyway.
>
> The main problem is economic.  Younger folks are usually not in the
> position to purchase a camera body that costs $3,500 to $4,500.  The
> society is probably in much the same situation that Leica finds itself
> in -- the cost of entry is pretty high.  There is one difference
> though, the LHSA doesn't really have new and exciting product to offer
> its new members.  Notwithstanding the meetings and a magazine primarily
> devoted to little known Leica facts and comparisons of lenses that are
> 30 years old.
>
> Now, don't get me wrong, I do look forward to receiving my issue of
> Viewfinder Magazine and I will be renewing my membership.  I also
> enjoyed meeting and talking with the folks who attended the Spring
> Shoot in the Big Easy (it was the first time I'd ever actually taken a
> tour of the Quarter instead of just wandering to Galatoire's and back
> to the Monteleone).  However, it would not be the whole truth if I
> didn't say that I, too, shared in your lack of immediate comfort.  My
> sweet wife (non-Leica lover that she is), God bless her, was bored to
> tears!
>
> I wish that there was a way to attract more young folks to the group.
> Perhaps there are younger members who don't come to meetings.  I don't
> know.  Either way, I'll stick around to try and attract photographers,
> hobbiests, etc. with whom I have contact.  Granted, you don't run into
> a Leica user everyday in my part of the world but they are there.  Some
> are even on this list.
>
> So, I don't have an answer for the problem.  But I do recognize the
> fact that it is there.  LHSA is an older group.  I hope, though, that
> it sticks around for while.
>
> Madge, my check's in the mail.
>
> Frank Farmer
> Jackson, Miss.
>
> On Nov 22, 2006, at 5:13 PM, David Keenan wrote:
>
> > I've been a member for two years.
> >
> > I have been to a couple of their events included the national meeting
> > in
> > Wetzlar and the spring shoot in New Orleans.
> >
> > To be honest, I'm not sure about renewing my membership.
> >
> > Madge is a sweet person and I've enjoyed meeting some of the members,
> > particularly while in Germany, but LHSA doesn't really offer me much.
> >
> > The organization is aging, and while I'm not exactly a spring chicken,
> > I
> > usually feel out of place at the gatherings. With the exception of the
> > amazing photograph presentation at the Wetzlar meeting by Richard
> > Kalvar of
> > Magnum Photos (who I understand to have been a last minute
> > substitute), the
> > focus of other events missed me.
> >
> > Unless LHSA can come up with a way to attract more (and younger)
> > members, I
> > fear that is it slowly dying on the vine.
> >
> > Dave.