WEst Lothian Council Grant

[Steve]

 
Out of the blue, I've been sent application forms from West Lothian Council to apply for a grant. There is no suggestion as to what we might spend the money on but the covering letter gives some guidelines. As far as we're concerned any money we get will have to be spent on items of general or exceptional expenditure.
So... any thoughts on what we need?
My first thoughts were that we might be able to upgrade the studio flash kit - get some more powerful flash units, a better backdrop system, some decent diffusers etc. The deadline for applications is 16th May so we need to give this some thought. An agenda item at the AGM perhaps?
If we do go down the line of new flash stuff, I'd like to take stock of what we've already got so that we can focus our spending potential on what we really need. Does that make sense?

It's already been suggested that we could consider purchasing  a couple of 2x converters (1 Canon; 1 Nikon) and 2 sets of  extension tubes (1 Canon; 1 Nikon). Any other (sensible) suggestions? Beer for the AGM is definitely OUT!

Steve
 

[jimgreid]

Steve
What about getting a grant for a film/slide scanner. That way we can say we are putting 25 years of West Lothian film and slide images images into digital format.

We can also do all own images but we leave that bit out when applying.

[Stuart R]

Just curious - Did anything happen with this??

Cheers

Stuart

[Steve]

 

Nope - we didn't pursue this 'cos no one told me what we really needed in the way of new kit. There were some suggestions, both on the forum and by
e mail - flash gear, scanner, lenses being the ones I can remember. There wasn't a great deal of support for any single suggestion and the deadline for applying came and went without us making a decision.
These grants are offered from time to time, and we will be notified as and when this happens. Usually the deadline is fairly tight so we should maybe think now about what we might like to get in the future, so that I can have  complete an application quickly when I get the forms.

[Willie]

Hi Steve,

Great idea. I was going to suggest a cutting board for mounts - only to find out that we already have one. What type is it, and in what condition is it in, and where is it - I do not know. I think that part of the problem is we do not know what we have already. So it makes it difficult to suggest that we apply for something new.

I know we have discussed it several times, but can I suggest that we actually go ahead and complete an inventory and post it on the website so that we can then offer suggestions for new items that we need, via the forum, and then pick from the list say -6 items - that we actually have a chance of getting, and put the order in which we try for them, to the vote.

Also for future reference - can we as well as a list of the items that we currently have, also have a location of their present whereabouts, and in the future, space for the name of the club member or the group when the Item is borrowed or loaned out. As well as when it was borrowed and when and where it was returned to, and the condition that is was in.

I know that this seems like a pain, but we have a lot of kit that is simply not being used. Take for example the 3 digital cameras that the club owns, where are they now, when were they last used, and did everybody know that we have excellent quality (Canon) digital compact cameras for the members use?

I'll put an email about this to "All" to see if we can get things moving!

Thanks - Willie

[Willie]

I would like to see that the club has better studio flash equipment. That all the members can borrow and use themselves.

I know that it looks like the club has loads of studio equipment, but the gear that was in use for the studio presentation, and will be in use for the members night in 2 weeks, does not belong to the club. And as a club we should have our own gear that will do a good job.

We have 2 very small flashes, and stands and large reflector and huge backdrop, and some umbrellas, and I'm not sure what else. Perhaps 2 x 500 watt flashes with stands and triggers would be just what is needed to boost the kit as a whole. If it is good gear (Bowens etc..) then second hand would be fine. All the flashes that I have are about 25 years old and do an excellent job.

Thanks - Willie

[Steve]

 

Folks

Following on from Willie's e mail and my reply, this is my recollection of the equipment that the Club owns. It's not necessarily correct or complete, so if there is anything that I've missed someone please tell me! Have a look at the list and if there is anything you think we need to consider buying, shout out and we'll add it to our wish list.

1   Hewlett Packard Laptop Computer with associated cables & leads
2   Epson Digital Projector with associated cables & leads
3   Free standing display boards
4   Epson R1800 printer
5   Wharfedale speakers with associated cables and leads
6   Amplifier
7   Projector Screen
8   “Mountmaster” Mat cutter
9   Studio flash equipment with associated stands, filters, cables, leads    and accessories (separate inventory held)
10   2 Braun slide projectors
11   1 Kodak Carousel slide projector
12   Copy stand with lights
13   Various assorted magazines and storage for slides
14   Stumpfl slide dissolve unit for use with 35 mm slide projectors

[Stuart R]

Hi

Can I ask a silly question

Since we are talking big money, is there any way that an application could be used for the rent for new premises?

George and Willie for instance would love to have secure premises where they (we, the club) could have studio premises permanently set up and where other items like the printer and mount cutter would be on premises for all members would be able to use. Although the Hall is OK ( best feature is closeness to the Pub!!), it is hardly ideal. Should we be thinking, in this our anniversary year, of moving forward and thinking about our own premises??

Cheers

Stuart

[Fred]

Dear all,
Like Willie & Steve I feel that the time has now come for some serious thought to be given into how the club goes forward, in accommodating and the storing of all the club equipment in one central secure location so that club members have easy access to the equipment and where possible the equipment should remain “Set Up” ready to use at any time – E.G Studio lighting, a P. A system. –
Yes I know that the present location is not suitable, but as growing club should we not be looking a more suitable location? Can I make the following suggestions and please feel free to respond.

1) I think the club should have its own equipment manager /officer, who records / and issues of Equipment and provides the inventory to Steve for our Audit (I feel Steve has enough to do with the Treasurer job) and what better time to appoint someone to take on this new post, than now when Steve is about to prepare an inventory of the Club's assets. For the clubs submissions to the Charities Regulator. (If no taker I’m free)

2)The list of equipment should be on the Club Web site and updated as and when - So that at any time a member can check to see where a particular item of equipment is available, and can be borrowed at the requested date /time, this should also applies to our  CD’s / Books collections 3)The club should look at the possibilities of finding a new but suitable secure location for storage of our equipment and having meetings

4)Once the inventory is in place we can look at wants replacing or getting rid or our surplus stuff.

 ::)Fred

[Steve]

 

Hi Folks

Steve here again

What have we started now?!

Can I just say, before anyone gets too carried away, that we will find it very difficult, if not actually impossible, to find a funding source that will give us money to pay for the rent of premises. Most of them specifically exclude that from the list of things they will fund. We could try to get a grant to help us buy premises, but we'd need to come up with at least 20% of the costs ourselves - not perhaps the easiest thing to do.
If we were to successfully rent somewhere it would cost each of us a lot more than £20 per year and £2 per night so....
We'd also have to take out insurance on the premises and on the contents and that wouldn't come cheap either.
I like Fred's suggestions, particularly the one about appointing someone to take responsibility for the kit that we have or are likely to have in future - it makes sense to me, particularly if we are going to invest in more equipment.
May I suggest that we get our feet back on the ground just now and concentrate on four things?
1)   Complete an accurate inventory of the equipment that we have
2)   Draw up a wish list of what we would like to add
3)   Try to obtain a grant to buy the stuff on the wish list
4)   Try to find somewhere at a reasonable rent where we can store the stuff
      (if we get lucky and find somewhere that could double up as a studio so
       much the better, but storage is really our number one priority)
I'll make some enquiries at West Lothian Council to see what they might have in the way of storage facilities that we could rent, and we can take it from there.
 

[Fred]

Dear All,
Fred again and just like to say I agree 100% with what Steve  has wrote, and was what I was trying to say but Steve wrote it much better way  -
 Cheers

Fred

[otooleg]

Guys delighted by this stimulating debate - and really pleased that we are now in a position to even discuss this type of topic area, (we have been too small previously).

I accept that we are unlikely to be able to afford our own premises. However - work on the premiss that if you don't ask you don't get and ask for something totally out of the box and you never know what you might get!

We do need some more powerful lighting because the existing equipment is inadequate for anything other than product photography, (in my opinion).

What we urgently require is additional and more robust storage facilities at the club and we may have to pay for that?

Regards

George

[Stuart R]

Hi

Something like this?

http://www.greenfingers.com/superstore/product.asp?dept_id=200335&pf_id=DD3774D

Stuart

[Steve]

Not quite what I have in mind.
I'm going down the road of asking the Council if they have any small industrial units that we could use, even on a temporary basis to start with. Mercenary I may be, but I intend to use our Charitable Status to try to get such a unit rent free (or as near as I can get it). The recession is hitting hard just now and there quite a few wee units lying empty in the Livingston/ Calders area.

Steve

[Willie]

Way to go Steve!