I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.  As I write this, my newly married children are on an airplane from San Francisco to spend the holiday with us.  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. It is a time to be with family and friends and to give thanks for all the blessings of the past year. A very large part of my life since summer of '09 has been NVPS. I am so grateful for this terrific club, its members, the board, and the numerous volunteers that make it the premier camera club in the Mid Atlantic Region. 

November continued with increased membership, record breaking numbers for competition, a fabulous speaker, workshop, members gallery and forum and our first overnight field trip this year. Please make sure you check Fotofax and the website for upcoming field trips and NVPS events as well as all the terrific content. New members, don't forget about the newly launched Members Resource Program which has a link on the website as well as "links" to sites for everything photography.  As we enter the holiday season, if you don't know what to put on Santa's list, consider some new photographic "toys" or workshops presented by the many area photographers or groups.

The big highlight in November was the Mid Atlantic Nature Photography Expo (MANPE) or Nature's Vision that was held on November 13th and 14th at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas. It was a beautiful show and it was jam packed with educational lectures, workshops, critiques, raptor shooting opportunities, vendor information and discounted items. Congratulations to those who had images that were juried in as well as Marilyn Gaizband (Best In Show), Pat Lonergan (3rd Place), Ursy Potter (People's Choice) as well as the 7 members that received 9 overall sponsor/vendor choice ribbons. Thank you to John Quigley (Exhibits Coordinator) as well as the many volunteers that helped to make it all possible.

We are now officially into cold and flu season. Please, if you are not feeling well or even think that you might be coming down with something - STAY HOME so as not to spread the misery! 

Winter also brings us snow and ice. Please check the website and Fotofax for the club's policy on weather closings. Check WTOP www.wtop.com or Fairfax County School systems web site for closings. You can also sign up for emails or cell phone alerts http://www.fcps.edu/news/emerg.htm

I would like to wish you all a happy and safe holiday season. And of course, make many beautiful images and memories.

Happy Holidays!

Best,

Sandi Croan, President NVPS