An Idea for Debate

[Cookie]

Sometimes it has been muted that a club business type card may be a good idea when going out photographing in places that one may get pulled up because they look too much like a profesional photographers.
I don't know if I should be posting this for a debate, but here is a suggestion I have dreamed up.
Just an idea.



Glenys

[John]

We stopped giving out membership cards as the ones we have are very old-fashioned and in any event we know who everyone is at the club.

But it's a fair point that we might sometimes find some photography ID useful and I think a credit card style membership card is the way to go.

I'll have a look at costs and if anyone else comes across a suitable card supplier please let me know.

Please don't anyone make any one-off cards though - as a club we would not be able to support them if it came to it. We do need it to be universal and official.

[John]

I've asked for a quote for plastic credit card style cards.

The front might just show ADAPS and our full title plus the comment that it certifies that the person named on the back is a member of the society. I've asked to be quoted for 100 cards dated for this year (expiry 31st March 2009) and 100 for next year dated 2010.

On the back might be two strips, one for writing the name and one for the member's signature.

Just a membership card, but all organisations should really have one.

The costs are surprisingly low and the product far better than the few card ones that we have left. I was too ashamed of them to give them out!

[Mike]

Why not try MOO. This service will allow you to print unique business cards in large numbers. That way you could have a long thin card that is unique to each member. I agree with the start date. It should be agreed and printed in time to run from March 2009.

[Ron Clark]

I have sympathy for the view of not having to prove my inocence to some a jobsworthy but I also like the idea of a club card too and would be willing to support such an idea. Having said that though this subject came up in another board I contribute to and here's what was siad about an incident in Edinbourgh ...

"This evening I was innocently photographing the Big Wheel, which is part of the annual Christmas fair in a local public park. I had my SLR and monopod and was keeping carefully out of the way of pedestrian traffic, though it wasn't particularly crowded. Some officious security person sidled up and told me I wasn't allowed to take photos "like that". Truly baffled, I asked "like what?" and she told me no photography was allowed.
Anyway I suggested she call the police immediately so we could also discuss with them her infringment of my rights as a member of the public to take photographs in a public place without suffering illegal harrassment. (I said all that without drawing breath or coughing). Then I carried on photographing and she flounced off muttering into her walkie talkie."

Of course, if it was either a copper or a pretend copper then that might not work so well but it's worth keeping a note of.

Ron

[John]

Although a membership card might be useful in some ways like that, it can also be useful for getting discounts (some shops have been known to say OK you can have 10% or whatever) and is a means of identity at other meetings, perhpas L&CPU events, battles. Not normally necessary, but we should really have a card.

It's not too much of a problem as it looks as though the cost will be miniscule.

[Tracey McGovern]

Hi
I think membership cards are an excellent idea. Even though I have never been stopped I always feel conspicuous in public places, I know holding a card won't stop "officials" approaching us but it may help smooth things over in the discussion with them. I would certainly feel more confident in taking pictures in public places if I had something like that in my pocket. I fully support this idea but agree with starting them off in March, it's going to take that long to agree what to put on them and get them printed and distributed.
Tracey

[Paul Jones]

Hi Mike - have you ordered from Moo?

[Mike]

A friend has and they look good. Not had the need to order any for myself. He went for the MiniPack £9.99 for 100. The nice thing about this service is that members could have the option for their own photographs on a membership card. The left over cards could be the quality club photographs set aside for new members.

[Paul Jones]

Thanks Mike

[Theo Dibbits]

The walking club I am a member of has identity cards (pretty shabby) and they have an arrangement with campcraft in Bolton who give 20% off on two days a year (spring and fall) This works well for them and us because they pick the days, we get the discount.

Theo

[Mike]

Sometimes it has been muted that a club business type card may be a good idea when going out photographing in places that one may get pulled up because they look too much like a profesional photographers.
I don't know if I should be posting this for a debate, but here is a suggestion I have dreamed up.
Just an idea.
Glenys

I don't think I said this but the idea for a Club Business Card is a good one!

[Chris]

I've ordered from Moo before both for photos cards and business cards and the quality is great, as is the price for a low quanity print run.

If I can be of any help, I'm a web developer (and designer), and the missus is a creative director at an all media agency, then let me know. I may be able to souce printing cheaper too, as we work closely with several local and national printers... but for small print runs on business cards Moo may be the better option.

ta.