Last month, the PPANE Convention was held in Nashua, NH and Deborah and I attended. CPPA was well represented in all aspects of the PPANE Convention. Joan Genest gave a pre-convention seminar, “Making a Merit Print”, along with a Judges Workshop. Jen Roggi was one of the Super Heroes in “An Evening With our Super Heroes…an educational Table Hopping”. Volunteers for the Print Competition included Susan Drew, CPPA President-Elect and Ann Dyer (if I missed someone I apologize).

A special tribute was made in honor of Roland Laramie, CPPA President (1966-67), three-time National Award Recipient, PPANE President (1974), and PPA President (1988). Harvey Goldstein, CPPA Executive Manager and Spotlight Editor (also a former CPPA and PPANE President), participated in the tribute. During the Awards Banquet, Roland’s wife, Helen, was awarded the National Award, which is provided by PPA and is given in recognition of outstanding service to professional photography. This award is not given every year and it was a very special moment when Helen received this award

Although I enjoyed the seminars as a PPANE member, most of the time I was wearing my CPPA President’s “hat”. During the two-day trade show I took the opportunity to speak to and thank several vendors that that are long-time CPPA supporters, such as Charlie Poole of Natural Color Lab, Al DiLeonardo of Albums by Design, and Mindy Heslink and Peggy Hatfield of Lenzart Color Lab. Al even said that my visit to his booth “made his day!”

There was a State President’s breakfast that both Deborah and I attended. Following the breakfast there was an informal meeting with PPANE officers and PPA President, Ron Nichols, along with representatives from the six New England states that make up PPANE. Each representative was given an opportunity to share questions and concerns. PPANE President (at least for one more day), Donna Goodhue, and Ron Nichols both discussed the upcoming changes to the print competition as it relates to PPANE and nearby states in the creation of a new District. Look for more news about that directly from PPA and PPANE.

The new PPANE President is fellow CPPA member, Tom Hurlbut. Congratulations Tom! As a friend, CPPA member and President of CPPA, I support Tom in his position as PPANE President. To connect the dots in its simplest form, CPPA is a PPA state association, which is part of the PPA Regional Affiliate – PPANE (which includes NEIPP), which is part of the national organization – PPA. I am happy to say that PPANE and NEIPP are alive and well and it was an honor to represent CPPA.

Your CPPA President,