Yes I'm sure it is Jill and such a good idea that the BOCA instigated; I didnt engage in this part of BOCA, I was working at the time, not living in Victoria and my 'spare' time was spent as an BO editor for terrestrial bird manuscripts. BOCA is part of our proud part of our history, should not be forgotten but it is now the time for BLP to put its stamp on bird photography until we become something other iteration at some future time.
This revised format ie structured photography campouts is in response to BLP members spread across the country contacting me and asking when DPITB would be in their 'neck of the woods'. For some places never, as we need to ensure that BLP is not exposed to significant financial risk, which means that cost recovery requires a certain participation rate. Running an event in Perth or somewhere else in WA, perhaps Broome, would require WA member undertaking most if not all the work and the associated logistical issues. We also have no WA representative on the committee to take charge. As a professional organisation it also means that BLP has to ensure the success of the event and in some places we have no real idea as to how many members might attend and how difficult it would be to attract speakers and project subsidise travel cost. This would be less of an issue if we were not a voluntary organisation and charged several hundred dollars registration - neither of which are viable.
The committee agreed that this new format had significant merit, it provided a photography event that is clearly needed in remote and regional Australia and it is really these regions that the campouts target, not something close to any of our capital cities. It also engages members - if members want this to happen, they have to be prepared to take on the organisational workload.; the committee is is completely overloaded with work.
The is the first of the non-elected committee endorsed roles that are essential to ensure the success and future growth of BLP; so come on fellow members it is time to raise a hand and say - i can do this
Regards
Graham