Club History
CONTENTS
Time Line
Past Presidents
1982-1993 Club History by Bill Riley
1993-1998 Club History by Alice Klingshirn
TIME LINE of BIG EVENTS
1982, Fall - Club idea began in Nature Photography class at Nashville Tech
1983, January - First meetings at Cumberland Science Museum, 7 members
1983-93 - The primary emphasis stayed nature photography. The 17 members moved meeting place to 100 Oaks Mall and started display there.
1994 - The emphasis broadened with portrait and other photography interests and 27 members
1997 - Membership at 72 with multiple focus groups & classes at Donelson Senior Center
2005 - Moved meetings downtown to First Baptist Nashville with 130 members
2011 - Moved meetings to Dury's
2015 - June 16, 2015 - approved changes to by-laws (Assistant Treasurer and 501C3)
2015 - Became a 501C3 organization (tax exempt)
PAST PRESIDENTS
A listing of club presidents from the beginning:
1982-83 - John Lucas
1983-84 - Barbara Lucas
1984-85 - Brenda Hart
1985-86 - Brenda Hart
1986-87 - Brenda Hart
1987-88 - Brenda Hart
1988-89 - Brenda Hart
1989-90 - Brenda Hart
1990-91 - Brenda Hart
1991-92 - Brenda Hart
1992-93 - Brenda Hart
1993-94 - John Longhurst
1994-95 - Bill Riley
1995-96 - Bill Riley
1996-97 - Larry Christley
1997-98 - Larry Christley
1998-99 - Larry Christley
1999-00 - Jerry Lewis
2000-01 - Jerry Lewis
2001-02 - Windle Harmon
2002-03 - Charles Griggs & Carl Maynard
2003-04 - Ed Batsel
2004-05 - Ed Batsel
2005-06 - Charlie Doggett
2006-07 - Joe Fizer
2007-08 - Jim Bruner
2008-09 - Ron Box
2009-10 - Rod Shean
2010-11 - Mike Miles
2011-12 - Randy Harris
2012-13 - Brent Wright
2013-14 - Jamie Bruner
2014-15 - Dana Barrett
2015-16 - Dennis Gowan
2016-17 - Steve Mabry
2017-18 - Roger Pruitt
2018-19 - Pat Hollander
2019-20 - tom ventress
2020-21- dottie swiegoda
2021- 22 - seretha nobbin
2022-23 - Bryant worthy
2023-25 - cary herman
1982-1993 by Bill Riley
What follows is my recollection of the beginnings of the Nashville Photography Club. In the fall of 1982 the Nature Photography class at Nashville Tech was taught by Jim Robertson, a local professional photographer with the Corps of Engineers. I was one of those in the class and we all thoroughly enjoyed going to scenic places all over the state as "field trips." We enjoyed the wonderful outdoor adventures and photographic fun so much that several of us decided to maintain the interest after the class by forming a club.
John and Barbara Lucas had been members of a photography club earlier in Nashville, but that club didn't last. At first they were skeptical that a new one would fare any better, but agreed to help us give it a try. John and Barbara got their friends Jim and Carol Brewer to join. Class members Sherlene Spicer and Kevin Hancock joined the group along with me. So we started with 7 charter members.
John agreed to be president, Barbara vice president and I was the treasurer. We didn't have a newsletter at first and our original dues were $7 per year. All we wanted money for was to pay rent for our meeting place in the Biomes theater at the Cumberland Science Museum. Our first official club meeting was in January of 1983. I kept the club funds in a zip-lock bag from which I paid the museum for the room. We met then on the fourth Thursday of the month and the next two members to join were Shelia Shay and Buddy Whorly.
Our focus then was on nature photography. We frequently had overnight field trips to Tennessee's beautiful scenic areas, many of them places Jim Robertson had introduced us to in the class.
One early member I recall was a fellow named "Ray" who marched to the beat of a different drummer! He had the appearance of a street person with bib overalls and a fierce-looking bushy red beard. He was a gentle soul, but at night, as he slept on the camp's picnic table, his snoring would convince us we had a bear in the camp! Though Ray had a home and a job, he frequently spent nights on the streets and slept under bridges.
Sherlene always brought along her kids Tia and Jonathan who were a delight to have around! Barbara and John occasionally brought their dog on our trips, who was not a delight to have around! At night it was hard to walk through camp without stepping in dog poop!
As time progressed, the club of course began to change. Survival of the club can be attributed to several individuals who have stepped forward at the time of need. Brenda Hart served as president for at least five years. Brenda did much of the work, in addition to organizing things and doing the newsletter. John Longhurst served as president for two years following Brenda. The club was struggling to grow at that time. Around that time Alice Klingshirn stepped forward to publish our newsletter.
A few of the early members still remain in the club, but many seemed to have moved out of the area. Kevin Hancock moved to Knoxville where he and his wife Sandy have a studio and are popular wedding photographers. John and Barbara Lucas moved to Cookeville where John became a photographer for Tennessee Technological University. Jim and Carol Brewer moved to North Carolina where Carol's job took them. Sherlene continues her trade as a landscaper but finds the time to continue taking workshops and photography safaris. She is an excellent photographer and remains an active member of the club. Jim Robertson spent a few years in Utah and Arizona, but returned to Nashville where he continues his love for photography and the outdoors. Bill Riley served as president of the club for two years and is still a member.
1993-1998 by Alice Klingshirn
I believe there were 17 members when I joined in 1993. By June of 1994 the number had grown to 27 and by the end of 1997 we had 72 members! In 1998 Betty Moore was the treasurer with a checking account instead of a zip-lock bag! And by 1998 Larry Christley, who had been President in 1996 and 1997, started a club web site.
During those years the outings seemed few and far between, though we did meet twice a year with the photo club in Harriman, Tennessee for a week-end at Pickett or Fall Creek Falls State Park. A Nature Focus Group was started with Darel Hess as leader then Bruce Yonce after him. They had outdoor photo shoots nearly every month.
There was also a People/Portrait Focus Group started under the leadership of Hazel Teasley with scheduled sessions to help club members perfect their portrait techniques. A Basic Photography Class began to be taught once or twice a year by Bill Kotas in his home. And Joe Fizer became the first Exhibits Chair, beginning the ongoing exhibit at 100 Oaks Mall.
By 1998 we had celebrated Christmas four times with joint parties with the Franklin and Hendersonville Photography Clubs. One was at Grassmere Wildlife Park and the other three at St. Matthias Episcopal Church.