2010 Ballot Statement: Matthew Pace *

Endorsements: Dennie Cody, Steve Whittaker, Stan Kaady, Sandy Levy

ASMP Member Since 2000

ASMP Offices Held: South Florida Program Director (2003); South Florida Vice President (2005); South Florida President (2006–Current); Forum Moderator (2006–2009)

Other Photography Related Organizational Affiliations: Fine Art Photographers, Host/Moderator

Ballot Statement: We are in changing times that is taxing our talents and causing us to re-define how we do business, and where will it come from. ASMP must evolve to meet new challenges to insure the future, by securing the present.

Reaching new business sources by promoting its membership is as equally important as strengthening its advocacy. In light of today, both need new approaches.

(1) Find a Photographer, a great vehicle for potential clients, needs another tool to attract their attention. As President of South Florida, we began the project called “The Light of Florida,” a book in progress with a website linking to each contributor, and its promotion campaign leading back to Find a Photographer. Both Central and South Florida chapters contributed.

This movement could expand to all chapters, renaming itself “The Light of America.” Culminating as a larger book, traveling exhibit and online site, that could also feature motion, and audio, it will help us reach higher audience, by its nature and allow us to explore and express new media. It will give us much promotional material in its making and finalization, which can be used to direct buyers’ attention to our larger source, Find a Photographer. It could through SEO promotion, a proposed committee, attract new membership, help current ones to step up another level, and rekindle passions. It will show both, who we are and where we live underlining ASMP, as a record to the nation and world, and create a chance of being sponsored on a larger level, by bringing the exhibit to Washington.

(2) Advocacy could be strengthened by giving ASMP the ability to attain a broader membership by re-defining itself. Today’s talent is branching out leaving many out of our current membership qualifications. We must re-examine new levels of membership and re-define who we are becoming, into the “American Society of Media Providers,” a society allowing creators from film, video, audio, computer art, eg. to join, sharing our knowledge, and concerns of copyright protections, expanding our reach helping us all by adding more strength in the fight against OW, as a collective under one umbrella.

Both proposals call on new ideas and new help. I am entering this election to help make a difference in our Society and bring benefit to us as members. I believe the good of the whole benefits the one. Change is not the approach, Evolving is.

*Recommended by the ASMP Governance Committee