The MOUNTAIN ARTS PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY (MAPS) was founded in 2010 as a place where local photographers living and working in the communities of the San Bernardino Mountains could come together to share ideas, knowledge, and fellowship. The group has grown to a total membership of over 60 people. The average attendance at a monthly meeting is between 20 and 30 members. The photographic proficiency of the members ranges from beginners and intermediate level photographers to seasoned professionals. Some of the members in the group have become involved in galleries, shows, and competitions as a result of their time in the group.
MAPS Officers are: President~ Dennis Warnesky Vice-President ~ Joe Whyte Co-Secretary ~ Rebecca Smith Co-Secretary and Publicity ~ Stefanie Morrell Education Coordinator ~ Rebecca Smith Treasurer ~ Jim Morrell Organization Advisor ~ John Hummel
MAPS Club Meetings The group meets once-a-month on the first Wednesday of each month except for holidays and weather events. The doors open at 5:30 PM for socializing, and the meeting starts promptly at 6:00 PM and generally runs to about 8:30 PM. Meetings are currently being held in the Mountain Arts Network (MAN) Community Arts Center in the Lake Arrowhead Village. See the "Contact Us" page for details on meeting location. Our program begins with announcements concerning the MAPS organization and/or information on current and future events or contests available to the members. After announcements, there is usually a program on a particular topic presented by one of the members, or a guest speaker, or a video focusing on some aspect of the photographic process. In the middle of the meetings, there is a drawing for photographically oriented door prize, birthdays are acknowledged, and a break for refreshments. The rest of the meeting is devoted to reviewing Challenge photos. Each month the members are given a "challenge" topic, usually related to the educational material presented in the first half of the meeting. The topics include things like, "The Road less traveled...," "Snow and other things White," or "Chair." Members are asked to bring two images, one on the challenge topic and the other may be about the challenge or an image that the photographer would like to share.