NANPA 2010 Board of Directors Candidate

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Alison Jones Alison Jones Photography 330 East 79th Street, Apt 9G New York, NY 10075 (212) 861-6961 alison@alisonjonesphoto.com

NANPA Experience: Member since 1985 Attended 14 Summits Chair, Awards Committee, 3 years Board member, 2007-Present Portfolio Reviewer for High School Student Scholarship Program, 3 years

Give us an overview of your job, photographic, educational, volunteer, organizational board/committee skills, etc.
I am a NYC-based photographer with 22 years of assignments and photographic projects in Africa, Europe and the Americas. My focus has been primarily on conservation and development programs, as well as work for nonprofits such as Save the Children, Direct Relief, TechnoServe and LightHawk. I am also Project Director and Founder of No Water No Life ®, a nonprofit project documenting case-study watersheds of Africa and North America. With the support of WINGS World Quest, the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP) and the Explorers Club, this project combines the powers of photography and science in to raise public awareness of the vulnerability of our freshwater resources.

My images have been used in magazines, books, reports, calendars, TV and my own workshops, lectures and exhibits. Granted an honorary Masters Degree in Photography by Brooks Institute, I have studied photography at International Center of Photography and Maine Photographic Workshop. Currently I am Director of NANPA, Fellow of ILCP and member of ASMP and the Explorers Club. I am a founding supporter of Kenya's Mara Conservancy and have recently written a proposed management plan for Ethiopia's Nech Sar N.P. while enrolled in Columbia University's CERC Conservation Curriculum.

How long have you been an active member of NANPA?
Since 1995, the second year of NANPA.

What Summits/Forums have you attended?
I have attended all but the first and the tenth Summits.

Have you served as a NANPA volunteer or worked on a committee?

I was Chair of NANPA's Awards Committee for 3 years. I have conducted portfolio reviews for the High School Students at the Summit the last 3 years. I am currently finishing a 3-year term on the Board, having served as liaison to the Membership, College Scholarship and Awards Committees. I have been part of a task force investigating the publication of a book on the legacy of NANPA's Lifetime Achievement and Outstanding Photographer award-winners.

What particular expertise and/or qualities would you bring to the NANPA Board?
As a NANPA old-timer, I have a good overview of the organization's history and progress and I have listened to many members' stories and what they need from NANPA. I have run my own photo business for 20 years and my No Water No Life nonprofit project simultaneously for the last 3 years. The latter includes learning and succeeding in grant writing. As a member of quite a few photo/arts organizations over the years, I understand the issues in the photography business as a whole, not just those of nature photography. Outside of photography, I have served two elected positions in town government and written official analyses of town school budgets. All of these various commitments have stood me in good stead as a NANPA Board member for the last three years. Beyond these experiential qualifications, I have an eager ear and am committed to prompt and thoughtful responses to all issues needing the attention of the NANPA Board.

How would you use your abilities to further the NANPA mission?
The NANPA Mission's focus on education, ethics and environment are the three strongest elements of my personal career. In establishing my No Water No Life project, which focuses on educating the public about the health of our watershed environments, I used the NANPA mission as a proto-type and NANPA's Ethics-in-the-Field Statement as the basis of our project's guidelines for all team members. My career focus certainly indicates my support of NANPA's investigation into further ways to involve its members and their products to support our natural environment. A great example of such efforts is the current investigation into establishing coordination between NANPA members and local BioBlitzes.

As a mother of two daughters now involved in environmental careers and as a substitute High School teacher, I have always believed in the power of education. Much of my focus during my first tenure on the NANPA board has focused on learning about and supporting the High School and College Scholarship Programs. One of my primary goals for NANPA is to increase support and inclusion of younger, emerging photographers through broader outreach and other means that the Board is currently discussing.

How do you envision NANPA's role in the future of nature photography? How would you further that role?
These are hard times for all organizations; but I feel NANPA's mission is not only strong, but especially valid today. Continued emphasis on NANPA's founding values will ensure the organization's survival and further success. In this economy, NANPA has an even greater charge to support its members at a time when we could be too easily tempted to give it up. There are many new technologies that NANPA can use to grow exponentially. If led with a clear and well-researched focus by the Board, NANPA can be on the cutting edge of new ways to gather, inform and support all those who use a camera - whether still or video - to capture the wonders of our planet.

As well, there are many nature photographers in North America who do not know about NANPA. I am excited by the current board's creative thoughts on mechanisms to further stretch NANPA's outreach, thus enriching and enlarging our membership. NANPA is a "family" as many have said, but it should be an even bigger family!

Why do you want to serve on the NANPA Board of Directors? If elected, what would you personally like to accomplish during your term on the NANPA Board?
My photography career has been strongly influenced by knowledge and contacts I've gathered from NANPA. I am committed to repaying that debt. As well, it is exciting to be part of a dedicated team working to support those committed - or in the case of NANPA's students, just beginning to commit -- to celebrating and raising awareness of the beauty and vulnerability of nature with their cameras. Being on the Board is a way to "walk the talk" of NANPA's Mission. Working to support the nature photography community means working to protect our natural world and its resources for future generations. What could be more exciting than that?

If elected, I would build on knowledge I've gained in the last 3 years as a Board Member.

I would continue to support the growing outreach of NANPA via its road shows and regional events, student scholarship programs and value-oriented Summit meetings. As well, I would help promote a powerful new website to connect the "NANPA Family" from within and reaching out to others who should know about NANPA. I personally would focus on three goals: promoting the future "photo power" of our students; valuing our past with the Awards Committee as it recognizes those who've led the way; and always returning to the NANPA mission statement for direction when issues arise.

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