NANPA 2010 Board of Directors Candidate

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Rick Brown Moose's Photos 4075 Aerial Way, Apt 170 Eugene, OR 97402 (541) 461-2973 mooseb2@comcast.net

NANPA Experience: Charter member Attended five Summits Member, Fine Arts Exhibit Task Force, 2 years Co-Chair, Portfolio & Editorial Reviews Working Group, Summit Committee - 2007-Present

Give us an overview of your job, photographic, educational, volunteer, organizational board/committee skills, etc.
I graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1992 with a BS in biology with a minor in chemistry. Currently I work as a production associate at Life Technologies' Eugene, Oregon facility. In addition to my standard production responsibilities, I am an internal ISO auditor, VP of membership for our onsite Toastmasters International club. I have been heavily involved in photography since my college graduation in 1992. I specialize in birds and conservation topics connected with birds, but photograph a very wide variety of subjects. I am also currently the treasurer/board member of the Friends of the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex. My time with the Friends has included leading a program for a NANPA funded blind, which has recently been completed and is being used very heavily according to the refuge's ranger, the story of the building of this blind was published in the January/February 2009 issue of Ripples. I also spend a great deal of time with the Friends volunteering on conservation oriented work projects.

How long have you been an active member of NANPA?
I am a charter member of NANPA having joined a few months after the founding of the group.

What Summits/Forums have you attended?
My first summit was the 2004 summit in Portland, Oregon. I have also attended 2006 in Denver, 2007 in Palm Springs, 2008 in Destin, and 2009 in Albuquerque.

Have you served as a NANPA volunteer or worked on a committee?
I started NANPA volunteer work with the Fine Art committee in 2005, I worked with this committee until the 2007 summit in Palm Springs. At the 2007 summit, I also began volunteering with the Portfolio Reviews. After the 2007 summit I took the position of co-chair of the Portfolios Reviews. I currently hold this position.

What particular expertise and/or qualities would you bring to the NANPA Board?
I would bring speaking and leadership skills to the board, learned through my time in Toastmasters and earlier experience in high school ROTC. Furthermore, I would bring my experience in finding more efficient ways of doing things learned in my work experience with the Six Sigma program.

How would you use your abilities to further the NANPA mission?
I hope to expand NANPA's education into speaking skills useful in photographic careers and other photographic applications. Furthermore, I would like to use my science background to help the membership find scientific resources for furthering their various photographic projects.

How do you envision NANPA's role in the future of nature photography? How would you further that role?
I envision NANPA's role in the future of nature photography as being a voice in protecting the interests of photographers, a voice promoting ethical and professional practices, and a source of inspiration for photographers to use their talents for the benefit of conservation and free speech. As such I would do all that I can to keep our advocacy efforts effective. Furthermore, I would use the skills I've learned regarding process improvement to look for ever better ways to communicate the knowledge needed by our members regarding best practices.

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?
I want to serve on the NANPA board to serve this community that has meant so much to me. I hope to strengthen this sense of community within the group. Furthermore, I hope to make NANPA an even better source of information to help photographers meet their personal photographic goals. In addition, I would like to find ways to strengthen and expand the local events program so that our members could feel the surge of inspiration and feeling of community that comes from the summit, more often.

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