The Northern Virginia Alliance of Camera Clubs (NVACC) is an informal organization started in 1997 by Joseph Miller with the assistance of Dave Carter and Ed Funk. Its purpose is to promote communication and cooperation among camera clubs. Joe Miller's workshops showed us the value of interaction that can take place between members of different clubs. We also realized that the work effort of club field trip and workshop leaders could be reduced, while opportunities for members increased through inter-club cooperation. The original six member clubs are the International Photographic Society, the Manassas-Warrenton Camera Club, the McLean Camera Club, the North Bethesda Camera Club, the Northern Virginia Photographic Society, and the Vienna Photographic Society. They were joined subsequently by the Loudoun Photography Club and the Reston Photographic Society bringing the member club total to eight. Total membership among these clubs exceeds 1000. NVACC itself charges no dues.

Each Virginia member club agrees to publish in its newsletter a calendar of open events for the current month held at other Virginia member clubs.

In NVACC, camera club competitions are very popular activities. Competitions attract many club members, some of whom never compete at all, but attend to learn and enjoy the event. All this is possible because someone is willing to be a judge.

In spite of the importance of camera club competitions and the role of judges, there are no "established credentials” to become a judge. There are no tests, no formal training, no certification. One merely declares oneself a judge. Until the NVACC published its first Directory of Speakers and Judges in 1997, there was no formal inter-club sharing of recommended judges in the area.

Camera club judges are in great demand. In an effort to identify and train camera club members to become potential judges, special Seminars on Camera Club Judging were conducted at the Joseph Miller Center for the Photographic Arts. These seminars were a comprehensive examination of the nuances and intricacies of camera club judging including monthly competitions, end-of-year and exhibits.

Each prospective judge listed attended one of the all day Seminar on Camera Club Judging workshops and is prepared to provide: 1) his/her view of the role of a camera club judge and 2) the criteria he/she would use if invited to judge. They all have an understanding and appreciation of what is needed to ensure a successful camera club competition. Many already have been invited to judge at area clubs and all received favorable ratings. We hope you will consider them to judge at your club.