International Stock Imagery Association: Continues To Grow, Selected Interim Board Of Directors

A while ago in October, I wrote about "StockImagery: A New Yahoo Group For Professional Stock Photographers", founded by Clarence W. Walker. At that time, Clarence intended to found the International Stock Imagery Association.

As you probably know, there had been a long back and forth regarding this new association at the Stock Photo group. Some people were clapping, while others seemed to be -- how to say -- outrageously disappointed.

Earlier Chuck Goodenough wrote an excellent comment about this new association:

Hi all,
I would say, based on what Joe Pobereskin is saying, that Clarence saw a niche where SAA might be excluding a group he felt needs servicing.

He's exhibiting the entrepreneurial spirit most of us have and a need for there to be one group for all the stock business models.

I would say that it's surely premature to say it's a "trade association" or even a peer, but you have to credit the guy for stepping forward and getting something started toward that goal. These things do start somewhere and generally it takes a Joe Pobereskin or Clarence Walker to do it. Also, It makes no difference to me whether the instigator has tons of stock or photo experience. It's recognizing a void and acting on it that's admirable.

Clarance stated today in an official declaration that:

The International Stock Imagery Association is growing rapidly and finding an overwhelmingly positive interest in its platform of openness, professional ethics, respect for the individual and inclusivity. Already membership includes those from many different segments of the industry from all over the U.S., as well as Denmark, Canada, throughout the UK, Greece, Croatia, New Zealand, Panama, Australia and other countries around the world. We are truly an international association of photographers, distributors, and many other aspects of the stock industry trade.

Recently an interim board of directors with a very even representation from the U.S. and other countries was selected. Currently, the board is busily working to address the needs of its membership in a broad range of areas ranging from the development of member resources to the launch of its new website.

Comments

[Jim Hunter]

Andy,

Thank you for your kind words regarding the new International Stock Imagery Association (I.S.I.A.).

We now have a full compliment of nine members on the interim board and are hard at work on the organizational phase including filing the paper work to become certified with the IRS as a 501(c) 3 Not-For-Profit Mutual Benefit Organization.

We have also begun the initial work of establishing a permanent home and web site for the new I.S.I.A. which will contain information about the organization, how to join, etc.

The current board consists of members from the United States, Great Briton, Denmark, Greece and Canada. The general membership is even wider ranging. The I.S.I.A. is truly becoming a global organization.

The I.S.I.A. will represent the needs and provide resources for its individual members involved as professionals in the many fields involved in the capture, production, distribution and licensing of stock imagery. We already have a large number of photographers as well as representatives of at least two stock distributors and an advertising agency.

Our purpose is to become organization that will promote and protect the interests of the entire stock imagery community through advocacy, education and communication by taking an active role in developments affecting the entire stock imagery community.

[Clarence W. Walker]

The members of the International Stock Imagery Association board have all
been working hard for the past couple of weeks designing and creating
content for the new ISIA web site as well as the new forums. It is our goal
that this will become the most complete resource on the web for information
relating to all areas of stock imagery.

I have set a very optimistic schedule to have the new ISIA web site and
forums ready to launch by November 30 if not before. There is an incredible
amount of work to be accomplished between now and then and we are all
putting in many long, hard hours so hopefully we can meet that schedule.

We have a very ambitious plan to make the ISIA web site the premier presence
on the web for information, news and resources pertaining to the stock
imagery industry. Most likely the site will still be somewhat lacking in
many areas when initially launched. However I am confident that by
attracting a quality membership who are willing to contribute, we will be
able to build the organization as well as the site into something we can all
be very proud of. For this we will need suggestions and input from all of
our members as well as your support.

One of the systems we hope to have in place will allow members to submit
their own articles, subject to approval by the site administrators,
regarding various aspects of the stock industry. We feel this unique system
will encourage participation by our membership as well as create a deep well
of quality information.

All of this is due to the hard work and talent of Theodoros Papageorgiou,
our incredibly talented Vice President of Internet Technology. The other
members of the board have also been extremely giving of their time and
energies in providing ideas and content for the new site.

We are all very excited about our pending move and look forward to having
all of the current members of the StockImagery forum and ISIAFORUM joining
us.