On my mind …

PSA Journal, Oct, 2001 by Gregory C. Tansiongkun

The PSA's International Affairs Committee (IAC) serves as a link between PSA members in other countries and the Society as a whole with predominately U.S. based activities. Its responsibilities are to promote, on an international basis, an exchange of goodwill and information about PSA photographic activities, education and membership events; and to establish and facilitate supportive relationships between U.S. and overseas members, as well as photographic organizations in other countries with similar interests.

In 1995, the PSA strengthened the IAC and launched a network of PSA Country Representatives (CRs); related programs were implemented to support these objectives and goals.

At this writing, there are 55 CRs in 32 countries throughout the world, the latest additions being Croatia and Vietnam. Their basic responsibilities are to disseminate all information on PSA and its members, including the Society's policy changes, to individuals and photographic organizations worldwide; to report on new photographic developments, equipment and techniques; to relate any problems or difficulties on membership; to assist members who may wish to contact individuals in the U.S. or other countries with similar interests; and more specifically, to promote contacts between the U.S. and overseas members by being Travel Aides to assist members traveling in the U.S. and/or in the CR's country.

The Chairman of the International Affairs Committee or its two subcommittee Chairpersons--the Asian Affairs Committee Chair, Dr. Kenneth Cheng, FPSA, Toronto, Canada and the European Affairs Committee Chair, Fred Greene, FPSA, Nova Scotia, Canada--appoint the PSA Country Representatives. The CR's term of office is two years and may be reappointed. All CRs are volunteers with no financial compensation from the Society.

There have been questions as to the requirements and the eligibility to serve as PSA Country Representative. Basically only one--being a PSA member in good standing. However, most of our CRs have been prominent exhibitors and/or are well known photographers; a great many of them have been office holders in photo organizations in their country and have shown adequate knowledge and interest about, and loyalty to PSA. The IAC is constantly searching for more such individuals from the world over.

In the past five years of the CRs' existence, we have had only three resignations and five were not reappointed for a variety of reasons.

It is to be noted that each CR is also a PSA Travel Aide. As the name implies, their responsibilities include aiding members on photographic highlights in the area; providing information on travel needs; and rendering photographic assistance and guidance whenever possible. There were a few CRs who specifically indicated that they would be more than happy to render some limited physical escort to members who are touring their countries. Members who plan to visit a country may obtain information from PSA's Services Vice President Billy Turner, FPSA, who oversees the Travel Aide Program. We must stress that the Travel Aides are not travel agents and their services are only available to PSA members in good standing.

All our CRs are listed on the PSA website with their names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses; some even list their cell phone, pager and fax numbers. To browse the CR's section, simply go to www.psaphoto.org, stay on the left "Quicklinks" column--scroll down and click "Country Representatives."

During the first year or two, about 50-60% of the PSA CRs had e-mail facilities; however, the latest survey shows only 8 out of the 54 CRs are still not equipped with this electronic communication tool.

For several years now, the IAC had launched a country/region based "PSA's Best of......" program. Several audio-visual slide shows submitted by PSA members in Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany, Belgium, Europe and Pakistan respectively had been shown either in our annual International Conference or locally in their own countries. The "Best of Singapore" and the "Best of Hong Kong" have also been made into CDs for safekeeping and distribution. We are now preparing a "Best of PSA Country Representatives Print Exhibit" that will be exhibited in the International Conference in Houston, Texas in 2003, after a premier showing in Austria and Taipei, Taiwan.

The IAC has its own incentive program to reward exceptional services rendered by the CRs. For the past four years, we have been honoring a few very deserving individuals with the "PSA Country Representative of the Year" award. At the annual International Conference, the PSA President personally presents them with a PSA Service Medal. The citation and portrait of the awardees are published in the October Honors and Awards issue of the PSA Journal.

PSA is an international organization and about 1/6 of our total membership reside overseas; the IAC, as goodwill ambassador of the Society, aims to improve relationships and to develop stronger ties with all our affiliates wherever and however we can. It is through the joint efforts of all members (domestic and overseas alike), the overseas photo organizations and the network of Country Representatives that we can achieve this.