I am going to post this here in the New England Region Forum because I feel it is the best place for it.
Getting ready for the move upstairs is going well... the landlord has been wonderful and very helpful - they have decided to take all the mirrors of the walls for us (insurance liability they say) and they will help us with getting the material to cover the walls to hang photos on. You can't help but like their commitment to help us out!!
The thing is this move isn't gonna be cheap - it is going to cost us. I am hesitant to ask for help, but...
This is why I am posting here as opposed to the general forums. Many of you have visited the VPC and it will continue to be the Western New England home of the NE-APUG. Well, as long as I am involved with the VPC it will be!
So I am asking NE-APUG'ers if they would like to make a tax-deductible doantion to please PM me and I will send them the info.
If the moderators feel this is inappropriate, please feel free to delete this post.
I thank all my friends in advance for any help they decide to throw the VPC's way.

gene

Gene,

Sent you a PM....

-Bill

Gene, keep us up to date on how the move is going.

Well gang... the move is complete and the first exhibit is on the walls (until Fri Feb 9th) and I still haven't caught up on my rest. It's been a hectic three months.
Here I would like to thank these wonderful APUG'ers (in no particular order) for their financial help, without their generosity things wouldn't have gone as smoothly:
Bill Hahn
Whitey Morange
Beth Fisher
Art Liem
Peter Schrager
Mike Castles
Fred Rosenberg (I am trying to get Fred to visit here more often!)
Drew Barr
Suzanne Revy
Krystyna Szarek
Dan Sullivan
Robert Teague

Thank you all very much!

As I threatened, I will be posting some before and after pics. So here goes...

#1 is the last day at the old space... pictured is a visitor who was steamed that we were moving - he doesn't like change!
#2 & 3 show what we moved into - notice the 10' mirrors on the wall.

More to come soon.

Gene-leave the mirrors up- you could call the next show Reflections!!
Best, Peter

Here is some more of work in progress:

Thanks Peter! :D

Here is some pics of the YouthBuild crew that did the work. They are part of the YWCA and during the better weather months do a lot of work for Habitat for Humanity. In YouthBuild they learn skills in the construction trades to be able to get better jobs in the real world.

The group shot is from a 5x7 neg. I brought my old Kodak 2D in to show them a "Real" camera. The exposure is 1/2 second... and they couldn't stay still for that long!! ;)

Here are some finished pics of the space...

The fourth pic has, from rigth to left, photos by Suzanne Revy, Art Liem and Krystyna Szarek.

And finally a few color pics taken by one of our more active volunteers. Please excuse that they are digi-snaps.

The man on the right in the gray shirt is the teacher of YouthBuild who contacted me about having his group do the renovation work. he does sports and event photography a few towns east of Springfield. Without his and his kids help I would still be putting up drywall, spackling and painting.
A great big Thank You!! goes to Jack Cascio and the kids of YouthBuild!!

WOW!! If only more communities had a papagene and support like this. It looks Great gene, Thank You for sharing...not only the photos, but what a great story with the YouthBuild.

Gene... it looks great! I can't believe it's the same space I saw when I dropped off my prints last month!! You did a great job with the space, and I am going to make every effort to get back out there to see the show!!

Thanks for posting the pix!

Reflections!! haha, Peter!! :p

Gene, the place looks fabulous. You a truly the master of your domain.
Way to go!

All the best,
Daniel

Congrats. Where is it located? I'll try and stop in next time Im in the area visiting my family.

pes... It is located in Tower Square, Main St, Springfield, MA. Tower Square used to be called Bay State West. PM me if you need more detailed directions and phone #.

gene