by Rose Goodstone

SEWPPA started in 1969 when several photographers in the area saw a need to transform, what was then, a loose professional guild into an official PPA affiliate organization. Mr. Anthony Cilento was the motivator for this group. He set up a booth at the WPPA Convention and signed people up to join SEWPPA and was SEWPPA’s first president.

The logistics of running an organization, such as meeting times and dues, were the early concerns. Also high on the list of concerns was the type of member that SEWPPA should have. Should a part-time photographer be allowed into the group as well as full-time professionals? Another of the early growing pains was that many in the group were local competitors for the same contracts. These matters soon were resolved.

Since then the list of photographers that have served as president has read like a Who’s Who from our area:

• Tony Cilento – 1969
• Bob Anderson – 1970
• Ken Ludtke – 1971
• Tom Nicholson – 1972
• Murphy Camron – 1973
• Cliff Carroll – 1974
• Mike Scheibe – 1975
• Keith Robinson – 1976
• Chet Worzella – 1977
• John Schoenfeld – 1978
• Craig Middleton – 1979
• Nate Edwards – 1980
• Ray Wampole – 1981
• Mike Mathies – 1982
• Walter Roob – 1983
• Mark Eggebeen – 1984
• Mark Roob – 1985
• Jim Schoonover – 1986
• Don Wick – 1987
• Gary Wiltsey – 1988
• Gil Frenn – 1989
• Al Wagner – 1990
• Renee Heimerl – 1991
• Greg Nowak – 1992
• DeBorAh Wiltsey – 1993
• Rose Goodstone – 1994
• Dave Kipperman – 1995
• Jim Buivid – 1996
• Peggy Henning – 1997
• Gerry Milton – 1998
• Mary Gueller – 1999
• Mary Mortensen – 2000
• Steve Gueller – 2001
• Ron Feurer – 2002
• Michael Sohns – 2003
• Sue Walcott – 2004
• Karen Verley – 2005
• John Walcott – 2006
• Ron Wimmer – 2007
• Mary Braunsdorf – 2008
• Troxel Green – 2009
• Beth Engel – 2010

The early presidents really held the young association together even going so far as to call members if they had not yet registered for a meeting. Hard working volunteers, using grass roots methods, have been SEWPPA’s hallmarks for years. Displays were set up in malls and a photo fair was held to show what the difference in professional photography would mean to the client.

Membership was always the biggest concern. The early association consisted primarily of members from the Milwaukee metropolitan area and from the Racine/Kenosha area. Consequently, through membership drives, good programming and camaraderie, SEWPPA expanded its reach to include photographers from other areas. SEWPPA has had members from as far south as Illinois, as far north as Stevens Point and as far west as the Madison area.

One attraction for members has always been the quality of speakers. Early on SEWPPA used speakers from the area and had many of their speakers sponsored by our local vendors. Yearly shootouts were held on many photographic subjects to help inspire the members. In the mid-80’s the association started getting speakers from the Illinois area and other outside sources. That is when the nature of SEWPPA changed and it started to take on a more organizational look.

The 1990’s started SEWPPA’s dedication to obtaining nationally known speakers for its members. This collection of fine speakers brought in the styles of photography from across the country. Our print competition grew more sophisticated by this broad education. The annual Awards Banquet was revamped to be patterned after the WPPA’s, to celebrate member achievements. The SEWPPA Service Awards was also begun to acknowledge members for their commitment to the association. Some newspaper advertising was done to promote SEWPPA members, as well as having portraits done by a professional studio.

A Procedures Manual was established to guide board members, new and seasoned, about the who, what, where, when and how of their positions and responsibilities. Several other regionals used our manual as a guide to form their own. Our newsletters, using new computer desktop publishing techniques, gave members a quality publication to read with many educational articles, posing and lighting techniques, and editorials on current events.

Our presidential makeup was enhanced by finally having women serve as president eight times from 1991 to 2005. Brochures were published to attract new members as well as to inform the public about what a professionally produced image means. The 1990’s came to a close with the advent of electronic imaging competition being added so that members can continue to grow with the new information age.

At the turn of the new century, 2000 brought a new era of technology with digital imaging cameras. Photographers felt like photographers must have felt when color photography started taking over black and white back in the 1960’s. This digital photography would soon take the place of film, and the learning curve was massive. Computers and programs like Photoshop enabled photographers to do manipulations of images like never before.

Four members of SEWPPA, Cliff Carroll, Gil Frenn and Alan and Rose Goodstone took the bull by the horns and went to the Legislature in Madison to stop high school lock-out contracts in the State of Wisconsin. They got legislation passed in 2002 which guaranteed all Wisconsin photographers to get their yearbook pictures accepted in the high schools. No other photographer has ever undertaken such an ordeal. Other states across the country looked to SEWPPA members to get legislation passed in their states.

With its emphasis on innovative ideas, SEWPPA continues to be an organization for a new age.