If you cannot attend on the chosen date, go on your own day at the time you prefer. Email up to 6 photos to Rob Hamilton  rfh3358@gmail.com  for the slide show. Ask anyone if you need assistance to achieve this task. Attending field trips will assist you to improve your photography if you attend and ask questions to learn something or try something different. Ask someone what settings they are using.

  Each member can show their photographs in the slide show. Attend a field trip or make one up of your own creation. Take photos, send up to 6 on each adventure to Rob. Show your photos. They do not need to be worked via PhotoShop. They do not need to be competition quality photos. Have some enjoyment and do not leave your photos sitting on a memory card.

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  May 10 at 10 am until 7 pm SiestaCon at Robart’s Arena off Fruitville Road in Sarasota. $10 admission. Free parking. Address:  3000 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. This is a “comic con” event with people dressed in character costumes. They all want their photo taken. Rhonda totally enjoyed this last year after stating, “This is out of my norm”. See the Batmobile, movie characters, movie props and toys. www.siestacon.com

  May 19 at 9 am Fort DeSoto Park, 3500 Pinnellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde (St. Petersburg). Bryan will be at the entrance of the Gulf Pier at 9 am cell 443 803 7548. Park opens at 7 am and closes at sunset. This is a county park with two piers where birds stand on roofs of structures … good for close ups on birds. The fort can provide some structure/door photos. There are dog parks at the park. The North Beach is where photographers go to snap wading birds in the shallow water. This can be worthy in mornings or evenings. Shell hunters and sand dollar collectors go to Fort DeSoto beaches. A credit card is required to purchase a $6. day-parking pass. Get it at the fort. No receipt. Your plate is now registered. Turn in at GULF PIER – HISTORIC FORT sign. A $30 fine will be the cost of not buying a day-pass. Rangers use LPI (license plate identification) when driving through the parking lot. It “pings” non-compliant license plates. There are several toll collection places going to the fort. The famous “bill-by-plate” will be used for vehicles without a “SunPass” or other accepted program. Parking pass machines are not working at the North Beach location. For information search: Fort DeSoto Park. Note: since my visit, a scammer with LPI technology has been sending me text messages attempting to get me to pay the toll. The SunPass people list this on their website. Ignore any such text message.

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  May 19 Don CeSar Hotel, 3400 Gulf Blvd, St. Pete Beach. Opened in 1928, “The Pink Castle” or “Pink Lady” was very classy. It was bought by US Army to serve as a military hospital during WWII. It became a convalescent center for the US Army Air Corps. In 1945 the US Veterans Administration had this as a Regional Office. In 1968 it was vacant and thye US General Services Agency planned demolition. In 1972 it was sold to become a hotel once again. Spend $400+ and enjoy a stay !!! www.doncesar.com  Parking in Pinellas County is by APP or credit card. What a pain it is to park.

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  May 24 VDubs On The Pier, St. Petersburg at 11 am. FREE. Volkswagens of all kinds and years. Starting at 11 am VDubs will park at The Vinnoy Hotel back parking lot. At noon, they drive to Spa Beach Park at the St. Pete Pier 600 2nd Ave. NE., St. Petersburg, park and have a festival until 5 pm with food vendors, music and stuff. www.thesaltydub.com   I have no info on parking.

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  Give YOUR field trip suggestions to Bryan or better yet, lead us on a field trip. I try to keep them close to home and free. Evidence shows this to be the best way to gain attendance. A few members have the desire to drive more than 10 miles and perhaps pay an admission fee.

Cheers, Bryan