Yesterday’s post got some interesting reactions, but what my post didn’t talk about was the Tweet I put out the day before.   I’m looking for photographers to be part of Charity Fest – a series of guest posts/interviews with photographers who are making a difference.   I know a lot of photographers just don’t know how to get started – so it makes sense to find the stories out there and share them with everybody.

It’s incredible when social media works the way you hope it will.   Within just a few minutes after Tweeting the request for photographers who are involved I received three emails.  The first one was from Seshu  in Connecticut, the second from Jen May and the third from Peter Garr, who not only told me about a project in L.A. but retweeted my original tweet.   All three of the stories will be part of Charity Fest, which I’ll start to post next week.

But I’d like to take it one step further and in an effort to encourage photographers to take the time to share their stories of the thousands of different ways they’re making a difference, we’ll draw for some scholarships to next summer’s Skip’s Summer School, August 8-11 in Las Vegas at the MGM again.   So, send me your story, 2-400 words and a few images (3×4 300 dpi), to skip@mei500.com.  There’s no guarantee that every story will make the blog, but every photographer submitting will be included in the chance to win one of four scholarships to Summer School!  Deadline for submissions is December 8, 2009.

So, here’s what I’m looking for, stories of projects you’re involved with in your community, charities in which you’re involved, non-profit events in which you used your photographic skill set or just good old blood, sweat and tears to make a difference.  There’s no event or activity too small and there’s no limit on where you worked to have the impact.   And, if you’re looking for inspiration, check out some of these previous blogs involving Ralph Romaguera (Young Leadership Council), Aurora Onorato (NILMDTS), Gustavo Fernandez (Children International) or Kenny Kim (Thirst Relief).

There are so many of you who are making it a point to be involved – let’s share those stories with other photographers and create our own photo industry charity RAVE!

And, if you’ve got any questions and would rather tweet than email, then follow me on www.twitter.com/skipcohen