Some times being involved in your community can start with the most basic use of your photographic skills.  Here’s a great example of how Ron Diesslin and his wife are using their photographic and design skills to help the local school system with a new yearbook.  Virtually every community in the US has experienced the challenges of cutbacks in the school system, especially with extra-curricular activities.  Yearbooks, school newspapers and the PhotoClub have all taken a hit. 

What I enjoyed most was Ron’s last sentence.  Who knows what career path his involvement might influence if these students continue with their interest in photography?

Last year my son started a new school, and as in the past, we wanted to be involved. We found that the school needed volunteers to create the school yearbook. In the past, it was created by a few moms using the “cut and paste” method. So, we took on the project to convert it to all digital and to give it a new and exciting look.

This project was much more involved than we thought it would be. Though I was frequently at the school with my cameras, we had to coordinate numerous other parents and students to take and submit photos. My wife Maureen was solely responsible for the selection of the photos, and the design for the book. Everyone loved and raved about the finished book. We were even unexpectedly presented an award for the book. However, we knew we had to do something to make the process easier, especially since the final deadline for the book was during June, the wedding season.

This year, we have started a Junior High yearbook club, to get the students more involved with the photography and design. I have taught basic digital photography to the club, and to quite a few students at the school involved with the school newsletter. I will be teaching again to the new newsletter students in January. In December, we will be training them on using the software to design the pages.

The students are very excited about their new book that they will contribute photos to and have a hand in designing. I’m sure this is a book they will keep and cherish forever. 

This isn’t as big as some of the charities other photographers are involved in, but to see the faces of the kids light up when they learn something new about photography, or when they see their photo in print, is priceless.