WEVA Ambassador Program Offers 'TV Commercials' To Local Associations
January 19, 2007
Sarasota, FL - To promote the benefits of professional wedding videography and help educate brides at the local level, Wedding & Event Videographers Association International (WEVA) is distributing “TV commercials” to local videographers associations nationwide - a free service of the new WEVA Local Association Ambassador Program.
As reported in the latest issue of Wedding & Event Videography Resource Guide, the new Ambassador Program was announced this past fall in Boston, MA during the NPVA 20th Anniversary Celebration, where Roy Chapman chairman of WEVA International presented the National Professional Videographers Association with the WEVA Chairman’s Award honoring the NPVA’s 20-year history of industry achievements.
NPVA co-founders Joyce and Joe Bertolami (far left in the adjacent photo), and current president Richard Talmage (second from right) accepted the inscribed plaque from Roy Chapman (far right), which reads "Presented to National Professional Videographers Association, Honoring NPVA's 20th Anniversary 1986-2006, In recognition and appreciation of 20 years of dedication, commitment, education, and service to the wedding and event video industry."
Also present from WEVA for NPVA’s special celebration were John Zale WEVA’s Director of Educational Development, WEVA Wedding & Event Videography Hall of Fame inductees Kathy and Al Ritondo of Personal Touch Video, and Natalie Neal of Glass Slipper Productions producer of WEVA-TV’s “Nat Chat” series who was introduced as the new Ambassador Program's national director.
The NPVA is the oldest continuously operating professional videographers association in the United States, serving members in Massachusetts and throughout New England. As the association’s website notes, the NPVA is “dedicated to continuous development of our professional skills, the sharing of knowledge and resources, and a rigorous code of professional ethics.”
In presenting the Chairman's Award Chapman recalled, “it was through the outstanding efforts of Joyce Bertolami (also a WEVA Hall of Fame inductee) that enabled the formation of the WEVA Local Association Development Committee over a decade ago.” Bertolami served for several years as co-chair of the WEVA committee, which for more than 10 years has provided support to local videographers associations and individual videographers wishing to start local associations by offering free start-up manuals and materials, development consultations, and direct program content.
Since 1995, WEVA has also hosted and presented the WEVA Local Association Presidents Council roundtable meetings regionally, and nationally/internationally, on a yearly basis. The next international meeting of the Local Association Presidents Council will be held at the WEVA 17th Annual Wedding & Event Video Expo in August 2007.
2007 Ambassador Events to Begin in February
“The launch of the WEVA Local Association Ambassador Program, directed by Natalie, is a natural progression and outgrowth of WEVA’s continuous support for local associations over the past decade. We’re excited by the new opportunities already unfolding and underway through the new Ambassador initiative. It shows working together is working to make a difference,” Chapman said.
"It was an honor to join the NPVA members and other guests to celebrate the association’s 20-year hallmark in Boston last fall,” said Neal. "With the NPVA’s strong support and involvement in professional educational development it was a perfect occasion to introduce WEVA’s Ambassador Program, which will revolutionize the way we approach outreach education in our industry."
To kick off the launch during NPVA’s anniversary celebration, Chapman presented the association leadership with copies of five professionally-produced TV commercials showing the power of wedding videography that were submitted by five local videographers associations (including the NPVA) that participated in last year's “Local Association TV Commercial Shoot-Out” -- an all-new and original concept created and developed by WEVA for the WEVA EXPO 2006 BATTLE OF THE VIDEOGRAPHERS! program.
The new commercials have already been uploaded to the NPVA website to promote professional videography throughout the New England area. NPVA’s webmaster, Michael Kolowich said the five, 60-second commercials can be viewed individually or consecutively. "It’s exciting to know that WEVA’s efforts in professional development education have made this special video content possible for the websites of local associations around the country. The commercials are being distributed through the new Ambassador initiative, and the first-round of new WEVA Ambassador events for local associations begins in February 2007,” said Neal.
WEVA's 'TV Commercial' Competition Makes Everyone A Winner
In researching and developing the original concept of the "TV Commercial Shoot-Out" as a competition category for the 2006 WEVA EXPO, WEVA’s John Zale said independent local associations around the country were contacted by WEVA.
"They were very excited about the promotional opportunities and the industry-wide recognition. And, they were not unhappy to know that some very cool prizes, would be awarded to the winners, including a Grand Prize of $1,000.00 in gift certificates for new video gear of their choice. The 2006 Grand Prize for the best commercial was won by the Greater Philadelphia Videographers Association (GPVA). We’re looking forward to another exciting 'TV Commercial Shoot-Out' among Local Associations again this year for WEVA EXPO 2007.”
Zale added, "WEVA always looks for positive ways to promote our industry and, with the help of local associations, these original and emotion-packed commercials produced by local groups, combined with other initiatives including WEVA's new 2007 winter promotion with Brides.com will be at the forefront of our efforts to showcase the power of professional video locally and nationally." To see how the five commercials have already been incorporated into the NPVA website Click Here!
About Wedding & Event Videographers Association International
The largest professional videographers association, WEVA International is dedicated to advancing the professional interests of videographers worldwide through continuing education, technical support, group benefits, advocacy committees, and professional development conferences. Membership also provides opportunities for global networking and system-training at WEVA Wedding & Event Video Expo 2007 the wedding & event video industry’s largest annual convention and trade show, ongoing videographer (MPV) accreditation, video business marketing tools, and industry resources.
Join WEVA today to access valuable association membership benefits, including new job opportunities. For more information about WEVA EXPO 2007 (members receive discount admission) and all other benefits, including affordable Equipment and General Liability Insurance, Errors & Omissions Insurance, and the new Equipment Financing Program for videographers, contact the association at 941-923-5334 or email: [email protected] |
