Eligibility: All Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club Members, except contest judges, can enter the contest at no cost.  Non Club members may participate if club dues of $15.00 Individual or $20.00 family are submitted with the entry(s).  

Deadline/Mailing/Questions:  Entries must be received before October 1, 2007 to eligible.  They can be sent or given to:

Rebecca Miller
RR4 Box 237E
Kittanning, PA 16201

rmiller@sylvaninc.com

Please also direct questions to Rebecca Miller.

Accepted Images: This year we will accept 3 formats: 35 mm color slides, color prints, or color digital images.  Slides must be in cardboard or plastic mounts, glass mounts will not be accepted.  Prints must be at least 3 X 5 inches but no more than 12 inches on a side.  Digital images must be less than 65 MB per image and must be sent on a CD(s), DVD, or 3.5 disc(s), unless the combined entries for the contestant take less than 3 minutes to download on a dial-up connection, then they can be emailed. Digital entries must be JPG or TIF. 

Please note:  any future WPMC contests may or may not accept prints, but if prints are disallowed, instructions will be given on how or where to have your print converted to a slide or to a digital image.

Return of Images : Slides and prints will be returned if requested on the entry sheet that you submit with the images.  Digital images will not be returned – be sure to keep a copy.   Please note: image duplication can take several months.

Categories:

	Pictorial:  This type of image should be of a beautiful fungus in nature. None of the mushrooms should be knocked down to show the underside.  Images in this category must be identified at least to Genus such as Amanita but the species should also be given if known.
	Documentary/Scientific/Technical: This type of image should emphasis the features needed to identify the mushroom. This type of picture generally would have both standing mushroom(s) and one or more mushrooms knocked over to show the gills, pores, bulb at the base of the stem or the like, so that it shows the mushroom’s key features.  Images in this category must be correctly identified by Genus and species.
	Judge’s Option/Activity/Events/Humor: All other mushroom entries fall into this category. It includes, but is not limited to, items such as mushroom events (for example, walks, meetings, or forays), humorous pictures, or pictures of a mushroom dinner or food. Images in this category must be titled but Genus or species need not be given unless desired by the contestant.

Number of Entries:  Up to 9 images per person can be submitted.  This year the images can be all in one form such as slides, digital, and prints, or they can be up to 9 mixed images.

This year images can be entered in any of the 3 categories, as long as the total number is not more than 9 entries. For example, if 9 entries were entered in the Pictorial category, no images could be entered in Documentary or Judge’s Option.

Awards:  First, second, and third place certificates will be awarded for each of the categories.  Honorable mention(s) may also be given at the judges’ discretion.  Award winners will be listed in the newsletter and may have their images placed in the photo section in the WPMC Yahoo Groups.  Other prizes may be awarded if they have been donated.

Labeling:  All images must be labeled. Labeling must include the contestants name or initials, the category (you may use the abbreviations P for Pictorial, D for Documentary, or JO for Judge’s Option), and numbering from 1 up to 9.  Each image should have a name or title. Slides can be labeled on the slide mount, prints on the back of the print, and digital images in the file name. If you cannot use large file names, your name can just be written on the storage medium. You should also include a paper listing of the images with name, number, and your address, phone number and e-mail.

Use of Images/Reproduction : By entering the contest you give the WPMC permission to duplicate and use the entered images for club purposes, to manipulate the images, and to transfer and/or use the images in other formats. The contestant will retain ownership and copyright of the images but will grant the club their use.  Possible club uses may include, but are not limited to, use by the education committee, walk and forays, program, newsletter, and webmaster.