P3D Stereoscopic Society of America

[bill3dbw3d@xxxxxxxx (Bill C Walton)]

P3D Shab Levy, Membership Secretary of the SSA, made a recent posting
about membership in the Society.  This was followed by a posting from P3D
George Themelis on the same subject.   

I would like to add my recommendation to theirs and encourage some of you
to join the SSA.  I have been a member for 20 years and have been a folio
secretary for almost 19 years.  I just launched the Speedy Alpha Folio on
it's 100th exchange.  It started in 1979 and there are still three
original members, plus the widow of an original member in this folio.  We
have watched each other's children/grandchildren, and pets mature and
grow up.  We have been through sicknesses, job changes, and deaths.  All
in all sort of like a family.  And that is the way I feel when I receive
any SSA folio, just like I was sitting down with some of the family!  The
stereographs are always a joy to view and the accompaning notebook is
sometimes as much fun as looking at the stereographs.  The notebooks
cover all subjects from A to Z, your choice.  When a question is raised
it often takes from 3 months to a year to get an answer, but then you
will receive multiple answers.

Of course my "short" 20 year membership is nothing compared to those in
Alpha Transparency Folio, such as Paul Wing, Paul Milligan and the
Markley brothers.  They have been exchanging stereographs since the late
1940s, early 50s.

The SSA has several formats used for the exchange of stereographs:

                           8   Stereo Card Circuits 
                               (4 are Speedy Circuits restricted to 12/13
members
                               two of these Speedy Circuits are Black &
White Stereographs)
                            3  Standard (Realist size) Transparency
Circuits
                            1   2x2x2 Transparency Circuit
                            1   2 1/4 x 2/14 x 2  Transparency Circuit
                            1   Cyber Circuit  using diskettes and
computers

Over the years there has been an ongoing discussion about the possibility
of a Viewmaster Circuit and I think all that is needed is some
communication between interested parties.  Now, I sense that there may be
some interest in forming a View Magic Over and Under Circuit, as some SSA
members have "discovered" this method.  

SSA members can participate in as many of the above named circuits as
their enthusiasm, time and finances permit.  In 1996 I participated in
multiple circuits and handled 73 folios.  In mid 1997 I decided to cut
back and withdrew from 3 circuits, so my total for that year dropped to
53.  I expect it will level off at about 43 for 1998.

Expertise is not a necessary requirement to join and participate in the
SSA.  The only requirement is to be able to produce a stereograph, in the
format you want to participate in, so that other members can look at your
works.  Most everyone comments on the works of others and the feedback
that is received is very helpful in learning proper mounting procedures. 


The subject matter that you find in the SSA folios covers just about
everything from the inside of eyeballs, to nudes , to stereographs of the
moon. We don't discriminate - both color and black & white stereographs
are acceptable.

The SSA's method of operation, which started in 1919, is simple and
successful.  Using the old saying" If if ain't broke, don't fix it" this
same method of operation has been carried over to the PSA Stereo Card
Circuit, the North America-Germany Stereo Card Circuit and will be used
in the ISU Stereo Card Circuit, which is expected to start in the summer
of this year..

I heartily recommend that you get involved in the SSA.  For membership
information contact SHAB LEVY, SSA MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY  at    
shab@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

There may be a better bargain out there somewhere than what I receive for
the $15 annual SSA dues and there may be a better form of communication
than the SSA folios, but is there is I have not been exposed to either of
them.

BILL C WALTON, ISC

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