WACCO Awards

WACCO values and honors individuals who have demonstrated dedication and service to WACCO itself and the broader photography community. This recognition extends to those who selflessly contribute their time and effort to their respective clubs and those who actively support and promote the mission of WACCO through their service.

Fellow Member and Honor Member Recognition at Wisconsin Area Camera Club Organization

The Fellow WACCO (FellowWACCO) Award is granted to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership within WACCO for at least five years, holding elective offices, serving on committees, or in other leadership capacities. These individuals must have significantly contributed to the field of photography through various WACCO activities like lecturing, teaching, judging, writing, and administration for a minimum of five years.

Honorary WACCO (HonWACCO) Membership is bestowed upon those who have offered outstanding service to WACCO for at least ten years, substantially propelling photography through activities such as lecturing, teaching, judging, organizing programs, and engaging in administrative responsibilities.

Candidate selection involves the Awards Committee nominating potential candidates for consideration to the Board for either the Fellow or Honor awards. The committee is responsible for compiling the applications for selected nominees and submitting the completed applications to the Board for final approval or rejection.

During the application review, the committee primarily evaluates the candidate’s tenure of service within WACCO and photographic contributions to other organizations and the wider community. Additionally, applicants are advised to include a brief cover letter highlighting their most notable achievements.

Bill Rietz
HonWACCO

Mary Dumont
HonWACCO

WACCO Honor Award

Awardees

Honor Awardees (10+ years of active service to WACCO)

Gerald H Emmerich Jr.
HonWACCO

Kathy Braun
HonWACCO

Elizabeth Whitcomb
FellowWACCO

Paul Moertl
FellowWACCO

Richard Knisbeck
HonWACCO

Ken Warning
HonWACCO

No Image Available

Jeffrey Klug
HonWACCO

Fellow WACCO (5-10 years of active service to WACCO)

Ramona Lenger
FellowWACCO

Award Nomination

Service Award

The WACCO Service Award is a prestigious accolade that acknowledges individuals for their exceptional dedication to serving the WACCO organization. This distinguished honor is available to all active members of any WACCO club. To nominate a deserving individual, kindly complete the form and submit it to Jeffrey Klug at waccoprogram@gmail.com. The Awards committee will carefully assess the nominee's qualifications, and upon approval, a commendatory certificate will be bestowed upon the recipient.

Awardees

Mary Dumont – for outstanding service in Competition Committee, Exhibit Committee, Secretary, and Vice President

Ken Warning – for his outstanding service as President (2013-17), Vice President (2009-13), Competition Committee, and Program Committee

Bill Rietz – for outstanding service in President, Vice President, and Awards Committee

Richard Knisbeck – for his outstanding service as Treasurer (2007 to 2017)

Phil Unterholzner – for his outstanding service as Wisconsin Print Circuit Chairman  

Paul Moertl – for his outstanding service as President (1993-95), Secretary (1999-2001, 2015-17)

Geri Laehn – for her outstanding service in the Exhibition Committee and Competition Committee

Kathy Braun - for her dedicated continuous service to the Awards Committee (awarded July 2014)

Diane Jaeger – for her outstanding service as Secretary

Jeff Tamms - for his outstanding chairmanship of the Wisconsin Circuit International Salon (awarded July 2014)

Special Individual Award Recognition

The WACCO Special Individual Awards aim to honor individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to advancing the art of photography. Eligibility for this accolade extends to all current members of a WACCO-affiliated camera club. The recognition is bestowed for notable contributions to their club or local community. To propose a candidate for this award, please submit the completed form to Jeffrey Klug at waccoprogram@gmail.com. Subsequently, the Awards committee will diligently assess the qualifications of the nominee. Following the committee's evaluation, the Chairperson will endorse the award request along with their recommendations to the Executive Board for the final seal of approval. Should the Executive Board grant their endorsement, the prestigious award will be conferred during the ensuing delegate meeting.

Awardees

Pauline Beck – Certificate of Achievement

Bonnie Zuidema – Certificate of Achievement

Sheldon Schall – Certificate of Achievement

Jerry Clish – Certificate of Achievement

Richard Yehl – Certificate of Achievement

Don Gorzak – Certificate of Achievement

Carole Bailey – Certificate of Achievement

Tom Leih– Certificate of Achievement

Dan Weiss – Certificate of Achievement for Promoting Photography and Web Master for Menomonee Falls Camera Club