The Photographic Society of America (PSA) is one of the largest, non-profit organization of its kind. Despite its name it is an International organisation open to anyone with an interest in photography. Established in 1934, it has expanded to include members of over 70 countries. The Society includes 'shutterbugs', serious amateurs & professional photographers.

The mission of this association is to promote and enhance the art and science of photography in all its phases, among members and non-members alike.

The PSA holds several notable competitions throughout the year, including the PSA Youth Showcase.

The society is open to Individual, Club and Council membership and offers a wide variety of services and activities. Members receive a monthly magazine, on-line photo galleries, image evaluation, study groups, courses, competitions, an annual conference, recognition of photographic achievement (ROPA). Members can get discounts on a variety of photographic related products and services. ibid
PSA ByLaws
The Associated Camera Clubs of America (ACCA) was formed in 1919, and became the Photographic Society of America (PSA) by name change in 1934. The first PSA Bylaws were finalized in 1935, and the Society became a non-profit corporation when it filed Articles of Incorporation with the Illinois Secretary of State in 1937.

In 1942, PSA applied for and received its exemption from US income tax under the US Internal Revenue Code, which is now Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. PSA is a publicly supported organization, with gift deductible status.

PSA Headquarters moved from Philadelphia to Oklahoma City in 1988, and applied for and received its Certificate of Authority to transact business in the State of Oklahoma, and maintains its status as an Illinois non-profit corporation. The Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws were amended in 2010.

The PSA ByLaws provide the rules by which the Society is governed. They give the organization its structure, guide its operations, and begin with the mission statement for the Society.
PSA Mission
PSA was founded to "Promote the Arts and Sciences of Photography." In April 2010 the PSA Strategic Planning Committee expanded the original mission and developed the present PSA Mission Statement which was then approved by the Board of Directors and incorporated in the Bylaws. This Mission Statement has a prominent place on the PSA web site homepage and is included below. The PSA Mission guides all the programs, services, and activities of PSA.

• The PSA promotes the art and science of photography as a means of communication, image appreciation, and cultural exchange.

• The PSA provides education, information, inspiration, and opportunity for all persons interested in photography.

• The PSA fosters personal growth and expression, creativity, excellence, and ethical conduct in all aspects of photographic endeavor.
PSA Board of Directors
PSA is governed by a Board of Directors that establishes PSA policies, procedures, and practices as set forth in the Bylaws. The Board holds at least two meetings annually, one prior to the Annual Conference and one during the spring at PSA Headquarters.

The Board of Directors is composed of fourteen members. PSA elects the Board of Directors for a two-year term. The Board is elected each odd-numbered year (Division Officers are elected each even-numbered year).

Prior to an election year, the Nominating Committee prepares a slate of candidates for the Board positions and the Secretary publishes the slate in the January PSA Journal. In the absence of any nominations by petition, the Secretary casts the ballot for the membership for the official slate of candidates, and they are declared elected. The Board members assume their duties following the PSA Annual Conference.
PSA History: Founding of PSA
Chronology of Events
by Tony Patti, HonPSA, FPSA

• 1919 - Associated Camera Clubs of America (ACCA) was founded.
• September 8, 1932 - Meeting in Newark, NJ, first step towards creating PSA.
• December 1, l932 - Letters sent to 200 likely interested parties to be part of organizing committee.
• Early 1933 - Nearly all of the solicited persons joined for one dollar per year dues.
• Early 1933 - Officers of the Organizing Committee were elected as follows:

Chairman: Louis F. Bucher, Newark, NJ
Vice Chairman: Clare J. Crary, Warren, PA
Secretary: Dr. Max Thorek, Chicago, IL
Treasurer: R. L. Van Oosting, Lynwood, CA

Headquarters was located at the site of the Newark Camera Club in Newark. NJ.

• September 4, 1933 - The second meeting of the committee was held at the Fort Dearing Camera Club in Chicago, IL. Progress reports were favorable, and it was decided to enrol individual members.
• October 1933 - A resolution to change the name of ACCA to Photographic Society of America (PSA) was presented to the Board of the Associated Camera Clubs of America and passed.
• December 1933 - Records and funds of ACCA were transferred to the newly organized PSA.
• 1934 - The first officers of the Society were:

Honorary President: Louis F. Bucher
President: Dr. Max Thorek
Vice President: R.L. Van Oosting
Secretary: Byron H. Chatto
Treasurer: Chester H. Wheeler
The Directors were:
William A. Alcock, Charles K. Archer, Robert A. Barrows, Harry A. Greene, Arthur Hammond, Harry P. Herron, and William L. Woodburn.

President Thorek appointed William Woodburn as chairman for a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws of the Society. Members of the constitution and by-laws committee were Byron H. Chatto, Louis Fleckenstein, Franklin L Jordan, Dr. E. P. Wightman, and Dr. Thorek.
Membership: PSA Membership Categories

PSA membership benefits are different for the two basic membership categories: individual members and organization members (clubs, councils of clubs, or societies).

Membership rates are based on location (shown in parenthesis below: first rate for those residing in North America and second rate for those residing outside North America).

There are reduced rates for joint, senior, and youth memberships. (Correct as at 2011)

• Two and three year memberships are available at a reduced cost.

Individual Member ($45 or $53/year)

• Individual membership includes voting privileges; the full-color monthly PSA Journal magazine; Who’s Who in Photography annual publication; galleries; reduced fee for the PSA Annual Conference; numerous free online courses, Study Groups, image evaluation services, and Mentors & Consultants at My PSA (Members Only area); various discounts on photography-related products and services; and extensive intangible benefits.

• Joint Membership ($68 or $76/year)

• Membership for two individual members at the same address includes all benefits and privileges of Individual Members for each person, except only one copy of the PSA Journal is mailed to the listed address.

Senior Member ($40 or $47/year)

• Membership for an individual 72 years of age or over. Individual members automatically become senior members when they reach 72 years of age.
• Youth Member ($29 or $35/year)

• Membership for an individual 18 years of age or under. Youth members automatically become Individual members when they reach 19 years of age.

• Organization ($45 or $53/year)

• Membership for clubs, councils of clubs, societies, institutions and groups having activities and interests consonant with those of PSA. PSA communication with an organization member is through the Club/Council PSA Representative.

PSA Regions: Overview
PSA regions were established in 1997.

• Region 1 - Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware; Washington, DC; Virginia: zip codes 201--, 220--, 221--, 222--, and 223--
• Region 2 - Illinois: North, Northeast (zip codes 600-- through 619-- [includes Chicago, Champaign, Peoria, Bloomington and north]); Indiana
• Region 3 - Virginia (except zip codes 201--, 220--, 221--, 222--, 223--); West Virginia; Kentucky
• Region 4 - Missouri, East (zip codes 620--, 622--, 630--, 631--, 633-- through 639--, 650-- through 652--, 654--, 655-- [includes St Louis]; Illinois, West (zip codes 620-- through 635-- [includes Quincy, Springfield, St Louis suburbs])
• Region 5 - Minnesota; North Dakota
• Region 6 - Kansas, Missouri, West (zip codes 640-- through 648--, 653--, 656-- through 658-- [includes Springfield, Kansas City, St Joseph])
• Region 7 - Wyoming. Montana
• Region 8 - Florida, Puerto Rico
• Region 9 - Louisiana, Texas: South of Dallas/Fort Worth (includes Houston, Corpus Christi, Austin, San Antonio, Midland, El Paso, and Lufkin)
• Region 10 - California: Southern (zip codes 900-- through 931-- [includes Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Lancaster, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego]), Nevada: Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln, and Nye Counties (zip codes 88900 through 89199 [includes Las Vegas]), Hawaii
• Region 11 - California: Central and Northern (zip codes 932-- through 966-- [includes Bakersfield north to Oregon border]), Nevada: Goldfield, Tonopah, Ely North (zip codes 893-- through 897--, [includes Reno, Winnemucca])
• Region 12 - Washington: West North of Longview, Kelso (zip codes 980-- through 985-- and 987--), Alaska
• Region 13 - Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina
• Region 14 - Delaware Valley Council of Camera Clubs: DE, Photographic Federation of Long Island: New York, NY, New Jersey Federation of Camera Clubs (NJFCC): Watchung, NJ
• Region 15 - Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
• Region 16 - Michigan, Ohio
• Region 17 - Canada (East): Ontario, Quebec, Maritime, Provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland
• Region 18 - Colorado, Utah
• Region 19 - Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota
• Region 20 - Arizona, New Mexico
• Region 21 - Wisconsin
• Region 22 - Alabama, Mississippi
• Region 23 - Oregon, Washington: Longview through Vancouver (zip codes 972--, 986--)
• Region 24 - Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas: panhandle, Dallas/Fort Worth and north (zip codes 750-- through 758--, 760-- through 767--, 790-- through 796-- [includes Texarkana, Tyler, Waco, Abilene, Lubbock, Amarillo])
• Region 25 - Canada (West): East: Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan West: British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory
• Region 26 - Idaho, Washington East (zip codes 988-- through 994--)
• Region 27 - Europe (except United Kingdom & Ireland
• Region 28 - United Kingdom, Ireland
• Region 29 - China
• Region 30 - South East Asia
• Region 31 - The Middle East
• Region 32 - Australia & New Zealand
• Region 33 - Indian Sub-Continent
• Region 34 - Equatorial & Southern Africa
• Region 35 - South America

The PSA has a number of Divisions

Any member may take part in the services and activities in one or all PSA divisions:

• Color Projected Image Division (CPID)
• Electronic Imaging Division (EID)
• Nature Division (ND)
• Photojournalism Division (PJD)
• Photo Travel Division (PTD)
• Pictorial Print Division (PPD)
• 3D Division (3DD)

Star Ratings

Members of the PSA may apply for a Star Rating in each of the above divisions, where they have the requisite number of 'acceptances' in validated international photographic salons. Acceptances received prior to membership are eligible for the acceptance requirements.

Basic requirements are:

• 1 STAR - at least 18 acceptances with at least 6 titles.
• 2 STARS - at least 36 acceptances with at least 12 titles.
• 3 STARS - at least 72 acceptances with at least 24 titles.
• 4 STARS - at least 144 acceptances with at least 48 titles.
• 5 STARS - at least 288 acceptances with at least 96 titles.

Recognition of Photographic Achievement (ROPA)

Distinctions were established in February 1997 for the purpose of recognizing PSA member’s photography achievements in PSA-recognized International Exhibitions. PSA members in good standing may apply for ROPA Distinctions and, when approved, the member can use the ROPA acronym letters (PPSA, EPSA, MPSA, and GMPSA) after their name. The ROPA certificates and plaques (for MPSA and GMPSA) are formally presented each year at the Opening Meeting of the PSA Annual Conference (in the year following approval of the ROPA application).

Requirements: In order to qualify for any of the ROPA Distinctions the following proof of acceptances in PSA-recognized International Exhibitions is required:

• PROFICIENCY (PPSA): 288 or more acceptances supported by Star Rating certificates from one or more PSA Divisions.
• EXCELLENCE (EPSA): 700 or more acceptances supported by Star Rating certificates from one or more PSA Divisions.
• MASTER (MPSA): 1,500 or more acceptances supported by Star Rating certificates from one or more PSA Divisions.
• GRAND MASTER (GMPSA): 3,000 or more acceptances supported by Star Rating certificates from one or more PSA Divisions.

PSA History: Chronology of PSA
by Elena McTighe, APSA, PPSA

• 1919 Associated Camera Clubs of America (ACCA) was founded.
• 1933 Plans formulated for the establishment of PSA.
• 1934 The birth of PSA.

April: The first Bulletin is published.
The first PSA convention, held in Pittsburgh.

• 1935 March: the first PSA Journal was published.

The By-laws were finalized.

• 1937 PSA was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in Illinois.

The first annual 100 Print Travel Salon was held: the precursor to today's PSA Exhibition.

• 1938 The first special interest division was formed: The Techniques Division

Followed by the formation of the Historical Division.

• 1939 Formation of the Pictorial Division, later called the Pictorial Print Division.
• 1940 The first Honors were granted at the Cleveland Convention.
• 1941 Formation of the Color Division, later called the Color Slide Division and then the Color Projected Image Division.
• 1943 The first Chapters were organized.

Also the Camera Club Division was formed.

• 1944 Formation of the Photojournalism Division.
• 1945 The Charter for the Society's Permanent Print Collection was established.
• 1946 Formation of the Motion Picture Division.
• 1948 Dr. C.E.K. Mees received the first Progress Medal Award.
• 1949 PSA Headquarters was established in Philadelphia.
• 1952 Formation of the Stereo Division.
• 1969 Formation of the Photo Travel Division.
• 1973 Conference attendance was at an all time high of 2,003 in San Francisco.
• 1976 PSA membership was at an all time high of 18,962.
• 1988 PSA Headquarters was moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
• 1996 The first Distinctions were granted at the Conference in Tucson, Arizona.
• 1997 Formation of the Electronic Imaging Division.
• 1998 The first PSA Youth Showcase was held.