Memorable Meetings

Planetarium

In the late 1970s or early 1980s when the Eisenhart Planetarium was updated with a 70mm projector (projected on the dome), the SMPTE and RAVA held their first joint meeting. Members, many with a spouse, were able to see the new installation and then enjoy the spectacular show.

High Falls Opening

When the new High Falls Center opened, 55 RAVA members and guests attended the premiere. Featured were a movie and slides projected across the river on the far, west side riverbank wall. Also included was a tour, in small groups, of the projection room located below the High Falls building on top of the riverbank.

25th Anniversary

1981 - RAVA celebrated its 25 years with a gala dinner in the George Eastman House. The dinner was in the large living room that would be not be allowed today. (No one spilled on the historic Oriental carpet.) Several retired members came from out of the city. Following the screening everyone adjourned to the Dryden Theatre where Jim Card introduced a classic film in his inimical way.

40th Anniversary

1996 - RAVA's dinner was held at the University Club with 50 in attendance. Everyone then moved to the Eastman House for a reception and then to the Dryden and Curtis Theaters for the premiere of nine county historical videos.  Two were produced by RAVA members. Stirlin Harris did one of Democrat and Chronicle columnist Henry Clune. Fred Armstrong and Jim Harte made a video on Rochester's subway. For this event Jerry O'Neil produced a 40-year RAVA history booklet with illustrations including pictures of the 26 presidents and the four founders.

45th Anniversary

2001 - RAVA varied the celebration. No dinner. Hollywood actor Robert Forster came from Hollywood to give a one-man performance in the Strong Museum auditorium. Following his show, a gala reception was held in the Museum dining area, allowing attendees to meet and chat with Forster as well as enjoy coffee and dessert with friends

Monroe County Training Center

2002 and 2003 - The County has one of the nation's most advanced training facilities for police and fire in the country. RAVA held two meetings to see how the training is done, using the latest technology. Also in the same building is the county's Emergency Center that is a smaller version of the NASA Master Control Center. 45 desks form several semicircles. Each agency that is involved in a major emergency has a desk. Ambulances, Red Cross, city government, police, fire, Ginna Nuclear power plant, and others.

50th Anniversary Year

During RAVA’s 50th year, it was conceived to try and bring awareness and celebration the old and the current technology to the forefront of our member meetings to reflect on the similarities and changes of the times.  The transition of old ways and the current state of the AV industry was prevalent in most meetings, as well as celebrating milestones.  RAVA members enjoyed Ed Lennert’s Magic Lanterns (the precursor to the modern day slide projector) and Fred Armstrong & Jim Harte presenting “Rochester Subway” at Irondequoit HS Auditorium (a 50-year celebration of the subways existence in Rochester).  We learned how the Digital revolution has changed newsgathering from Jamie Germano at the Democrat and Chronicle.  We got a chance to see how feature films are created, directed and edited with a Post Central tour and viewing scenes from “Cherry Crush”, a new film by director Nick DiBella.  We also enjoyed the director’s prospective during a lunch with him. Along the lines of preserving our past, Pat Loughney, GEH Film Curator gave RAVA members a Tour of the Selznik Film Preservation School at the George Eastman House, and we saw how new technology is used in education these days by Bret Apthorp, Director of Technology, of BOCES Monroe #1.  In the latter part of the anniversary year, RAVA members obtained a perspective from businesswoman Jacqueline Degnan, President, A&R Color Labs as we learned how a major film-processing lab has made the transition from film to digital.  Our last lunch of the traditional September-to-June season was at the new robotic studio at MCC’s Damon City Center for the 292-BABY campaign with director James Coffey.

Every time RAVA members have gathered together for major events, we come out strong.  As this goes to press, we’re working on the Silent Film Night Gala – with strong cultural ties.  We anticipate the same level of excellence RAVA has achieved in the past.