Hi all, I'm interested in starting a CG Society NYC chapter, but I need to prove that I have 5 interested GC Society members before I can send the request to the powers that be.

Are there any CG Society members here?

I've never started a chapter of anything before but I have some good field trip ideas for our digital artists and CG addicts. It will be fun!

That sounds like an awesome idea. What do you have to do to be a part of the CG society?

Is there a membership fee? Do you need to be really good at modeling or is dabbling in Maya and Max enough?

Yeah there’s an annual fee, 30 bucks or so but you can use their forums for free (CGTalk). The membership gets you some portfolio hosting space and discounts on stuff. No need to be an expert, there are no requirements for joining, but there’s a lot of professionals who post their work. It is very different from a place like DeviantArt. If you post a project for C&C, are doing your best to learn and have realistic expectations then people on the site can be very helpful. On the other side there were a few who posted pin-up renders (lots of breasts and scant clothes from unoriginal textures and models) from poser and didn’t get the most polite feedback. The artists there take the craft seriously and get offended by that sort of thing. CGtalk has all sorts with WIP threads, software help topics, and they have frequent challenges for modeling, rigging, matte painting, etc. The challenges are great, and are a good way to refine your skills. It’s competitive but very friendly and most of the time all participants cheer each other on.

I figured I'd check to see if anyone here was a member too! They have an Aussie chapter, so dang it, NY should too!

Hey, waterlily, I would love to sign up for your NYC Chapter, but I'm not sure if my account is qualified. I only have the CGTalk Portfolio membership(the free one). Is it for CG Society membership only?

Hiya Zeezee!

I would need 5 paid members to get permission from CG Society to start a NYC chapter, but to attend the events and meetings (once the chapter gets started) you wouldn't have to be a member at all. I'd have open invites for anyone interested (especially CGtalk members :)) and do as much cross-organization events whenever possible.

Sadly I don't have 5 paid members to present to CG Society yet, but when I get the chapter off the ground I'll announce it here. Stay tuned!