Looking for Video Camera for use in Camera Club Meetings.

I need some advise. Our camera club, the St Louis Camera Club, is looking to purchase a video camera for use at our meetings. The camera would primarily be used to project prints onto a screen during club print competitions. Could also be used to record speaker presentations.

We have several print competitions during the year. These are both color and B/W. They are placed in a light box with controlled lighting. There can be anywhere from 50 to well over one hundred members at the meeting. (There are over 600 members in our club). This means that do have a good view of the print during the competition. We have to date been using a members video camera which we set up to feed the view through a digital projector onto a screen.

We now intend to purchase a video camera for the clubs use. Our budget is around $300-$350. We are trying to determine our best options
Hard drive vs DVD vs Tape.? why one over the other?
Best way to route image ? From camera, though Laptop to Projector or straight to projector.? Again why?

If through the lap top, would we need any special soft ware, Especially if we decide to record proceedings?

Also, would we need any special cables, or would either firewire or usb do?

Sorry about the long post. I know that there is a great deal of experience and knowledge in BPN and am hoping you can help us out.

Thanks for any help

John