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Associations listed on the Australian Celebrants and Celebrations Network are invited to submit issues, updates or association news with the aim of improving cooperation amongst associations representing celebrants and amongst celebrants in general.
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| ACMCV: The Association of Civil Marriage Celebrants of Victoria |
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The year 2008 is almost over and it has proved to be a very successful year for the ACMCV. Membership has continued to grow steadily and at this time we have almost 400 members mostly from Victoria, but also several from almost every other state.
The year 2008 is almost over and it has proved to be a very successful year for the ACMCV. Membership has continued to grow steadily and at this time we have almost 400 members mostly from Victoria, but also several from almost every other state.
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The ACMCV is a 'not for profit' organisation - it is run by a committee of ten with no 'paid' staff. For that reason annual fees and costs for all events are kept to a minimum. Membership of the ACMCV costs $120 per year, and this includes Professional Indemnity Insurance which is compulsory for all our members. We also offer Public Liability and Personal Sickness and Accident insurance at a very reasonable price. Members of the ACMCV are given a free badge with the logo and all wear them with pride. A quarterly newsletter is posted out to all members and is always full of interesting information for celebrants. Members are also given a free page on the ACMCV website and have access to the members' chat forum.
The ACMCV conducted very successful Ongoing Professional Development throughout 2008, in alliance with AssentTECS. Those who attended the OPD were very happy with the quality of training and the trainer. In 2009 the ACMCV will again be offering OPD, however this year we have again been given approval to deliver the training ourselves. Sessions will be held in Mt Waverley, Mornington, Bendigo and Geelong. All celebrants are welcome attend our OPD - it is not confined to ACMCV members.
In July members gathered at the Riversdale Golf Club for "Xmas in July". As usual, it was a very good night - with all members adorned in Xmas bling, good food, good company and wonderful entertainment. The ACMCV is fortunate to have within its ranks a fine 'man of magic' in Roger Sanders who put on a brilliant mind puzzling floor show. Our association prides itself on welcoming newcomers to our group and at every event we hold our President, Max Wilton, personally greets everyone at the door and ushers them inside.
Even though this event was held in the middle of winter, Max braved the chilly night air to make sure each person was warmly welcomed. One of the committee members, Des Stow arrived in fancy dress - a borrowed Santa suit - and he personally presented chocolates and home baked shortbread to all those in attendance. The shortbreads were baked by another member of the committee, Nola Coulthurst who also spent most of the night giving out her famous shortbread recipe.
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The annual conference, "Sunday in Sunbury", was held in August at the Olive Hill Estate with in excess of a hundred celebrants attending.
The conference was not OPD, but informative, interesting and fun sessions conducted by our experienced celebrant members as well as a representative from Births, Deaths and Marriages in Melbourne, and an immigration agent.
ACMCV members value the networking and being able to focus on a broad range of topics. See photo opposite.
Photo:
Participants at ACMCV Sunday at Sunbury Conference 2008 in the Olive Hill Estate 'Chapel'. |
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Photo:
Ginny Bydder at ACCN Shop Table at this year's ACMCV Sunday at Sunbury Conference.
"Sunday in Sunbury" will be held again on Sunday August 16th, 2009 at the Olive Hill Estate, so those interested should mark the date in their diary. The venue is great, the food is magnificent and the sessions are guaranteed to be interesting.
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| The last social function for the year was "Xmas Cocktails" and this was held in mid December at Riversdale Golf Club. The committee puts this event on as a way of thanking members for their patronage - so finger food was provided - and members just paid for their drinks. Once more the President, Max Wilton greeted everyone at the door - and then led the singing of Xmas carols, to the accompaniment of his lovely and talented wife, Denise on piano. Santa was also in attendance, and his job was to draw the lucky prizes. |
Coalition of Civil Celebrants (CoCA)
Inaugural Meeting
29th October 2008.
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Complimentary ACCN Deluxe Listing for the first celebrant to correctly identify all these good folk above.
Note: Offer does not extend to those in the picture. Email:
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.au
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| The ACMCV is proud to be part of the Coalition of Civil Celebrants (CoCA). See photo above. Our representative, Lyn Knorr, attended the inaugural meeting in Canberra. The ACMCV has endorsed the proposal as set out by CoCA in regards to the future of Ongoing Professional Development. In November Lyn also joined a delegate group who met with the Attorney General with regard to the method of appointment of new celebrants and as a result of that meeting the group was advised to refer the matter to CoCA who will follow up those discussions with the Attorney General. |
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The next diary date for members is the ACMCV Annual General Meeting to be held at the Riversdale Golf Club, Huntingdale Road, Mt Waverley on Wednesday 11th March, 2009 at 6 pm.
Anyone wishing to join the ACMCV should contact the Secretary, Dawn Dickson on 03 5995 6358 or email:
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ACMCV Ongoing Professional Development dates for 2009 are:
Sunday May 3rd at Mt Waverley
Monday May 18th at Bendigo
Tuesday May 26th at Mornington
Wednesday June 17th at Geelong
Thursday June 25th at Mt Waverley
Sunday 19th July at Mt Waverley |
Our coming activities have been loaded in the ACCN Calendar for ACMCV members and interested others to note. Dawn Dickson, Secretary
The Association of Civil Marriage Celebrants of Victoria Inc.
1/7 Lawrence Court, Cranbourne North 3977
Tel: 5995 6358
Email:
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Web: www.marriagecelebrants-victoria.org.au
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| HCN: Humanist Celebrant Network |
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Years ago I was asked to be a "caretaker" of the the Humanist Celebrant Network. Recent events have seen us grow in numbers all over the nation and with increased input we have grown in vitality.
We have maintained and strengthened our place at the Attorney General's (AGs) and Marriage Celebrant Section (MCS) conference table. We have interacted constructively with our peers in other associations and are now a specially accepted foundation member of the Coalition of Celebrant Associations (CoCA), the Celebrant AG approved "Peak Body".
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| Thanks to Jennifer (now of the Qld Humanists) we have our own independent Internet World wide web presence (www.humanistcelebrantnetwork.org ), with our own unique (and fantastic) Humanist Celebrant Network "Happy Humans" Humanist Logo and all the Australian Humanist Societies and the world's other Humanist Celebrants included and linked on our website. The Coordinator/President, as the contact person, has a Humanist Celebrant Email contact address. This is a great move forward, yet *there are still heaps of tasks to be accomplished. |
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Recently the Marriage Celebrant Section (MCS) called for suggestions about OPD for Marriage Celebrants in future years. The HCN met the deadline and Mary Nolan of MCS emailed to thank us for our contribution.
There were two "Options" proposed, involving RTOs or RTOs and the MCS. We (HCN) had proposed a sort of middle way between their options, involving expanded options for Celebrants to take Continuing Education Courses, TAFE, and the upcoming Certificate in Celebrant Studies as well as those Celebrant courses that were approved in former years.
To meet the deadline it was required that a set of mandatory questions had to be answered about the submission. The questions were addressed by HCN and some comments appended to our original concept and it was duly submitted in a timely manner.
We spent hours on the phone STD assisting another proposal which included some of our HCN concepts. It was submitted by the other entity with the notation included that HCN was consulted, since the MCS wanted cross fertilization.
The AGs MCS will inform those that it has selected, to be invited to discuss the whole OPD future in mid January with them again in Canberra.
However, on a personal note... For health reasons, I regretfully intend to "retire" from the Coordinator/President position (but not from HCN membership) on my birthday 09 January 2009.
Succession planning has commenced as to *what is needed for our future. *HCN *needs to collectively think this month and beyond about how it is all to be addressed.
As our website says: "humanist ceremonies are sincere, meaningful and personal. They tend also to be relaxed and comfortable, and they are very inclusive because they highlight those things everyone present has in common. While they are non-religious, they are never anti-religious".
All Civil Celebrants who support the right of families and groups to have non-religious ceremonies, if they so choose, are welcome to apply to join our Network. There are no fees or dues, but we do make voluntary contributions for special projects as required.
The HCN does not (at this time in our history) have a members blog area but we may need to think about that for those who are willing to contribute publicly.
Charles Foley
Humanist Celebrant Network Coordinator/President
Humanist Chaplain The Canberra Hospital
Member Humanist Society of NSW inc
www.humanistcelebrantnetwork.org
Email:
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Web: www.humanistcelebrantnetwork.org
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| ICC Alumni and Friends Association |
| Wish all their members and families and all celebrants throughout Australia, the best for the coming Christmas season, and for a happy and prosperous New Year. |
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Our first dinner gathering for 2009 will be held at Bells Hotel in South Melbourne on Tuesday 27th January 2009. Check the website www.celebrancy.com for details or call the Celebrant Centre on (03) 9419 0460.
There were two main highlights for 2008 that we can take into 2009 and build on for the future. The first one was being part of the newly-formed Coalition of Celebrant Associations, the new peak body. This body has excellent potential to take celebrants concerns and opportunities straight into the AG department, a situation that has long been desired. Collaboration between the body and the associations should eventually provide inputs to training, standards, OPD and a host of other topics anguished over that can now be addressed. Good luck to them for 2009.
The second highlight was our graduation ceremony. It's been awhile since we had one, circumstances had made it not possible, but the tremendous feelings generated by this event demonstrated to us the power of ceremony in our own world. The simple act of recognition of a job well-done provides emotional benefits long after the event has finished. Our guest speaker, Dr. Julieanne Hilbers, spoke on the connection between ceremony and health and well-being, which had been the subject of her doctoral thesis. So now we have scientific proof that properly conducted ceremonies lead to positive attitudes and greater well-being. More is to be delivered on this topic at our get-togethers in 2009.
So good luck one and all and may Father Christmas or the spirit of midsummer bring you all your heart desires.
ICC Alumni and Friends
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| ACQ: The Alliance of Celebrants Queensland Inc |
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Due to the necessary winding up of the ACMCQ for reasons not associated with its management, there has been the reorganisation into a new celebrant association for Queensland - the Alliance of Celebrants Queensland Inc. The ACQ is growing by the day and since incorporation in October 2008 has enlisted just on 300 members.
The ACQ is an excellent option for Queensland celebrants. The ACQ is fresh, enthusiastic and offers great value for money with subsidised OPD and at least six meetings a year plus regional meetings on the Gold and Sunshine Coast where members will not only be able to network , but also receive continuing training , and excellent exposure to tools they can use in their celebrancy work.
If you have any questions to ask of our new association, please fell free to contact us.
Janice Crawford
President
PO Box 688
Bulimba Qld 4171
Email :
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Phone: 07 334 88 985
Mobile: 0438 41 70 66
Secretary:
Steve Rowan
PO Box 259 Coorparoo Qld 4151
Email:
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Phone: 07 3397 4204 / 0421 368 866
Treasurer
Ted Cameron
29 Dunsby Drive, Carrara Qld 4211
Email:
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Phone: 07 5579 9953 / 0417 781 636
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