CENSUS
Your club census is NOW DUE.  Please make sure you return it ASAP to National Office.  Just remember that your club fees are calculated on your census, so make sure you have the correct members on it.  If members are no longer at the Club then cross them off the census & return it.
Please also send a copy of your census back to me at president@apexvic.org.au

ASSET REGISTER
Did you know that we can reduce the insurance premium if your club fills out the Asset Register?  Just by knowing exactly what assets each club has can significantly reduce our premium and in turn reduce your fees.
So take the time to fill out the Asset Register and return it to Darryn Embling, AON Insurance, Level 51, 80 Collins Street, MELBOURNE VIC  3000 or daryn.embling@aon.com.au

STATE CONVENTION/STS
A reminder that registrations closed on the 1^st May however Myrtleford Club have advised that they are still accepting registrations if you have forgotten.
Remember that THIS IS YOUR Convention and there will be some major decisions made on the future of Apex Victoria.  Don’t take an "I don’t care attitude" as there may not be an Apex Victoria in the near future, we need to have your input on what you want for the FUTURE OF APEX VICTORIA.
Please make sure that a representative from your Club attends, you will not only learn lots, you will also have a great time.  
Send your registration form to Travis Gunson at convention@apexvic.org.au or post to Myrtleford Apex Club, STS/Convention, PO Box 35, Myrtleford Vic 3737.

AWARD NOMINATIONS
Nominations for State Awards close on the 31^st May.  If you know of anyone who is eligible for an award, either club or member, then please nominate them through your District Governor.  If you don’t have a DG then send them through to the State Secretary, Mick Oldaker at secretary@apexvic.org.au
Nominations should include a detailed report of the project or why you feel the person is worthy of the award and should include photos where possible.  Award criteria is set out in the State Standing Orders which can be found on the Victorian Website at www.apexvic.org.au

STATE BOARD HANDOVER
Awards will be presented at the State Board Handover which will be held on the 3^rd July in Ballarat.  Details are yet to be finalised, however please keep this date free and come along for a great night.  ALL MEMBERS WELCOME.
That’s about all for now, please make sure your club completes their census & asset register and attend Convention/STS.
We look forward to catching up in Myrtleford at the end of May.

YIA Melinda

Confirmation of requirements for Trek

Wednesday 16^th December         Day 11

Wodonga – Cobram

8.00am                Depart Wodonga

10.30am        Morning Tea Indigo North Health

Lunch                Yarrawonga Hospital 33 Piper St Yarrawonga – APEXIANS REQUIRED

3.30pm                Finish        Cobram District Hospital Barooga Rd Cobram

6.00pm                Cobram Hotel for function – APEXIANS REQUIRED

Celebrities – Tony Shaw

Thursday 17^th December         Day 12

Cobram – Echuca

9.30am                Depart Cobram

11.00am        Finish        Echuca Regional Health 17 Francis St Echuca – APEXIANS REQUIRED

1.00pm                Golf Day Function Rich River Golf Course

Celebrities - Dean Jones, Tony Shaw, Wayne Arthurs

Friday 18^th December         Day 13

Echuca – Shepparton

9.00am                Depart Echuca

Lunch                To Be Advised

4.00pm                Finish        Monash Park Shepparton

6.00pm                GV Hotel for function – APEXIANS REQUIRED

Celebrities - Dean Jones, Scott Cummings

Saturday 19^th December         Day 14

Shepparton – Bendigo

9.00am                Depart Shepparton

12.00pm        Finish                Rosalind Park Bendigo for BBQ – APEXIANS REQUIRED

7.30pm                Shamrock Hotel – Cocktail Function – APEXIANS REQUIRED

Celebrities - Dean Jones, Rodney Hogg, Simon Madden, Scott Cummings

Melinda Grose
Apex Victoria
State President 2009-10

Regards
Melinda Grose
Apex Victoria
State President 2009-10

Melinda Grose
Apex Victoria
State President 2009-10

I just wanted to let you know that the Apex Club of Berowra (NSW) have requested to bring their Santa Sleigh to fire affected areas in Victoria in December. The Sleigh is coming from Berowra Apex Club with helpers and will be here from the 17th – 20th December.  

What we are offering is:-
The Santa sleigh and Santa to visit main relief centres and perhaps other centres that were used after the Black Saturday bushfires;
Santa to hand out lollies and talk to children and families;
Santa photos for families/groups etc
Handing out of presents (depending on funding – negotiations have been held with K-Mart and the like to get soft toys and lollies lower than cost.

The areas they are looking to visit are:-
Beechworth / Myrtleford
Kilmore / Wondong
Kinglake / Flowerdale
St Andrews / Strathewen
Marysville / Narbethong / Buxton
Churchill
and if time permits Bendigo.

As it is still in the early planning stages, I don’ t have the full details of what is required, however I do know that we need assistance from Apex clubs in those areas (or nearby) to help with bbq’s and accommodating the Berowra Apexians.  If your club can help us it would be greatly appreciated. Andrew Follows (past Apexian from Diamond Valley) who has been very involved with the Bush Fire recovery through Anglicare Victoria is co-ordinating the event in conjunction with Phil Keily (State Service Director).  Some of you may know Andrew, if not go check out his website at http://www.webgallery.com.au/afollows/

Once I have further details on what’s required, I’ll send out details. This is just a heads up to see who might be available to assist.

Also a reminder that the State Service Project "The Great Vic Trek" is also on at that time (6th – 27th December) and we will be looking for clubs to assist with that event also.  For further details on the Trek please go to http://www.thegreatvictrek.com.au/

Thanks
Melinda Grose
Apex Victoria
State President 2009-10

Hello Apexians,

The Apex Club of Wendouree is to host the forthcoming State Board Meeting on Saturday September 12^th at their club shed. I extend an invitation to Apexians to attend the meeting and/or the Saturday night dinner.

The board meeting will commence at 1.30pm at the Wendouree Club Shed, Burnbank St

Saturday Dinner will also be held at the Shed. Drinks at Apex prices…..RVSP to Carli Lamb.

The Victorian Final of AATFA will be held on Sunday afternoon and it would be great to see as many Apexians present as possible. The event will be at the Performing Arts Centre in Howitt Street, Wendouree SHOW STARTS AT 1PM

YIA

Jamie Sleep

Central Highlands DG

Here is something which I received from state level if you want I can come along and have a chat about this to you all and also would like to come along to one of your Apex meeting at some stage.

Regard Christopher Stronge

Apex – District Governer Murray Riverina

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Volunteer Grants 2009 – call for applications now open

Hello everyone,
The Commonwealth Government’s Volunteer Grants for 2009 is now open.
I would suggest if your club is looking to purchase any small equipment that you put in an application.

Most commonly requested items

Air-conditioner/evaporative cooler (incl. installation),

Barbeque/incl. initial gas bottle only

Backpack sprayer

Bain-marie

Binding machine

Bookcase (demountable)

Brooms/mops/cleaning etc (not products)

Brush cutter

Camera/digital camera

Cash register (portable)

Chairs

Computer/Laptop/External hard drive (incl. operating software)

Computer software (non-operating)

Cupboard/cabinet (demountable/not structural)

Defibrillator

Desk/workstation

Dishwasher (incl. installation)

Esky/cooler/thermos/hot and cold pack

Fan

Filing cabinet

Fire extinguisher/fire blanket

First aid kit

Freezer

Fridge

Fuel/petrol (contribution to motor vehicle only)

Gardening/landcare tools/equipment/blower vac

Generator

GPS/UHF radio/transceiver

Heater (movable/not structural)

High pressure cleaner

Kitchen utensils/equipment

Laminator

Microwave

Mower/ride-on-mower

Outdoor furniture

Overhead/projector/screen

Photocopier

Printer/multi-function centre/fax/scanner

Public address system (portable)

Pump

Safety gear (life jackets, helmets, gloves, goggles)

Shed (small garden only – demountable)

Shelving (demountable)

Stereo/CD player (portable small audio equipment)

Storage containers/units

Stove

Sunshade/sail/marquee/umbrella

Tables

Television

Tent

Trailer

Trolley

Urn

Vacuum cleaner

Video/DVD player

Video camera

Video/slide/data projector

Washing machine (incl. installation)

Water cooler

Water tank (incl. installation)

Whipper snipper

Whiteboard (portable)

Ladders

Further information and application forms can be found on the FAHCSIA website at http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/volunteers/funding/Pages/volunteer_grant09.aspx
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Volunteer Grants 2009 – call for applications now open
Short Description:
Grants and Funding to encourage and support volunteers. 
Volunteer Grants 2009 provides funding for eligible non-profit organisations to support their volunteers and encourage volunteering by:

• purchasing practical and tangible small equipment items to help volunteers; and/or
• contributing towards the reimbursement of volunteers’ fuel costs incurred when carrying out their volunteering work, including those who use their cars to transport others to activities, deliver food and assist people in need.

Organisations can apply for grant funding from a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum of $5,000. Funding is limited and applications will be assessed and prioritised according to how strongly they meet the selection criteria. The selection criteria, eligibility criteria and other essential information about Volunteer Grants 2009 are provided on the website http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/volunteers/funding/Pages/volunteer_grant09.aspx

Closing Time and Date

Applications close Friday, 25 September 2009 at 5pm AEST. Applications submitted or postmarked after this date may not be accepted.

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Regards
Melinda Grose
Apex Victoria
State President 2009-10
Web: www.apex.org.au www.apexvic.org.au

As the Apex year draws to a close I would like to take this opportunity to extend my congratulation to the Apex Club of Mooroopna for their contribution to Apex and their community in the last 12 months. Unfortunately, I am unable to attend your handover, but wish to thank-you one and all for your hard work.

I have been asked of provide a brief review of the year and will endeavour to keep it brief so as not to take up time that could be spent on fellowship or as I like to call it Apex networking.

This year has seen many highlights which included-

1. The successful running of two Muso Magic Programs within the state. These programs target at risk kids in our community and over the course of several days the kids involved participate in a music workshop with Adam Thompson of Chocolate Starfish fame. At the end those involved have written, produced, and recorded a song of their own creation. I have had the pleasure of seeing this program and would encourage all districts and club to raise funds to run their own. As a sidenote the most recent Muso Magic program run in Victoria at last the national convention wrote a new Apex song which was sang at the National Presidents handover dinner.
2. Debating and Public Speaking- As with past years we were represented well in this area and it was pleasing to see the state field a finalist in the newly established primary public speaking competition. I must also congratulate Brauer College as they won the National Secondary School Debating Competition Final. Once again I would encourage all clubs to get into their schools organise a local competition. Remember many of these students may be our members of the future so let’s tap into them now.
3. One of the significant events for Apex this year was the first National Teenage Fashion Awards hosted yet again in Victoria. The standard of entries was magnificent and two Victorian students won prizes within their categories.
4. As a state we have been endeavouring to make changes to the way we interact and the events we run. This year we targeted the area of convention and STS. Our convention was enjoyed by all attendees and the changes that were made ensured that the business session was finished by lunch and that there was a greater focus on networking and fellowship. STS also saw a move to Kyneton in an endeavour to rejuvenate this valuable training forum. Although numbers are still small the training in Safe Food Handling, and First Aid, alone with other portfolios addressed the needs of the attendees and I look forward to seeing this program grow in the future.

This year has been a travel year for me and I have endeavoured to get out and meet as many Apexians as I could. I have travelled over 30,000 km in the past 12 months around the state spreading the word of Apex. This involved some 44 weekends away attending a variety of Apex function and countless hours on the phone. Unfortunately I was unable to visit all clubs individually, but wish to thank all clubs who hosted me and representatives from state and national board. I cannot understate the importance of a warm welcome from friendly Apexians when you are sending so much time away from the ones closest to you.

Finally I would like to wish the incoming president all the best on the up coming year, congratulate the outgoing president for all their hard work and ask the club to set some key, but achievable goals. I would like the club to aim for at least one representative at the State Convention in Moe and the State Training Seminar. Remember each club has 1 represented funded to each and all new members registrations are also funded.

“Service is the price we pay for our space on this earth.”

Your’s in Apex and the interests of brevity.

Wayne Bandel

Immediate Past State President Victoria. 2006-2007