Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Civil Celebrants in Hong Kong
Interesting to note that the notion and practice of authorising & using Civil Celebrants is increasing rapidly in a variety of countries. A January 16 press release from the HK Government announced the appointment of 34 new Marriage Celebrants, bringing to 1,439 the number of Celebrants appointed since mid-April 2006. It's great to read that, with the introduction of Civil Celebrants, the number of civil marriages has taken off - couples are making the most of the opportunity to celebrate a Civil Ceremony.
Monday, 23 March 2009
Levels of connectedness
I've spent today at a professional learning session with Will Richardson. Will is a charismatic and inspirational educator and advocate for using technology in a wholly integrated fashion in learning & teaching & living.
While I attended this PL session wearing my hats of Teacher Librarian & Head of IT Faculty, rather than my Celebrants Online hat, there is much in what Will talked and writes about that could be well-utilised by Celebrants.
Many of us network via email & face-to-face contact through our professional associations. But there is a huge world, with enormous potential, just waiting for us to network - with other Celebrants and all involved in the business of ceremony and with potential clients.
Are you on Twitter, YouTube, Flickr? Do you have a blog that you post to on a regular basis? These are just some of the amazing Web-based tools that enable you to network with the world at large. In creating an effective web presence you will be increasing your opportunities for learning, sharing, and growing as a technological person and as a Celebrant.
While I attended this PL session wearing my hats of Teacher Librarian & Head of IT Faculty, rather than my Celebrants Online hat, there is much in what Will talked and writes about that could be well-utilised by Celebrants.
Many of us network via email & face-to-face contact through our professional associations. But there is a huge world, with enormous potential, just waiting for us to network - with other Celebrants and all involved in the business of ceremony and with potential clients.
Are you on Twitter, YouTube, Flickr? Do you have a blog that you post to on a regular basis? These are just some of the amazing Web-based tools that enable you to network with the world at large. In creating an effective web presence you will be increasing your opportunities for learning, sharing, and growing as a technological person and as a Celebrant.
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Celebrants Online welcomes ...
Since the start of the Celebrants Online websites renewal process at the beginning of December '08, it's been my pleasure to welcome many Celebrants to the 'family'. Listed below are the recent additions to the websites. Please click on the links to view each celebrant's full profile.
Celebrants Online
John Whitford - North Central Victoria
Lesley Baker-Hames - Western Australia
Peter D. Raymond - Melbourne eastern suburbs
Pete & Olga Brown - Western Australia
Carol Dale - Melbourne southern suburbs
Richard Lawley - South Australia
Cheryl Griffin - Mornington Peninsula
Bev Krzyzanowski - Melbourne eastern suburbs
MaryAnne Sterling - Melbourne western suburbs
Kristina Visser - Central Victoria
Caroline Vergura - Melbourne southern suburbs
Mary Rose Hookey - Yarra Valley / Healesville / High Country
Josephine Katona - Geelong & Bellarine Peninsula
Emma Davey - Tasmania
NSWCelebrants Online
Nicole Celeban - Sydney western suburbs
Francine O'Brien - NSW Hunter Region
Alan Whitehead - NSW Blue Mountains
QLDCelebrants OnlinePamela Nair - Brisbane
Andrew Sinclair - Brisbane
Peta Fryer - Bundaberg
Candy Barta - Gold Coast
Sandy Samson - Brisbane
Terry Rundell - Bundaberg
Celebrants Online
John Whitford - North Central Victoria
Lesley Baker-Hames - Western Australia
Peter D. Raymond - Melbourne eastern suburbs
Pete & Olga Brown - Western Australia
Carol Dale - Melbourne southern suburbs
Richard Lawley - South Australia
Cheryl Griffin - Mornington Peninsula
Bev Krzyzanowski - Melbourne eastern suburbs
MaryAnne Sterling - Melbourne western suburbs
Kristina Visser - Central Victoria
Caroline Vergura - Melbourne southern suburbs
Mary Rose Hookey - Yarra Valley / Healesville / High Country
Josephine Katona - Geelong & Bellarine Peninsula
Emma Davey - Tasmania
NSWCelebrants Online
Nicole Celeban - Sydney western suburbs
Francine O'Brien - NSW Hunter Region
Alan Whitehead - NSW Blue Mountains
QLDCelebrants OnlinePamela Nair - Brisbane
Andrew Sinclair - Brisbane
Peta Fryer - Bundaberg
Candy Barta - Gold Coast
Sandy Samson - Brisbane
Terry Rundell - Bundaberg
Best laid plans ...
It's hard to believe that my last post was back in July last year. This past month and a half has been flat-chat with the subscription renewal process for Celebrants Online, NSWCelebrants Online & QLDCelebrants Online.
And it's back to school tomorrow, so my email response rate may slow down a little as I leap in to what promises to be a very busy school year.
Back in July I started the process of uploading celebrant photos on to Flickr, as I saw that as another way of promoting Celebrants with a value-add service. Despite having let the project slide, I still believe that, so will aim to get back on track with it.
A new year resolution ... every endeavour will be made to update the blog with an item of interest on a weekly basis. Let's see how I go. :)
And it's back to school tomorrow, so my email response rate may slow down a little as I leap in to what promises to be a very busy school year.
Back in July I started the process of uploading celebrant photos on to Flickr, as I saw that as another way of promoting Celebrants with a value-add service. Despite having let the project slide, I still believe that, so will aim to get back on track with it.
A new year resolution ... every endeavour will be made to update the blog with an item of interest on a weekly basis. Let's see how I go. :)
Sunday, 13 July 2008
Celebrants Online on Flickr
Celebrants Online is now on Flickr ...
Flickr is a photo sharing website that allows users to create albums or sets of photos. Each photo can be set up with a title, description and up to 75 tags. Celebrants who subscribe to one of the Celebrants Online websites will now automatically have their image included in the relevant Celebrants Online Flickr photo album.
The process of uploading all the images started today, and will continue over the next week or so. Forty three done so far. A couple of hundred to go!
I'm happy to include this as a value-add service to all Celebrants who subscribe to one of the websites. This is just one more opportunity to get Celebrant images out there where they may be seen by potential clients.
Flickr is a photo sharing website that allows users to create albums or sets of photos. Each photo can be set up with a title, description and up to 75 tags. Celebrants who subscribe to one of the Celebrants Online websites will now automatically have their image included in the relevant Celebrants Online Flickr photo album.
The process of uploading all the images started today, and will continue over the next week or so. Forty three done so far. A couple of hundred to go!
I'm happy to include this as a value-add service to all Celebrants who subscribe to one of the websites. This is just one more opportunity to get Celebrant images out there where they may be seen by potential clients.
Updates to Celebrants Online
Prue Madsen is the latest addition to the Celebrants Online website. Prue is a celebrant based in Carlton North, an inner-Northern suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Visit Prue's Celebrants Online page to learn more about the ceremony services she offers.
Friday, 4 July 2008
ClustrMaps
Wow! Its' been 8 1/2 months since I last posted.
As I'm currently on school holidays, I'm trying to get a few maintenancey sort of things done to the websites - catching up with some new posts was one of my tasks. Last school holidays disappeared in a blur of tradespeople as I began to settle in to my new home, so no website time was forthcoming.
Yesterday (3rd July) I added a ClustrMaps image to each of the four website homepages. I've noticed when I check my website stats that quite a few visitors come from countries other than Australia. They come from the U.S., N.Z., China, Germany, Canada, Hong Kong, Chile, India, and Ireland, to name just a few.
ClustrMaps will - eventually - begin to show the originating locations of visitors in a clear, easily understandable, visual style. It'll probably take a little while for the updates to register but I'm looking forward to seeing the little red dots appear on the maps.
As I'm currently on school holidays, I'm trying to get a few maintenancey sort of things done to the websites - catching up with some new posts was one of my tasks. Last school holidays disappeared in a blur of tradespeople as I began to settle in to my new home, so no website time was forthcoming.
Yesterday (3rd July) I added a ClustrMaps image to each of the four website homepages. I've noticed when I check my website stats that quite a few visitors come from countries other than Australia. They come from the U.S., N.Z., China, Germany, Canada, Hong Kong, Chile, India, and Ireland, to name just a few.
ClustrMaps will - eventually - begin to show the originating locations of visitors in a clear, easily understandable, visual style. It'll probably take a little while for the updates to register but I'm looking forward to seeing the little red dots appear on the maps.
Saturday, 13 October 2007
Another celebratory story
Britain's civil partnership law, which came into effect in December 2005, has, in its first year of operation, enabled more than 16,000 gay & lesbian couples to effectively marry.
That's more than 16,000 couples who have pledged their love and commitment to each other - couples who, prior to the legislation's introduction, were legally regarded as second-class citizens.
One day, hopefully, Australia will join the ranks of enlightened countries.
That's more than 16,000 couples who have pledged their love and commitment to each other - couples who, prior to the legislation's introduction, were legally regarded as second-class citizens.
One day, hopefully, Australia will join the ranks of enlightened countries.
Marriage on the increase!
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has some interesting data about marriages in Australia during 2006 - marriage is on the up and up!
"In 2006, there were 114,222 registered marriages, an increase of 4,899 (4.5%) from 2005. This is the highest number of registrations since 1999 ... In 2006, marriages performed by civil celebrants again outnumbered marriages performed by ministers of religion. ... By 2006, this proportion had increased to 61.3%" (of all marriages)
There's also data about the age at which couples are marrying, where they were born and whether they cohabited prior to marriage. Interesting stuff.
"In 2006, there were 114,222 registered marriages, an increase of 4,899 (4.5%) from 2005. This is the highest number of registrations since 1999 ... In 2006, marriages performed by civil celebrants again outnumbered marriages performed by ministers of religion. ... By 2006, this proportion had increased to 61.3%" (of all marriages)
There's also data about the age at which couples are marrying, where they were born and whether they cohabited prior to marriage. Interesting stuff.
Wednesday, 10 October 2007
University-trained celebrants
Update: 19-Aug-2012
Unfortunately, the Grad. Dip in Civil Ceremonies course is no longer offered at Monash University. However, Monash-trained Marriage & General Celebrants are still available to assist you with your ceremony. See below for a link to the CCGA website.
Did you know that Monash University trains Civil Celebrants? There is a large number of providers offering training for Civil Celebrants but Monash University actually offers a Graduate Diploma in Civil Ceremonies. At the end of this course, Monash Celebrants graduate with a well-rounded understanding of the place of ritual and ceremony in today's society.
According to Monash's website, "Students acquire an understanding of the history and cultural variety of rites of passage as practised in the Australian community. They learn to use music and literature creatively in ceremony, to identify the emotional, legal and ethical aspects of rites of passage, and to develop the skill to respond sensitively to the needs of their clients. In summary, the curriculum prepares graduates to practise as professional, confident and successful celebrants."
As a Monash graduate, I can vouch for the quality of training provided! If you're interested in locating a Monash graduate to celebrate your special occasion, visit the Civil Celebrants Graduate Association (Monash) and you'll find a fantastic array of Celebrants to choose from.
Unfortunately, the Grad. Dip in Civil Ceremonies course is no longer offered at Monash University. However, Monash-trained Marriage & General Celebrants are still available to assist you with your ceremony. See below for a link to the CCGA website.
Did you know that Monash University trains Civil Celebrants? There is a large number of providers offering training for Civil Celebrants but Monash University actually offers a Graduate Diploma in Civil Ceremonies. At the end of this course, Monash Celebrants graduate with a well-rounded understanding of the place of ritual and ceremony in today's society.
According to Monash's website, "Students acquire an understanding of the history and cultural variety of rites of passage as practised in the Australian community. They learn to use music and literature creatively in ceremony, to identify the emotional, legal and ethical aspects of rites of passage, and to develop the skill to respond sensitively to the needs of their clients. In summary, the curriculum prepares graduates to practise as professional, confident and successful celebrants."
As a Monash graduate, I can vouch for the quality of training provided! If you're interested in locating a Monash graduate to celebrate your special occasion, visit the Civil Celebrants Graduate Association (Monash) and you'll find a fantastic array of Celebrants to choose from.
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