This will be the last post in this blog. Copies of the group coordinator emails are now available to view through the sygrego.com site.

During term one each year, multiple regional launch events are offered to support local churches and create important momentum toward their SYG campaign. Youth and young adults get a taste of SYG before it all happens, as elements of the Village, evening program and sports create a high quality event. Get this on your calendar, it is well worth the effort!
 
All events Featuring...
 
MAIN STAGE
Official launch - get the low down on all things SYG 2010 'Genesis - this is just the beginning'. Pick up any promo info and other stuff that will help you in your SYG 2010 campaign.
 
SPEAKER -  Phil Cann (CANADA)
Phil is a brilliant youth communicator and we are privileged to have him foir these events! 
"... Until recently Phil worked with Greater Vancouver Youth For Christ, and has been described as a cross between John the Baptist and a soccer hooligan. He is passionate about young people, the lost; and life in general! With over 25 years ministry experience, including training youth leaders in Eastern Europe, "pastoring" in maximum security youth custody centers, working in a drop-in center on one of Vancouver's skid rows and speaking to young and not so young people across the world, he brings a welcome freshness and reality to any meeting place ... look out it might hurt!! ..."
 
YV BAND (AUS) - Their music has inspired and encouraged young people, and youth workers across Australia. Their debut EP Spirit has been utilised by Churches and youth ministries all over the country. They are passionate followers of Jesus who are committed to supporting, resourcing and developing local youth ministries through music.
 
THE VILLAGE
Inflatables, Dance Party, Cafe, Big Screen Wii Sports, Local Bands... heaps more!
 
COST
$10pp at the door, ($8pp pre event group booking - one week before)
 
WHEN & WHERE
March 19, COAST (Frankston COC) 7pm-10pm
March 20, WEST (Ballarat Family COC) 7pm-10pm
March 26, EAST (One Community Church) 7pm-10pm
 
For group bookings or enquiries contact launch@stateyouthgames.com - or call the Youth Vision office on 94888800

PS- Those of you asking us to add new email addresses, we are not currently doing this yet as we are changing a few things around on the website side of things. In early January we will have a link for people to update details, so we will do it all then. Thanks for your understanding.

Juzzy

Gday to all the GCs from SYG 09!!

This is the very first email regarding State Youth Games for 2010.  Yes you have not heard me wrong its not even December and lots of things are underway to make 2010 the most exciting State Youth Games to date. We celebrate our 20 year birthday in 2010, celebrating where we have come from, where we are now and of course where we are going.  Its going to be an amazing year, with lots of bold new steps for State Youth Games.

We will send out an email soon, asking for group co-ordinators details to be updated. But for now, we simply wanted to touch base and prompt the question of " Why is State Youth Games here, where have we come from, where are we going and who are we going with ? "

Hey Guys 2 more sleeps till Games, so crazy but looking forward to it so much.  

• Make sure you bring everything that you need for games.  All driver nomination forms, sport bibs, shoes, youth,tents, food etc  
• If you have not finalised your payment you will need to do this Friday when you get there. 
• Registrations will open on Friday at 4- ALL groups need to register.  No one is exempt !!!! 
• Those of you who have not sent through you aerobics music you will need to bring this down yourself.( its to late to send it to me. Cut off it 5 oclock on Thursday Night)
  • These include
  • Mixed B - One, Syndal
  • F class- Box HIll Salvos, Flames, Diamond Valley, Mount Clear,One,WAC, Warragul Community
  • Mens, Dimaond Valley, Preston,
  • Ladies- Berwick
• Sports Co-orindators for Saturday need to come to the admin building Friday night.
• We still need some helpers check the listing on the website.
• A Reminder that if you were planning to run a activity at your campsite, inviting other groups you needed to submit it via the website.
• Please remeber to bring your Spirit.

Im looking forward to the games so much.  A big thankyou from everyone on the committee for putting in a superb effort.  Without your help the games would not happen. See you all on Friday Juzzy

Hey guys,

Just a reminder about the last week with adding or subtracting of people.
Please email us if you have concerns about this process. This will come into effect on monday morning.

Changes after Sunday will result in the following:
Withdrawal of participant: No refund, no extra charge.
Addition of participant: Normal fee + $20 penalty
Player becomes Spectator: $20 penalty
Spectator becomes Player: $20 penalty
Off-site to On-site: No penalty

Booklets are now available to be printed online.  If you want to print them you may, there may still be minor changes occuring. The booklet is designed to be printed and folded in the middle, when printing you will need to do so double-sided and select the option of 'flip on short edge' or 'flip up' depending on your printer.   Fees and tax invoices are also available online.   Will email you with lots more awesome news on Monday.

Enjoy your weekend,
Juzzy

Dear Group Coordinators,
 
The State Youth Games committee is very conscious of the fear surrounding the swine flu outbreak and the possible risks associated with our event.
At this stage we intend for the event to go ahead as planned, but we will monitor the situation and the level of risk as best we can.
We are in the process of finalizing our policy on the situation. In the meantime, here is a brief list of the measures we are currently taking.

• St John's first-aid crews will be educated to look out for symptoms
• Participants will be educated at the evening program on hygiene, symptoms and where they can get checked out.
• An isolated area will be kept available if any participants show positive signs and symptoms and appropriate masks will be provided.
• First aid stations will also have masks available and sterilized thermometers.
• Warragul hospital emergency has been informed of our presence and the nature of our event particularly in relation to any potential outbreak. 

We are doing our best to take a balanced and pro-active approach to this situation and encourage each group to do the same. Over the next week, check with any participants showing flu like symptoms that they have not been in contact with the flu. Your attention to this during the event will also be vital. Finally, we encourage you to be a constant reminder to your group about basic hygiene practices (ie washing hands, covering mouths, dishwashing practices etc). If you have any questions about any of the above, don't hesitate to contact us.
 
 
SYG Committee

Hey Guys some information for you.  Please read it all as it is all extremely important.
One week out, hope you all pumped. Juzzy

Registrations
On the Friday Registration will be open from 4 o'clock  

Aerobics
Please keep on sending through your music for those who have not yet done it.  

Booklets  
The draws have been completed for all individual sports, and are now available for viewing on the website.
Additionally a preliminary version of your customised booklet for the weekend is now available in the 'downloads' section of the registration site.  This is your final opportunity to review the information, particularly the draws as they apply to your group, before the booklet is finalised tomorrow.  Please review and if anything is incorrect please contact us urgently.  
The booklet is designed to be printed and folded in the middle, when printing you will need to do so double-sided and select the option of 'flip on short edge' or 'flip up' depending on your printer.
Please do not print the booklets for your group until advised that the finalised copy is available for download, which will occur tomorrow night, as whilst we are not expecting any major changes it is still potentially possible that will occur, which would require a re-print.

Additionally if anyone wishes to participate in the following sports please let us know, as there are vacancies available:
- Swimming Medley Under18 Relay
- Ten Pin Bowling Ladies' Open
- Tennis Ladies Open
- Mountain Bike Ladies Open
 Please let us know,as currently we only have 1 or 2 people in the draw for those sports.

"Final Call For Volunteer Helpers (Please!!!)

Thanks heaps to all those who have already volunteered to help out as sports coordinators, marshals, umpires and first aiders. SYG relies so heavily on your volunteer support and you have done an awesome job so far.
At last check there were still a few crucial vacancies that we are keen to fill before the SYG weekend. These are listed below along with the churches which are competing in that particular section. Could you please consider asking around within your church groups and seeing if we can fill these vacancies by this weekend.

• Aquathon: Sports Coordinator This is the most urgent of needs and not for the lighthearted!!!!! For the Aquathon to proceed we urgently need a capable person able to cope with coordinating both the swimming and running components of the aquathon. This involves setting up the course, safety requirements, starting procedures and overseeing transition. (There will be some assistance from some of the sports directors team). You will also have a team of marshals and time keepers at your service!!!

Marshalls (3)  We also need volunteers to help with directions on the day and helping to keep competitors in the right locations and moving in the right directions.

Time Keepers (4) Volunteers to assist with place getting and timing of each category.

• Aerobics: Judges/Umpires If you have a good understanding of requirements for aerobics and feel you could contribute please let us know and we can pass details onto the coordinator. (email Darren Jenkins djenkins@churchesofchrist.org.au)
• Basketball A First Aider If your church is on site and has somebody who has a first aid qualification please ask them to consider helping out (Blaze, Eastside, Gateway Youth, Monty, Rowville Uniting, TLC, Warrandyte Community)
• Indoor Soccer A First Aider Same as above with Bball A for the following churches (Ashy Baps, L.I.F.E, ROFO, Syndal Baps, Trigger, Valley Youth, Warragul Community, Werribee)
• Indoor Soccer B First Aider Following Churches (Crossway, Deep Creek Uniting, Drouin Baps, Footscray Salvos, Kilsyth, Berwick, Preston Salvos, Warragul CofC, Ballarat Family, Connect, Eastside, Frankston, Mitcham, Nth Ringwood, Rowville Uniting, TLC)
• Indoor Soccer U-18 First Aider (Balwyn, C4, CRCY, Berwick, One, Ringwood, Syndal Baps, Valley Youth , Warragul Community, Foothills, Connect, NewHope, Southern, Trigger, WAC, Warragul)
• Skateboarding Umpires/Judges (3) Like the aerobics, you need to have a fair idea of what you are judging but if you have someone capable let us know and we will pass contact details onto the coordinator (email Darren Jenkins djenkins@churchesofchrist.org.au)
• Soccer Open A2 First Aider & Umpires (2) If we don't get umpires then churches will have to provide umpires for other games. (Churches include CRCY, Berwick, TLC, WAC, Warragul)
• Soccer Mixed A2 Umpire (Churches include CRCY, Ringwood, St James, The Lights, TLC)
• Ultimate Frisbee Mixed B1 &B2 Sports Coordinator A recent addition on line due to the large number of churches applying. A sports coordinator is required from the following churches (Ashy Baps, CIA, EEC, NewHope, SHOUT, St James, Werribee, Ballarat Family, Diamond Valley, Berwick, Doncaster, One, Rowville, Warragul Community.)
• Volleyball Mixed C5 Sports Coordinator Another new addition (7Up, Boronia, Berwick, TLC, EEC, Box Hill Salvo's, Connect, Frankston, Horsham, One, Ringwood, Syndal, Warragul community, Drouin Baps, Dandenong, ROFO, Rowville Reapers & Uniting, New Hope, Monty, Glen Waverley)
• Volleyball Mixed U18 -2,3&4 Sports Coordinator Final sports coordinator role (Box Hill Salvos, Gravity, Connect, Doncaster, Berwick, Rowville Reapers, TLC, Valley Youth, York St)

 Whilst you are logged in and registering to help, you can also check out and fill the vacancies for the following

• Village Helpers
• Hall Cleaning
• Toilet Rosters

Thanks for all your help. We look forward to seeing you down at Lardner Park (Sports Team)

Hey guys, hope your weeks are going well   I cant believe it that SYG is next week. Congratulations on an amazing effort that you have all put in.  I know its not an easy job another week and you will see all your hard work. Being just over one week there is still alot of things to get through.  

• Mario Karts -  This will be the game for Nintendo Wii,  Not Donkey Kong, just a heads up for those in training.
• From Monday morning:
  Any addition or subtraction of a participant will result in a $20 fee.  This has been well publicised.  This still gives you until the end of sunday night to have all your group entered into the system.
• As I Speak Code is being written so that you can access you Tax invoice online.  We would strongly prefer you to make your payments before SYG commences.
• Aerobics if you have not sent your music through to me please do it asap.  I am trying to only have one cd for the tech crew to avoid wrong tracks and lost/broken cd's
  If you dont send it through please make sure you bring your music with you!!!!
• Driver nominations.  Make sure you have these with you.  Please note that first year P's are not allowed to drive throughout the weekend.For those of you who are having group meetings please stress the importance of safety on the road!!!
• Food Safety.  Please make sure all these forms have been recieved by the Shire.  Im sure none of you want your kids going hungry over the weekend.

Helpers and Officials - There are many spots left to be filled and many churches with very few or none listed.  SYG is a give and take system.  Without people running SYg it does not occur.  BUt without your Help over the weekend SYG does not happen.  Lets all chip in so that everyone can have a good time.   Activities.  If You are planning on have an event, including anything where formal or informal invitations are made to other members of SYG, ranging from parties, to food fights, to pig wrestling. 
The Committee needs to be made aware and approve of the activity.  On the SYGREGO website there is a form you can fill out.  Please help us all in doing this.   Registrations - On the Friday night when you arrive at Lardner Park we require EVERY GROUP To Register.  If you dont there will be a grave danger of lunatics running through your campsite. No but seriously Please come and Register,  There are many things we need to check off for the weekend.  Would really appreciate your assistance with this.   Finally SPIRIT SYG and Spirit go hand in hand. 
When things get stressful and dont go the way you want.  When everyone is tired, things are running late, when things beyond our control happen. 
Lets just remember why we are down at Lardner Park.  Not to win and dominate, but to share our spirit and discover the spirit of our Lord Jesus. 
Have Grace and Compassion.  I would love that this year churches leave SYG not talking about who won overall, but talking about the youth group they are catching up with the following term.  Or the Spirit and kindness shown to them by another Team. SYG gives many of us a one and only opportunity in a year to mix with churches from all ove the State.  Lets  make the most of this, and show who we are, Followers of Jesus.   Finally there are some churches who have not updated there Official Church Trading Details.  We need the contact details of the Church, not the Youth Group.  Could you please all check you have done this.   There will be lots of emails over the next few days, please take the time to read them as lots of important information will be talked about.   Thankyou so much Juzzy

Hey all.

1: As many of you would know SYG is run by volunteers - around 300 of them!
 
We are in the final stages of planning the big weekend and are still seeking more helpers, without these coordinators SYG does not happen.
 
I am urging all groups to visit the registration website and see where you can help. There are still many roles around Sports Coordinating, Umpiring, Marshalling, Security and Cleaning.
 
As a guide we ask that for every 10 participants, you supply one coordinator (these coordinators get points towards your churches total). Again if a particular sports does not have a coordinator it will not run.
 
If you have any questions about what a Sports Coordinator does please visit the SYG website. If you have specific question relating to coordinating a particular sport you are most welcome to call me. Shona Coutts, Sports Director 0409 106 706
  Again if a particular sports does not have a coordinator it will not run.  We will be forced to do this if we cant find anyone to run the sports.

2: The campsite map has been loaded onto the registration site. When you log onto your group site you will see the map.     

3: Group sports timetables are nearly ready to be released.  Thanks to everyone for your efforts in clearing out your unwanted sports.

4: Aerobics music please keep sending it.  I currently have 4 songs for over 20 groups.

5: Please remeber to have the final list of participants and helpers in for SYG before monday before games.  As this final week incurs a fee as indicated in the booklet.

6: If you plan on hosting an activity down at SYG at night time, it needs to be approved.  To apply please use the activity link on your SYG REGO page.  Any activities not approved will be shut down over the weekend. If you have issues with this please feel free to email.

Thanks once again for all your hardwork.  Not Long now and you will see it all pay off.   Juzzy

Sports
Team registrations close tonight at midnight.  After this time no additions or subtraction of team sports can occur.  You need to make sure you have all of your sports entered. Induvidual sports close next week so you have slightly longer to get them finalised.

Camping
For those of you who have 0 or very close to 0 participants entered.  We are allocating camping spots by the end of tonight.  If you havea large church and have very few people entered in I would suggest you add everyone in.  Likewise the week of SYG any additions or subtractions of SYG participants inccurs a fee.  I know some people have had some issues with this.  If this is you please email a response to me and i will pass it on to the appropriate person.

Activites
State Youth Games appreciates the community spirit shown by so many churches attending our event. If your group would like to run an activity at State Youth Games which other groups attending the event could participate in, please click the ‘activities' link on the sygrego site and fill in the application form.

Opening Times
This year we are trialing a new Friday night schedule:
8:00pm:  Village (Finish 9:45pm)
9:45pm:  Doors open for Opening Ceremony
10:00pm:  Opening ceremony
11:00pm:   Aerobics F  

Aerobics Music
This year i would like to create One aerobics cd.  To prevent people losing cd's not working etc.  Any one who has entered a team into aerobics i need you to send your music through to me, exactly as you want it played ( with instructions ) and i will burn them all onto one CD.  In either MP3 or WMA format  

Registrations
Just a reminder that everyone will need to register there group at SYG on the Friday night.  If you have any problems with this please email me ( ie if you are coming up on the Saturday)   My availibility today is up until 4 oclock, and after 1030 tonight.  If you need to contact me do it before or after the hours listed.   Thanks for all the hard work you are all putting in. Im sure SYG will be fantastic, and cant wait to meet you.   Juzzy