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Some thought provoking words right here
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God, and then wonder why the world's going to hell.
Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.
Funny how everyone wants to go to heaven, provided they do not have to believe, think, say, or do anything the Bible says.
Funny how someone can say "I believe in God," but still follow Satan who, by the way, also "believes" in God.
Funny how we are quick to judge, but not to be judged.
Funny how you can send a thousand 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.
Funny how the lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but the public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Funny how someone can be so fired…
View original post 126 more words


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The lawyer for the family of a student killed by Georgia Tech police says the officer who fired the fatal shot overreacted.
Campus police killed 21-year-old Scout Schultz, who they say was advancing on officers with a knife. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Schultz refused to put down the knife and kept moving toward officers late Saturday outside a dormitory.
Attorney Chris Stewart told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution he thinks Schultz was having a mental breakdown and didn't know what to do.
Stewart and the student's family plan a news conference Monday morning.
WSB-TV reported the item involved, still on the ground when its news crew arrived, appeared to be a "metal, flip-open, multi-tool knife."
Schultz was president of Pride Alliance at Georgia Tech.
Authorities haven't identified the officer who shot him.

subset: commoncrawl


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A few good gems/
Here are some interesting things we gathered up from the nether regions of the internet for some good reading this weekend:
- May I just pause here and give thanks for the gentle reminder that Pinterest gives me when I try to pin something I've already pinned and saved? (For instance, this painting, above.) I must be reaching my Pinterest (and brain) saturation point because it happens more often than I'd like to admit. Next I'd like them to have a little pop-up window that asks skeptically "are you really thinking about doing/making/baking this one? Really?"
- The essay "Our Soft Stomach, Our Broad Back: Notes to My Mother" illustrates the ways mothers can influence daughters on issues of body image and weight as a young woman celebrates her mother for what her body does and can do. A sampling: "I noticed things during those summers, but not what you suspected. I never thought twice about your soft stomach or short waist or any of the other grievances I sometimes caught you muttering about in front of the mirror or with friends. I noticed the way your strong, freckled arms flexed when you weeded the front lawn, and the way your shapely legs sliced through the water when you started taking swimming lessons in the shallow end of the town pool."
- The decline and fall of the English major. (Gulp. Say it ain't so! English majors are my people, my tribe. Sadly, we might be an endangered species.)
- Every once in a while my computer desktop needs some sprucing up. I just reorganized the mess of files and folders this week and treated myself to a new desktop image to celebrate. The Desktop Wallpaper Project has a lot of fun options; my favorite right now is this motivating one by Dave Foster.
- Speaking of motivating, I thought this advice from Karen Cheng (found via Explore) hit the mark: "Yo-Yo Ma's first instrument wasn't cello. He actually started with violin--and he wasn't good at it. So he quite violin and picked up the cello instead. Maybe you're like Yo-Yo Ma, and you just haven't found your cello yet."


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ION Bank Foundation Awarded GIL $450 in 2017
The Ion Bank Foundation continues to make a difference in the communities we serve through our support of a variety of causes by contributing millions of dollars to various non-profit organizations that need our help.
The 8th Annual Community Awards Program can help your favorite non-profit earn grant money. The Community Awards Program allows each Ion Bank customer to vote for their favorite non-profit organization to help the Ion Bank Foundation give away $60,000.


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If you haven't seen the TV show on TLC called 'Sister Wives', then click this link and check it out & then come back here and read my blog.
Ok, now that you have either watched a few clips or already know what the show is all about….here is my 'Sister Wife' story.
As most of you know (or even if you don't) me and my family are moving to TX from NC. We are out of our house that we were living but aren't leaving NC until the middle of July. One of my husbands co workers had asked if we wanted to stay with them (him, his wife, and their 15 month old boy) and we wanted to make sure that they were ready to have 6 extra people in their house. So anyway, we excepted their invite and have been here since Friday evening. So here is the story…
Friday evening the 6 of us were very tired from two straight days of moving and cleaning out our house. So W (the wife) decided that she was going to give her son (B) a bath and asked if I minded if she put Coleman in with him, and no I didn't mind. Well Coleman wasn't having any of that! (New place and she wasn't mommie kinda thing). So she gave B a bath and then Bailea wanted on so she went ahead and did Baileas bath. After we had gotten all 5 kids to bed and we were sitting on the couch W mentioned that she wondered if this what it feels like to be a sister wife. I started laughing so hard! I thought it was so funny & didn't even think of that until she said something!
But in all honestly, it is kinda like that and the only difference is that my husband isn't married to her and there is another adult male around. We all are helping out with each others kids and all doing housework here and there. I have liked the thought of having a sister wife around the house (minus the part where your husband is married to her) and now it's like I get to experience that part. So far everything is working out great! And love the fact that there are more adults which equals more eyes to watch the children.
So far, again, everything is working out great & I hope it continues that way. I am so thankful for J & W and them opening up their home to us. I am not sure that I could have done the same thing if I were in their shoes. Thank you again to J, W, & B for allowing us to stay with you and invade your home 😉


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What to Eat Before and After you Exercise
Learn how to fuel your body properly before and after exercise so that you have energy for a strong workout and have the proper meal to replenish after, all without exceeding your calorie count. Here are some tips and tricks to pre- and post- exercise eating, including easy snack and meal ideas.
Before Your Workout!
Overall Consumption: High-carbohydrate, Moderate Protein, Low Fat Meals
Why: Carbs = Energy. You need energy for your workout. Protein and Fats do not digest well during exercise.
When: For early morning workouts eat a small snack in the hour before you workout. For day and night workouts consume your meal within 4 hours before your workout.
You don't need much!: 100-200 calories will do to give you sufficient energy for a 1 hour workout.
Quick Snack before early morning workouts:
- Half banana
- A few pieces of dried fruit and a couple of nuts
- A handful of dried cereal
- Slice of toast
- 1/2 cup of oatmeal dry with half a banana
Meals before workout:
- Half a chicken, turkey or lean roast beef sandwich on whole-wheat bread
- Low-fat yogurt with a sliced banana
- Low-fat string cheese and 6 whole-grain crackers
- Hard-boiled eggs, yolks removed and replaced with hummus
- Skim milk blended with frozen fruit to make a smoothie
Precede with Caution! Protein Bars ahead!
Is your protein bar a glorified candy bar? Take a look at the back of the package before eating your bar on the go. Choose a bar with 200 calories or less, up to 5 grams of protein and 25 grams of carbohydrates. Whenever possible eat whole-foods instead of processed food substitutes. If you have a bar you love that has a high calorie count eat half of it to cut down on the calorie intake.
Your Workout
Sweat, Keep Strong with good Posture, Breathe, Stay Focused, and Have Fun!
After Your Workout
You just finished a great workout. Now what?
Overall Consumption: High Protein, Moderate carbohydrate, Low Fat Meals
Why: Consuming protein after your workout will help to build muscle. Carbohydrates and Fats are needed for energy replacement.
When: Eat within 30min - 1 hour after your workout.
Don't eat more than you burn: Remember you just worked hard to burn those calories don't throw your workout away by overeating.
Quick Snack after your workout:
- Boiled egg
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese with berries
- 3-4 oz turkey, chicken breast or fish
- String cheese, a tablespoon of peanut butter, with a few whole grain crackers and a piece of fruit
Meals afters your workout:
- One or two eggs on whole-wheat toast
- Bean burrito: a whole-wheat tortilla filled with black beans, salsa and reduced-fat cheese
- Stir-fried chicken and vegetables (try pepper, zucchini and carrot) over brown rice
- Whole-wheat pasta tossed with chicken, broccoli and eggplant
- Arugula Salad with chicken and parmesan with a few sliced almonds dress with olive oil and balsamic
6 Tips for Speedy Workout Recovery: Check these tips to bounce back with a fast and effective recovery.
Hydrate Hydrate and Hydrate some More!
Drink lots of water throughout your day. If you are looking to lose weight it is super important to drink 8-10 glasses of water per day. Avoid sodas, energy drinks, and any drinks that have calories. Keep alcohol to a minimum- one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men is considered moderate.
Trail and Error!
It is very important to listen to your body and find the foods that work best for you so that you are fueling your body efficiently. Pay attention to what your are eating before and after your workouts and how you feel during and after exercise to modify your meals accordingly. Every body is different so there might be a bit of trail and error before you get a combination that works for you.
Let's add to this list of snacks and meals for pre- and post- exercise eating. What foods work best for you before and after a workout? Write your meals and snacks below.


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Villainy runs in Damien's family. His mom is a very respected (and feared) mad scientist (dad isn't mentioned, perhaps a lab accident?) and he's quite happy with his family heritage. He's ready to embrace his evil destiny, in fact! He's going to go to the local university for super villains- with early enrolment- take something tasteful, like mad science, and then take over the world. He just has to wait till his thumbprint turns to a V on his sixteenth birthday, and then he's on his way.
Only on his birthday, in front of hundreds of paying guests eager to see an actual villain embrace his heritage, things go wrong.
Because his thumbprint just changed- only not into a V. Damien is now the proud owner of an X on his thumb. The rare and almost mythical progeny of a villain- and a hero.
Damien now is less ready to believe that his dad met with an unfortunate lab accident, or was a turkey baster, as he'd always believed. Now for a spot of non-consentual DNA testing! Yay! That's always good for a laugh…
And then before you know it, we're dealing with mind-control rays, public schools, GIRL ISSUES, flying (omg omg omg omg and not in a good way) SCIENCE, the future, Zombiesand BIG DECISIONS. I'm saying that in a very vague and probably annoying way because I don't want to spoil it for you. ^_^ I'll just say I liked the kissing scenes. And the torture. And the kissing torture. ^_^
Oh, and I think this is the first love triangle I've read that I both enjoyed, thought was believable, and knew right away who I was cheering for. (Now come on, he's caught between a heroine and a villainess. Who do YOU think he should go for? :D) I was IMPRESSED how it seemed entirely believable to me. I mean- granted- everyone involved is insane and has truly twisted ideas of how relationships should work, but I'm cool with that. I can understand that MORE than oh dear pretty fluffy angels you're so pretty and I've never seen you before plz have my babies plz plz plz??? Which is my reading of most relationships, and ESPECIALLY love triangles. *cough* Not that I'm thinking of the classic triangle of our generation *coughJacobBellaEdwardCoughCough* or anything. *cough* Nope *cough cough* I need to go get a drink of water…
*returns, triumphantly hydrated* So yes. The plot just makes me happy to outline, much less read, the love triangle gives me the warm fuzzies, the characters are win- did I mention that? Yes, they are win. Especially when you're moving from first impressions to how people change (or are proven to be exactly the person you thought they were.) They're all LOVELY.
I think at this point you might be getting a vague idea that I liked this book. If you were thinking that, you would be CORRECT. In fact, I gave it five stars out of five. I know there are some technical issues, but I just love it so much. 😀 You should all read it.
Oh, and Ms. Campbell is writing a book set in ROME next. Ancient Rome. I hope her book after that will be a sequel to renegade. 😀


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SCBWI authors/illustrators may submit their books for presentation in the on-line in a digital catalogue and for display of each book on the SCBWI stand.
Frances Plumpton ARA will represent Australia East & New Zealand where she will showcase the PAL books from our region. She has generously offered to transport and display SCBWI Aus/NZ books at the world's largest trade fair for kids' books, but places are limited due to baggage restrictions, so it's first in, first served.
As a condition of entry, SCBWI HQ has included a charge of $US25 for each title displayed, to be paid for by the author/illustrator directly to the SCBWI website. If your publisher holds the rights for your book, you can still send it for the SCBWI display. Just ensure your publisher's details are on the back cover: Rights Holder (Publisher) and Publisher email. Details are below:-
- the book will be showcased on the regional table
- it will be included in the booth display, and,
- it will be included in a digital catalogue that will be available through the bologna.scbwi.org website and provided on promotional material distributed at the fair.
- Only PAL books published after January 1, 2014 are eligible for display.
- One title per member is permitted for display.
- Members must register and pay US$25 through the Bologna SCBWI website here: https://bologna.scbwi.org/events/bologna-2016-regional-showcase/ to display their book in the regional showcase (once their region is listed as being in Bologna)
Members must also arrange at their own expense to deliver the book to Frances Plumpton at:-
Frances Plumpton Literary Agency
PO Box 15 061 New Lynn, Auckland 0640, New Zealand
Your book must be delivered to Frances Plumpton by 1 March 2016.
- The Assistant Regional Advisor will not be responsible for books that do not arrive by this date.
- Rights for each book must be available and clearly displayed on the reverse of the book (details here link to http://bologna.scbwi.org/rights-information/).
- TO be included in the digital catalogue please send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com with the following:
o front cover image (less than 1MB)
o short synopsis (less than 100 words)
o short bio (less than 40 words)
o genre (picture book etc)
o and back cover details as per information at http://bologna.scbwi.org/rights-information/
The books will not be returned but will be passed to the International Youth Library Munich (http://www.ijb.de/en/about-us.html) for their collection. This also enables them to be entered into the prestigious White Ravens catalogue (link: http://www.ijb.de/en/publikationen/single/article/the-white-ravens-2014/34.html and 2014 here - http://www.ijb.de/en/publikationen/single/article/the-white-ravens-2014/34.html).
- There are no refunds.
- For comprehensive look at the our scbwi Bologna presence see bologna.scbwi.org.
For more info on Bologna, please click here: http://bologna.scbwi.org/scbwi-bologna-book-fair-2016/news-2016/
Please email Frances if you'd like to know more.


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Burke Mountain, East Burke, VT
Stantec Engineering Company
Burke Mountain, Burke, VT
Cross Consulting Engineers was retained to survey and map 40 parcels containing over 1500 acres for the Burke Mountain Ski Area in East Burke, VT. Requirements of this project included research and measurements of over 60 parcels totaling more than 3000 acres. This work involved surveys of Town and County lines, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation property and numerous individual parcels ranging from less than one acre to more than 400 acres. Over 850 deeds were compiled, scanned and indexed. The end result was 28 survey plats all tied to the Vermont State Plane Coordinate System.
In addition to the boundary survey work described above, we also located more than 7000 wetland flags placed by the wetland scientists. The flags were located using our survey grade GPS system and downloaded into Autocad Land Development Desktop software for use by the project planners.
Cross Consulting Engineers was also retained to provide topographic information for more than 10,000 acres of land surrounding the ski area. More than 50 ground control points were established using GPS and aerial photos were taken to provide photogrammetry of the area. LIDAR was also used to develop existing conditions base plans of the area.


text: TMP Worldwide tmpw said its board of directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 5 million shares of common stock, representing 4.5 percent of the common stock outstanding as of Sept. 2. "Our financial position affords us the capability to repurchase shares and enhance TMP's overall shareholder value," said Andrew McKelvey, the recruitment advertising agency network's chairman and chief executive. "Further, the share repurchase program announced today is a testament to our commitment to and confidence in the long-term growth prospects of TMP Worldwide." The stock closed Friday down 56 cents at $10.92.


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Accessories , Baby , Gifts , Home And Garden
Hearth Song
Total votes : 0
HearthSong assists parents with buying age-appropriate, wholesome, quality playthings that will inspire creative, imaginative play in their children.
Galactic Bed Tent
Welcome to our star-studded, interplanetary bed tent—and a whole new universe of play. Our tent's cozy dark-blue interior is strewn with silver stars and lit with a starburst LED light as mysterious as the Milky Way. It's a cosmic personal play place, where sweet dreams are guaranteed. It features room to zip a twin-size mattress inside its base, four windows, and two doors.
$ 109.99


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Fiji Visa Information
Nationals of some countries can visit Fiji for up to three
months without a visa.
If you intend to visit Fiji, on holiday, a business trip, to study, work, volunteer or as an emigrant you should get up to date and accurate information from the official website of the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs For The Republic Of Fiji
For up to date information on visa requirements, you can also check with the Embassy or Consulate of Fiji before you travel.
Search For Jobs


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Residential, Clubhouse and Course Development
Merewether Golf Club has launched plans for a multimillion-dollar redevelopment including seniors-living apartments attached to a new clubhouse.
Merewether Course Draft Design
Merewether Golf Club has launched plans for a multimillion-dollar redevelopment including seniors-living apartments attached to a new clubhouse. As part of the development Merewether are taking the opportunity to adopt a course masterplan to guide course changes and improvements, not only to accommodate the development but also to guide future course developments to improve the course. The PDF of the draft design can be downloaded by clicking on the link below;
Draft Design
Residential, Clubhouse and Course Development
Merewether Golf Club has launched plans for a multimillion-dollar redevelopment including seniors-living apartments attached to a new clubhouse.
In mid-2016, a few months after our election, the MGC Board [the Board] asked for members' views as to what direction MGC should take in terms of how to best use our land and building assets to ensure the sustainability and long term financial stability of the club and improve the course and the golfing experience of both members and visitors. Responses to this survey overwhelmingly supported the investigation into a potential development of the clubhouse and a Seniors Living facility.
Preliminary work was undertaken then presented to members in July 2017, along with the vision of the next stages including prospective course changes and development design. At this point the Board sought confirmation from the members to continue exploring the financial viability and once again received endorsement from the membership.
Following an Expression of Interest and subsequent two-stage selection process of potential development partners, the Board and Development Committee selected Thirdi/ThirdAge to enter into an exclusivity period. As a result of the extensive investigations and negotiations the Board are now seeking the approval of the membership to proceed with the development.
Members are very familiar with the unacceptable financial performance of the Club in recent financial years. Whilst we are yet to finalise the results for 2017/18 the Board anticipates we can look forward to an improvedbut still unacceptable performance. Since the Board's election in 2016 we have made inroads, in terms of:
- Scrutinising costs and working within budgets to ensure costs are monitored and controlled
- Finding efficiencies in course resourcing and machinery leases
- Actively pursuing functions and corporate golf days
- Maximising subscription income by introducing new membership categories
- Leveraging the Board's existing network to secure sponsors
- Regular communication with members
However, it is the Board's view that the Club (in its current form) will continue to struggle to make adequate returns, while maintaining an ageing clubhouse in good working order and also keeping the course in an acceptable playing condition.
Our clubhouse is now over 50 years old and is reaching end of life, with increasing maintenance costs each year ($75,000 last financial year and around $90,000 this year despite our members often providing free labour to effect repairs). The facilities are clearly dated and not attractive for functions, and the larger membership does not appear to be willing to support the current clubhouse facilities in their current form. We believe that, by any measure, it will not meet the needs of a successful golf club and therefore simply maintaining it (even at an increasing cost) is not suitable in the short, medium or longer term. In addition gaming (pokie) revenue is down.
As with all golf clubs, the costs associated with maintaining a quality golf course continue to rise and the cost of some elements (including electricity and water) are rising significantly. The course is well presented but similarly requires significant works over the longer term. We are aware of prospective issues with hole design, and also the need for greater dam efficiency to ensure water security.
Our membership levels and golfing income are relatively strong, which is very beneficial, but the reliance on weather-dependent income can be problematic and is not a sustainable long-term strategy. Cash from the land sale continues to shield us from a more dire situation, but for how long? The underlying challenges remain. The Board believes that this development opportunity will provide the necessary long-term financial security.
The Board has pursued the development as a result of the overwhelming support the membership provided following the information session last year, and through an exhaustive process, have a proposal that meets the requirements that members placed on the Board. Furthermore, the Board has noted that other clubs' pursuing similar developments, we believe typically have left it far too late to ensure they get the best deal possible. The MGC Board believes that it has secured the best possible result by dealing with proponents from a position of strength.
Therefore, the Board wholeheartedly endorses the development presented and proposed resolutions (and accompanying Notes) and believes that the project will not only secure MGC's future for the next 100 years but also deliver to a better course, better facilities, and a new clubhouse for members and guests alike.
As this is an important decision, the Board requires member approval to further proceed. As there is a lot of information, we have set up a series of meetings, with a vote at a General Meeting on Thursday 27th September.
Information Session – Sunday 9th September at 2pm
All members are invited to the presentation on Sunday 9th September at 2pm to see the proposed course, clubhouse concept and residential development. Whilst the Clubhouse design is incomplete, the Board have visited and inspected a number of golf clubhouses and are very confident that an outstanding clubhouse and facilities can be constructed within the financial parameters. As the clubhouse design is firming the Board will display design details within the clubhouse for member comment.
Q&A Session Tuesday 11th September at 6:30pm
A follow-up presentation is set for Tuesday 11th September to address questions submitted to the MGC Board and Management that have either not been considered in the Q&A or that require further detail. Please email questions to firstname.lastname@example.com
General Meeting (the Voting Meeting) Thursday 27th September at 6pm
A General Meeting has been set for Thursday 27th September at 6pm in the clubhouse which will be the actual vote on the proposal. Due to the requirements of the MGC Constitution as well as The Registered Clubs Act, members are required to vote on two resolutions.
The Resolutions
There are two resolutions on which members are asked to vote. The two resolutions are the same: to lease the land to allow construction of residential dwellings on terms set out in the Notice of General Meeting sent to members (please refer to the exact wording on the Notice).
- Resolution 1 satisfies The Registered Clubs Act; all ordinary members can vote on this resolution, which requires a simple majority (50% + 1 attendees at this General Meeting)
- Resolution 2 satisfies the MGC Constitution: only eligible members (as stated in the Constitution and Point 9 of the Notice of General Meeting) can vote on this resolution which requires a majority of 75% of eligible attendees at the General Meeting.
The General Meeting (Thursday 27th September)
At the General Meeting a summary of the previous presentation will be given and members will have the opportunity to speak for or against the resolutions prior to the vote being called. Additionally, any last minute questions that may have arisen since the earlier Q&A session will be addressed by the Board (preferably submitted to MGC's secretary manager by close of business on Wednesday 26th September). As noted above
- All members can vote on Resolution 1
- Only eligible members can vote on Resolution 2. Eligible members are 7 Day (including Senior & Veteran), 6 Day (including Senior & Veteran), Youth, Young Adult, & Life members ((as stated in the Constitution and Point 9 of the Notice of General Meeting)
For the reasons noted in section 1.2 Why do we need the development?, if members vote against the development proposal, in the short term it is likely that clubhouse facilities will be reduced or closed, allowing the club to focus primarily on golf. While the golf course would always be a priority, course maintenance would likely be compromised, without necessary funds for upgrades or additional water storage. In addition membership subscriptions and green fees would likely substantially increase to keep pace with rising costs as well as providing funding for critical expenditure.
Also, the Board and Development Committee as well Third Age have put considerable amounts of time and resources into this proposal. The Board believes that we will not get a better outcome from either a different developer/operator or by tweaking the proposal design.
In other words, what will prevent MGC ending up in the same dire situation as at other local clubs? There are a number of points of difference that will ensure that MGC does not follow the same detrimental path as other clubs or end up in a similar dire position:
- Firstly, the process undertaken by MGC to reach this stage is significantly different to other clubs. The Board initiated discussions on a prospective development soon after forming in April 2016.
- Our Development Committee consists of industry experts from a range of relevant disciplines, many of whom are Club members and who generously offered their time thus saving the club thousands of dollars. The Committee covered all aspects of potential impact to the club, including building architects, Quantity Surveyors, course architects to advise on course works, a registered Property Valuer to provide independent advice on land and apartment valuations and legal advice on contractual issues and areas of concern relating to the Registered Clubs Act and the MGC Constitution.
- The process included a comprehensive EOI phase – many proponents approached MGC with a view to take part in the development and MGC's Development Committee operated from a position of strength in the negotiation phase. In comparison, similar projects for other clubs do not appear to have had the same financial rigour or capacity to engage members to minimise costs.
- Extensive financial modelling has been conducted into scenario analysis and cash flow evaluation to ensure the Board has full confidence in the prospective results
- MGC will maintain full control over the course development works including the timing, scope of works, parties contracted and the enforcing the completion of the course works to precede the development commencement
- We are negotiating from a position of strength – not a situation of desperation – so are in a position to secure favourable terms, ensuring adequate cash reserves during the construction phase and ongoing income streams going forward
- And finally, we have taken note of issues experienced by other clubs, not just in the Hunter but also further afield, to ensure we understand what has been successful and, equally, learn from the apparent mistakes or oversights of others.
In late-breaking news, if members approve the Resolutions, ThirdAge have agreed to demonstrate their commitment to the MGC golfing community by way of sponsoring MGC golfing events to the value of $10,000 which is anticipated to cover men's and women's Pennants team shirts and balls, club championships, and various other events.
The Course
In order for the development to be financially viable there is a requirement for a specific 'footprint' of land to be made available for a Seniors Living development. This is the surplus or "non core" land as referenced in the Notice of General Meeting. For the course to be able to accommodate this footprint and remain an 18 hole course we will need to make some changes to the course design. Specifically, as the current 18th hole will be occupied by the development, we will need to change the course to create a replacement.
Additionally, the members have advised that there is a preference for;
- The course to become a 9 + 9 hole split in place of the current 8 + 10 configuration
- A desire to have the current 17th hole become the new finishing hole so members and guests can watch players as they finish their last hole
- Minimal disruption to the course playability during construction
- A minimum of a par 70 (men's) course at completion, ideally maintaining a par 70 throughout (72 for women).
We have developed a Course Masterplan that will guide development and changes to the course. The details of the changes can be seen in the Appendix and the end of this document, however in summary.
- Dismantle the existing 18th hole to cater for the proposed development
- Split the existing [par 5] 11th into a par 3 and a par 4
- Extend the existing 16th to become a dogleg left par 4
- Consolidate the dam infrastructure. This is yet to be finalised but current considerations include:
- Additional dams proposed for the current 1st, 2nd and 8th
- Modifying the dams on the 14th, 15th and 16th
- Extend the existing 9th to become a par 5
- Change the 7th and 8th from a par 4 and par 3 to become a par 3 and par 4 respectively Additional changes are based on the location and structure of some of the green and bunker complexes. It is important to note that this is the long term vision for the course and not all works will be undertaken in the near term. Works will be undertaken as funding is allocated, potential disruption to the course is minimised and spread out over time.
The Board has commissioned James Wilcher, founder of Golf by Design, to provide course design assistance. James Wilcher is a highly regarded Course Architect, formerly working with Greg Norman and now working closely with the Ian Baker-Finch course design team. Golf by Design were also selected by the previous Board to develop some course design outlines to accommodate the sale of the horse paddock and changes to other areas of the course. Wilcher has considerable knowledge not only of Merewether but also with the Newcastle region's courses generally, having designed Pacific Dunes and also being commissioned for various levels of work for Waratah and Belmont GC.
Wilcher's approach considered the contours of the land, the requirements of the course in terms of the members' stated desires (including the necessity that golfers of all levels and capabilities should be able to enjoy playing MGC) and the existing issues and faults that the layout currently exhibits.
Historically, Merewether has evolved like many other courses; changes to the layout are made by well-meaning presidents and captains or slotted into areas of spare land as the needs of the clubs materialise. As these changes are typically ad-hoc and address single 'point' issues, e.g. ball strike dangers, they are rarely designed with consideration to the flow of the course or overall integration with the land due to the costs of doing so and the desire to minimise course interruptions to the players.
For example, the dam on the 14th was built to assist in the water retention on the course. This dam was built on an area that was not being utilised however it is on the ridge line of the hill and definitely not part of the direct catchment. This means that the catchment either needs to be redirected to it and/or requires water to be pumped to it in order to be a water storage facility.
With ad-hoc changes over the years the efficient utilisation of land diminishes as the knock-on effect for other holes becomes a costly exercise. Given we will be required to make changes to several holes as part of the development proposal we have ensured these changes aren't considered in isolation. This presents MGC with a 'once in several generations opportunity' to apply a Masterplan to the course and consider an overarching strategy for the entire course into the future. Note that it is not proposed that all changes will be made "now" but rather over time as funds become available.
As part of the design work Golf by Design have determined that the demolition of the existing 18th hole presents the opportunity to extend the existing 9th into a par 5. Combined with the extension of the existing 16th into a par 4 the course becomes a men's par 71. The option exists for either a forward women's tee par 72 or an extended par 73.
This has been one of the most critical issues faced by other courses. The proposed contract with ThirdAge is such that clubhouse and residential development cannot proceed until the course works (immediately relevant to the development) are complete. This includes a requirement that the course continues as a men's par 70 /women's par 72 course without temporary greens. Supporting this will be clauses in the contracts that specify completion dates for course works as well as penalties should the selected Contractors not have works completed to the required quality standards by the specified time.
Also, the course re-design is such that the required course works can be undertaken in several future stages to minimise impact on member's enjoyment of the course, and a time when funds are available.
It is important to note that while we have set out the plan of works as below, the actual delivery of works may vary depending on the efficient deployment of resources and growing seasons. For example, we can undertake dam building works at any time however green builds need to be specifically aligned to growing seasons. The current defined stages are as follows;
Stage 1 (a): The following works are required to continue as a par 70/72 as described in 2.6
- Build Green and Bunker Complex on the existing 11th hole, 153m from existing 11th tee (this will become the new 3rd hole).
- Build new tee boxes adjacent to new 3rd green, as above (this will form the start of the new 4th hole).
- Build new elevated tee boxes to the south west of the existing 18th green, these will form the new tees for the current 9th hole which will become the 1st hole after the renumbering. The new 1st hole will be developed into a par 5
- Subject to final clubhouse design, possible alterations (including to the elevation) to the (new) 18th green At this point the course will be able to be renumbered as per the Course Masterplan and be played as a split 9 + 9 course instead of the current 8 + 10 hole configuration. This means that existing 9th hole will become the 1st and the existing 1st hole will become the 10th. The existing 17th hole will become the new 18th finishing hole.
Stage 1 (b): The following works are expected to be completed prior to development commencement to extend the course to a par 71 without any temporary greens. The works are separate from 'Stage 1 (a)' to demonstrate that we can easily realign the course within the anticipated timeframe and budget.
- Extend fairway on 16th
- Modifying dam infrastructure around the 14th fairway, the 15th green, and the existing 16th dam
- Build new tee boxes behind the 15th green
- Build new green and bunker complex for the existing 17th hole
Stage 2: The following works will be undertaken during the build phase of the clubhouse and residential development as the fill become available for use on the course. MGC has negotiated with ThirdAge to relocate all clean-fill from the excavations to the appointed sections of the course and shape the fill as specified. MGC will be responsible for installing drainage, irrigation and planting works thereafter. The utilisation of fill will assist in taking out some of the heavy cross slopes that impacts our course and allow for the realignment of some holes away from residential areas.
- Level out sections of the 4th and 6th and 10th fairways
- Build double green to cater for the existing 9th and 7th holes
- Build new tee boxes for the realigned 8th hole (where the existing 7th social tee is)
- Create dam on the existing 8th tee
- Build up and level out the area around the existing 7th green and 9th fairway
Stage 3: The following works will be undertaken sometime after the completion of the clubhouse and residential development.
- Build up and create green and bunker complex for the existing 1st hole
- Build new tee boxes for realigned (existing) 2nd hole
- Build new dam on the existing 1st
- Extend dam on the existing 2nd
Subsequent works:
As noted in the Course Masterplan there will be additional changes made over time as both finances and acceptable disruption permits. This will include the rebuild of the remaining ageing greens, bunkers and tees as necessary.
As indicated above we have taken steps to ensure members' can play an 18 hole course with minimal disruption. We also recognise that members don't want to be playing 18 holes with an increased number of par 3s, or 18 holes of sub-par 70/72. In order to achieve this, we are setting up stages of course works in order for the changes to occur in an orderly manner and minimise impact to our members.
Stage 1 will include all works that are essential to ensure our course remains an 18 hole course of at least par 70/72 before the development commences. This will ensure that our members are not subjected to the same conditions experienced by other clubs where course works have greatly impacted the enjoyment of their course.
Stage 2 will begin during the clubhouse and residential construction phase. The utilisation of fill will assist in levelling some heavy slopes on the course and allow for the realignment of some holes away from residential areas. Stage 3 will follow the Course Masterplan and increase the dam capacity for water retention on course.
This will be dependent on a combination of factors including weather and growing seasons, availability of selected contractors and the financial performance of the club over time. Additionally, the planned works may need to be moved forward or back into other stages. Unfortunately we are unable to be more definite than this until the Contract and other details have been finalised.
Stage 1 is budgeted for $1.5M, with a further $750k for stages 2 and 3 respectively. The amount actually spent on each stage will be dependent on the progress of specific works compared to the development start dates.
The budgets are based on the scope of works in each stage and the experience of the course architect in similar projects to price up 'build of materials' and contractor fees.
The majority of the works will be contracted out to professionals specialising in the various aspects of course build including; green and bunker shaping, drainage, irrigation and turfing. It is certainly important that our team are involved in the build process. Apart from the experience our more junior greens staff members will gain from the process, it will allow the course team to be more familiar with the new works. However, in order to maintain the course in the condition we expect it will be important that sufficient staff are available for the regular maintenance.
Not only does the Board consider this to be the most prudent approach, it is also the approach recommended by the course architect.
Retention of rain water on the course is of paramount importance to the club as it reduces our reliance on town water. This is vital for two reasons;
- It reduces costs associated with buying water which has averaged between $25,000 and $30,000 per year over the past decade
- It minimises the risks of Hunter Water, at some time in the future, potentially deciding that we can no longer buy town water
The placement of the current dams is not necessarily aligned to the watershed on MGC's landholdings nor does it capture all available water. For instance, the entire section of the course east of the 9th dam is not currently flowing into any dams on the course and flows into the storm water system. This equates to approx. a quarter of our surface area.
Additionally, from a course design perspective, the dams are not best placed in terms of the flow of the golf course and therefore do not complement the design. Sizeable embankments such as exist on the 9th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th dams have a clearly artificial look and do not add to the aspect of the holes.
Importantly, while some dams are being adjusted, the overall storage capacity on the course is being increased and the ability for the course to maximise the retention of rainfall is similarly being enhanced by the changes.
Although the Course Masterplan shows several holes in a redefined future state the hole routing will remain similar. In short though, we will adopt a new 'split 9' arrangement with the current 9th becoming the 1st hole, this continues as present with the 10th becoming the 2nd, the 11th being split into the 3rd and 4th, we then play the existing 4th as the 5th and continue with the current route from there; 5th becomes 6th, 6th becomes 7th, 8th becomes 9th.
On the back 9 holes; the 1st becomes the 10th, 2nd becomes the 11th, 3rd becomes the 12th and then straight onto the existing 12th which becomes the 13th. From there it also continues on the current route with the 13th becoming the 14th, the 14th becoming the 15th, the 15th becoming the 16th, the 16th becoming the 17th and the current 17th becoming the new finishing hole.
As part of the development proposal the MGC Board are proposing that the annual subscription fees paid by members will be frozen at their current rates in perpetuity. This will apply to all members who are financial at the end of the calendar year (to be specific, by close of business Monday 31/12/18) and remain continuously financial.
Although the Board initially considered this as an appropriate model to thank members for their commitment to Merewether Golf Club during the course works, we also see it as a pragmatic tool to ensure the longevity of the club. We believe that by freezing the subscription fees for existing members (as above) we will encourage members not to move to another course while works are undertaken and then seek to resume membership when we have a fabulous course and clubhouse.
It is also important to note that, as detailed in the last Annual General Meeting, the Membership Committee has set a target percentage fee for each membership category, the target is based on the relative value against the 7 Day membership. The fees outlined in the Appendix provide a guidance of the future expectations for annual fees to allow members to make decisions on the most cost effective membership. The use of CPI is indicative only and may not reflect the actual increases over time.
The Board are very keen to retain all current members and, as always, encourage members to make a decision based on individual circumstances. What future Boards decide is clearly unknown, but this Board suggests that key considerations might be:
- potential for future increases (well) in excess of CPI. Following construction of a new, high quality clubhouse, together with substantial course improvements, the prospects of higher membership fees would appear to be strong
- potential for membership growth, leading to waiting list(s) or joining fees.
The catch is that the offer is about loyalty to the club. If you allow your membership to lapse and then rejoin at some later stage, you will pay the subscription fees (and any Joining Fee) applicable at the time of re-joining. However, if you maintain your membership, your fees are frozen.
The membership freeze is only for the annual membership subscription fees so does not include any other services such as the green fees or cart shed fees. The Board, and presumably future Boards will, recognise that green fees must remain competitive in the golf market. Similarly, the membership component for sponsorships will be frozen however the sponsorship value in total will still vary based on demand and value delivered.
If you maintain or change to Flexi membership this year, your subscription fees will be frozen (in line with above). However, if you decide you want to upgrade to 6 or 7 Day membership at any time after the end of this year, you will pay whatever the current rate is (i.e. you won't qualify for the frozen membership fee). As well as this, it is possible that 6 and 7 Day membership may be capped and you might not be able to upgrade when you want. Additionally as 6 and 7 Day membership numbers increase, it is possible that 6 and 7 Day members will have preferential access to timesheets leaving Flexi members unable to find a tee time.
From this point of view, current Flexi members would do well to consider which category has the playing privileges they seek in the long term and move to that as their new playing category before the cut-off date.
7 Day members who qualify for the frozen fees can downgrade from 7 Day to 6 Day and still pay the frozen 6 Day rate.
After the December 2018 cut-off date, members will be entitled to progress to their relevant age category without penalty. For instance, 7 Day members qualifying for 7 Day Senior will do so at the frozen rate at that point in the future. Similarly, Youth will be required to progress to Young Adult and Young Adult will be required to progress to 7 Day, all based on the frozen rates schema.
Ideally nothing, but it is entirely up to you. It would make sense to consider what membership level you want to be on in the future and, should it be a higher level category than you are on now, move to that category as soon as possible. For instance, if you expect to be able to play more in about 5 years' time (kids move out, retirement etc) and you are currently a Flexi-Golfer it would be worth considering the long term savings and benefits by locking in a 7 Day membership now instead of upgrading to the 7 Day category at the current day subscription fees when that time arrives.
It is also worth noting that if the relevant membership categories are at capacity at the time you wish to upgrade in the future you may need to go on a waiting list until a space becomes available.
We have modelled several membership scenarios and found that even with conservative estimations we can freeze membership fees for existing members and still maintain very acceptable profitability projections, even assuming standard CPI-type increases and enduring normal membership churn. This is a result of several factors;
Members who have dropped back to lower categories while unable to play as much as they would like (e.g. kids sports) will see the long term benefit of locking in the preferred higher category now rather than pay (significantly) more in a few years.
- Existing members hesitant to stay at Merewether during course works, despite assurances of minimal disruption, will be further encouraged to stay
- Members of other clubs may find the offer attractive and take the 'long term view' and join our club, further bolstering our membership base
- Those who are not currently members of any club will also take the 'long term view' and join Merewether in anticipation of being able to play again in the future
- Seniors Living residents may become golf club/playing members
We did consider this however it would only be a short term gesture and does not provide a lasting model that suits the club and its financial requirements. We are seeking to reward loyal members who want to be part of the Merewether golfing community and that is not something we consider to be a short term engagement.
Clearly one objective for the Board has been and remains to increase MGC members. The playing membership at Merewether is strong but there are still plenty of spaces on the timesheets on all days. The Match Committee will continue to monitor the membership levels and review the membership ratios of the different categories to ensure a fair balance.
The Flexi-Golfer membership has been very successful and we still envisage it being popular into the future. However, as outlined when we initially brought the category in, the plan is for 6 and 7 Day (as well as Youth and Young Adult) to be provided preferential access to the timesheet. As the demand for timeslots increases the full (7 and 6 Day) membership categories will be provided with earlier opportunities to access the timesheet.
This means that the cheaper membership categories, such as Flexi-Golfer members will be more likely to be impacted as the fields begin to fill however the intent remains to enable all members to get fair access to timeslots and as such we may need to cap membership categories in the future.
While the Board is focussed on promoting golf generally and would like to see all golf clubs in Newcastle operating strongly, we recognise that club closures are a very real possibility and we are already fielding many enquiries from other courses. This is a combination of concern about other club's directions and futures and recognition of the positive direction and future of Merewether Golf Club.
It is reasonable to assume that this trend will continue and that the membership base at MGC will continue to rise. Combine this with the increasing population density in the City of Newcastle's region, Merewether Golf Club's proximity to the higher density population and it is apparent that the demand for memberships will continue to increase over time. This will ultimately put pressure on the membership levels and at that point the Board will have several options;
- Introduce joining fees for new members
- Increase annual subscription fees for new members joining after the December 2018 cut off beyond CPI
- Cap membership numbers for certain categories
- Create waiting lists for specific categories
- Create entry points for categories that permit progression to higher level categories when positions become available
The Seniors Living facility is likely to include a Wellness Centre (with gym and pool). As part of our overall agreement with ThirdAge, the Board is negotiating a Wellness Centre membership for MGC members. Details are yet to be determined but membership prices will be competitive.
The development proposed to our members has several components: both financial and non-financial, with the minimum as outlined in the Notice of General Meeting, and quoted in italics below:
19(d) Instead of receiving a commercial rent during the term of the lease, Third Age (or its nominee) will pay to the Club the following approximate sums during the course of the development:
(i) $1,500,000 for golf course redevelopment.
(ii) $500,000 for a temporary clubhouse and facilities.
(iii) $8,000,000 for a new clubhouse and facilities.
(iv) $1,000,000 for furniture, fixtures and other movable equipment.
(v) $750,000 for grey water upgrades (or cash in lieu).
(vi) $3,000,000 cash payments to the Club.
20. The minimum total money (or equivalent value) to be provided to the Club, including expenditure outlined above, is $14,750,000.
22. In addition, the Club will receive the following variable payments depending on the agreements entered into for the residential dwellings:
(a) 2.2% of the value of any agreements entered into by Club members in the initial offering.
(b) 15% of the (maximum 25%) deferred management fee (or equivalent value). Deferred management fees are a feature of a number of forms of seniors living. In summary, it involves the facility receiving a payment when an agreement comes to an end in a certain time period.
A Deferred Management Fee (also known as an Exit Fee or Departure Fee) is charged by most Seniors Living Facilities upon the re-sale of an apartment when a resident moves out. This fee helps pay for the upkeep of common facilities and gardens as well as the ongoing management, and upkeep and provision of services in the residential development.
DMFs vary significantly between facility operators and there has been much adverse publicity surrounding some operators' fees –we are aware of some up to 40%. It should be stated that one of the many reasons we were attracted to the ThirdAge proposal was that their DMF is a maximum 25% and the owners take a share of the capital gains. Note that this was by no means the only criteria in selecting ThirdAge as the preferred development partner but it was consideration, given there is an expectation that some members will seek to buy into the development.
Also note that the DMF is entirely ThirdAge's domain – the only relevance for the club is that the DMF is competitive in the Seniors Living market and that MGC will receive a percentage of the DMF.
Our contract will specify that MGC is to receive 15% of the DMF, and the DMF is set at a maximum of 25% of the sale price. Applying a little bit of math and MGC will therefore receive a 3.75% portion of the sale price of all apartments that are sold over the 99 year lease period. Our agreement with ThirdAge covers us in event of regulatory changes to the DMF application.
We can't predict when apartments will be sold or how many in any given year however we can average expectations based on industry standards. Taking an averaged approach over the long term was adopted for our financial modelling undertaken to evaluate the proposal. In short, we can't have certainty over when we receive the revenue (as that depends on the residents re-selling) but we can have certainty over MGC's share and the long term contribution to our revenues.
As indicated in 4.1 there are some items that are variable, depending on the market. For instance; the 2.2% commission to MGC for apartments initially purchased by members (stated in Note 22(a) of the Notice of General Meeting) is variable, while we can't predict how many members will purchase we know there is certainly interest and an expectation that some will buy into the development. Similarly, the DMF only occurs when an apartment is resold, as MGC receive a percentage of the sale value it is dependent on timing of sales and the sale value for each apartment. In other words the percentage is known but not the sale date or the sale amount.
We have undertaken extensive modelling of the potential revenue and costs that may occur, not only during the development phase but well beyond that, going past 2070 – at which point it's unlikely that many of us will be worrying about it! The modelling included over 50 adjustable parameters to allow us to predict future impact on revenue and costs and their resultant impact on overall profitability. For example, we were able to assess the impact of green fees (members and/or visitors) dropping by 10% or possibly 34%, we considered the impact of apartment prices falling and the variable average churn period of apartment sales. This allowed us to take variable positions of optimism and pessimism.
The modelling was reviewed by several parties both internal and external to the Board to test the assumptions and ensure that the numbers stacked up. All parties have supported the methodology adopted and confirmed that the results returned in the model presented reflected a fair expectation of future performance.
The Gear Shed will need to move from its current location to accommodate the development. It would not be cost-effective to have the gear shed underground as part of the development and, given we have surplus land at the end of Henry St, it makes sense to relocate the gear shed there. Henry St also provides access for employees and course supplies and remains central to the course for logistical purposes.
Moving the Gear Shed prior to the commencement of the development also ensures we will not require temporary facilities for the green staff and machinery and negates any costs associated with double handling of the Gear Shed facilities in multiple locations.
The development was initially planned to take place in stages however both parties came to the view that it would be less disruptive, safer, and financially beneficial to complete all development works as soon as practicable. This means that the clubhouse works will take place at the same time as the residential development works, closing off the development footprint to golfers. This means that we will have temporary Pro-Shop and Clubhouse facilities during the demolition and construction of the new clubhouse. This will be in place from the time of the Clubhouse demolition to the opening of the new Clubhouse.
The temporary facilities will be focussed on golf operations and as such will include the Pro-Shop and golf operations such as the carts. It is anticipated that the 'half-way house' area will be used for a temporary clubhouse to allow for sale of alcohol and bar operations to golfers. This will still allow for the efficient running of Corporate and Social Golf events. The temporary clubhouse will not obstruct play although we can't guarantee players nerves while playing their tee shots or while putting under the critical gaze of their nearby fellow members!
During the period that we will be utilising a temporary clubhouse the club will not be providing for functions, gaming, bar services outside of golfing hours or room hire. The food service is anticipated to be limited to basic food preparation, likely a BBQ and pre-prepared food items such as may be expected at the bar or as currently served in the "Grab & Go" café downstairs.
We are currently in negotiations with the Department of Defence with respect to the Bullecourt Army Barracks to the west of the 3rd hole to setup temporary facilities there. Although we are very optimistic of a positive outcome within the Barracks grounds we are also discussing the potential of utilising the park beside the 2nd tee should we need an alternative option.
One of the primary reasons we sought to approach the Department of Defence to utilise space at Bullecourt Barracks is that there is already a road access off Brunker Rd (from both directions) and paved parking areas with markings fronting the access point to the course. The current marked parking spaces is almost exactly the same as we currently have.
Should we gain access to Defence Department land, access to the golf course will be the raised section between the 3rd green and the men's 12th tee. This will be levelled off and paved to make the area serviceable in all weather conditions.
The hole routing will remain as detailed in 2.11 however the first set of 9 holes will commence on the existing 4th hole (the future 5th hole) and finish on the existing 3rd hole (future 12th hole). The second set of 9 holes will commence on the existing 12th hole (the future 13th hole) and finish on the new par 4 being built on the existing 11th hole (what will be the new 4th hole). This will mean single tee starts.
While it is intended that there will be minimal impact to the Pro-Shop and Pete's staff it is recognised that as the impact to golf traffic is unknown we can only model potential impact and work with the Pro-Shop as to what may happen.
Given the development work will incorporate the current Cart Shed we are currently investigating how we may still be able to provide for the storage and charging of members' carts in the temporary facilities. In the long term, the clubhouse development includes capacity to store up to 65 carts however we are also looking at the feasibility of relocating the Cart Shed to the Out of Bounds area on the north side of the 8th – this is a work in progress.
Clubhouse and Car Parking
The new clubhouse will be primarily built in the same location of existing clubhouse however it will be centred slightly more to the north with views of the new 18th green and fairway (existing 17th). This means that it will incorporate the practice green and therefore a new practice green will be built as part of the course works.
As mentioned previously, the Clubhouse design is not yet finalised. The Board have visited and inspected a number of golf clubhouses and are very confident that an outstanding clubhouse and facilities can be constructed within the financial parameters. As the clubhouse design is firming the Board will display design details within the clubhouse for member comment.
The new clubhouse will likely have a basement level for cart parking, some member car parking and possibly storage facilities for the bar and bistro. The clubhouse will incorporate the Pro-Shop, change/locker rooms, club administration, gaming facilities and the bar and bistro. Current consideration is for a 1st floor to have function room(s) including suitable kitchen and bar facilities, as well as toilets.
Subject to final design, the dimensions of the floorspace on the ground floor and 1st floor will be similar to the existing clubhouse, but with more functional use of space. However, the new clubhouse will also have significant outdoor areas plus some basement level facilities.
The Board is considering the prospect of leasing out the bar, bistro and function centre. At this stage no decision has been made either way however we have adopted market leasing rates to assist in forming the business case for the overall development and cash flow projections. This enabled us to determine a sizing that presents a return on investment and risk profile in line with the Board's requirements. The Board has spoken informally with external parties and has engaged industry experts to ensure the plans are in line with expectations and the pricing models.
With the proposed new clubhouse and surrounds we aim to have golfer parking for more than current spaces available and believe there will certainly be adequate parking for members.
It is anticipated that very adequate parking will be provided for residents and their visitors, with resident parking to be via restricted access. As for all such facilities, local by-laws will enable both the Club and ThirdAge to ensure parking is used only for its intended purpose.
Seniors Living Development
The Board chose a Seniors Living development for a number of reasons.
- There is a relatively large population of the target market (65 and 70 year olds) within the area and expected to increase
- At present not many of this age group lives in a Seniors Living facility, possibly because there is nowhere that suits them.
- There aren't many Seniors Living facilities in the area, with existing ones being older and not offering a suitable village atmosphere with suitable social and recreational amenities.
- The approval process for Seniors Living works easily with our current zoning and takes less time than rezoning for conventional apartments
- The Seniors Living concept and negotiated financial position (including ongoing share of DMF) will provide the Club with a new clubhouse and facilities and non-golf income effectively 'forever'.
The number of apartments is a commercial decision for ThirdAge, but is expected to be in the vicinity of 145 to 155. Similarly the mix of 1- 2- 3- bedders and penthouses is also up to ThirdAge.
Apartments will be set at market price, so at this stage the price has yet to be determined. ThirdAge have indicated an initial average price in vicinity of $830,000 (combination 1, 2, 3 bedroom apartments)
Apartment owners will hold a Registered lease. A leasehold arrangement is when the village operator owns the units and each resident signs a lease. Leases in retirement villages are commonly for 99 years or more. The NSW Department of Fair Trading website has useful information about retirement living.
Not a discount on purchase price, but 6 and 7 Day members will get first options in a special pre-market VIP release (details to be provided at a later date). Additionally, the club gets 2.2% (incl. GST) from initial purchases by members (in lieu of Third Age having to pay an agent's commission).
For details about the apartments, please refer to the ThirdAge booklet. Visit themerewether.com.au for details and to register your interest .
MGC will not be giving memberships to residents. Third Age will determine what is offered as part of their sales offering.
As outlined in Section 1: In mid-2016, a few months after our election, the MGC Board [the Board] asked for members' views as to what direction MGC should take in terms of how to best use our land and building assets to ensure the sustainability and long term financial stability of the club and improve the course and the golfing experience of both members and visitors. Responses to this survey overwhelmingly supported the investigation into a potential development of the clubhouse and a Seniors Living facility.
Preliminary work was undertaken then presented to members in July 2017, along with the vision of the next stages including prospective course changes and development design. At this point the Board sought confirmation from the members to continue exploring the financial viability and once again received endorsement from the membership.
Following an Expression of Interest and subsequent two-stage selection process of potential development partners, the Board and Development Committee selected Thirdi/ThirdAge to enter into an exclusivity period. As a result of the extensive investigations and negotiations the Board are now seeking the approval of the membership to proceed with the development.
The Board are confident that MGC has the best deal possible for a number of reasons (as detailed in Section 1.5):
- Firstly, the process undertaken by MGC to reach this stage is significantly different to other clubs.
- Our Development Committee consists of industry experts from a range of relevant disciplines
- The Committee covered all aspects of potential impact to the club
- The process included a comprehensive EOI phase
- Extensive financial modelling
- MGC will maintain full control over the course development works
- We are negotiating from a position of strength
- We have taken note of issues experienced by other clubs
- Land valuation is $14,500,000 and ThirdAge offer currently stands at $14,750,000
The timeframe for the project will be dependent on several factors that are outside of the control of both MGC and the developer. This includes aspects such as approvals from relevant State and Local Government bodies, potential weather delays and course development timeframes. At this stage, there will be approximately four years from member approval to completion (i.e. completion by end of 2022).


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Oblasti, naše knjige
Java, JavaScript, JScript, Perl
Visual Basic .NET, VBA, V. Studio
AutoCad, ArchiCAD, SolidWorks, Catia, Pro/Engineer
Oblasti, drugi izdavači
Istorija i teorija književnosti
Knjiga posle posla - Beletristika i ostala izdanja
Baze podataka
Autor: William Smith
Broj strana: 344
ISBN broj: 9781787121041
Izdavač: PACKT PUBLISHING
Godina izdanja: 2017.
Pregleda (30 dana / ukupno): 37 / 1198
If you want to learn different data structures and their real-world applications quickly through practical examples, then Everyday Data Structures is for you. This book can introduce you to new data structures and their potential applications through examples in languages common to mobile software development on the most popular platforms. The examples are presented with real-world concepts using language that everyone will understand.
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William Smith has been writing software since 1988, but he began his professional career in the environmental field with degrees in Environmental Science and Business Administration. While working in this field, William continued writing software as a hobbyist before returning to the University of Maryland for a degree in Computer Science.
William currently works as an independent software engineer and author. He is the owner of Appsmiths LLC, a development and consulting firm concentrating on mobile application and game development using native tools as well as cross-platform tools, such as Xamarin and Monogame.
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Bryan Weather Summary: 97 degrees
Shameka Carter stood in front of a grocery store offering hugs to all comers.
Kristy Mathoslah decided to have a little fun after Hurricane Harvey flooded her home.
The devastating impact of Hurricane Harvey has been matched by overwhelming compassion by total strangers.
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Stay up to date with Hurricane Harvey throughout the storm aftermath.
We are getting our first look at aerial images of the devastation around the Houston area from Harvey.
The center was also used to house Hurricane Katrina evacuees after they left New Orleans.
Officials no longer asking for volunteers to assist with water rescues
This will bring the total number of deployed guardsman to 12,000.
Many homes and buildings have been severely damaged or are completely under water, and rescue efforts are still under way.
Here's how you can donate.


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GraphicRiver 25 High Quality Hi-Res & Isolated Fire Flames 3199482
Photoshop \ Stock Graphic \ Isolated Object \ Miscellaneous
Isolated \ Flames \ Photorealistic \ Background \ Transparent \ Professionally
Isolated Object - 25 High Quality Hi-Res & Isolated Fire Flames 3199482 by redworx @ GraphicRiver
Photoshop \ Stock Graphic \ Isolated Object \ Miscellaneous
This product contains 25 High Quality Fire Flames.
Photorealistic, High Resolution & professionally isolated.
25 High Quality Hi-Res & Isolated Fire Flames.
- photorealistic and good looking flames
- every flame has alpha transparency
- every flame professionally isolated
- works on every background color
- 1x PSD and 25x transparent PNGs
- about 2500×2500px (240dpi)
- highly detailed
Layered: Yes; Graphics Files Included: Photoshop PSD, Transparent PNG; Minimum Adobe CS Version: CS; Pixel Dimensions: 2500x2500.
44 DIN Format Templates for Photoshop; 30 Highly detailed Snowflake Brushes; Photorealistic Dirt & Grass Creator; 16 High Quality Lens Flare Brushes; 8 Dragan FX Action-Pack; 8 High Resolution Cloud Brushes; 30 Gradients - Flags of the European Union.
Keywords: alpha, background, blaze, brush, burn, candle, cloud, effect, fire, flame, flames, fx, heat, hot, isolated, light, natural, nature, orange, photorealistic, png, real, realistic, red, smoke, transparency, transparent, warm, wild.


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October 22nd
IMichaelmas was such a fun experience to attend. The kids had a blast and walked away with some good ideas for when they are in third grade. Look for two singup genius emails this week- one for our Halloween celebration, and one for parent-teacher conferences.
We practiced our first Reading Assessment this week, and I couldn't be more proud of the student's hard work. The assessment is a cumulative test that checks in on their progress of skills from the unit. Since we practiced this one together, it will not count toward their grade. We will only take two unit assessments in second grade. One after our second reading unit, and one after our fifth reading unit. During these weeks, there will not be any spelling homework.
Next week in our reading program, Wonders, we will explore the question-How do animals play a part in the world around us? While reading, we will review the spelling pattern of long o. We will work on making, revising, and confirming predictions. As well, we will continue to identify characters, setting, and key details.
Next week in math we will explore some problems solving. Students will look at the turn around rule, and explore if it works in both addition and subtraction. As well, we will explore odd and even numbers. Keep up the hard work with the homework. Remember it should take no longer than 20 minutes per night, and star anything that is causing them trouble. I always touch base with any kiddo who struggled.
More information about the turn-around rule can be found here
We have begun to plan our second stories this week. We are working on adding transitions, hooking our readers, and wrapping up our story. As well, the kids are working on making their characters act, feel, and move. The stories have a much better flow
We continue to explore how our community has changed from past to present. As well, we are looking at the natural resources in our community and the habitat in our town. This is a wonderful Segway for both our walking field trip and our Eyes on Owls presentation.
Our walking field trip is scheduled for October 25th. It will be in the early morning, but I do not yet have definite times. I will keep you posted.
As a reminder, if you would like to chaperone any of our field trips you will need to follow our district policy as outlined below:
Beginning this year, all volunteers must be fingerprinted (this includes field trip volunteers) in addition to watching the Bullying Video on the SAU19 website (under the special projects tab). Additionally, you will need to sign the Verification of Bullying Training Form that is also found on the SAU 19 website. Fingerprinting is available at the SAU office, for a cost of $20.75.
As always, let me know if you have any questions!
Cori Gallegos
October 24th- Eyes on Owls
October 25th - School Board Meeting in the Library, 6:30
Walking Field Trip
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June 2018


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Glen of Aherlow Ultra Trail Run
Saturday 15 September, 2018
10 (Extreme) - Extreme, >1,000M ascent or > 30Km
- Route fully marked
Irish Ultra Championships
The route is a marked 21.1km loop on a mixture of hiking trails, forest roads and quiet country roads, starting and finishing near Lisvarrinane.
Lisvarrinane, Co. Tipperary
Race sign-in, and showers and food will be at the Village Hall in Lisvarrinane.
These two campsites are within 1.5k of the race start, a large one at TipperaryCamping and BallinacourtyHouse which is a smaller campsite (have a restaurant and B&B as well). Both said they would offer a reduced rate to people running the LoopDeLoop if they inform the campsite at time of booking.
Race Entry Procedure
Entry to this race is by online registration only. It will not be possible to enter on the day. Online registration will close on Friday 31st of August at 5pm.
There are no refunds/transfers or late entries allowed.
- Login to your "myimra" account on www.imra.ie. If you don't have an account, create one using the REGISTER FOR MYIMRA link, and follow the instructions carefully.
- Go to the PURCHASE IMRA PRODUCTS page and purchase entry to this race. If you are not already a IMRA member for this year, you will first need to purchase that.
- If this is your first IMRA race of the year, collect your bib number at the race, and hold on to it, as it's valid for the full year.
For safety reasons it is mandatory to bring and carry:
- A shower/wind proof jacket
Leave No Trace
Please respect the course and its environment. No bottles, gel wrappers etc. are to be discarded. Please report any littering.
How showers and a hot meal will be offered to all competitors. There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd man and woman in all 3 races.
Volunteers (Non-Running)
You need to have done 2 non-running volunteer roles in a calendar year to qualify for end of year prize
Volunteers (Running)
Check with race director if they have a need for people volunteering and running. Race directors need a minimum number of people available throughout the race to make the race work so non-running volunteers are preferable. While it can be helpful, volunteering in a volunteer and race capacity does not count towards qualifying for end of year prize


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After the immediate success of the group's first two books, the Magnolia Historical Society is working diligently to put out a third book about the neighborhood's rich history.
For many of the members, this third book has been the biggest joy to write because it focuses on the time during their childhood, the 1950s and '60s.
"It's a more relatable era," said Monica Wooton, who is leading the charge to get the book published. "Some of the personal memories makes the book interesting."
There was an interest for a historical book from some members of the long-standing Magnolia Community Club, which is now the Magnolia Community Council. Wooton served as the historical chair for the club in 1998.
Wooton had been attending school at the University of Washington and had done similar projects. She was interested in finding authors who could research and write about her neighborhood. Wooten found 12 authors, plus herself, and the group worked to publish the first book.
The first book included articles, photos and neighborhood maps focused on the 1910s and '20s. After the book was published, it received a few awards. Due to the success of the book, the Magnolia Historical Society formed in 2001.
When the society announced it was going to publish a second book, focused on the 1930s and '40s, 32 volunteer authors and researchers signed up to help with the project.
The second book was also a hit among the neighborhood, and it helped gain the Magnolia Historical Society some notoriety in the city.
"The second book was nominated for two awards," Wooton said. "(The books) stand as a model for other neighborhood projects."
The third book has a mix of past authors and newcomers at the table.
Guy Besner is one of the newest members; he moved to Magnolia five years ago from Victoria, Canada. His career included research and writing about architecture and history, so he had to jump in when he heard about the third Magnolia history book.
"I like new challenges and adventures," Besner said.
Besner researched and is writing an article about what he calls "the Magnolia house."
The Magnolia house is not one house, but an architectural style he noticed while out for walks around the neighborhood. One main feature Besner noticed was the use of Roman brick in many of the older homes around the neighborhood.
Through research, Besner discovered a story about a few local architects and what inspired their work.
"The topic just got bigger and bigger," Besner said. "That's what's so great about this book."
Other topics will include the British Invasion in Magnolia, when British bands became a sensation in the area. One article focuses on the band Tom Thumb and the Casuals, dubbed The Beatles of Magnolia.
The project is funded through donors and grants, including Seattle Department of Neighborhoods matching grants. Last year the city gave the Magnolia Historical Society $100,000 in matching funds for the book.
Although authors, researchers and editors are all volunteers, they track their time based on the idea that they would make about $20 an hour if paid for their work. The time logs are sent to the city to show how volunteers are in a sense matching the funds. Past project supporters also support the book through presales.
Wooton is now working on the ad campaign and spreading the word about this project.
"I'm enmeshed, I'm consumed, I'm so focused," she said. "This is not history at a distance. It's amazing to see these stories from where you grew up and find out things you had no idea was happening."


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Key Feature: Marine Extract
Viviscal has been around for quite some time and it's fairly popular in Europe. The product is rather remarkable as it contains special marine protein extract and vitamin C for the promotion of hair growth.
Been a huge success in Europe, it's deemed as one the best supplement for early stages of hair loss and for faster hair growth.
Would like to comment or share your thoughts about this product? If yes, feel free to scroll down the page to share your thoughts about it!
Who Makes Viviscal?
Viviscal is developed by Dr. Allan Lassus of the University of Helsinki, Finland. The product has been used for around 15 years. It tops the list for Europe as one of the most effective hair supplement.
What makes it work?
The main ingredients of this product consists of
- Natural Extract Mixture of Marine Origin 300 mg
- Acerola Extract from Acerola Cherry
(corresp. to Vitamin C 30 mg) 120 mg
- Silica Compound 30 mg
The natural marine extract works through the bloodstream by promoting high yielding nourishment of protein to the hair follicles. The marine extract stimulates the hair follicles from resting phase (TELOGEN) back to the growing phase (ANAGEN).
The Marine Protein (AminoMar C) can
- Nourish hair follicles
- Strengthens and encourages growth of existing hair
- Promotes growth in weaker, less visible hairs
- Makes your hair more vibrant
Viviscal is a natural supplement based on its rich protein and its combined vitamins, which are essential for excellent hair growth. It seems to be a good supplement to take along other hair loss treatments.
Viviscal Side Effects?
As Viviscal is a natural supplement, there shouldn't be any contradictions while taking this pill. This product is 100% natural. However there are still some precautions before taking this supplement. As it contains marine extracts, it's good to make sure that you are not allergic to fish or any types of seafood.
Also keep in mind if you are pregnant or breast feeding, do ask your doctor first whether the ingredients in this product will have any complication for you.
Who should take this?
This product works best for both sexes. Its mode of action is to promote growth and strength to your current hair. It can also promote growth to your existing hair miniaturized by hair loss. Choose this product first if you are in Norwood 1 or Ludwig 1 stages of hair loss.
If this product works for you, you might not need to pursue other medications. However if your hair loss is quite serious you might either include this product into your regimen or skip this product to look for more hair loss focused products like DHT inhibitors and Minoxidil. Of course, if you can afford extra, this is always a good choice.
How should I use this product effectively?
To see any results at all, bear in mind that you will have to try Viviscal for at least a minimum of 6 months. Most people using this product has shown some improvement in overall hair quality and quantity but if you are having blood circulation problems due to
- Stress
- Smoking
- Illnesses
then this product might not work effectively. Use this product together with iron supplements and other blood circulation supplements like gingko to increase its efficacy.
Viviscal should be taken according to the weight of the person.
If you are 80kg and above, it's recommended that you take 3 pills per day spaced out between mornings and evenings. If you are less than that, take 2 pills one each. If you are skeletally thin (>30kg), then take only 1 per day.
This is a supplement does not reverse hair loss, at least not that effectively. If you are suffering from moderate hair loss, get a hair loss regimen.
How much does Viviscal cost?
The Oral Supplement, each contains 60 tablets which should last you for a month or less (depending on your weight). Most pharmacies and online sells this product for USD 39.00 for a month's worth of supply.
If you are suffering from mild hair loss, it's recommended that you try this product for at least 6 months before investing in others. That will costs you an average of USD 260.00 for half year's supply. If it does not improve your condition, then phase it out and try others.
Clinical Studies
Need more information and details regarding this product? Check out the some of the research materials here.
Have a look at a medical study here. (Opens a new window)
The pros and cons
Good feedback and reviews
Widely used in Europe for almost 20 years
Backed by substantial clinical studies
Natural ingredients
Does not help reverse genetically related hair loss
Not cheap to use for the long run
Viviscal should always be considered as a nourishing supplement for your hair loss. If you are suffering from the early stages, you might want to try this product out first coupled with DHT inhibitor like Propecia.
However, if you are suffering for moderate hair loss, you will need more than Viviscal to really reverse your condition. You can still include this in your regimen for treating hair loss if you can afford it.


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Driving safe trade solutions worldwide
The book - "Driving safe trade solutions worldwide" - highlights projects the STDF has implemented since 2004 to assist some of the poorest countries. These include projects aimed at helping women shrimp farmers in Bangladesh, ginger cooperatives in Nepal, cabbage producers in Senegal and flower sector workers in Uganda boost revenues and support their families. Other projects have helped farmers to use lower-risk pesticides on tropical crops across Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia and access new markets.
The 25 stories in the book show how STDF projects and project preparation grants work in practice in food safety, animal and plant health, and cross-cutting SPS areas, with significant results.
About STDF
Established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the WTO, the STDF is financed by voluntary contributions. The WTO provides the Secretariat and manages the STDF Fund.
Across Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean, the STDF has helped to set up partnerships across the public and private sector, connecting government agencies to small businesses. It has championed the latest technical know-how and built up people's skills across agricultural value chains, mobilizing over US$ 25 million to scale up projects and further the reach of innovative models.
The book showcases that when more people benefit from trade, it not only gives a boost to the economy, it drives up incomes in poor areas, promotes domestic food security, protects the environment, improves public health and empowers women.
To read the full report, please follow the link below.
Driving Safe Trade Solutions Worldwide


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RHP Sing will be performing once again at the Garioch Theatre Festival
Come along and enjoy a selection of songs from our favourite Disney films! From The Jungle Book to Moana, there's something for everyone at this afternoon of fun, magic and sing-a-long (oh yes, we encourage everyone to sing with us!)
If you fancy joining us on stage for a number or two, please come along to our FREE workshop at 12noon.
Tickets are available from Watsons in Inverurie or via this link - www.ticketsource.co.uk/gariochtheatrefestival


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Planning out your removals procedure requires a lot of mental energy and this can leave you tired and exhausted. Somewhere in the middle of all of this mayhem however, between labelling and organising, you might want stop and think: What are you going to do once you arrive at the other end?
It is too easy to become forgetful of certain needs when one is busy packing up pots and pans. What are you going to do on your first night if you have forgotten to pack toothpaste, for example or you can't remember which box the cereal is in?
Open-first box
An open-first box is essential for any move. Plan a few days before you start packing what you might need on your first day and night in the property. As humans, we all have certain needs and requirements, such as for security, food and shelter. Working around these ideas, it becomes easier to generate an idea of what you might need in your new and unfamiliar house.
Some items you might need, in order to get you started, could include:
The keys to the new property
A washbag
Tea/coffee, milk and sugar
Medicine / first-aid kit
Toilet paper
Make a list and stick to it!
You should try to make a list and staple it to the top of an empty box, then when you have a few moments you should try to fill the box with the items on the list. On the day of the move, double check the box's contents and make sure of its location!
There could be worse things than losing that box, but not many. Making sure that it doesn't get loaded onto the removals van is really quite important.
What's for dinner?
Man (and woman!) cannot live on biscuits alone, especially after a hard day lugging around boxes. So don't forget to ask yourself what you plan to eat, come evening time. Are you going to opt for the do-it-yourself route, which will involve packing your own pots and pans, or are you going to get a take-away? Alternatively, you could prepare a dinner before hand, freeze it and then defrost it on arrival.
Where are you going to sleep?
Before you move house, you will need to find out if your bed will be there when you arrive. Are you going to need to camp out in a sleeping bag on your first night? You should plan for this eventuality by placing your bedding in a separate box and placing it with your 'open-first' box.
Getting restless?
If you are looking for a removals company in Bristol that can help you with your move, why not contact us for a quote? We've helped plenty of families move their possessions and we can even give you advice on what to expect on your first move.


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PHP (Hypertext Preprocessing) is one of the most wide used web languages concepts for building dynamic and progressive web sites. PHP web hosting is flourishing because most web master demand an active web page.
PHP hosting has its personalized group of rules and regulations. The web server that allows PHP web hosting should go fully equipped. This is vital in order to host the websites with no errors. A significant advantage to be noted is that PHP hosting has a lot of versions for programming languages. It is compulsory for the web host to make access to the up-to-date editions of PHP.
There are many companies that one has to face when he prefers for PHP web hosting.There are different kinds of PHP web hosting platforms and hosting software packages may forthcoming with various technologies.
Some of you may not be mindful about the complications involved in PHP hosting. Web hosting experts analyze web hosts and highlighted the points of concern in a simple manner which can be of great help for you while you choose your PHP web host.
In web hosting, it is not safe to jump into a decisions just by looking at the external appearance and look of a web host. Surveys are the better source to judge the authenticity of a web host. Look at third party websites to see if the reviews check out.
It is always better to cross-check things before you conclude. Create a substantiation platform for you so that you can be assured while you host sites. Be sure that you will determine the reviews to be a outstanding piece of information therefore developing you to remember in your coming projects.


text: Great River School is an urban Montessori learning community that prepares students for their unique roles as responsible and engaged citizens in the world. Montessori schools focus on independence with a respect for child psychological development and technological advancements in society. Great River fosters independence, critical thinking, respect, responsibility to self, to others, and to the earth.


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Tourism is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it plays a part in enabling people to learn more about the world around us, the flipside however is that we often leave the places we visit in worse condition than when we first arrived. Many corporations are now taking active steps towards sustainable tourism, but that responsibility does not lie solely on the big companies; we too can play a part. Here are 5 simple ways to reduce our carbon footprint:
1) If you have the habit of bringing many packets of tissue paper with you when you travel, cut down on that number (it would be better if you do not bring any at all). Instead, use handkerchiefs or small towels instead. These small tree-savers are easy to keep in your pocket or handbag and can be washed and dried easily in the hotel.
2) Bring your own shopping bag. Not only will it reduce the number of paper or plastic bags being used, it is also more convenient if the shops at your travel destination do not provide any carriers.
3) Another bag that you should bring along in your handbag or backpack is a small bag for garbage. Unlike Singapore, there are many countries that do not have rubbish bins lining the streets. These small trash bags are very efficient in curbing the temptation to just "drop" your litter.
4) Though not common in Singapore, the practice of bringing your own utensils out is quite common in countries such as Taiwan and Japan. Other than for the purpose of recycling, it is also better for your health. Disposable utensils such as bamboo chopsticks undergo a lot of chemical treatment when being made. These chemicals are then indirectly consumed by users.
5) If you would be out of the hotel most of the time of the day, or if your room is not really dirty, you could opt to have it cleaned once in two days or even less frequently. You can do so by putting on the 'Do Not Disturb' sign or by informing the house cleaning staff not to clean your room.