Awards Information

Applications for Year Bars, Meritorious and SSVAPS close at midnight on the date of the mid-year meeting each year (third Sunday in March).

When submitting the Year Bar or either Award applications you will receive a confirmation email if it is successful. If you do not get a confirmation email then contact the Awards Director or Secretary.

Click here for the Year Bar and Award Recipients  Spreadsheet

Click here to contact the Awards Director

Year Bars

NOTE: There are no Fees for Year Bars
Clubs award year bars to members in recognition of their years of active involvement with their club.
They are presented at the Annual VAPS Convention and are available for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 and 65 years.

Membership does not have to be with the same club and breaks through ill health and overseas trips are acceptable. Concurrent membership of several clubs does not count.
Click here for the Award Citations folders

Meritorious Service Award
The VAPS Meritorious Service Award is an honour given for significant services to a member’s local club and local community for a period of not less than eight (8) years.
The award consists of a Red and Gold bar with the VAPS logo attached and is presented at the Annual VAPS Convention accompanied by a written citation.

Application Criteria
All possible details must be stated on the application form, as this is the only information used by the VAPS Committee in deciding whether an award is to be granted.

1. The nominee must be a financial member of a VAPS affiliated club however life members may also be nominated for this award.
2. The nominee must have had at least eight (8) years of membership, not concurrent, with one or more VAPS affiliated clubs.
3. During the eight-year time frame whilst being a member of a VAPS affiliated club, the nominee must have performed in at least three (3) of the criteria below.

• Lecturing/Teaching - For example:
  • Running camera courses within the club, which may or may not also accept non-club members.
  • Holding workshops or teaching courses for image editing software.
  • Demonstrating or otherwise making members aware of new photographic related software that may prove useful for members.
  • Giving lectures regarding photographic matters at local commercial events, lecturing or giving talks at community venues such as at the local library or U3A, etc.
    
    
• Photography - Members receiving this award should be active photographers exhibiting their current work at club level as a minimum. The award is not for the excellence of photography, but for participation. List exhibitions, including club and any national and international competitions, where the nominee has displayed their photographic work. Exhibitions within the local area would be relevant here.
  
  
• Participation in the administration of the club - List in the application areas, including dates for each area i.e. 2010-2012 Secretary, 2012-2014 President etc, where the nominee has given their time in the development of their camera club. What tasks have they performed to help the actual functioning of their club, not merely on club nights, but ongoing organisational tasks, which assists the club to continue to operate? This could include being president, secretary, treasurer, competition steward or other committee positions. It is not sufficient to have been a member of the committee without taking any active role in the running of the club. List all such club positions held by the nominee. However, this category is not limited to committee positions: any role performed by the applicant, whether it is on the committee or not, is applicable if it contributes to the ongoing functioning of the club.
  
  
• Organising events within the local community or between groups - List in the application areas where the nominee has participated in the organising of ‘events’, exhibitions or competitions for other clubs or groups within the community. This would include organising inter-club competitions, public displays of work at local venues, organising competitions between their own club and an overseas one, organising the manning of stalls relating to photography at local fairs/or events within their community.
  
  
• Club life - Detail in the application how long the nominee has been involved in their camera club. List all areas of club life where the nominee has participated. This could include running weekends away, mentoring new members, running specialist groups such as an AV group, organising club outings of many sorts.
  
  
• Other - Some members perform in exceptional ways that do not come within the categories above. List any such activities here. A few examples would be running a photography group at the local primary school, organising a photoshoot for disabled folks which provides the families with a record of their loved ones, doing a group AV of a local iconic tourist attraction such as the Bendigo Talking Trams, organising a photobook to celebrate the club’s 50 years anniversary. Judging could be included in this category. These are suggestions only. Obviously, the topics covered here will be unique to the person nominated.

Assessment will be based on continuous and constructive work over a period of eight (8) years, though the applicant does not have to have worked in a minimum of three areas throughout that whole period. Rather the applicant must have worked in a minimum of three areas altogether but must be involved in at least one every year for the period of eight years. They can, of course, do much more than these minimum requirements.

In the opinion of the VAPS Committee where a member has contributed reliably and for many years to the smooth functioning of club nights, such as meeting and greeting newcomers, doing the supper, etc., this could entitle them to a club honour such as a Special Performance Award, Member of the Year Award, or even, in very exceptional circumstances, life membership. The VAPS Meritorious Award is for more than that. It is for contributions that help the club function, develop and perform in several areas, not just on club nights.
In exceptional circumstances where a nominee has rendered outstanding service to his/her club but does not come within the laid down criteria, the VAPS Committee reserves the right to accept an award nomination.

The VAPS Committee reserves the right to amend these criteria. All clubs will be notified of any changes at the AGM preceding the closing date for nominations.

Conditions for the Award

1. Each nomination must be sponsored by two committee members of a VAPS affiliated club OR by two members of the VAPS Committee.
2. All nominations are confidential.
3. The VAPS Committee will advise sponsors whether nominations are successful or not prior to the Annual Convention. Reasons will be given if nominations are unsuccessful and these may be re-submitted for further consideration.
4. The closing date for nominations is the Half Yearly Meeting, usually held in March.

VAPS Service Award – SSVAPS
The award of SSVAPS is given for exceptional service to promote the growth and the advancement of photography in the State of Victoria for a period of not less than eight (8) years.
The award, which is presented at the Annual VAPS Convention, consists of a Blue & Gold bar with the VAPS logo attached, an engraved Gold VAPS Medallion and a written citation.

Application Criteria
All possible details must be stated on the application form, as this is the only information used by the VAPS Committee in deciding whether an award is to be granted.

1. The nominee must be a financial member of a VAPS affiliated club; however, life members may also be nominated for this award.
2. The nominee must have had at least eight (8) years of membership, not concurrent, with one or more VAPS affiliated clubs and must have been actively involved in the club during that time.
3. The nominee should be an active practising photographer, exhibiting in club competitions.
4. The nominee must have performed in at least four (4) of the criteria below for at least the periods stated whilst being a member of a VAPS affiliated club. Supply details for all categories.

• Judging – at the club (other than the nominee’s club), national or international photographic competitions and have judged on no less than 15 occasions as a minimum.
• Lecturing/presenting on photography-related matters – at club events, VAPS conventions, national conventions, commercial organizations or community lecturing events and have done so on at least six occasions
• Organization/administration of Exhibitions – assisting at international, national, state or major exhibitions that promote photography for a period of at least three years. (Supply details). This category does not include your monthly club competitions.
• Writing on Photography Related Matters for readership in Australian publications, online forums, VAPS Newsbrief, etc.
• Working - in any field to promote photography within the community and/or to promote the membership of camera clubs for a period of at least three years.
• Officiating at state level e.g. as a member of the VAPS committee or related national bodies for a period of at least three years.
• Teaching - in Primary, Secondary or other schools or community facility, where it is done in a voluntary capacity, or other photographic organizations, for a period of at least three years.
• Other – Some members perform in exceptional ways that do not come within the categories above. List any such activities here. A few examples would be holding your own personal photographic exhibitions, publishing your own photography-related books, organising photographic tours and workshops. These are suggestions only. Obviously, the topics covered here will be unique to the person nominated.

Assessment will be based on continuous and constructive work over a period of eight (8) years, though the applicant does not have to work in a minimum of four (4) areas throughout that period. Rather the applicant must have worked in a minimum of four (4) areas altogether but must be doing at least one every year for the period of eight (8) years. They can, of course, do much more than these minimum requirements. Please provide the actual dates for each area. eg. Judging - 2000-2004, Lecturing - 2001-2003, Officiating at State Level - 2004-2007 etc.

Please note that where a member has mainly contributed to the organisation and functioning of their club in the opinion of the VAPS Committee, this will entitle them to a VAPS Meritorious Service Award, not an SSVAPS award. This SSVAPS award recognises contributions to photography at a State level.
In exceptional circumstances where a nominee has rendered outstanding service but does not come within the above criteria, the VAPS Committee reserves the right to accept an award nomination.

The VAPS Committee reserves the right to change or amend these award conditions or criteria. All clubs will be notified of any changes at the AGM preceding the closing date for nominations.

Conditions for the Award

1. Each nomination must be sponsored by two committee members of a VAPS affiliated club OR by two members of the VAPS Committee.
2. All nominations are confidential.
3. The VAPS Committee will advise sponsors whether nominations are successful or not prior to the Annual Convention. Unsuccessful nominations will be given reasons and maybe resubmitted for further consideration.
4. All successful nominees are entitled to use the letters SSVAPS (State Service Victorian Association of Photographic Societies) after their names.
5. The closing date for nominations is the Half Yearly Meeting, usually held in March.