GREETINGS TO ALL:
OUR MAY MEETING WILL BE
DATE: SUNDAY 25 MAY 2014
TIME: 12:30 P.M.
VENUE: ROTORUA ARTS VILLAGE, ( 1240 Hinemaru Street)
This month our Guest Speaker will be Fred Kanara. Fred was unable to make our March meeting because of unforeseen circumstances. He requested a postponement and looked forward to meeting us if possible later in the year. He agreed to come along this month. Fred has taught English in China for several years. He spent his time in Changchun City located in Jilin Province, North East China. Fred is keen to share his experiences in China and meet people who have an interest in China and its culture. He is interested in furthering his language skills in Mandarin. He is currently working in childcare part time and is from the local Te Arawa hapu. It will be interesting to hear a Maori perspective of Chinese Culture. Our meeting will start with the usual shared lunch. Remember everyone is welcome to our meetings so feel free to bring a friend or encourage others to come along for a friendly, enjoyable and I am sure an interesting afternoon.
COMING MEETINGS
Hopefully in June some of the Chinese Language Assistants will be able to come and speak to us. July we are hoping to have a luncheon at a Chinese Restaurant and August we will find out more about May Kingsford from those who knew her.
NATIONAL NEWS
The Annual Conference is being held in Havelock North, 23-25 May. There is still time to Register. Anyone is welcome to attend. This conference is focusing on youth, “Voices of the Youth.” The Chinese Ambassador will be one of the speakers. There is still time to register. Contact Sally Russell, President Hawke’s Bay Branch, 35 Breadalbane Road, Havelock North 4130 Phone/Fax: 06 877 6027, Cell: 021 1299 608 <[email protected]> Brenda will be the Rotorua delegate
This year the Prominent Persons and Leaders Tour will be a youth forum being held in September so Youth will be the theme. They would like for the nominated candidates to be younger people however the age has not been specified . We are still looking for someone who we could put forward to go on this years tour so please let us know if you think of a person who might be interested. They must pay for their airfares, visa and insurance but all other expenses are paid for by the Chinese government. Nominations are now open for this opportunity.
The next China Friendship Tour will be an “Arts Tour” in October. This tour will appeal to artists as well as those who are interested in understanding Chinese culture through artistic traditions. It will include painting, calligraphy, opera, architecture and traditional garden design. This tour will start in Beijing visiting the cities of Xian, Shanghai and Suzhou. It will include iconic tourist architectural sites: from the Great Wall to the iconic cantilevered CCTV building and Olympic Birds Nest. More details will be available soon. Enquires can be made to David Bromwich <[email protected]>
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
Beginners Tai Chi Classes are now being held at the Youth Centre every Thursday Evening for 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. The cost is $ 5.00 per person. Helen Sun is the tutor for this class. She is teaching the basic National Standard Simplified 24 Tai Chi form. Tai Chi practice has health benefits and is recommended by ACC especially for older persons both men and women in helping to prevent falls. It improves balance and co-ordination, builds muscle strength especially in the legs, increases flexibility and improves cardiovascular and respiratory fitness. Tai Chi is not only muscular exercise but also breathing exercises. For more information contact Helen Sun Phone 348-4827 or 022-151-6689, Email: [email protected]
