A.G.M. SUNDAY 17 APRIL 2011
GREETINGS TO ALL
OUR APRIL MEETING WILL BE:
DATE: Sunday 17 APRIL 2011
TIME: 12:30 PM – Start time for a shared lunch
VENUE: ARTS VILLAGE (RAVE) – Eric Bridgman Lounge
Yes, it is that time again, our Annual General Meeting. There will be no guest speaker. It will be a time to discuss what is happening on a national level with the China Friendship Society. Earlier I included in the newsletter documents pertaining to the proposed changes to the Society which will be considered at the National Conference and most likely be approved. It appears to be necessary in order to become a registered charitable organisation. By not doing so it jeopardises the project work that is be done in China. So please have a read and bring your comments to the meeting. NOTE THIS IS A WEEK EARLIER THAN USUAL – thanks to Easter week-end falling on our usual Sunday. There will be plenty of time to socialise at our shared lunch so please come and enjoy.
COMING MEETINGS.
Just to refresh your memories regarding our up and coming meetings. On 22 May we are having Sue Ellis from Hamilton. She will bring her family who spent many years in China teaching english. Her children had their schooling in China. It should be a very interesting meeting. Then on 26 June Barbara Gatley will tell us about her adventurous walking tour of China.
SOCIETY HAPPENINGS
NZCFS Projects and Tibetan Communities Tour – Dave Bromwich has created a fascinating itinerary for this year’s NZCFS Projects and Tibetan Communities Tour in October, 2011 for more information check out nzchinasociety.org.nz website. Remember the ladies from Hamilton who went on the last tour. They highly recommended his tours.
This tour will visit New Zealand China Friendship Society projects in the Baoji district of Shaanxi province, and then travel through Gansu, Qinghai and Yun- nan provinces with a focus on Tibetan communities, as well as spending seven days in Tibet.
The estimated price, depending on the exchange rate and final air fares available, is $7100, twin share, for 21 days in China. This is an all up cost, and includes all travel from a New Zealand home town airport and return. The only extra costs should be the Chinese visa and travel insurance costs.
Shaanxi Delegation – Our National President Eric Livingstone has invited a medium level delegation from Shaanxi Provincial Government to visit New Zealand for four days. The delegation will visit Hamilton Tuesday 19 April 2011 and then travel on to Rotorua. They are wishing to meet with leaders in the tourism industry. With the cooperation of Oscar Nathan a meeting is being arranged to accommodate this delegation. They also wish to meet with members of our Society which I am hoping to arrange once we know the above mentioned meeting.
Message from Eric Livingston, National President – Greetings all
Apart from the tiredness that seems to be hitting many earthquake shaken people, I am endeavouring to restore some normality to my life and here are some matters to update you on:
1. EARTHQUAKE APPEAL – the good news is that the Rewi Alley Cultural Centre, here in Christchurch is willing to have a separate bank account for monies raised for support of Society members following the National Disaster in Christchurch, and distribute the monies accordingly. It is great that branches are raising money for national appeals and if you wish to also support your friends in the Society, then we can now do so. I would encourage you to support them especially that 10 per cent are really hurting emotionally and financially after this double whammy each six months apart. Alternatively to giving cash, If you like send us $100 or $50 grocery vouchers and we will distribute them or even give you names if you like so you can pass them on directly. People need to know their friends care.
How can I describe to you the problems some have, like no transport to shops, and half the supermarkets are shut because of damage, no toilet but a chemical one that you are meant to carry for two blocks to empty when you are unstable on your feet without carrying anything, boiling all water, no water pressure for a shower and of course no bath, friends have moved out and you fear the next shock (Judy has just read a report saying some suburbs have moved 3 metres sideways and I metre down – so rain floods everything and street drains are blocked). Reports show this was a more vicious earthquake than the 9.1 of Japan because of its acceleration and concentrated waves from the rock close to the surface – it os considered to have been one of the worst ever.
Half our main roads through the city are closed so others are not coping with extreme traffic loads, travel because of damaged roads is slow, supermarket car parks are overflowing at most times because half of them are still closed – they have extra staff from those closed but cannot keep the shelves loaded and not all goods are available. Many people have moved into less damaged suburbs so that makes the shopping and traffic there even worse. Restaurants are full because half are munted & closed and many people are tired of eating in with permanent visitors. Most theatres are closed as are most libraries, shows are cancelled, beaches are polluted and are not to be visited, museums and galleries, public gardens and many markets are closed. Job losses are huge and some people are really hurting with damage first in September, total destruction now and a job loss as well. Some retirees have lost their business they were about to sell (an owner rang tonight to say they had half an hour today to get some business files out but no time for clothing or personal effects before their seemingly solid brick building is demolished tomorrow). Winter is coming and many lives are off the rails. It is going to hit some hard very soon.
Please give to what ever appeal suits you, but please do not forget your friends down here. Some of the branch committee are having a pot luck with us tomorrow and we will update our list of seriously affected members. There are some very sad stories about some of our members.
2. LINDA WANG VISIT TO MASTERTON
Linda will join the Youxie official delegation to the Sister Cities Conference in Masterton straight after Easter (26 April) and would like to visit branches or individual members on her way during Easter from 22 April. She was thinking of Wellington, Palmerston North, Wanganui, Taranaki and of course Masterton (where she will be staying with the delegation in their hotel). She can arrange her air trip through Youxie if we move fairly quickly so please advise if you would like her to visit.
3. BEIJING YOUXIE SEPTEMBER CONFERENCE IN BEIJING
We have one nomination for two national positions and one for the Christchurch two positions, so please advise if you or someone from your branch wishes to join and have five days as the guests of Youxie Beijing – the members going only meet their international travel costs. More details from me.
4. OTHER ACTIVITIES
Great to learn of another two possible two people joining our April Tour to China, and Dave Bromwich has released his Projects and Tibet tour itinerary for later this year. This weekend will see the official call for nominations, remits and advice of amendments to the constitution for our May AGM. Shortly we can expect the advice of the Prominent Persons & Society Leaders Delegation. Great to learn of the branch AGM’s being held and congratulations to Jenevere on being elected Hamilton’s new president, following long serving Ian Howat- big shoes to fill!
Keep smiling
Kind regards
Eric
