GREETINGS TO ALL:
AGM time again
APRIL MEETING
DATE: Sunday 22 APRIL 2012
TIME: 12:30 P.M.
VENUE: ROTORUA ARTS CENTRE (RAVE) (1240 Hinemaru Street)
Yes it is that time again. The year certainly flew by and we have started off with two interesting presentations. Eric certainly had done a lot of research about Tibet. It was a very comprehensive presentation.
We will have a shared lunch as usual with the AGM to follow along with whatever you wish to discuss i.e subscription rates, future speakers, conference representatives and what costs you want to cover. I will put these things in the Committee’s Annual Report which will be presented by the committee.
At April’s meeting there will be no speaker thus giving us time to discuss future possibilities for the coming programmes. It will give everyone time to have their say and maybe discuss some things we could look at supporting. If you are new to our organisation please consider joining the committee or contributing in some small way. But please don’t stay away for fear of being given a job because your input is valuable. The committee endeavours to keep monthly meetings interesting and relevant. We work more as a group rather than an executive committee with very few committee meetings. Most communications are done via email or phone. We make sure we have speakers arranged and share the work load. I try and keep the Branch page of the National Website up to date with our newsletters and some news as to what is happening in Rotorua. Just a few tasks we do.
COMING MEETINGS and OTHER EVENTS
At the moment we only have a speaker arranged for 27 May. Heinrich Boeckhorst has kindly agreed to come again and speak to us about his time in China. Heinrich spent many years setting up a car franchise in China which he spoke about last time. We all found it extremely interesting and he now will tell us about other experiences outside that business world. More about that next month.
There was a good representation of our organisation at the JP luncheon. The President of the Rotorua JP Association explained that
there were two divisions of responsibilities for JP’s, one Ministerial, where they verify documents and other ministerial duties. The second one is judicial where they actually sit on the bench for minor hearings. JP’s go through training and once appointed by the local MP they continue to attend training sessions to keep them up to date regarding their responsibilities. He indicated the lack of representation for the various ethnic groups in Rotorua needed attention. The various groups attending were asked to consider putting forward names of Chinese nationals for such a position. Other organisations attending this luncheon was The Rotorua Chinese Association and The Rotorua Chinese Language Association.
They would like for the nominations to be ‘youngish’ and involved within the community of Chinese ethnicity. They must be New Zealand Citizens. If you know of anyone who would be a good candidate please let us know so we as a group can put their name forward for consideration by the Chinese Community.
NATIONAL EVENTS
This year the 60th anniversary conference is being held in Auckland 18 – 20th May. More details regarding the programme should be available at our AGM. President of Youxie, Madame Li Xiaolin will lead a delegation to visit our 60th Anniversary Conference. After many years as Vice President of the Chinese Peoples’ association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Madame Li has been promoted to the most senior position of President, a most important post in Chinese foreign relationships. She will be responsible for all sister-City and Friendship Societies. If you wish to attend please contact Norma as below for more information.
Regarding this conference Our NZCFS honorary members from China, Lu Wanru, Ma Baoru and Liu Guozhong are all coming to NZ to attend National Conference in May. NZCFS Executive have invited them for a two-week stay, and we need to start planning a travel programme for their time outside of Conference. At this stage, Liu Guozhong and Ma Baoru may extend their visit beyond the two weeks to catch up with old friends. While the timing of their stay has not yet been finalised, we would like an expression of interest from branches who would like to have one or more of these good friends pay a visit to their branch. Branches would be expected to provide homestay and also, where land travel is involved, to coordinate with other branches to provide transport between branches. A major aspect of the visit planning is also to meet the needs of our guests to meet up with their old friends. At this stage, we cannot guarantee that all branch requests can be accommodated, but please consider this and indicate your preferences in timing, and who. Please contact Dave Bromwich <[email protected]> as well as
Bill Willmot<[email protected]> Visitors always enjoy visiting Rotorua.
Don’t forget raffle tickets for return flights to China will be available until 1 October. at $ 5. each. They will be available at our meetings or contact Norma ph. 348-2110 or [email protected]
Regards
Committee
