GREETINGS TO ALL
OUR JUNE MEETING WILL BE:
DATE: Sunday 26 JUNE 2011
TIME: 12:30 PM – Start time for a shared lunch
VENUE: ARTS VILLAGE (RAVE) – Eric Bridgman Lounge
This month our Guest Speaker is Barbara Gatley, “A Walking Tour in China.” The aim of the tour was “See the Real China” by walking local tracks as far as possible, while following the major tourist routes for hotel accommodation.
“We walked local villagers’ pathways, small roads impassable by coach and well used tourist walking routes.
We clambered over a crumbling part of the Great Wall near Beijing, got lost in deep mud in a forest in Yunnan Province, experienced dizzy heights in Tiger Leaping Gorge, and walked the beautiful Li and Yulong rivers near Guilin, Dragon Gate Grottoes Kunming, Lonji rice terraces, the tea fields near Hangzhou and of course the Bund in Shanghai.”
I am sure Barbara’s experience will be quite different from the usual tourist experience and will give us an insight to village life in China. Everyone is welcome so bring a friend or visitor, along with something to share at our social shared lunch.
COMING MEETINGS
On 24 July Alexis LewGor, President of the Multicultural Council will speak about this organisation and how it helps the Chinese Nationals in Rotorua as well as many other immigrants in Rotorua. On 28 August Heinrich Boeckhorst spent over 30 years in China therefore he has plenty to tell us about regarding his experiences such as business, travel and in general life in China. On 25 September Wendy Chen, the Chinese Language teacher at Boys High will speak to us about teaching the Chinese Language to older students. Remember our October meeting will be on the 16th because of Labour Day week-end being the following week !
Just a reminder that Subscriptions are now due and remain the same:
Single $15.00; _____ Couple or Organisation $ 25.00 ______
NAME: ________________________ PHONE NO. _____________
ADDRESS:______________________
E-Mail:_________________________
Please Post to: Norma Millard, Treasurer, 24a Union Street, Rotorua 3010
NATIONAL NEWS
Greetings From Eric Livingston, National President
What an excellent conference the Wellington branch arranged for us. We had excellent discussions with Qing Boming and others from Youxie during the conference and were able to confirm arrangements for this years Prominent Persons and Society leaders delegation. I am very grateful to past National President Margaret Cooper for agreeing to handle all the nominations and would ask that you have your branch nominations to her as soon as possible. We suggest a nomination one prominent person and one leader from each branch, but last year we did allow an extra prominent person to be nominated so long as the branch ranked them. We are very fortunate to have Sally available to lead this delegation on this occasion and I am very pleased we have someone so experienced to do so.
PROMINENT PERSONS AND SOCIETY LEADERS DELEGATION
We have been invited once again by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (Youxie) to send Prominent People from our Country and Leaders from our Society to China departing 26 October 2011 for nine days. The purpose of the delegation’s visit is to build relationships and friendships between our two peoples and to visit some unique parts of China.
The Delegation of 10 people will commence the tour in Beijing and then travelling onto the Shandong and Fujian Provinces for 9 days (10 nights away). The tour this year will include visits to environmental projects, economic zones and interesting tourist attractions, and will be led by National Executive Member and Hawkes Bay Branch President Sally Russell.
Delegates travel, accommodation, meals and sightseeing costs for the 9 days in China from Wednesday 26 October – 5 November will be met by Youxie. Delegates will be responsible for their own airfares to Beijing and return via Fujian Province and Hongkong, insurance, visa plus a small contribution towards the cost of the leader’s expenses. Based on previous costs and dependent on changing international airfares, internal New Zealand flight costs, a rough estimate would be $3,000 per delegate including insurance and visa. All personal and additional expenses incurred during this trip will be borne by the delegates themselves.
Applications close on 29 July 2011 and are to be forwarded to Margaret Cooper, National Executive member – [email protected] or post to 60 Matua Road, Tauranga. An elected special committee of National Executive members will select 10 people in early August and notification will follow immediately, so that bookings can be made promptly.
Kind regards
Eric
BRANCH INFORMATION
After reading Eric’s information if you know of someone you would like considered for the Prominent Persons and Society Leaders Delegation please let the committee know. Remember we can put 2 names forward one for each category. This has to be in by 29 July.
Also starting Friday 1 July a new beginners class for Tai Chi at Parksyde, the older persons’s community centre. It will commence at 10:00 a.m. and is being taught by Lei Lei. She is taking over from the previous class which was taught by Jordan Freeman. This is a good opportunity for us to improve our balance with a low impact exercise on a weekly basis.
On Friday 1 July the Arts Village is holding a Mid Winter Luncheon starting at 11:45 for all users of this facility. It is an opportunity to get acquainted with other users and the staff. Bring a plate of finger food to share.
