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Large attendance at year's first Community Whanau meeting
February 3rd, 2011
[by David Armstrong]
The monthly Community Whanau meetings got off to a great start for 2011 with 27 community leaders yesterday sharing information about the services they provide and gearing up for another year working with local people in need. This was one of the largest attendances for some time.
At these meetings, attenders provide updates about courses, services and other upcoming initiatives provided by the groups or organisations they represent, while others discuss ways in which each can help them to achieve common aims.
Nelson Bays Primary Health Organisation reported that it had completed its directory of information (dubbed the "mental health wheel"), for both a community noticeboard and for printed material, showing newcomers, visitors and residents needing help where to find health and other key services in Motueka. They are deciding how the information will most efficiently be distributed.
Linda Glew told of work she was doing with Get Safe Motueka, which has found difficulty in finding a general manager. The organisation has decided to rejig its service to work in new ways, and board representatives will address the March Community Whanau meeting on what they have in mind.
Age Concern Nelson said that as a result of a promotional article in the local newspaper late last year they have gathered five local volunteers who will run a new Age Concern service in Motueka starting soon.
Whenua Iti pointed out that their course offerings are moving toward including more training for workplace capability, adding to its traditional outdoor education courses.
Gabrielle Thorpe of Abel Tasman Education Trust (ATET) alerted the meeting to the need to think about tapping Ministry of Internal Affairs community grants while they are available for the Tasman district. These grants are available offering up to $80,000 a year for three years.
She said Tasman had struggled to be considered as a "priority area" and it would be a great shame if funds were not requested as they would then be withdrawn. She said ATET was not applying for these funds but would be keen to support any group who wanted to apply. See www.cdgo.govt.nz
Rae Dozell, who has worked as Community Whanau coordinator, has been finding taking and writing the minutes is taking much longer than before, and the meeting decided that for future meetings and minutes participants could email her their reports for cutting and pasting into the minutes. She will also be looking at electronic transcription devices and software.
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