Hello everyone
I hope you are having a good year and this newsletter finds you in good health. As for us we are all fine. This year we have had a good year and a bad year. Bad because of our kababayan in Christchurch and Auckland. We cannot do anything to stop these natural disasters happening – all we can do is offer whatever practical help we can (refer to the letters from the Federation elsewhere in this newsletter), and include them in our prayers.
For all the Committee, well done. You have done a great job over the last year. Thank you so much for all the work you have put in. Also a special thanks to the dancers, singers, performers and the organisers. Thank-you to all the helping hands for the Taranaki Multi-Ethnic Extravaganza. We had a good turn out – a good cook from Hawera, and all those people who travelled from New Plymouth, Inglewood, Stratford and Waitara to help in preparing the food, as well as erecting our tent. Even though it rained we never gave up.
Thank-you very much for your outstanding effort.
It was very good to be invited down to Wellington for their Asian Fiesta – it’s just like our own Multi-Ethnic Extravaganza, but limited to Asian ethnic groups. They try very hard but there are not very many of them.
This is my last message for the year and I would like to invite you to our Annual General Meeting so that you can vote and elect your Executive Committee for the coming year. I ask you to please come and join us. Remember this is the time to say whatever is on your mind to give positive direction to the incoming Committee, or, if you have the time stand for the Committee. I would also like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with you, and I wish I could do more, but it is sometimes hard when you are working and your husband is also involved in much volunteer work – at times we are both double booked for the same weekend.
Probably some of you are wondering why we are always fundraising, such as selling raffle tickets everytime we have a party. We fundraise because this is how we get most of our income. If we did not fundraise we would have no money to pay for our hall hire, dancer’s uniforms, newsletters and other expenses. Who is going to be our benefactor who gives us the money for these expenses? Me? You ?? All the past Committees and past members have worked very hard for the money we now have in the bank account, so the very least we can do is look after it for them (and us). We have to budget for what we spend and also support and help those who are doing the fundraising.
Once again I beseech you – please come to the AGM this coming 18 June, so that we can vote for the officers and members of the Committee. If you have any time for the Society then join in – raise your hand. Even if you cannot stand for election to the Committee we look forward to seeing you there.
Thank You.
Ulinda Sandford
President