April 2015 BOARD MEMBERS 2015 2015 BOARD MEETINGS President Judy Boyle 904 2282 Vice President Allan Taylor 297 1622 The Board meets monthly IPP Debbie Lattey (International Liaison) 293 3252 Treasurer Graham Tufnail 904 2215 Next meeting: Secretary Beverley Taylor (Newsletter) 297 1622 Wednesday 13 May Board members Adrienne Burleigh (Publicity) 297 2213 at Graham & Theresa s Jan Reid (Almoner) 902 1106 home Lynn Voyce (Functions) 905 1039 59 Kohekohe Road Molly King (Membership) 293 3310 Waikanae Peter Canvin (Webmaster) 902 2799 3.00 p.m. Patron Alan Milne 07 387 8808 Phone 904 2282 Field Representative Debbie Lattey Southern N.I. 293 3252 if unable to attend Club Address PO Box 248, Paraparaumu 5254 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2015 Date(s) Contact Person 22 April (Wed) North Moreton Inward (lunch with Kapiti) Debbie Lattey 293 3252 1 3 May FF Whanganui, inward exchange Lynn Voyce 905 1039 13 May (Wed) Coffee morning, 10.00 am. Details t.b.a. Jan Reid 902 1106 26 May (Tues) Let s Eat Out Lunch details t.b.a. Judy Boyle 904 2282 21 June (Sun) Soup Lunch, Paraparaumu Community Centre Debbie Lattey 293 3252
PRESIDENT S REPORT Hello Everyone, Welcome to another newsletter. The past month has been a busy one with travel and get-togethers. A group of 18 ambassadors, 16 from our club, and Reg and Irene Clothier who are now members of the Tauranga FF, travelled to Auckland, Whangarei, Thames and Tauranga. We spent 3 nights in each place and were warmly welcomed by our hosts. Lots of interesting activities and trips were provided and I especially enjoyed the Quarry Gardens in Whangarei. A group of local volunteers have turned a disused quarry into beautiful gardens and walkways with many unusual tropical plants that are not found elsewhere in New Zealand. They have worked tirelessly over the last 10 years on this project. When communities work together it is amazing what can be achieved. Thank you to Beth Lough for her great organisation on this trip. As an ex teacher I think dealing with a group of adults and keeping track of them is harder than working with a class of 5 year olds! I managed to organise the installation of new carpet for my conservatory while wine tasting on Waiheke Island during our time in Auckland. Multi-tasking at its best!!!! Alan and Mary Milne met the bus at Taupo as we passed through on our way up and back. It was good to see them even if it was a very brief stop. Mary s Easter eggs were a welcome treat. We had our first Let s Eat Out at Waikanae Hotel last week and this was attended by 18 of our members. I think we all enjoyed our meal and the company of friends. The next LEO will be at the end of May. You will be notified of the venue closer to the time. Another group met to have coffee in Paraparaumu at Over the Teacups. This was a very pleasant social event, despite the power cut just as our coffee was being prepared. I wish Bev and Allan Taylor, Judy and Peter Canvin and Marie Bishop a safe and wonderful trip to South America. They will be leaving this month and have a number of exciting activities planned. We will look forward to hearing about their adventures on their return. I hope this finds you all well and look forward to our next meeting. Judy North Moreton visit 22 April WHAT S HAPPENING? Members of the North Moreton club in Australia are visiting New Zealand on an exchange this month, and we have invited them to stop off in Kapiti for lunch on their way to Wellington on Wednesday 22 April. I will be hosting the lunch at my home, and members of our club who visited North Moreton in 2010 have been invited to join us. Any other club members who have a connection with this club or know any of the ambassadors coming are welcome to come along too just let me know if you re interested.
The members of the North Moreton club who are coming are as follows: Frank Ascott (Travelling ED), Allan & Olive Roff, Terri Good, Heather Grevell, Claire Wright, Glyness Kelly, Eileen O Regan, June & John Kent, Phyllis & Gale Hall, Sonia & Kenn Stevens, Shirley Freebody & Mary Matchett (Mary is a member of the Gold Coast Club). We will be offering a light lunch so you ll be asked to bring either a salad or finger food dessert. Debbie Lattey Ph 293 3252 debbie@otaihanga.co.nz FF Whanganui internal exchange 1 3 May 8 members of FF Whanganui will be arriving in the afternoon of Friday 1 May. Thank you for those members who have volunteered to host. A number of activities are currently being planned for our visitors and we are looking forward to seeing them. Soup Lunch Sunday 21 June When: Sunday 21 June 2015 Time: 12 noon to 2.30pm Where: Kapiti Community Centre, Ngahina Street, Paraparaumu Our popular annual soup lunch will be held this year on Sunday 21 June, and we are delighted that Alan and Mary Milne will be coming back down from Taupo to join us for it. This presents a great opportunity for our club to acknowledge the contribution Alan and Mary have made to our club since its inception, and to say a proper farewell to them. A presentation will be made to them at the lunch, so don t miss this great occasion. We will be asking later for numbers, but meantime please get the date in your diary. Debbie Lattey Ph 293 3252 Over the Teacups The first of our monthly coffee mornings was held this week, and despite the rain we had a good turnout with 11 club members and one guest coming along (it was lovely to meet Nanci Frizelle s daughter). The café, Over the Teacups, was comfortable and the coffee excellent, although it was a long time coming due to a power cut while we were there and subsequent malfunctioning of the coffee machine! Do join us if you can on the second Wednesday of each month for a chat and a catch-up over the teacups. Debbie [Next Coffee morning Wednesday 13 May. Venue t.b.a.]
OUTWARD INTERCLUB EXCHANGE March 2015 North Shore, Whangarei, Thames and Tauranga Report from Beth Lough exchange ED I was the ED of a multi-destination exchange to Auckland and beyond. The group comprised of eighteen ambassadors. These people were amazing. They were so enthusiastic and supportive and they all arrived home safe and well. We travelled by InterCity bus to the four destinations. This company provided a very good service, comfortable seats, refreshment and comfort stops and adherence to the timetable. However, we learnt that buses can be chilly. A good choice of food was available at all stops. The bus drivers were obliging, picking up some of our group at different requested stops. At each destination, we were greeted by welcoming, smiling faces. Each FF club had planned a variety of cultural, historic, art and nature activities. There were activities which catered for the male perspective. Hospitality was offered in the form of a catered lunch, pot luck dinners, a cocktail party, a picnic, pizzas, an afternoon tea party and a Boot morning tea. We were able to use our Gold cards to ride the ferry to Waiheke Island and on the Tour of Auckland Harbour. An Auckland highlight for many of us was the sight of the yachts sailing out to begin the last leg of the Volvo Yacht Race. We discovered a city full of interesting sights when we left SH1 at Whangarei as well as many Vintage Car Club enthusiasts in the local FF. The presentation at the Marsden Point Oil Refinery kept everyone focused. A visit to the Quarry Gardens generated much discussion, not only about the range of tropical plants growing successfully, but also, admiration at the transformation of a disused stone quarry into an attractive destination. Nature was very much to the forefront of our visit to Thames. We visited the Miranda Shorebird Centre with the purpose of learning the amazing migration story of many shorebirds. The Trust which runs the Centre carries out research through bird banding and exchange of data. Our hosts were very generous with their time and their local knowledge. We covered miles and miles, exploring the surrounding country by car and saw stunning views from high, winding roads. Our visit to Tauranga offered us an insight into how our early history was formed. Missionaries landed in Auckland, travelled south and set up a Mission Station. They successfully educated the Maori people, taught them skilled trades and entertained the important Maori Chiefs and Government officials in a purpose-built library, on Mission property. We did not hear too much about the hardworking women behind these successful men! Clashes between Maori and Pakeha were recorded graphically at Pa Gate, where an important battle took place. As a relative newcomer, this exchange has provided me with the opportunity to become better acquainted with the members of Kapiti FF. I would like to publicly acknowledge the assistance and support given me by Graham Tufnail, Debbie Lattey and Joyce Gibson ( who compiled a comprehensive booklet for the Exchange ) Judy Boyle gave me moral support throughout the Exchange. In friendship Beth Lough
Gifts to take on your travels Margaret Champion was recently talking to President Judy about John Wysocki, of Levin. John makes beautiful little woodturning objects which are light to carry - ideal for taking overseas. Margaret has met John at the Te Horo market. He makes small wooden bowls and other objects from wood and inlays them with paua, kiwis and other things that are symbols of N.Z. culture. Contact details are set out below. John Wysocki, 11 Easton Way, Levin. Phone 06-368 5717, email:- jaaws@clear.net.nz He is at the Te Horo Market which is held in the Te Horo Hall from 10.30-12.30 on the 1st Sunday of the month. There is also a very good cafe running there now. If you are not sure about anything you could give Margaret a ring at home on 904 7349.