From the President’s Desk
The AANZPA Executive recently met in Brisbane for our mid-year 3-day meeting. The Queensland Regional members made our visiting folks feel right at home offering billeting to all. The Executive met with the regional conference committee for a productive and enjoyable meeting on Saturday afternoon at Duschene College, where the conference will be held. We all greatly enjoyed the delicious Spanakopita and Galaktaboureko from one of the conference co-convenors, Christo Patty’s, labour of love in the kitchen. The venue appears to be perfectly suited for our conference and we are looking forward to a lively and enriching conference 2018.
Rosemary Nourse, our Treasurer, let us know that our finances are in good order.
Helen Phelan, our Membership Secretary, reported that the membership work is progressing smoothly. She and the contracted Membership Administrator, Simon Gurnsey, are getting ready for the renewal of annual membership and Claire Guy continues to oversee and improve our currency processes.
Martin Putt and Helen Phelan are managing our transition to a new Wordpress website for AANZPA. They do this with AANZPA Webmaster, Simon Gurnsey and his colleague, Hugh, who are contracted to do the technical work of this transition. Simon tells us some of this work will be done in the next month or so while on his and Sara’s canal boat in the South of France.
Patricia O’Rourke is getting her feet under the desk of the Publications portfolio and has already been involved with Phil Carter on publication matters. Diz Synnot will work with Jean Mehrtens in producing Socio.
In case you haven’t heard, the next conference is in Brisbane 17-21 January 2018 and then we are planning for a conference in 2019 in sunny Nelson, New Zealand.
We will hold two 1.5 hour meetings during the upcoming Brisbane conference prior to the AGM where we will discuss the issues at hand with PACFA and PBANZ. There will be a short paper circulated prior to these meetings to assist an informed discussion.
Helen Phelan and Martin Putt are re-formatting the association’s PPP manual (principles, policy and procedures manual) so that it can be more user friendly. Helen Kearins and Ali Watersong are completing the updating of our conference principles, policy and procedures.
I am particularly excited to let you all know that Ali Watersong is producing a personal and professional development program for certificated members. She will discuss her ideas and hear from those interested at the conference in Brisbane. Stay tuned.
warmly, Elizabeth Synnot (Diz)
President |