I

Hello Members

I was very privileged to be elected Chairperson of the Executive Committee following the AGM at the end of March.  I have met some of you since then, but am looking forward to getting to know as many of you as I can over the coming months.  I am happy to take the time to talk to you, so please feel free to contact me via the Branch.

Your Executive Committee is:

• Julie Hardaker – Chairperson

• Sue Brown – Vice Chairperson

• David Bluett - Treasurer

• Keith Houston

• Tracy Wilde

• Lesley Yelash

• Allan Fursdon

• Moira Johnson

• Jan Thomson

• Natallie Simmons

 I am excited about the year ahead.  The Branch is working well and continuing to deliver a valuable service to the community and to the animals.  If you haven’t had a chance to visit The Haven, please come down and see us.  I would like to thank the staff and many volunteers who are so important to the SPCA, for their continuing work for the animals. 

Some update news to share with you:

1.            Elizabeth Hunter has resigned and finished at the end of June.  We have been recruiting for a new Branch Manger and are hoping to announce an appointment very soon.  Thank you to Committee members Tracy Wilde and Jan Thomson for filling in until the new Branch Manager starts.

2.            We also received the resignation of Judy Wells-Henderson from the Committee.

3.            The Committee will be having a planning day on 18 July 2010 and I will be able to update you about the strategic plan soon after.

4.            Work continues on the planned move to the new premises at the Wintec Campus and there is a lot to do.  I am looking forward to sharing information about this with all of the members in the coming month.

5.            Sue Brown, one of the Committee members, attended the national conference in Rotorua and she came back with some good information to share.  The Savings Lives booklet is available at the Branch office if you would like a copy.

6.            Some of the Committee Members spend some time at National Office last month meeting with key people and hearing about the services and support that we can have access to.  It was wonderful to be meeting in a workplace where animals were part of the activities and taking their place on a chair at the meeting table.

7.            We participated at the Field Days again this year and again we had a good response from the public.

One of the things that I would like to do very soon is have a meeting for members so that the Committee can talk through the work that is planned for this year and also to update you about the move to the Wintec campus.  Watch for details about this on the website and in the newsletter that will be coming out soon.  We are a little behind with the latest newsletter because of Elizabeth’s resignation. 

I share a little story with you about my Poppy, who is a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel. She has decided that her new best friend is a new cat who has moved in next door.  Initially they weren’t too keen on each other, but over time the friendship has blossomed to the extent that Poppy took one of her little dog treats, the ones she loves so so much,  to the cat, who was lazing in the winter sun.  The cat wasn’t much interested in the treat, but Poppy sat patiently by wagging her tail, without even the slightest hint of eating the treat herself. Such self control!

As always, thank you to everyone who makes animal welfare part of their daily life.

Julie Hardaker