End of year reflections
This, our last newsletter for 2021 provides an opportunity to reflect on our Annual General Meeting (AGM) 9th October 2020 and to start thinking about 2022.
In amongst coping with Covid lock down, Graduate Women North Shore (GWNS) stepped up to the challenge of hosting our virtual AGM. Thank you GWNS for enabling us to hold our AGM. While we couldn’t have the in-depth discussions our AGMs are known for, we did get through the business and hopefully all felt they had the opportunity to be heard and listened to. For those who attended, thank you for your willingness to engage via zoom. For those who missed the AGM, we did record the meeting. If you’d like to view this recording please speak with your President/Convenor.
The main business for an AGM is to elect the National Executive, provide an opportunity for members to hear from colleagues, review the finances and to consider remits. We received nominations for all key roles except for the Marketing and Membership role. Congratulations to all executive members (listed below). We do need a Lead for the Marketing & Membership portfolio, so if you are at all interested or know someone who could be, please get in touch with myself president@gwnz.org.nz. I’m looking forward to working with the new executive as we lead GWNZ in 2022. We say goodbye and thanks to Annabel Wilson. Annabel will stay on as our newsletter editor but step back from her National Executive role to enjoy being a new Mum, progressing her doctoral studies and her creative writing, plus many other initiatives!
Your new National Executive / Council is:
| National Executive role | Person | Term (s) |
| President | Jo Innes, GWM | 2020 – 2022 |
| President Elect | Karen Richardson, GWW | 2021-2022 |
| Vice-President (1) | Karen Richardson, GWW | 2021-2022 |
| Vice-President (2) | Lorelle George, GWNS | 2021-2023 |
| Secretary | Vanessa Ward, GWW | 2021-2023 |
| Treasurer | Rachel Baskerville, GWW | 2020-2022 |
| International | Shirley Gillett, GWO | 2021-2023 |
| Advocacy | Karen Richardson, GWW | 2021-2023 |
| Marketing & Membership | Vacant | |
| Member/Trust Treasurer | Carolyn Wirth, GWM | 2021-2023 |
| Member/Trust Secretary | Sally Hasell, GWW | 2021-2023 |
| Member/Trustee | Lorelle George, GWNS | 2021-2023 |
| Council/IMN & Social Media | Kwong Nui Sim, IMN | 2020 – |
| Council/GWW | Janet Stribling, GWW | 2021 – |
| Council/GWM | Leola Meynell | 2021 – |
| Officer/News & Social Media | Annabel Wilson, GWNS | 2021 – |
| Officer/ Support | Bessie Olsen, GWW | 2020 – |
| Officers/Archives | Ann Pomeroy, Pat Sivertsen |
The following remits were discussed and approved:
Remit 1: Supplementary dues (CI 40 c)
Remit 2: Student membership: Under-graduate (CI 9)
Remit 4: Conflict of Interest
Remit 5: Majority Voting
Remit 6: Resolutions in Writing
Remit 7: Virtual Presence at a Board Meeting
Remit 3: Student Membership: Postgraduate (CI9) was not approved at the AGM as it requires more thought. The Executive plan to reconsider this remit at a special AGM, early in the new year.
National Executive will be reviewing the initiatives proposed in the Strategic Plan 2020-2022 and establishing priorities for 2022. Your branch President / Independent Members Convener will be approaching you to seek your input. In the meantime, please THINK about how the National Executive can better support the work of the branches and Independent Member Network.
It’s now looking unlikely that we will be able to hold the GWNZ Centenary in 2021 as planned. Our thinking at the moment is to postpone until we can meet face to face to celebrate this milestone. GWNS have offered to still host this event. Thank you!
I hope you have a restful and peaceful Christmas. See you in 2022
- Dr Jo Innes, President (GWNZ), Chair (GWNZ-CT)