Welcome to another bulletin for 2024.
Attendance; 12 members, plus our speaker.
Apologies: Greg, Ingrid, Collin and Malcolm.
Presidential announcements and 3minute speaker;
Stand in for President, Peter Barron reports that last Saturday he and Rosemary ,together with resident chef Loreto provided the cooked breakfast at the Salvation Army's Epsom Lodge, for 54 residents.
The population is lower now as the5 separate buildings on site are being progressively demolished and rebuilt.
However the garden beds we moved and established appear to be flourishing and well planted with winter crops.
Sergent Wendy was in fine form as befits her long experience in the job.
Today is world Scream day-Lydia Kho's birthday-Winstone Churchill was knighted this day, some year last century-1184 the Greeks captured the city of Troy (in modern day Turkey)-feeling old is better than getting old-don't eat bananas together with berries as they act against each other-NZ scientists may have made a breakthrough with motor neuron disease.
A modest fine total of about $150.
Speaker was Joanne Hand ,head of Hagar New Zealand, the anti slavery and exploitation organisation, founded in 1994 with the New Zealand branch established in 2009.
The name Hagar is the name of a female slave mentioned in the first Testament-"God, you are the one who sees me in my darkness".
Their moto is, "We do whatever it takes for as long as it takes".
Slavery and exploitation is still happening worldwide today.
Hagar NZ works in Burma, Thailand, Afghanastan, Solomen Islands, Cambodia and Vietnam. The main assistance provided is safe living places, finding families, providing ID, legal advice, assessments, counseling.
Poverty is the main cause of slavery/exploitation-this is counted with education and assistance to become self supporting ,and strengthening communities against traficing.
Operating in Afghanastan in 2008 and still going now after the take over-providing very basic safe schools in the refugee camps and helping women become selfsuficient.
Meeting closed 8.33.
Reminder that next week, despite it being La La Cafe morning, is Avis's collection for Grace Foundation day, so please bring some items, or funds for Avis to purchase items.
