President David started the meeting at 7.45. Later than the normal time but that gave more time to chat; Max is buying a new car, a hybrid and David J saw a spectacular motorbike crash on Broadway, the rider wasn't hurt and it was only a Harley so of little consequence!
There were eleven members present.
Apologies: Received from Phil, Colleen, Rory Malcolm (in India) Phillippa (grannie duties) and Greg (in Singapore)
President's Notices:
The club is responsible for breakfast at Epsom Lodge this Saturday, the 16th between 7.00 and 8.30 am. Three volunteers are required. If you can help please contact Henry on hford@rutherfordrede.co.nz.
Avis reminded the club that she was still collecting curtains for distribution to families that need them. Please tell your friends. Avis can be contacted at avisnelson@xtra.co.nz.
Peter B read out a letter from the RYLA "Camp Father" commending the performance of Marita, our nominee for the RYLA event last week.
Three minute speaker
Max told us that since his retirement he's had time to read more, on average over 30 books a year. He reviewed Terry Thompson's "The Lonely Isles" an account of NZ's flora and fauna over the last few millenniums. It's highly recommended!
Sarjeant:
David gave us this thought provoking quote"A traveller see what he sees; a tourist sees what he goes to see"
Speaker:
Sarah Trotman ONZ, now chair of the 1,700 strong Business Mentors of New Zealand organisation, past district councillor.
Sarah told us some anecdotes from her experience of being on the Waitemata local board. We were told of how the council staff get their own way by failing to consult, two examples being the felling of of pines at Western Springs, thus killing something like 30,000 native saplings, or the ignoring of local opinion in the construction of the Erebus Memorial in Dove Myer Robinson Park.
In passing Sarah had praise for Christine Fletcher who "Deserves a medal" for her contribution to a balanced debate at council.
It seems that after Sarah had taken the CEO to task on a matter he then lodged a code of conduct complaint against her, but refused to front up at the hearing.
Her conclusion, "Local body politics is rotten" and stated that she was not standing for re-election as she was "Very disheartened about the whole experience".
In summary, it would seem that local democracy has been replaced by unaccountable local bureaucracy.
