Author
NZERN

Prior Publication
Kereru

Minutes of the NZERN founding meeting held at Sacred Heart School, Spencer Street, Addington, Thursday May 4th, 2000 at 8.30pm


Present:

Mike Peters, Jessica Peters, Pip Stevens, Graeme Cook, Simon Fenwick, Pavla Honzickovoa, Euan Hefford, Eric Lilley (Addington Bush Society Inc.), Rhys Taylor (Canterbury WEA), Leona Muralidy, Ralph Roden (Veyland Garden Landscapers), Simon Johnston (Habitat Restoration Services), Allan Nilsen (Shirley Intermediate School), Alison Ross (Otamahua/Quail Island Ecological Restoration Charitable Trust).


Apologies:

Barbara Verity (Cashmere High School Greens), Matthew Carter, Diana Robertson, Keith McQuillain.


General Introduction:

Mike Peters explained that NZERN has been in existence informally for 2 years and was set up to establish a broader network - initially called the Bush Society. The Addington Bush Society has been processing the funds, holding the account until such time as NZERN was up and running, at which point NZERN was to be formalised. Initially there were many individual members, however there are now 109 groups who have joined NZERN.

Matthew Carter has drafted up a constitution based on informal discussion and what has been found to work over the last 2 years.. He has agreed to lead a commission to consider further amendments for the AGM..

There are 24,000 pages on the web site at present generated by the database and Mike Peters receives approximately 60 e-mail messages a day. The intention is to set up forms to simplify the processing of these messages. Passwords are to be used so that members can access the NZERN intranet and validate data entered into the database. There are 3,000 names on the database.

NZERN is to become a network mainly of groups as well as individual members.

The question was raised as to why NZERN was to be an incorporated society rather than a trust. Rhys Taylor explained that as trustees are appointed and officers of an incorporated society are elected, an incorporated society was a more democratic group by is nature, and therefore a more dynamic group. This was agreed upon.


Membership Roll:

There are at present 109 groups (Addington Neighbourhood Assn., Addington School and Sacred Heart School may elect to remain part of Addington Bush Society). Most groups are in Canterbury, then Southland and Otago, Followed by Auckland. There are 27 family members, 214 individual members and 206 affiliate members. Affiliate membership is expected to rise to several thousand.

Nilsen/Taylor


Constitution:

This has been modelled on the Addington Bush Society constitution with necessary changes. It was agreed to adopt the constitution as is and apply for incorporation status. Further changes will need to be made and people will be asked to submit these by the AGM scheduled for September 30th.

J.Peters/M.Peters


Election of Officers:

This is to be an interim election until the AGM at which point new officers will be elected. Graeme Cook and Pip Stevens indicated they will not seek re-election at the AGM. They were thanked for kindly agreeing to hold their positions till that time.

M.Peters/Ross

The existing advisory panel and regional reps were ratified. Further changes can be expected at the AGM. The regional reps and officers elected were declared the committee in accordance with the constitution.

M.Peters/Ross


Staff working sub-committees:

It was agreed that they should continue with their present tasks and report back to the AGM in September.


Committee tasks:

To apply for legal incorporation for NZERN, seek charitable status from IRD, set up the bank account and organise the AGM on September 20 at the Chch WEA.

M.Peters/Ross


Closure:

The meeting closed at 9pm and was followed by a combined supper with the Addington Bush Society Inc.

Keywords
NZERN 

Updated 20/11/2008 4.08AM by PIPI4