weekly newsletter #23 2012

7/31/2019 Weekly Newsletter #23 2012

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The 2012 London Olympics are in full swing and already weve seen several outstandingefforts by our New Zealand athletes. Our rowers have been absolutely brilliant, but weshouldnt overlook the great efforts of the equestrian team, our cycling boys, shot putterValerie Adams, and all of our athletes. Look out for potential medals in the sailing, hockey,triathalon, and mens 1500m. Perhaps even better has been the reaction of the Aussies, withone of the best going to Sydneys Daily Telegraphs tongue-in-cheek ranking of AusZealand.

The other main focus on golden rings in the news recently has been Louisa Walls marriageequality legislation. We asked the question Marriage equality were in favour, how aboutyou? on Facebook and received a huge response. With over 9,000 people viewing the

question, the results were 139 votes in favour, and 8 votes against. This point of viewreflects our current stance on marriage equality, a stance which we hope to elaborate onfurther down the track at our second policy symposium of the year.

Finally this week we have the Partys Education Policy Advisory Group with us in Dunedin tohost their Education Policy Forum, where you get a chance to influence and shape Partypolicy. The Pub Quiz team and NRL tipping also rolls on, and were looking to finish of theyear on a high as we aim to hit new Membership targets set by the National Executive.

Education Policy Advisory Group 2012 Student Forum

The Partys main vehicle for Member involvement in education policy development, theEducation Policy Advisory Group, is in Dunedin this week to host the 2012 Student Forum.All financial Members are invited to attend, and by now you should have received aninvitation. If not, a further copy is attached to this newsletter, or can be found here.

The Forum will be chaired by myself, and Education PAG Chair Murray Spackman, withMichael Woodhouse as the Guest MP. We will be discussing student loans and voluntary

student membership, with a focus on current policy, the situation post VSM implementation,and future options.


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A reminder this event is by invitation only with no media present. Please RSVP directly tome at [email protected]. As it is financial Members only, you can become aMember by signing up at youngnats.org.nz/join/.

The Final Stretch

The current Executive is in its last three months but we still have a lot to do before we electa new team to take us officially into 2013. Briefly, our aims over the next three months

include: Trips to each of our electorates to drive Membership. Developing a plan for the Waitaki, Invercargill and Clutha Southland electorates in

terms of structure and membership. Developing individual Communications, Membership, Financial, Community

Engagement and Policy strategies. Holding one more Policy Forum/Symposium. Updating the Standing Orders and clarifying Executive roles, and settling on a

Strategic Plan for 2013. Exceeding the Membership targets set by the National Executive. Hosting several more Ministers, including Hon Chris Finlayson and Hon Paula

Bennett. Beginning O Week planning for 2013.

Youll note I mentioned Membership targets which have recently been set by the NationalExecutive. Southern has been encouraged to boost our Membership to over 100 Membersand there will be an incentive for reaching that target. More information and details will bedistributed soon on how we will be achieving that goal over the next three months.

As always, we value your opinion and input on these processes, so please take the

opportunity to comment and submit on all consultation documents we share with you.

What we value even more though are people who are willing to step up and lead from thefront by putting their hand up for an Executive role. Our next Executive meeting on August22 will finalise the date for our AGM and elections. Information on the nomination processwill follow that meeting.

Regional Council

The Regional Council meets this Friday in Dunedin, so if you have any concerns or issuesyou would like me to raise with them please dont hesitate to get in touch and let me know.Our Regional Chair, Ele Ludemann, was re-elected at the Regional Conference earlier this

year and continues to do an outstanding job as a leader and organiser within the Party, aswell as a strong supportive voice outside. She is a strong supporter of the Southern YoungNats and Id like to take this opportunity to thank her for her hard work and commitmentto growing our organisation.

Regular Events


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Bog Quiz Team

The Pub Quiz team is back in action at The Bog on Monday night. The current kitty standsat $160 in Bog vouchers so be sure to come along by 7pm and keep that winning feeling.

Well look to put our winnings towards the end of year function and AGM, so be sure totake full advantage of the hospitality on offer.

Virtual Tipping

The Super Rugby is done and dusted with the final results showing John Brinsley-Pirie as theclear winner, followed by the Southern teams formula of picking the crowds favouriteoption for each game. The more active players followed next, with some pretty dismalshowings at the foot of the table.

A Virtual ITM Cup comp is also in the works, well give you more details on that in thecoming weeks. The NRL tipping is also getting into the business end of the competition withonly four regular season games left. Some progress has been made on the current leaderSteveman, with only one point separating him and the Southern team.


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Well thats it for this week, Ill leave you with this quote from superb London Mayor Boris

Johnson (hat-tip to Mike Woodhouse):

My chances of being PM are about as good as the chances of finding Elvis on Mars, or mybeing reincarnated as an olive.

Cheers,

James MeagerChairYoung Nationals Southern Region

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weekly newsletter #23 2012

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