By Rachel Werder, BPW Hawera

At our June meeting, the club congratulated Anita Scott on earning her Bronze Key under the Keys To Achievement (KTA) Program.

Anita has actually also completed the work to achieve Silver Level status and the club eagerly awaits the delivery of the actual pin to be passed to Anita.

Anita joined BPW in 2009 and began work on the KTA program soon after in 2010.  Anita is the Vice President of BPW Hawera and also the Young BPW Convenor for both Hawera and New Zealand.  After speaking with her, she advises that because of her active involvement in the club and the organisation as a whole, the tasks were easily achievable and she is really enjoying the program.

Anita is well on her way to achieving her gold KTA status having now completed four of the tasks required.

Each level of Bronze, Silver and Gold has 12 tasks each, 10 of which should be completed and signed off by your Club President to obtain your competency.

The program has a really handy guidebook and our club Co-Ordinator Helen Cook is readily available to assist with questions or ideas about how to come up with an original, creative solution for each task.

BPW Hawera now has 9 active KTA members who meet quarterly to share progress and success and to guide each other through the process.

Once accreditation certificates have been issued for a completed level, members are entitled to use one of the three post nominals after their name.

So……Anita Scott, BPW (P), we commend you!

I need your help to grow Young BPW

Last weekend (14/15th of May) we had our strategic planning meeting and first executive meeting with the new BPW NZ executive members and convenors. It was a full-on weekend, but we did get lots done. It was very nice to meet up with the new faces and I got home with lots of fresh ideas and energy to interest more young women in joining our beautiful clubs and federation.

I am in the process of updating the young BPW database and so far have names on the list from the following clubs:

• Gisborne (7)

• Hawera (8)

• Franklin (2)

• Upper Hutt (2)

• Auckland (2)

If you are a young member (that is 35 years or younger) of another club or your club has more young members than indicated above, please send me your details otherwise you are going to miss out on the young BPW communications.

I am currently working on my plan for the year to make sure that the clubs and federation are meeting our young members’ expectations so they stay and will also work towards higher membership of young women and an overall decrease of average age throughout the federation.

The focus will be on how to get young women to join the clubs where there are no young BPW members. Once a club has got two or three, it becomes a lot easier to get more.

Young members: please bring your friends and young colleagues and family members. Older members: please bring along your (grand) daughters, nieces, young colleagues and friends and try to organise this within the club, so you’ll have several younger guests come in at the same time.

I would love to hear what you’ve tried in the past to attract young women to your club and what worked and what didn’t work (and most important; why?).

Any ideas are welcome, so young or old please email me your thoughts.

I’ll be in touch!

Regards,

Anita Scott

Email me at youngbpw@bpwnz.org.nz

The hui I attended in South Auckland in March, was attended by people with disabilities, many representing organisations, and care-givers or family. I attended representing mainstream lobbyists NCW Papakura/Franklin and BPW Franklin, as well as family members with disabilities, for whom I advocate.  In preparation for the meeting, I had downloaded and read the Convention as well as the Draft NZ Government Report (October2010), which was the first since the ratification by the NZ Government in September 2008. This report was due 31 March 2011 – it is also the first to be submitted to the UN Committee.

Nicola Owen has been seconded from Auckland Disability Law, to the Human Rights Commission to facilitate the meetings, with the assistance of CCS Disability Action and Women’s Disability Forum. We were informed that 18% (or 332,600) of women 25 years and over, report having a disability. Disabled women are disproportionately represented among those who lack qualifications, those who do not work and those who are living on a low income. Detachment from education and employment means that disabled women experience poor social and economic outcomes across life. Women with disabilities are twice as likely to experience domestic violence as those without disabilities and while all women can experience domestic violence, women’s refuges, which provide a safe place for women, are not always accessible for disabled women. One study undertaken 2007-2009, found 33% of victims of sexual violence, indicated that they had a disability.

The UNCRPD has two articles that particularly relate to women, girls and families – Article 6 :  Women with Disabilities and Article23 : Respect for home and families which includes parents with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities and children with disabilities. The NZ Government has ratified the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) but not one Article includes women or girls with disabilities.

We were then given our opportunity to be involved. Each discussion group was asked to prioritise Important Rights – not surprisingly, they were similar. We were then asked to discuss and report back on experiences and difficulties that meant that disabled people were being discriminated against, again there were common themes, and when these were compared to Articles in the UNCRPD, questions were asked if policies and practices “delivered?” – in most cases the answers were “No”. We discussed ways forward – reporting to the UN Committee with a “shadow” report, working directly with the UN Committee, (although this is made difficult because the NZ Government has not signed or ratified the Optional Protocol), request that a new Article on Women with Disabilities be inserted into CEDAW, lobby for law reform in legislation that affects people with disabilities such as the Mental Health Act, the Immigration Act (the right to move countries) and improve legal education.

There are many agencies in New Zealand endeavouring to improve the living standards of people with disabilities and their caregivers, to ensure adequate funding and provision of resources are available. Some are actively advocating for their members and clients, but it is so often an uphill battle. Mainstream organisations such as BPW NZ need to utilise their energies and lobbying capacity to make gains for those who are less able to fight for their own rights. Two resolutions were adopted at BPW NZ Conference which provides policy for BPW, to urge the NZ Government to ratify the Optional Protocol to UNCRPD and to urge the NZ Government to request the United Nations to introduce a new Article to CEDAW, to eliminate discrimination against women with disabilities.

prepared by Dianne Glenn, Past President BPW NZ

PROFILE     PATSY THORNTON

I was a member of the Kaitaia BPW club for thirteen years and became President in 2001 when the club was failing and almost in recess. I endeavoured to rebuild the club by introducing interesting projects and encouraging women to develop and grow by belonging to organizations such as this.

At the end of my term as President, membership had increased by seven and we had a total of 21 members with a further seven members pending.

I have attended five conferences and while President attended all the bi-annual Regional meetings. In 2003 I attended the Oceania conference held in Rarotonga as a representative of the Kaitaia BPW club along with one other delegate.

In 2001 I represented the club at the dedication of the ‘World Leaders Build Houses’ (Habitat for Humanity) in Kaitaia at which the Prime Minister Helen Clarke officiated and in the same capacity attended an afternoon tea hosted by the Mayor.

In 2003 I was selected to represent BPW on the Claude Switzer Memorial Advisory Board and have done so until 2009 and we now have another of our members representing BPW. The Switzer Home is a Retirement Home and involves all sections of the Community.

while I was President, all BPW committee meetings were held at my home and followed by refreshments allowing for enjoying social time together.

In 2004 I undertook my biggest challenge ever involving BPW.

Having moved to Doubtless Bay in 2001 I soon realized the need for a club in the area. I canvassed local businesses and residents and proceeded to ‘sell’ BPW. This culminated in a Public meeting being held with the support and approval of NZ President Anita Devcich. I printed and delivered flyers, advertised in the local papers, local radio stations and our local Cable T.V. The result was beyond expectations with forty women attending and a new Club was born!

I was elected President and served for two years and another two years on the committee.

Unfortunately this meant transferring from the Kaitaia BPW Club which was by then flourishing and there were members who also lived in the Doubtless Bay area that transferred with me. While we felt our going was a loss to Kaitaia BPW our experience was necessary to ensure the welfare of the new club. I am very pleased and proud of this Club that has continued to be a success.

In 2005 I was presented with the Daphne Chapman Award for promoting BPW. for which I was indeed humbled and proud.

Since then I have attended another four conferences the last being in Gisborne 2010

PROJECTS AND AWARENESS

Kaitaia BPW Years:

In October 1999 the club hosted Business Woman of the Year, Irene Durham, for a public meeting where she spoke on Financial Planning Services.

In November 2000 as part of Project 2000 we hosted a panel on Women’s’ Legal Rights with four local lawyers at a public meeting.

I hosted a Jo Seager dinner (raising funds for cancer) at my home in 2000 along with another member who also hosted one. The proceeds went to Far North Palliative Care.

A seminar for women into Council was held in March 2001 with Robyn Leiffering a councilor from Whangarei presiding where we met the councilors and after which we submitted a report to support the Whangarei Club’s award for Ann Todd Bell Issues Award- Conference Dunedin 2001.

I organized cooking demonstrations along the Alison Holst style which were held at the home of a local woman who was renowned for her cooking skills and expertise, in 2002.

We have also had a presentation by Alison Mooney held at The Northener Motel and also had Alison Mooney as guest speaker at a seminar at Taipa.

Our main project ‘Art 2 Wear’, which has become an annual event, has escalated since its conception some years ago and in September 2000 was part of the 25th celebration of the Community Centre.

Throughout this time I have been on the committee, as President, vice President or IPP.

In 2003 I attended the Oceana Conference in Rarotonga.

Doubtless Bay BPW:

For the first three years we held an annual Garden Party at a member’s beautiful home on the shores of MIll Bay.

We have held three very successful fashion shows and a Chrissy Russell evening on “What to Wear.”

Each year we have held wine and cheese evenings on Daffodil Day to raise funds for Cancer.

We have donated two prizes that are awarded annually to the Taipa District High School for Excellence and Initiative and Junior Sports Girl.

We also have created a 2nd Chance Award also presented annually.

In 2008 we hosted a public meeting with Prime Minister Helen Clark

In 2010 we held a fund raising event to support Miss World N.Z. who lives in Northland and who was a guest speaker at our combined Christmas lunch with the other Northland Clubs.

We celebrated Suffrage Day in 2010 with a High Tea where a panel of women candidates who were standing for the local body elections were able to address us.

I have been involved in the organization of all these projects.

CHALLENGES

A big challenge for me was that while I was President of the BPW Club in Kaitaia I was also President of the Kaitaia Rotary Club and at the same time running my business working long hours, but I managed to do justice to both Clubs and am justifiably proud of my achievements at that busy time receiving the District Governor’s Citation for commitment to Rotary Service.

In 2008 I received the distinguished “Paul Harris Fellow” Award from the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.

In 2004 I formed the Doubtless Bay Chapter of the International Red Hat Society a club purely devoted to Oldies just having fun!!

In June 2009 I again became President of the Kaitaia Rotary Club as well as still being actively involved with the Doubtless Bay B.P.W.

November 2009 also saw me take up my second term as President of the Doubtless Bay BPW and continues on in 2011.
In 2009 I was recognized by the Kaitaia and Doubtless Bay BPW with a certificate for my significant contribution through Club and National Representation when BPW N.Z. celebrated their 70^th Anniversary.

I am proud to have also attained my Keys to Achievement Certificate.

Personal

I am a fifth generation New Zealander, my great great grandfather being the first white man to come to Mangonui from Ireland in 1831. I was born in Auckland but lived in Ahipara on the Ninety Mile Beach until I married in 1959 when I moved to Kaitaia. My husband and I owned a Dairy for eleven years and then a Stationery shop for twenty eight years, the last eight I ran on my own after my husband passed away in 1991.

I have three very successful sons, two living in Auckland and one in Australia. I am the proud grandmother of seven grandchildren, four girls and three boys.

I attribute my success to my organizational skills, capabilities, business experience, initiative and dedication.

In May, the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Hon Hekia Parata, met some of Australia’s top business leaders to understand how dramatic changes in Australian business culture are driving a rapid increase in the number of women on company boards.

Under Australian securities exchange (ASX) rules introduced last year, companies are required to set, and report on, measurable targets for the advancement of women into senior management and board roles. Business across the Tasman is responding positively, because they see advantages for themselves in having more women in leadership.

According to Ms Cohen, the key to faster change in Australia is that the business leaders themselves see the advantages – including better productivity and improved business performance – and are pushing the change.

‘There’s a champions group of 12 business leaders – including the CEOs of Qantas, Telstra, IBM and New Zealander Sir Ralph Norris, CEO of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia – and there’s a waiting list of senior businessmen wanting to join!

‘There is also an effective mentoring programme, which involves 56 of the top chairs in Australia.’

Ms Cohen said the Ministry was currently investigating ways of seeding greater business involvement in getting women into leadership here in New Zealand.

‘Helping to establish a champions group is certainly one of the options, because what Australia tells us is that change really takes off when it is business leaders themselves that take the lead.’

‘There is also a lot that New Zealand women can do to promote change as individuals and collectively. They can use their positions as shareholders and employees to ask why the companies with which they are associated are not making full use of women’s skills, and they can join and support organisations that are working for change.

‘There is a tipping point which Australia appears to have reached.  New Zealand is not quite there yet, but we are close.  Our job is to help business see that it is in their interest to change.’

19^th May 2011

THE aims of BPW NZ (The New Zealand Federation of Business and Professional Women) include linking professional and businesswomen throughout the world and to promote the ongoing advancement of women thru support and lobbying for change.  We work for equal opportunities and status for all women in economic, civil and political life and the removal of discrimination in all countries.  We promote our aims and organise our operating structure without distinction as to race, language or religion.

Our International organisation supports UNWomen, CEDAW and other United Nations committees and conventions.

In 2010 we passed a resolution as follows:

Policy #18.13 Access to Court Facilities

“THAT the New Zealand Federation of Business and Professional Women urges the Minister of Justice to establish satellite courts in all areas where distance or lack of public transport prevents local residents from having affordable, timely access to court services.”

Part of the rationale for this resolution was based around the difficulty many women experience in travelling to court, especially when they are relying on Public transport, the difficulty in obtaining child care whilst travelling to court, the costs incurred when travelling any distance and the time it takes (sometimes over an hour) to arrive on time for their court appearance.

CEDAW Article 15, Clause 2 states – Parties shall accord to women, in civil matters, a legal capacity identical to that of men and the same opportunities to exercise that capacity. In particular, they shall give women equal rights to conclude contracts and to administer property and shall treat them equally in all stages of procedure in courts and tribunals.

The Ministry of Justice is committed to delivering first class justice services which include a fairer, more credible and cost effective justice system with improved access to and delivery of court services, particularly services for children, youth and family.

BPW NZ is very concerned that this proposal will infringe both the requirements of CEDAW and the Ministry’s own stated policy. By making access harder for Women and their families, the proposed operating model means they will not have the same resources as men, and contravenes both CEDAW Article 15 (refer above) and the Ministry of Justice’s own statement (refer above) .

The District courts were established to serve the districts and make court services accessible to families and the Family Court is an integral part of the District Court and local communities.

BPW NZ is also very concerned that travelling, often reliant on public transport (and/or the notorious Auckland traffic gridlocks), will place extra stress on families, who are already under stress because of the situation that has caused them to have to attend court. The extra travel (costs and time, juggling time off work and child care) also creates further potential for Domestic Violence, which is already one of the highest in the OECD.

It seems there is an anomaly in the logic in transferring the long term cases to Auckland Family court when in 2010 Waitakere Family Court processed 5341 applications with one full time judge and a casual judge, while in the same time Auckland courts managed 6650 applications with five full time judges. Surely this indicates that the Waitakere court is very efficient in its processing. Perhaps the Auckland court does need to have its systems looked at but not at the expense of Waitakere.

It seems also that with the “amalgamation” of the courts that a number of jobs will be eliminated, and other employees will have an increased work load. Efficiency is the supposed reason for the proposal. By efficiency do the proposals actually mean cost cutting?

BPW NZ sees a several very real human costs in the proposal,

• The Families that are affected by extra stress in planning, finance and travel.
• .The possible loss of jobs resulting in less income tax for the government and more expenditure for the government because of having to pay out unemployment benefits
  • OR
• Stress on staff at the Auckland court because of the increased workload, causing longer hours, loss of productivity and longer processing time.
• The possible loss of lawyers in the Waitakere area because files will now be held at the Auckland court and it will make more sense to many lawyers to have offices closer to where they can access the files. This is dependent on the number of cases being transferred to Auckland.
• An increase of disbursements will be transferred to the client, increasing the services fees
• The increase in overheads for lawyers through the transfer of officers to the city will include an increase in their fees again limiting those who could access professional services.

• If staff are transferred from Waitakere to the Auckland court, will overcrowding become a problem? Do the Auckland premises have the capacity to absorb the number of staff that will be transferred? Also the transferred staff will incur extra costs in both time and money in travelling into the Central City.
• Stress on the existing infrastructures due to the location of the Auckland Court facilities
• Stress on families whose income has decreased through their loss of employment if redundancies occur

The wait for the cases being heard and resolved will exponentially increase if the already high workload of Waitakere Family court is moved to the Auckland court. BPW NZ suggest a judge or judges going to Waitakere from Auckland to hear the cases is more timely and cost effective, as this is the movement of one person only not many.

Yours Sincerely

Noeline Reisch

Vice President Issues

BPW NZ

Beverley Sturgeon

On Friday 29^th April I attended the funeral in Tokoroa of Beverley Sturgeon.  Bev was a member of the Tokoroa Club, a president of that club and National President  from 1985 -87 during the time that the International Congress was held in Auckland..  She was a very elegant gracious and friendly lady. I first got to know Bev when I joined Tokoroa in 1972.  She was National Predsident when Hawera started and she came over and chaired the initial Public Meeting..

The Funeral Celebrant started the service by saying “It all started with BPW”  After Bev had finished her term as NationalPresident she was elected on to the Tokoroa Town Board and two years later when all the big changes in local government took place she was elected to the South Waikato District Council where she served for the next 15 years, 11 of those as Deputy Mayor. As with many other women the confidence Bev gained from her BPW experience helped her to grow her life experiences and achievements.

Alix Haywood, also a past National President spoke on behalf of BPW.  She had been a close friend of Bev’s since they had sat next to each other at the 1975 conference held in Tauranga.  Many tributes were paid to Bev and I felt proud to have known her.

Diana O’Brien

Elspeth Blackwell

Passed away unexpectedly in April 2011

At the time of writing this report, BPW NZ Executive had just finished its Strategic Planning and Executive meeting.  It was a time for members to discuss openly any issues or concerns they had, the direction they would like to see BPW NZ take and to identify the different perspectives and viewpoints held.  It was a time to reflect on what had happened at conference, the comments received, and the different experiences and how we as an Executive consisting of both Officers and Convenors can work together in a positive environment.  Our strength is our ability to unite, to take the rough with the smooth and find the diamonds in the dross.  So I am pleased to report that all members left with a direction for the future and a purpose as a team.

It provided the opportunity to review the current strategic overview and to create an action plan.  Is this document complete, were all the boxes ticked or objectives met?  The first steps were made and it provides the opportunity for members to develop new objectives and direction for inclusion into a document for review at conference next year.

There were some specific items that were highlighted:

• The website, how the Executive would like to see it developed but more importantly what members would like to see and what it should contain, therefore an online survey will be sent to all clubs and their members to participate.  Your input is what will make this a success.
• Current website will be updated and include an “Executive Overview”, prepared by the President after each Executive meeting to give you a glimpse of the work being undertaken.
• The Executive have a vision for the direction of BPW NZ, but needs input from clubs and members to ensure that we have correctly interpreted your wishes.  We would appreciate your ideas over the next few months.
• Some exciting new projects have been developed by two of our smaller clubs, these could be taken up by any club in the country, opening the doors to new members and providing other ways for members to network within their community.  Watch this space for their stories.
• We have once again set up your club liaisons (see in newsletter), please get in touch with them as another link to the Executive.

To finish in the words of Beverly Stills, American Opera Singer “There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.”

Warmest regards,

Carolyn Savage, BPW(F)

BPW NZ President

Email: president@bpwnz.org.nz, or carolyn.bpw@xtra.co.nz

President’s Diary:

• 18 May:     BPW NZ Congress Skype conference
• 20/21 May:          NZIA Architectural Conference
• 20 May:     Rural Women Official Opening and Awards 2 – 5pm
• 25 May:     BPW Franklin Dinner Meeting
• 9/24 June:           BPWI  Congress, Helsinki
• 14 July:     BPW Doubtless Bay
• 23 July:     BPW Northland Regional Meeting
• 24 July:     BPW Kerikeri Mid Winter Luncheon
• 30 July:     BPW Whangarei 25^th Birthday Celebrations
• 5 August:   Meetings in Wellington
• 6 August:   Executive Committee Meeting
• 21 August: BPW Upper Hutt 25^th Birthday Celebrations

May 2011

To begin I extend my warmest thanks to all who elected me as your new President, the response and emails received from you all have been fantastic.  It is both an honour and privilege to represent you and I would like to reinforce my intentions that if you have any questions or issues do not hesitate to contact me.  Thanks are extended to the members of the Executive Committee 2010, a special welcome to the Executive Committee 2011 and to our new Vice Presidents, 1st VP – Membership, Lyndy Jackson and 2^nd VP – Issues, Noeline Reisch.  Both provide skills and knowledge to further develop their portfolios for the benefit of BPW NZ.  I congratulate all the women who have been elected, see introductions in this newsletter.

At the time of preparing this report, school holidays were underway with Easter and ANZAC both on the calendar.   These events are remembered in different ways and it is certainly a time to remember “Kiwi women who held down the fort while their men were away fighting in WWII have been largely forgotten – until now.  New Zealand film-maker Gaylene Preston’s latest film…… show just how heroic the women on the home front were.  ”Heroes are found in unexpected places. They are found in the kitchen and on the bulldozers,” Ms Preston says.http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/east-bays-courier/4910075/Film-features-war-women

The combined skills and co-operation of women has ensured the success of BPW NZ and following leaders of the past preparation for our Strategic Planning & Executive meeting is underway (14/15^th May,Franklin).  It will review achievements of the Strategic Overview (updated 2008), what still requires achieving and setting new objectives for the next five years.  Conference 2012 we can present this to you all and invite additional input for the future of BPW NZ.

The President’s diary is included highlighting key events.  Regrettably I’ve declined one event, will be attending the BOD meeting in Helsinkithe same day!  Congratulations BPW NZ achieving 3^rd Place for BPW Power to Make a Difference through Advocacy…: “Pay and Employment Equity, Domestic Violence, Gender Equity”.

With the General Elections being announced for November 2011 and a referendum tabled on MMP we want members to be informed, therefore links to articles on different voting systems will be included.  Clubs are invited to host educational meetings for their members and communities, e.g. BPW Tamaki host an excellent “Meet the Candidates Evening”

At conference I introduced the development of a Membership Task Force.  The invitation is to have at least one member from every club to be a part of the task force.  This is open to every member of BPW NZ, from Life Members, Past Presidents, Club Members to Individual members.  How the Membership Task Force will develop, what the intended aims and goals are will first be reviewed on 14^th May, BUT, it will be fluid and it is the input of every member which will help it to develop and grow.

Warmest regards,

Carolyn Savage, BPW(F)

BPW NZ President

Email:  president@bpwnz.org.nz, orcarolyn.bpw@xtra.co.nz

President’s Diary:

27th April:     BPW Franklin Dinner Meeting

29th April:     BPW Hibiscus Coast Scholarship Dinner

3rd May:       BPW Franklin Committee Meeting

7th May:       BPW Hawera 25th Birthday Celebrations

14/15th May: BPW NZ Strategic Planning & Executive Meeting

20/21st May:           NZIA Architectural Conference

9th/24th June:         BPW NZ – Helsinki Congress

24th July:      BPW Kerikeri Luncheon

30th July:      BPW Whangarei Candle-lighting & 25th Birthday Celebrations.

Leader:   President  Carolyn Savage.

Deputy Leader:  Angela McLeod, Imm Past                                                               President

Delegates:  Anita Devcich, BPW Te Puke

Merle Oliver, BPW Te Awamutu

Sandy White, BPW Kaitaia

Alternate Delegates

Anne Todd-Lambie, Individual Member, Chair of the International  Constitutional Advisory Committee

Faye Gardiner, Chair of the International Health Committee.

Congress is in Helsinki, Finland on 17-22 June. The details of events, resolutions, and workshops are on the BPW International web site at http://www.bpw-international.org/events/helsinki-congress-2011