Rick Hoskin elected as RNZFB Board Chair
24 January 2012
Following board elections in November last year, Rick Hoskin has been elected Chair of the Board of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind.
Rick has been a member of the Foundation since he was 17 and was elected to the Board in 2009. He is a businessman and the owner and director of PhysioACTION which has clinics throughout Auckland. Rick's early work history included time with the Foundation's Adult Rehabilitation Unit.
Rick has paid tribute to his predecessor Geraldine Glanville, praising her "legacy of excellent governance during testing times".
The new Chair's future vision for a truly member directed organisation includes a particular emphasis on the level and quality of engagement with those the Foundation represents.
It is also vitally important to Rick that the Foundation maintains a balance between continuing to provide quality services and keeping a secure asset base in place for future generations of blind and partially sighted New Zealanders.
Speaking of a recent visit to Awhina House, Rick was impressed by the enthusiasm and drive found within the organisation.
"The feeling of good will and purpose was palpable. If the same positivity envelops all members of the Foundation's wider family, then the organisation is in good heart. In such an organisation I look forward to being of service."
(Read a copy of the full message to members.)
Other appointments include Dr Neville Bennett re-elected as Chair of the Audit Committee, new board member Dr Greg Morgan elected Chair of the Client Services Committee, and Paul Sullivan elected Chair of the Policy Committee.
The full committee appointment list is as follows:
Audit Committee
Chair: Dr N.R. Bennett
Members: Mr K Appleton, Mr. D. Kerr, Mr P. Sullivan.
Policy Committee
Chair; Mr P Sullivan
Members; Dr L Beck, Ms G Glanville, Mr D Kerr
Client Services Committee
Chair: Dr G Morgan
Board Representatives: Dr Linda Beck; Ms Glanville.
CE's Performance Review and Development Committee
Chair: Mr R Hoskin
Members: Ms G Glanville for first 2012 review, thereafter Dr N Bennett, Dr G Morgan.
Pearson Fund
Members: Mr D Kerr, Mrs J. Mills
New Zealand Blind Consumer Consortium
Members: Mr. K.J.Appleton, Dr Greg Morgan; Mrs J Mills as required / local events
World Blind Union Forum
Members: Chief Executive, Dr L Beck, Mr P Sullivan
RNZFB Chair's Message to Members
Last December I accepted nomination to the position of chair of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind, and was immensely pleased and proud to be elected. I am fortunate in having inherited the support of a group of dedicated Board colleagues, a committed management team, and clients and members who wish to work towards a brighter future. I am also fortunate to follow in the footsteps of Geraldine Glanville to whom the Foundation is indebted for her legacy of excellent governance during testing times. Now I look forward to assisting the foundation through the next step of its journey.
Following a vigorous consultation process the RNZFB's Board of directors established a six year strategic Plan through to 2015. It covers a wide range of priorities, developing blindness skills and creating independence, supporting an accessible and equitable society, and building a strong and enduring Foundation, to name a few. As we move towards accomplishing these goals I wish to see open and broad engagement and consultation with our consumers.
As the foundation formalises its status as an Incorporated Society it must increase the level and quality of its engagement with those it represents. To become truly member directed the organisation must communicate information well, and provide the vehicle for effective consultation.
During times of economic and financial turbulence it is vitally important to maintain a balance between costs related to the provision of those services needed now and the preservation of assets. The Board must continue to be mindful of its responsibility to future generations of blind and partially sighted New Zealanders. I undertake to ensure this.
The introduction of new computer software is beginning to deliver a raft of cross organisational statistics or Key Performance Indicators. This enables the Foundation to build a continuous picture of the quality of the services it provides along with the satisfaction derived from them. I plan to provide these findings to the users of our services openly and transparently, and encourage feedback.
The Foundation has been placed in the difficult position of negotiating to maintain its historical right to use the Homai property. One of my objectives is to pursue all avenues until we realise our future opportunities through securing long term entitlement to the site.
Among the challenges which the Foundation faces are an increasing number of smaller organisations usurping our purpose. To preserve our famous brand, we must meet the competition head on. To this end we must ensure that our services are of an excellence that can't be rivalled. The Foundation is actively investigating commercial enterprises as a means to increase revenue to ensure that it is able to continue to be the top provider of low vision services in New Zealand.
Today when I walked through Head Office the feeling of good will and purpose was palpable. If the same positivity envelops all members of the Foundation's wider family, then the organisation is in good heart. In such an organisation I look forward to being of service.