Executive View
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Jane Holden, Chief Executive
Welcome to the Spring issue of Outlook. I hope you enjoy the revised design and inclusion of new sections that you asked for in the March survey.
The last three months have been busy and exciting ones for the Foundation.
With a new government elected we have some hard work ahead of us ensuring that Ministers are aware and realistic about the funding needs of the disability sector.
Our business plan for 2002/2003 is currently under review as a result of some surprising end-of-year (June 2002) results. This slows develop-ments down somewhat, but it is very important to ensure that planning for the Foundation is sound.
We also face many challenges as we move towards being a membership-based organisation. Not the least being to gain an understanding of what the change really means for other blindness organisations and for ourselves.
Finally, I would like to remind you that this year's Annual Public Meeting is being held at Awhina House in Auckland on Friday 25 October 2002. We look forward to seeing many of you there.
Jonathan Mosen, Chairman
When I visited the United States recently on business, a friend of mine joked that there had been a coup in New Zealand resulting in me changing sides. My friend made the comment in jest, but some people really do perceive consumer organisations and the Foundation to be on different sides. I've never seen it that way.
We are all working as a sector to maximise opportunities for blind and sight-impaired people, and our perspectives as consumers, staff, volunteers and donors are all critical to our success.
The Board can't make the strategic decisions about how best to further this goal without meaningful dialogue with stakeholders. And although the Board is sometimes required to make decisions that are unpopular, we must communicate the how and the why of our decisions to the people for whom the Foundation exists. We're a small sector that can only gain increased recognition of our needs if we are united.
I look forward personally, and through the new Stakeholder Relations Committee the Board has established, to working in partnership with all who share our desire to maximise opportunities for blind and sight-impaired people.
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Update on governance reform
Progress on the Bill
Most of you will be aware that the calling of an early general election has brought a temporary halt to the passage of our private bill through the House of Representatives. At the time parliament stopped sitting, the Bill had been referred to the Education and Science Select Committee and submissions had closed. This committee was due to consider the submissions and study the Bill in detail.
Fortunately, the ground covered so far has not been lost because the Bill has been carried forward to the next parliament. It will resume its passage from the point already reached. The timing of the remainder of the Bill's passage through the House is again out of our hands.
Adopting the constitution
Since our last update, both the board and the Association of Blind Citizens have approved the constitution. The next step is that, once the Bill has received the Royal Assent at the end of the legislative process, the Foundation will send a further mail-out. We will be seeking your approval of the constitution in principle, not necessarily your agreement with everything it contains.
All adult members of the Foundation, plus one parent or guardian of each blind child, must approve, by a simple majority, a Special Resolution to adopt the constitution.
This further referendum is an essential step in the implementation phase. We will be urging you to please take the time to read the material and participate in the vote.
Without majority approval we cannot proceed to the next stage of seeking nominations for the new board under the adopted constitution.
Help for understanding the constitution document
The resolution will be accompanied by a small booklet that will set out in an easy-to-read plain English style the fundamental points covered in this lengthy and comprehensive document.
This highly readable question and answer information guide will be sent to you in your preferred format and should be kept for future reference.
The full and legal version of the constitution will be available on request for those who wish to read it.