Features
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Self-governance - the consumer groups respond
Over the past three years changes within the Foundation have moved it towards becoming a self-determined organisation.
The Royal NZ Foundation of the Blind now has a new constitution and a small name change that means a big mandate to consult with all its consumer groups about what services are provided and how they receive them.
In this article, the eight consumer group leaders respond to the opportunities and responsibilities of shaping their own future.
"Blind people need the Foundation," Vaughan Dodd says, "and the Foundation needs them in order to exist." Vaughan is president of the Association of Blind Citizens of NZ Inc. He sees the two organisations, although continuing to exist in their own right, as having a strong mutual interest in maintaining an open dialogue to clarify each others' roles.
"I think it will be business as usual, we'll be maintaining a system of branches and monitoring the Foundation's performance on an ongoing basis but also having - I'd like to think - input into its strategic direction. My hope is that with reform not so highly placed on the agenda we can strengthen our advocacy function."
Collaboration not only with the Foundation but with each other is high on the consumer groups' list of positive change.
"All the groups are important," Lee Parlane, president of Parents of Vision Impaired NZ, says. "Aren't we here for the same reason? I came in with an open mind around three-and-a-half years ago, interested to find out how we move forward together... The biggest change I've seen [in that time] is that the patch protection has gone. The groups are more focused on the wider good. That was particularly shown at the last consumer consortium."
Usually two consumer consortiums are held each year. It's one of the ways that consumer groups can find out more about each others' priorities and issues and the Foundation's.
"It's a beginning; there's a lot of work ahead," Lee says. "Having stand-alone services for children is our particular goal. What we find most exciting about the changes is that children are being recognised, services are starting to be set up on a more permanent basis."
For Martine Abel mutual awareness is the single biggest positive change. President of the Guide Dogs Society NZ Inc., Martine is based in the Foundation's Parnell offices.
"Up to now we've tended to do repetitive work with different hats on," she says. "Now we can get together and lobby the Foundation more
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effectively. The groups can support each other on issues, like mobility for example. We'll acknowledge each other's patches but learn from each other.
"There's also a lot more informal networking that goes on. The newly elected board is made up of people you know and can influence."
Max Comer, president of Deafblind NZ Inc., is more cautious. For him, the nine elected board members will be strangers and he considers that these individuals will either make or break the changes.
"I've been a volunteer for 45 years. I've seen many changes over the years, but this is the most major.
"I can't fault what I've read of the new constitution but it looks to me like a lot of intelligentsia put themselves forward for the board. Is there anyone from the grassroots? I believe there's got to be a feeling within a person who volunteers, of having the other person's well-being at heart."
The best-case scenario for Deafblind NZ Inc. would be to have a voice on the board and both young and old people having more say in the Foundation's governance. That remains to be seen, he says.
Lottie Trevathen of both Ngati Kapo and NZ View shares Max Comer's 'wait-and-see' approach.
"We'll enjoy a good partnership with the Foundation. Both NZ VIEW and Ngati Kapo O Aotearoa have had to rebuild in recent years... We're no strangers to change... Changes on paper sound like a committee brain, like a bunch of words."
What are they like in practice? It's a good question. I haven't read the new one [constitution] yet."
The constitution has a number of safeguards written into it. Besides the absolute requirement to consult with members and the twice-yearly consumer consortiums, any major proposals will have to be signalled to the whole blind community and significant changes in direction require the approval of the wider blind community. The Foundation is also obliged to honour the Treaty and changing the constitution will require a two-thirds majority vote.
"Ngati Kapo exists to make sure our people are looked after and appropriately serviced," Lottie says. "Maori tend to feel comfortable in a situation where spirituality is acknowledged, it's that kind of appropriateness and sensitivity. I think the Foundation have tried. They've done a reasonable job." Lottie will also be "watching very carefully" that women's well-being is considered in the Foundation's services.
Retina New Zealand Inc. prime considerations are basic services for the blind and vision impaired and
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anticipating the needs of those with preventable blindness. Outgoing president Tony Haas declined to comment on whether the changes will be a good thing or not for his group.
"The changes are taking place and it's now necessary to work with them. That's all."
He sees the changes as consuming more resources of energy.
"They'll force involvement in the political process, call for a higher proportion of energy at a strategic planning level, business and board level and election process and "parliament of the blind" consumer consortiums.
Murray Peat, vice-president of Blind Sport NZ, sees the consumer consortiums as "very valuable", as an example of the way consumer groups can co-operate with each other and agree on major directional changes, despite having their own particular priorities.
A welcome change for Blind Sport has been the Foundation sorting out privacy issues around consumer groups contacting its members to find out if they're interested in the activities of the group.
What remains to be seen, he feels, is whether the empowerment of members electing their own board increases the amount of resources allocated to various groups. Other than that, it's 'business as usual'.
Contacts for all the consumer groups are on the previous page of Outlook. Note that Radio Reading Service are not an official consumer group so have not taken part in this article.
Vision Impaired Games 2003
The 10th biennial RNZFB Vision Impaired Games in February saw old records broken, new records set and many personal bests achieved.
The best overall sportsman was Daniel Sharp, Auckland. He won his sight-category, age group events in the 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke and 50m breaststroke. Daniel also came second in the 100m and 200m track races and third in the shotput, discus and long jump.
The best overall sportswoman was Emma Foy, Dargaville. Emma won her sight-category, age group events in the 200m, 400m, shotput, discus and long jump, and the 25m freestyle. Emma also came second in the 25m backstroke.
The winner of the Achiever Cup was Moana Mani, Auckland. Moana won this award for great effort, sportsmanship and achievement in winning the shotput event for totally blind athletes aged over 15 years, breaking the old record by 0.97m.
Organiser Troy Ramsay said the fun sports day offering rock climbing, golf, cricket, judo and goal ball, held after the competitive events, was also a highlight of the weekend.