The Board of Management (BOM) meets monthly. The board is selected by WDS members at the Annual General Meeting which is usually held every year in late March. The Board discusses issues for the benefit of the Deaf Society and its members.

Members of the BOM are:

* President: Jamie Kuklinski
* Vice President & Event Organiser: Shannon Morris This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
* Secretary: Maureen Tompson This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
* Treasurer: Robert Cameron  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Committee Members:
* Jared Flitcroft
* Elliot Yates
* Donna Lees
* Renee Turipa
* Shaun Ruffell

Newsletter Editor: Lisl Moran This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bar Managers:
* Darryl Alexander This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
* Jamie Kuklinski
* Kelly Dobbyn-Dodunski

November 2008

The last couple of months has been a busy one. We are trying to get Club Licence so that the bar can be open anytime. The bar managers are waiting for an interview with Wellington City Council then the licence can be processed. We are looking forward to the end of the year especially with the WDS’s Xmas party. As usual, the Deaf Club is open EVERY Fridays until WDS’s Xmas party.

This year has been a disappointing year. Not many members are turning up to the Deaf Club on Friday nights and showing their support to keep the clubroom alive. We had many visitors coming in the clubroom, for example, NZSL students wanting to learn more sign language and visitors from national and international (England, Australia and Ireland) but there were not many people at the Deaf Club which is an embarrassing situation for Wellington.

The bar managers are creating a survey for the members to fill out by the end of the year because we want more members to come to the Deaf Club next year, but remember small steps lead to big steps if you want changes and it may not happen fast. We already made changes, for example, fifty cents discount to members for their drinks on a Friday night, plus if you show your WDS membership card to The Mill in Te Aro, you will also get a staff discount. Furthermore, we are working on the Licence to ensure the Deaf club to open regularly.

If you have any ideas, such as fun games, competitions and board games please let the bar managers (Jamie, Darryl or Oliver) know. We appreciate your input.

Come and support your club!!
From all of us at the WDS Bar

Bar Managers:

• Darryl Alexander
• Jamie Kuklinski
• Oliver Ferguson

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Hello fellow readers,


February definitely has gone pass! March is approaching with many events on around Wellington, so many cultural, sports, art, family festivals and so much more have been buzzing around the region.  Especially the Wellington’s annual (yearly) event – Round the Bays, around 8,000 people went for the 7km run/walk and the half marathon of around 23kms. I did attend the 7km fun race, which it started in Frank Kitts Park, finishing at Kilbirnie Park. This was a first for me and I really enjoyed myself – see a photo of me all ready to race! I hope to be doing this again next year – why don't we have a Deaf group to do this event next year?


As you may have read Jamie’s report about the upcoming AGM and especially the election. I have decided to step down this year due to many personal and professional commitments. Being on the board since 2005 after finishing College being a committee member/event co-ordinator/caterer/fundraising help/personal assistance to committee members, and so more! These 4 years have gone fast, I have enjoyed working with the Deaf community, organising events at the Deaf Club which is my passion, especially catering food! Then, changing my position as Vice-President among much support from the community and members. It has been a relatively easy task, being the second boss, I have been dubbed to have highest number of subjects to raise at every BOM Meeting for the last 4 years!!


I will still remain be part of WDS for many years, by volunteering and helping around when needed. Although, the catering request may be a solid chance! I definitely probably will return back to BOM in the next few years.


I realise it may be very difficult to find new people to be part of the BOM. I would love to stay for another year until a new Vice President has been elected. Remember, you can support us in many ways. Your experience. Your involvements. Your concepts (ideas). We would love to see new faces on board budding with ideas and plans for the future.

On another note, this upcoming AGM is so IMPORTANT that you come. Not only about electing new members on the BOM, but there will be some exciting news and there will some hard decisions about the future of Wellington Deaf Society. It is really important that you come.


The exciting part, its time to ditch the old, shabby logo. We will be having a new logo designed by YOU! If you want to make a new logo for WDS, please see in this newsletter for logo requirements. We hope to have many of new logo designs from many of you. If this is not possible, we may have to seek professional help, which they won’t know our history and Deaf identity – which will take time. The logo will be voted on WDS’s AGM. Deaf Can, You Can!


I see that Wellington is enjoying a cool summer now! A late summer for us, but I hope it will last a bit longer before winter comes.


See you on WDS’s AGM on April 10.

Shannon

Vice President
Wellington Deaf Society