Waiouru youth club needs effort for future

Ruapehu Bulletin, 24 June 1997, Page 5

Waiouru youth club needs effort for future

By

Anne

McElwain

At a meeting called by the Commander Army Training Group Colonel lan Marshall last week, the ground-rules were laid for the future operation of the Waiouru Youth Club. With over 40 people in attendance, Col Marshall discussed problems that had occurred in the past and what the future could hold if the youth of Waiouru were willing to put in the effort to run the club themselves. The young adults at the meeting accepted this challenge and formed two committees to oversee the development of the constitution of the club and a business plan for promoting the club and recruiting members. The committees had representatives from botb Ruapehu and Taihape Colleges and they met during the following week to begin their planning. Community services officer Ken Morton was assisting the groups to work out the basics of their development plans and to keep the process moving. Once these initial matters had been sorted out, Col Marshall said he was keen to see the club organise activities for themselves while policing their own rules.

While a reasonable sum of money would be made available at the beginning, further fund-raising would he required to cover the cost of planned activities. Assistance, manpower and expertise would be provided by the Army if and when appropriate, he said. As an incentive to get the club up and running, Col Marshall offered to provide a bus to go to Taupo or Palmerston North for a day trip of their choice - with the only limitation being that they leave by midnight to return to Waiouru! A panel has been appointed to liaise with the club and consists of the commander, the chief of staff, the personnel manager, operations manager, welfare manager and the community services officer.