Red Cross AGM

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 16, 20 September 1983, Page 5

Red Cross AGM

The 1983 Annual General Meeting of the Waimarino Branch of the New Zealand Red Cross Society will be held on Wednesday 21 September. This year, the Branch is very fortunate in having as Guest Speaker, Mr L Nielson from Wellington. Mr Nielson is Assistant Secretary General of New Zealand Red Cross Society and is responsible for the financial aspects of the Society. He will speak at the Annual Meeting on the work of Red Cross overseas. During the past year, the local Red Cross work has been one of consolidation of projects that were begun in previous years. The Welfare Section has been slowly increasing the stocks of bedding available in the "bedding bank" and is grateful for the recent donation of bedding from the Women's Division of Federated Farmers. This donation has boosted stocks ^kmsiderably and means a Blasonable supply of bedding is available for any small emergency in the district. Earlier this year, the Branch held a one-day "Coping with Death" seminar, designed to inform interested people how to deal with various aspects of death within a family. Attendance was good and those present felt that the programme was worthwhile.

At present, the Branch is negotiating with the Ruapehu College Gymnasium Committee with a view to providing a permanent First Aid Kit in the new Community Gymnasium. Support from the local district has been good again this year. The Annual Appeal was highly successful and the J community is thanked for their assistance in this area. However, membership of the Branch is still quite low and as a result the work of the Branch falls onto a small group of _ people. There is much that Red Cross could do in a district like the Waimarino if more people were prepared to become involved, but at present Red Cross activities are slow to occur because more hands are needed to enable more to be done. Red Cross could be involved in hospital visiting, many forms of welfare work, first aid training and even supplying first aid kits to more community activities, but human resources at present do not allow this. If there is any way you could assist, your help would be appreciated. The Annual Meeting will be an opportunity to frnd out how Red Cross is operated and funded and it is hoped that attendance at the meeting will be an indication of the support of the district.