August 2024

I start this month’s newsletter acknowledging the sad passing of our past member Karissa Ririkore.
She fought so hard to spend more time with her young family. In her role as midwife, she touched
so many lives in our community and loved her job. Our thoughts are with her whanau. Moe Mai
Rā, Karissa.
I recently had an online call with Teressa Gehrke, the current president for the BPW Denver and Colorado Virtual chapters.  As many of our members are aware, BPW Hāwera twinned with BPW Denver officially in May 2020.  The Twinning Charter is an agreement to pursue common interests, common goals and build a closer relationship between the two clubs.  Teressa and I have started reinvigorating the twinning relationship so you can see a bit more about each club on our websites. 
As part of our conversation, we realised our clubs do have a lot in common.  We are planning a meet and greet for all our clubs’ members the weekend of 19th October – date and time to be confirmed. More info coming into your inbox once we confirm details.  You can follow BPW Denver and Colorado Virtual on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bpwdenver/posts/?feedView=all
 
Our Women’s second chance scholarship is still open for applications.  The criteria are simple, be over 21, be a South Taranaki resident and let us know how you will use the funds to assist you with your studies.  Applicants do not need to be members of BPW Hāwera.  So spread the word.  You can find the application form on our BPW Hawera Website here.
 
BPW Hāwera have been invited to particate in the Te Hāwera Community Board: Community Group Expo in September.  It will be held at Hāwera Community Centre from 10am to 2pm on Sunday 15th September.  There will be free entry to members of the public.  This is a great opportunity to show case our club, our scholarship, how we help the community, and provide support for Women in South Taranaki, nationally, and internationally through BPW.  We would love to have one more club member to volunteer to help on the day. 
We can sell raffle tickets on the day – so we are asking for you to donate something for the Raffle Hamper if you are able to.  Bring it along to this month’s dinner or contact one of the exec committee to pick the item up/ or drop the item off to.
 
We have our annual wine fundraiser kicking off from our dinner meeting this month.  We have the lovely Jess Reid as our guest speaker.  Also at the dinner individual club members will be asked torespond to a very short survey on non-discrimination within BPW to collect information for the national BPW Issues Taskforce.
 
Coming up we have already organised our guest speaker for September – more info in next months newsletter, but it will be Heather Kadlec from the Taranaki Health Foundation to talk about the Taranaki Cancer Centre.  
 
October is our AGM. We are really needing one or two more volunteers on the committee – especially someone to pick up the secretary duties.  Desiree has kindly filled in in this role for much of this term but can’t do the role long term.  Please think about supporting your club in this small way – many hands make light work.
 
Tip for the month:  Work and Live Life with Enthusiasm
Enthusiasm comes from entheos meaning to be divinely inspired (possessed by a god).  It is strength, joy, grit and sweet. 
  Choose enthusiasm: 

• Enthusiasm at work isn’t being an idiot. 
• Agree that high-enthusiasm takes you further than half-heartedness. 
• Notice that low-enthusiasm is cousin to unhappiness.  
• Adapt to authority. If the Board changes direction, go all-in or get all out. (Don’t make snap decisions.) When your manager changes direction, explain the impact and start rowing.  
• Aim high. Lofty goals require enthusiasm. 

Be enthusiastic because it’s who YOU aspire to be, even if you’re surrounded by downers. 
  Leadership choice: 

• Decide if low-enthusiasm takes you where you want to go. If it does, maybe you shouldn’t go there. 

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