A new Chair has taken the helm at Auckland-based queer youth support group Rainbow Youth, which voted in four new Board members as it farewelled some hardworking team members. Returning representative John Kingi has taken over the top job from outgoing Chair Toni Reid, and is supported by another returning representative Jess Williams as Deputy Chair. New member Andrew Grear has been appointed Secretary, while Board stalwart Katija Vlatkovich is Treasurer. Daniel Chorley, Kestin Stewart and Shaun McKinney have been voted back for another term and are joined by new representatives Duncan Matthews, Naomi Grace-Porter and Ben Isderman. Exiting are Reid, Clint Woolly, Stephen Ross and Izabel van der Ploeg. Rainbow Youth Executive Director Tom Hamilton says he was impressed and excited by working with the previous group. "I was honoured, and their efforts have been greatly, greatly appreciated. They did a fantastic job of pushing the organisation further than it's ever been before," he says. "Congratulations to all the members of the current Board, both new and old members. I am looking forward to working alongside John Kingi and the other Executive Board members to make 2011 and 2012 as exciting and successful as the previous year," Hamilton says. "And hopefully we'll have a few laughs – no dramas are allowed."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 27th June 2011 - 1:28pm