Rainbow Wellington needs a new volunteer to run its website, while its hardworking Secretary is signalling his intention to stand down a year out, which he hopes will be enough notice for someone to fill his shoes. The organisation says its AGM was well-attended, with its Patron the Mayor, Celia Wade-Brown, who greeted us as usual and Vice-Patrons Jan Logie and Fran Wilde among those who gathered at the Wellington Central Library. Logie and Wilde were reconfirmed as Vice-Patrons, along with MPs Grant Robertson, Kevin Hague and Maryan Street. Louisa Wall MP also made the group’s second annual Honorary President. Current board members Steve Farrow, Phil Rogers and Ian MacEwan were re-elected. Adrian Sainsbury stood down, with thanks, after about 10 years on the Board. He is still editing the Rainbow Wellington website and administering the e-mail system however, as no other volunteers have come forward to do so. Rainbow Wellington’s Secretary Tony Reed has also indicated he will stand down next year. “Yes, I am giving a full year’s notice, but am aware from others’ experiences that such a long-term warning can be necessary,” he says. “We have often commented that Rainbow Wellington’s main problem, as with so many charities and societies like ours, is the lack of human resource, or person-power to get things done. “And this is most acute in the administrative area, the jobs that are essential to keep us ticking over, so that we can continue with our many campaigns, and continue to respond to all those requests for funding and other assistance. “Just as we cannot survive without a Treasurer, cannot do our job properly unless somebody continues to send out those regular e-mails, so the range of Secretarial duties helps keep the organisation going.” The core duties are organising the Board meetings, dealing with the files, and email management. Reed says Rainbow Wellington “will find it hard to keep going doing the things we all want it to do, unless people are prepared to stand up and volunteer to help out with these background jobs”. Anyone who can help should email rainbowwellington@gmail.com
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 18th April 2014 - 12:23pm