Speech
GirlGuiding AGM
To: Jenny Burrow, National President of GirlGuiding New Zealand and your fellow board members; to Ruth Teasdale, Chief Executive and your fellow staff members; to delegates; to distinguished guests; greetings, kia ora, kia orana, fakalofa lahi atu, taloha ni (sign ‘good afternoon'). These are all of the languages of the Realm of New Zealand-English, Māori, Cook Island Māori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.
Thank you for inviting me to address the 2009 Annual General Meeting of GirlGuiding New Zealand in Auckland today as Patron of GirlGuiding New Zealand - Nga Kohine Whakamahiri o Aotearoa.
Last year the GirlGuiding movement in New Zealand celebrated its centenary. Building on a proud 100 years of achievement, 2008 saw the movement rebrand itself whilst remaining true to its core values.
Overlaying the many highlights, I am told, was an increase in membership and a continuance of the biscuit campaign, a potent brand for our organisation. In March, I hosted a reception for leaders in the Christchurch region and proudly gave Queen's Guide Awards.
This year builds on the proud tradition of service to young women in New Zealand. With a new century comes the old challenges and reviews of objectives in an always changing society. There is the imperative of maintaining healthy membership numbers and interesting programmes for them, maintaining and supporting the involvement and commitment of young leaders, embracing our nation's growing diversity, and ongoing advocacy.
GirlGuiding New Zealand has been outstandingly led by a woman with notable passion and wisdom. Her quiet, insightful strength has impressed me every time I have encountered her. As Patron, I wish to thank you warmly for your constructive help, Jenny.
The Annual Conference programme shows that you are alive to the important issues and that the all-important matter of finance is being dealt with in an open and inclusive way.
Tomorrow, the national forum of regional and youth delegates will be very interesting. I commend you for this forum as it shows the organisation's opennessto the concerns and needs of ordinary GirlGuides. This strategy of a collaborative approach which allows diverse voices to be heard will reap rewards in the coming times.
While all organisations need leaders and structures to ensure their smooth operation, those in which older people at the top simply issue directives to younger people further down alienate their membership. Charles Dickens once said; "In the little world in which children have their existence, there is nothing so finely perceived and finely felt as injustice."
That the membership of GirlGuiding New Zealand-more than 12,000 girls and more than 2000 leaders-continues to grow, suggests that girls are looking for hands-on, fun learning and ways to improve their skills by participating in a values-based voluntary organisation like ours.
Parents can see that GirlGuiding helps to make the most of young lives within a safe environment. GirlGuides are encouraged to be themselves, explore their potential and develop an awareness of others.
The theme of this year's conference is "fun, friendship and adventure" and you must never lose these themes or girls will lose their interest.
Women's expectations are moulded by the society they experience and expectations have changed dramatically since the Movement began in New Zealand. That GirlGuiding not only continues to exist but thrive is testament to your ability to adapt and remain relevant while continuing to uphold core visions and values articulated clearly and known by all. This winning combination will serve the organisation well into the future.
No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.