Soil & Health
Association of New Zealand Inc (est 1941) Healthy
Soil - Healthy Food - Healthy People |
New Zealand's leading source of information on Organics & Sustainable Living
Tilth - November 0622-11-2006Email-Newsletter of the Canterbury/Waitaha Branch of the Soil & Health Assn. of N.Z. Inc.- November 2006 John McBeathAs 2006 comes to an end our branch committee has lost its longest-serving member and friend. John McBeath, Branch Treasurer, passed away peacefully on the morning of 27 October after a long illness. He had resigned from his position at the previous meeting in September and it was with great sadness then that we accepted his resignation.We thank you, John, for your decade’s work for the Soil & Health Association of New Zealand, and we will miss you dearly. John’s passing in 2006 recalls the deaths in 2004 of long-term members George Maslin and Jack Whitelaw, which have never been fully acknowledged by our Branch, as well as the very many others who have worked hard for our Branch over its 63 years of existence. We need to make sure that their contribution is remembered, and that we keep working until their vision is achieved. Branch President Matt Morris Branch Status and Special General MeetingAfter our last issue of Tilth we began to reconstruct our membership database. It is now a lot smaller, but gives us a good base from which to regroup.Finally, there has been the matter of working out our legal status with IRD and the Companies Office. This has taxed (excuse the pun) our committee for years, but it is time to get it sorted out. In order for us to have confirmed non profit body status we need to make changes to our constitution. These are simple, but require a Special General Meeting to pass them. Therefore, we are holding this SGM in conjunction with the Visioning Workshop. This is also a time where we can elect new members to the committee, so if you would like to be involved, please let us know. Visioning WorkshopWe also need to be very clear about what that vision is and, as I have mentioned before, a visioning process will be undertaken to that end within our branch. The committee has agreed to set aside funds for this purpose, and we invite you to participate by attending our Visioning Workshop, on Sunday 4 February 2007. Place and time will be confirmed later. If you cannot attend but would like to contribute, please email your thoughts to me by Saturday 27 January 2007. Ideas might include what projects you think the branch should do, what its goals should be, and when things have worked particularly well in the past. A summary of these ideas will be available prior to the meeting itself. Please feel free to send in your thoughts as early as you like.Between now and the SGM, therefore, we as a branch have a lot to think about and reflect on. There is a lot to remember about who we are and what we believe, and what we think needs to be done. I hope you have a happy and safe Christmas, Solstice and New Year, and that we see you at our final get together for the year, which will be held in Ashburton (see elsewhere for details). All the best Matt Morris Branch President Lunch in Ashburton with the Wastebusters.We have been invited down to Ashburton to see the Wastebusters lot on Monday, 4 December, for a lunch and a meeting. Those interested to join us please contact Matt, Ph.382 6334 or Mia on 388 7352 and we will organise a carpool for the drive to Ashburton.Funeral of John Mc BeathSeveral members of our Association celebrated John’s life in a moving ceremony. Our Past President Diane Kirpenstein spoke on behalf of the Association and thanked John for his work, in particular as he was such a reliable member, always prepared to assist at a moment’s notice.Mandatory additives to our food.Many members have received a call from Organic NZ for assistance to lobby AGAINST the mandatory addition of folic acid to ALL flour, including organic. It will deny consumer choice and fails to address questions about potential adverse health effects. FSANZ refused to exempt organic bread due to a lack of formal industry definitions. The decision was to be made by the Government on October 25th, but has been deferred for 6 months. For more information about this, visit http://www.greens.org.nz/docs/more_docs.asp?class=other&cat=84The right to know what you eatThe Green Party bill that would have ensured that consumers would know more about the food they are eating has lost its first vote in Parliament as both Labour and National voted against it. NZF, United, Act, Maori Party and the Alliance all supported the bill. The Food Information Bill aimed to give people the right to detailed information about the food they eat so that they had real choice about what they bought. It is interesting that National and Labour for once agreed: Consumers have NO right to know according to both major parties as they both voted against the bill.Golden Bay Organics’ Shop Manager PositionThe Golden Bay Organic Education and Employment Trust will be the employer and the Manager will be required to understand, be supportive of and implement Trust policy. How to Apply Please send your application by November 17 to: Kerry Geen, PO Box 133 Takaka or email: earthsea@xtra.co.nz. Enclose details of your qualifications, training and related work experience. Please outline your knowledge of and past involvement with organics (desirable but not essential) and name two persons we could contact for a reference.
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Soil & Health
Association of New Zealand Inc (est 1941) Healthy
Soil - Healthy Food - Healthy People |
