Latest Northern News from the CEO - September 25th

A word from the Chair
I am honoured to be elected President of SLSNR. At our AGM I acknowledged the contribution that Stephen Smith has made to SLSNR in his five years on our Board. I look forward to working with the new Board- all of who have different skills to offer.

There are a number of challenges we face to ensure we deliver the programmes to our clubs and also to ensure that we have funding to sustain our business. The SLSNR reorganisation has been completed and the new roles have been filled. Our challenge is now to deliver to our strategic plan and ensure we have on-going sustainable funding models in place. This will involve securing "new money." Working together, we can ensure all SLSNR clubs have a great and successful future.

Peter Brown

The CEOs Desk
Who would believe that we are nearly through the first quarter?  Thankfully the work we put in now will set us up for a great season.  Congratulations to all those who have been elected at the recent AGM - we look forward to your contribution over the next few years.

Board Report
The September meeting key outcomes:

• Welcomed Rob Fergusson as new Board member
• Welcomed Sue Brewster to Board meeting and received her first report
• Welcomed Andy Shaw to the Board meeting and received his report on the SLSNZ and SLSNR working group.
• Presentation from JLT with regards to Insurance policy - confirmed this is the way to go
• Approved Club of the Year Policy
• First Aid - we are close to finalising a supplier at preferential rates for Northern Region
• Surf 10:20 plans updated by clubs, on-going meetings with Council to finalise next steps

AGM SLSNR
Thanks to all those who attended the SLSNR AGM on 12 September.  We had a great turnout.

Congratulations to Peter Brown who was elected as our new President with Stephen Smith stepping down after five years on the Board and two years as President.  Peter acknowledged the contribution that Stephen made at the meeting and the Board will acknowledge this at a separate event to be held next month.

A number of volunteers who have provided a serious amount of work and time over many years were also acknowledged and these were Stacey Willcox for her work with the Development Operational Committee, Rob Ferguson and Greg Hall for their work with the Allocations Committee and also Dave Comp for his work with the Honours and Award committee.

I thank all the newly elected members of our operational committees for their success at the elections and look forward to their contribution.

SLSNR posted a surplus of $129,232 - largely as a result of a significant legacy, shifting the Awards of Excellence into the 2013/14 year and very careful oversight of our expenditure. 

With the reorganisation, we will be continuing to keep a very tight rein on expenditure whilst working to increase the revenue.  This will continue to be a work in progress.

SLSNZ AGM
A number of our members and I  attended the SLSNZ AGM on September 21 along with the Strategy workshop which was held in the morning. The Awards of Excellence event was held that night.

Overall, this was a good opportunity to meet with our regions and clubs and share views and thoughts for the future.  Information has been uploaded on the SLSNZ website regarding the AGM and Awards of Excellence.  Congratulations to Brent Warner and Geoff Hamilton on their re-election to the Board.

Topics discussed at the Strategy workshop included SLSNZ's financial situation, the Martin Jenkins Report on water safety, ethnic and gender balance, health and safety, future of the Volunteer Lifesaver Model, what are the future deliverables SLSNZ should be providing clubs over the next 10-15 years?  Healthy clubs - is this a priority?  There was also a general discussion around key priorities from a club perspective for SLSNZ to deliver in 2014/15 activities. 

Issues that are getting immediate attention at SLSNZ are: member protection regulation and guidelines, commercial rights around sport, insurance, engagement between SLSNZ and clubs and the SLSNZ and SLSNR relationship.

It is clear that there is still misunderstanding from clubs outside Northern Region for the reasons we have remained separate.  This will continue to be a point of discussion with SLSNZ.

Buddy Lucas Scholarships
Congratulations to Hira Edmonds (Bethells) and Esther Bushell.  The project Hira will be working on is one focused on membership retention and Esther will be looking at patrolling and refresher processes within Northern Region.

Both topics will add real value to our understanding and ability to grow in SLSNR.

Facebook - Congratulations - we achieved in excess of 1000 likes.  Spread the word and continue to target all your friends - we have over 6000 members.  It would be great to get to at least half of that.  Make sure you click "like" to link on our page and send to all your contacts. http://www.facebook.com/SurfLifeSavingNorthernRegion.  Don't forget to send in articles and thoughts that can build information to our community.

Updated Directory - Please send Bree your updated club information as you make changes at your AGMs.  She will then update our directory and forward it to all clubs. 

Surf 10:20 - Capital Building programme for ten clubs within the Auckland Council catchment
This project continues to move forward.  Clubs have updated all their information and we are working on re-casting the numbers.  A meeting with the key Council staff today has helped clarify our next steps.

Insurance
We are busy finalising insurance details and these should be out to you by the end of the month.  Please note that we have moved to JLT as our broker and all claims and requests will need to be channelled through either Matt Williams or myself until we are able to finalise the online system for you.

SLSNZ will still be covering the insurance subsidy as usual and our underwriters are still NZI and Vero.

Diversity project
Muriwai, United North Piha, Karekare and Bethells clubs are all signed up to work with students from Kelston Girls High, Kelston Boys High, Waitakere College and Massey High to put them through their Surf Lifeguard Award.  This is an exciting opportunity for our clubs and instructors to work with year 11-12 students and build a strong relationship with these schools.

We will keep you informed as to our progress.

Lifesaving

Member Health and Safety
Work is currently being done by the Lifesaving Operational Committee to help improve member health and safety. Following the lead being taken in our sport, considerations for lifeguard visibility in the water is high upon the priorities. Lifeguard rash vests are part of the available lifeguard uniform although are not currently compulsory for members to use in water activities or available without cost to either the member or the club. Work is currently being done to improve our best practices without incurring costs to the members or clubs.

Member injury recording and reporting is another portion of member health and safety that is currently being looked at for improvement. To ensure our training, equipment and operations are as safe as they can be, we need reliable and appropriate recording. The documents currently being used for this will be updated in the near future, with process clearly outlined, and sent to clubs, instructors and examiners with a review planned for the end of the season to continually improve our systems.  

First Aid Training
Please keep your eyes peeled on your emails; there will be a National update upon First Aid providers later this week.

Regional Lifeguard Service
Below is the confirmed Regional Lifeguard Service provision, approved by the Board and based upon the Council Funding received.

Regional Lifeguard Service Supervisor Appointments
I am pleased to be able to announce the Supervisors for the Regional Lifeguard Service for this coming season. David Quimby is overseeing the complete service this summer- some of you will already know him from the last RLS season as he is stepping up from the position of Auckland East Coast Supervisor that he fulfilled last season. New to the role of Auckland East Coast Supervisor is Duncan Buchanan. A volunteer with Piha SLSC who has been involved with RLS on both coasts and leading teams in services provided, Duncan will be an asset to the region. Although not starting until closer to the season, both of them will be attending a course with other volunteers on peer support next week.

Volunteer Profile - Leif Neilson, newest appointment to the Lifesaving Operational Committee (LOC)
Club: United North Piha Lifeguard Service
Year qualified as a Lifeguard: 2004
Current Club role: Powercraft Officer
Current Regional Roles: LOC and Support Services as operator and trainer for RWC
Proudest moment in SLS: Representing Northern Region at Surf League and being selected for the most recent California Lifeguard Exchange.
Why did you choose to become involved with the LOC? I want help continue SLSNR's reputation as a leader in water safety and the service we provide to the community to be the best it can possibly be.
What keeps you wearing the Red and Yellows? The family I have out the beach keeps me coming back and putting on the red and yellows. Not just those people at my own club but the extended family at other clubs as well. Also the buzz you get from making a rescue where you have saved a life and made such a huge difference.

Sports

Sports Operational Committee
The Northern Region Sports Operational Committee welcomes two new members after the recent AGM; Carolyn Edwards (Sunset Beach) and Maddie Boon (Muriwai).

Carolyn Edwards is the Sunset Beach IRB Team Manager and also officiates at Northern Region events.

 Maddie Boon is a former New Zealand and Northern Region representative; she is now focusing her time on officiating and racing IRBs.

2013 Northern Region Pool Championships
The first Championship event of the season was held over the weekend.  There were 281 entries from nine clubs.

Participants included former Olympian and New Zealand surf lifesaving world champion team member Steven Ferguson (Piha) along with New Zealand Development Squad members Madi Kidd (Whangamata), Hannah Williams (Red Beach) and Kelsi Boocock (Red Beach).

It was a close competition with Piha winning on overall points over Mairangi Bay.  However Mairangi Bay won the Cosgrove Trophy having won the most points among all the Northern Region clubs.

2017 World Masters Survey
Surf Life Saving Northern Region (on behalf of Surf Life Saving New Zealand) has the opportunity to bid to be included in the World Masters Games in 2017.  This is the largest multi-sport event in the world and the last time surf lifesaving was included was in 2009 when Sydney hosted the event.

We would now love to hear from you via an online survey about your interest in being involved in this event.  Your response will help support our bid! Please click here to complete the survey.

High Visibility Vests
All clubs should have ordered vestsfor the upcoming season.   SLSNR and SLSNZ are still working through issues with regards the commercial opportunities.  Northern Region endorses the requirement to have high visibility vests worn at all competitions and supports their use at all training. 

We also recommend that all Clubs be given the right to use their own vests at the following Northern Region events; Long Distance Carnival, Interclub Carnivals, The Whangamata Classic, NR IRB Carnival, NR IRB Champs, NR Champs, Junior Carnivals, Junior Twilights, NR Junior Champs and NR Patrol Champs/Rookie Challenge and any other future Northern Region events. 

Further work will be done before 2015 to look at future options to meet both clubs and SLSNR needs.

 At the recent SLSNZ AGM feedback confirmed that SLSNZ needs to find a solution that provides a shared opportunity for clubs with SLSNZ on the vests.  Please note current competition rules have not changed.

National Jandal Day 2013 - the Jandal just got bigger!
In December 2012 the weather was not kind to us and the rain and wind hampered many of our clubs' hard work and fundraising efforts on National Jandal Day (NJD).  After receiving valuable feedback from the regions and clubs, Surf Life Saving NZ has restructured the NJD fundraising campaign. Instead of just restricting the major bucket shaking fundraising to one day, a promotional campaign has been developed that will launch on December 6^th, 2013 and run over a course of two months culminating in the public appeal day on Friday 31^st January, 2014.  A range of collateral will be available again including buckets, posters, stickers and key-rings.

Let's make National Jandal Day fundraising the best it can be …

We know the huge amount of time and effort you all invested last year and to ensure you receive maximum value from your fundraising activities this year, Sue Brewster, our new Commercial Manager will be organising a facilitated meeting to brainstorm and plan all of the possible fundraising activities for clubs across the region.  Sue will send out a separate communication and will be asking all previous NJD Coordinators at clubs or their nominated fundraising person to attend this meeting at the Rescue Marine Centre, provisionally planned for 6.00pm on Wednesday 16^th October, 2013.  One area of potential growth is the peer-to-peer fundraising which can be a low-resource, effective way for clubs to mobilise their businesses, colleagues, friends and families to support them in a challenge or personalised activity - Sue has had experience in this area and would like to share how this works at all levels.   Attendees will be fed and watered and for those that aren't physically able to make it, Sue will be contacting you to gather the necessary information.

As per previous years, we will have a Regional Coordinator come on board to help plan and implement fundraising activities with your club.  Please make sure that all of you have the week leading up toFriday 31^st January,2014locked and loaded in your diaries as the official public fundraising.

Coca Cola Christmas in the Park - shake your booty and your bucket!
Surf Life Saving NZ is again the nominated charity recipient of Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park fundraising.  We are extremely fortunate to be the benefactors of this event and both Matt Warren and Mike Keech at National Office have been working hard to identify ways of increasing the amount of fundraising dollars brought in from the event.  We really need to get in behind this event and get as many of our club members and their families collecting at the dress rehearsal and the event itself … so another date to lock and load is 13^th December for the dress rehearsal and 14^th December for the event.  More information on the 'what', 'how' and 'who' for Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park will be sent out next month.

Surf Education
At this moment SLS Northern Region already has Beach Ed bookings from 40 schools for 5,390 students and Surf-to-School bookings from five schools for 988 students- so already more than 6000 students will be attending our Surf Education Programmes.

The recruitment of lifeguards to work as Surf Education Instructor finished on 20^th September. After Friday, the clubs will receive questions for referrals of their clubbies who applied and the applicants will receive a phone call asking questions to see if they qualify to be a Surf Education Instructor.

SLSNR is still working hard to gain support from the Regional Sport Trusts to open up further opportunities for children from low decile schools to also participate in Beach Education funded with KiwiSport funding.

During the induction weekend, the Instructors will be taught to finish every Beach Ed day with a little promotional talk about becoming a member of a SLS club and how the students can become a member if they're interested in Junior Surf or in becoming a lifeguard.

Saturday 9^th November AK Splash: volunteers for IRB and Tube Rescue demos
SLSNR is looking for a SLS club that would like to be part of a rescue demonstration on the water (we try to get the Westpac helicopter to be part of this demo) and tube rescues in a portable pool onshore etc. for  a Water safety Day in South Auckland. We are also looking for volunteer lifeguards to teach children and their families about Beach Education and help during the day in the Surf Education Stand. Please send a message out to your members to volunteer for this day.

Saturday 9 November, 2013 will be the first AK Splash - Water Safety Family Day at the Mangere Bridge Reserve, South Auckland from 10am - 4pm.

There's a great range of entertaining and educational activities including helicopter rescues, surf lifesaving demonstrations, pop-up pool education, Coastguard boats on display, water slides and bouncy castles. By joining in, families can obtain a Water Safety Passport, entitling them to a prize pack which could include a FREE life jacket. There will be 500 life jackets given out on the day!

There will be loads of celebrity appearances (the Warriors and Counties Manukau Rugby are invited, video messages from Matt Watson and Steve Price), food stalls and an on-site radio station to guide us through the day's activities.

AK Splash is a project of the Committee for Auckland's Future Auckland Leaders Programme. This initiative taps into the energy and insight of the city's emerging leaders, cultivating their passion for Auckland and helping channel it into city-enhancing projects. Nominated by Committee for Auckland members from within their respective organisations, participants are individuals who possess strong leadership, as well as succession potential and most importantly, a shared belief and commitment to helping "make Auckland one of the great places to live and work."

Although the event is at the waterfront at Mangere Bridge there will be no water activities in the Manukau inlet, but there will be a portable pool and a water slide and other activities. We're also trying to get the IRB simulator up and running again.

Feedback
I love hearing from our members - please drop me a line or give me a call.  Brick bats and bouquets are both welcome, our role at Northern Region is to provide the best support we can.  If there is anything you believe we can do better - let us know.  

Cheers
Pam
Email pam.elgar@surflivesaving.org.nz
Phone 09 303 9342
Mobile 021 108 9845