ADPN Co-ordinator’s 2007 Annual Report
Presented on 10th August 2007 to the Annual General Meeting of the Auckland Disability Providers’ Network Inc.
This will be my last report to the ADPN. I would like to stress what a wonderful 10 years it has been. Thanks to all of those within and involved in the disability sector that have made the task of co-ordinating the ADPN such a pleasure.
The members are the life blood of any organisation and the ADPN has a healthy membership of committed people. In 2006/07 numbering 97 members, just short of the target of 100 members. Subscriptions are still coming in for this year but have already reached 71. The target of 100 members does not seem unachievable. The stronger the membership, the greater strength the ADPN has so please encourage your colleagues to become financial members. The members are the best advertising and promotional tool the organisation has. It is through the members change can be affected.
As usual the year has been busy. The ADPN is still promoting the New Zealand Disability Strategy through the resource package Kia Rangatu. This has a DVD version inserted in the package now. Workshops are facilitated if requested and we have held 2 in Auckland in the last 12 months. Wherever 20 people can be gathered together the ADPN will facilitate an all day workshop at a price that covers costs only.
One of the aims of 2006/07 was to improve the image of the ADPN and thanks go to Sheldon Brown for facilitating a session that began this task. Work is on ongoing but it is not a speedy process however the outcomes should bring a new upbeat image.
Development of a website for the ADPN has been a major task this year and I am hoping the launch of this will happen within the next month. There will be links for members so it could be an asset for you as member also.
It is a time of real growth for the APDN who have taken office space in the Parent and Family Resource Centre in Onehunga. This will mean a big change for face of the organisation, a new phone number, email address and an Executive Officer. So watch for information posted via emails and newsletters.
Growth is great but the bread and butter exercises much go on also. The newsletter continues to be published 3 times a year. It will also appear on the website in the future. The number of forums per year have reduced a little but become more focussed and intense. Numbers thus, still tend to be reasonably constant. The reason for reduction being that the ADPN felt too many forums were reducing the quality and interest.
Meetings with the team at DSD of the MoH have continued and I want to thank Rose Hawkins and Susan Ferrandes, who does all the organising, and the team at the Ministry for their co-operation and continual positive attitude. It is people like you and your friendly welcoming manner that I will miss. At these meetings the ADPN tries to take to the Ministry the issues you as members find important, and work with the Ministry on these issues.
Next week a sub-committee of the ADPN will be making an oral submission to the select committee on caring for the disabled. The Executive made a written submission to this committee last year based on the issues you as members raised at the May 2006 forum that was held at Vision Pacific. Now it is time for an oral submission.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those within the sector that I have plagued for contributions to the ADPN and have always been so pleasant and kind about requests.
To the executive thank you for your tolerance and friendship. I value it greatly and special thank you to Colin Reive who I have worked with as my Chairperson for the last 3 years. Discussions with you are always stimulating Colin.
The coming year I am sure will see a period of great development with positive change for the ADPN
Judith Lunny
