CEO's Update 25/8/21

AGM Postponed: Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions we will not be able to meet a quorum so will be reconvening our upcoming AGM. Whilst we are all disappointed at the news of this current situation, the lessons learnt last year have swung into place and we will be managing this AGM via zoom soon. We have some important resolutions up for vote this year so we want to see as many of you as possible attending online and voting. I will be sending out an update once the Senior Leadership Team have confirmed the new date.

Whilst the new restrictions are probably not much of a shock to a lot of people, for some it has caught us by surprise. I for one had gotten used to the freedom we lived with and taken for granted what that meant. While many of us are now back to home schooling and working to support businesses able to operate, there are a lot who will be doing it tough. For many, a potentially long lockdown this time round is going to put a heavy strain on both their incomes, their relationships, and their mental health. I urge you all to reach out if you need to.

Our peer support network is here to help in any way we can. Whilst we can all feel extremely isolated and anxious, the ability to connect with someone who cares makes the world of difference. Personally, I am on a roller-coaster ride of emotions right now. The thing that I have depended on is my network of close friends to help me out when I am struggling. I am incredibly fortunate to have a strong support network around me, but for some people that isn’t the case. This is why we have a community such as ours. There is no shortage of people who care about your wellbeing - from the Senior Leadership Team, to the Branch Managers and Branch Committees, to the Governance Board and the Peer Support Network, there are a plethora of people to contact. Reaching out is often the hardest part but, trust me, once you do it gets much easier. Just a listening ear can make all the difference to how you navigate your way through a tough time.

I wish each and every one of you the courage to seek help if you want it, the knowledge to know the difference it will make, and the blessing of a connection when it's most needed.

Kia kaha, ngā mihi nui,

Selena Armstrong

CEO