The Guardians of Pauatahanui Inlet are looking for new personnel and new inputs to their work in the 2005-6 year. They are extending a warm welcome to their AGM in the Bradey Room, Whitby, on 30 June, when the speaker will be Alan Munro, ornithologist, who will speak about the latest bird survey taken on the Inlet.
At their meeting of April 28, the GOPI Committee farewelled Vanessa Thorn who travels to England to continue her studies. She has been the valued designer and sustainer of the GOPI web-site, www.gopi.wellington.net.nz. The Committee welcomed volunteer Beverley Fairfax , who had responded to the Committee's appeal for a replacement.
At the same meeting there were farewells also to Chris Richmond and Vicky Froude who brought specialist conservation knowledge and experience to the organisation's submissions, planning and priority-setting. They are planning a break on their yacht, heading for Pacific Islands environments. Chair John Wells extended a welcome to Tony Shaw, who had volunteered his services, after leading a team in GOPI's stream monitoring programme.
The Annual General Meeting, to be held in the Bradey Room next to the Whitby Library at 7.30pm on Thursday 30 June will see GOPI Secretary of many years, Cynthia Petersen, step down after a shift of residence to Raumati. She was recipient of a community service award from Porirua City Council last year. Those present will be able to pay tribute to the leadership and service she has provided to the Guardians over all those years.
The latest Newsletter, available on the GOPI website, thanks the local businesses that contributed to the success of the photo competition during the national Seaweek back in March. It notes the extension of the quarterly stream monitoring to a new site on the Kokaho Stream, with support from Mrs Joy Gray. Members are also advised they may access on the website the Guardians' submission to Porirua Council on the Draft Annual Plan.
'We are definitely looking for new committee members to come forward at the AGM,' says Guardians' Chair, John Wells. 'If you are able to come to a committee meeting every six weeks, if you have ideas and opinions that need to be heard, we want you to help our work.''
GOPI won a Wellington Region award last year for its record of voluntary community service. So put 7.30pm, 30 June, at the Bradey Room, in your diary now if you can help GOPI maintain that record.'
John Wells may be contacted at 234-1788.
