The chapter’s events coordinator Richard Yallop says his partner Jacqui Bain had the idea after they held a spit roast as a house warming recently.

“One of our businesses, a WOF testing station call City Motors, is on one of the main roads of Whangarei, which makes an ideal venue for the spit roast this Saturday, 19 May.”

“There are no tickets as such, just a gold coin donation gets a lamb sandwich and a note donation gets a beer or a wine. We’re also going to have face painting and a jumping castle for the children,” he said.

BNI Monaco member Paul Brockie recently donated a signed All Whites football top – from the New Zealand versus Jamaica game in February – to Nelson Hospice. The presentation took place recently at the Nelson Golf Club where BNI Monaco meets.

Pictured during the handover are from left BNI Director Nelson/Marlborough Craig Lawson, Paul Brockie (BNI Monaco) and Nelson Hospice fundraising committee member Elspeth Kennedy.

Paul’s son Jeremy plays for the All Whites and for Newcastle in the A League. Paul donated his son’s signed jersey to the hospice to be auctioned or raffled.

Paul said he would like to thank Cindy Pearless from Nelson Hospice nursing staff for instigating this fundraiser.

ST HELIERS BAY FESTIVAL:

On behalf of Eastern Bays Hospice and dove house I want to extend a huge thank you to all you wonderful people out there in the Village Community, Wendy Caspersonn, the Rock-up team and staff at dove house who give their loyal support and hard work for our cause year after year.  It is truly appreciated, bless you.

Also thank you to our Chairman John Hackett and his team of Board Members who also joined us on this magic sunny day.

No figures in yet, but the Dove Shop, the children’s entertainments, and the sausage sizzle were buzzing the entire day, so it can really be counted on as a perfectly rewarding day for everyone.  Of course we couldn’t have done it without our trusty volunteers, their friends and family, and those of the BNI teams who so willingly supported us as well.

Again my sincere thanks to everyone for your help,

Kind regards

Marilyn

Marilyn Nething

Manager of Volunteer Resources

The ‘Devilish Desserts’ competition, organised by the Riverside BNI Chapter and held at A’Fare catering venue in Whangarei, was a huge success. Over 40 people attended the event, with seven teams competing for the coveted BNI Trophy.

Teams of up to five contestants were tasked with creating the most ‘devilish dessert’ from a selection of secret ingredients, and were given just 20 minutes to create their culinary masterpiece. Entries were judged on taste, presentation and theme by A’Fare owner Mandy. Teams were awarded prizes for categories such as best-tasting dessert, as well as messiest and noisiest team, and even most devious cheats.

The BNI Trophy was awarded to the Orange Team from the BNI Riverside Chapter for their best-tasting tiramisu. However, every team still got to take home a prize, thanks to the event’s generous sponsors – all local businesses – who donated the prize packs.

While the judge pontificated, masticated and ruminated over the desserts, a charity auction was held by Craig Kerr of Maggie Dixon Real Estate. Items to be auctioned off were donated by BNI members and Whangarei businesses, and included a signed Vodafone Warriors poster, stand-up paddleboard lessons and a bagful of wine and beer, plus many others.

Event organiser Margie Hannon of Zeald.com said “It was a fantastic evening and everyone had a great time. We raised heaps of money for Hospice, thanks to all the businesses who donated prizes for the competition and things to be auctioned off. And it was a really good networking opportunity as well.”

All proceeds from the evening are being donated to Hospice, and the BNI Riverside Chapter has pledged to make the total up to $1,000 with a donation from their own chapter.

The latest edition of the Hospice NZ magazine – The Review – is now available online and it is very gratifying to be able to quote what it says with regard to BNI under their National Partners section:

BNI has been supporting hospice since 2005, officially becoming a national partner in 2007. Over those six years BNI has donated more than $440,000 to support our work. Once again during 2010 BNI Chapters throughout the country worked exceptionally hard raising funds for their partnered hospice and nationally BNI supported the Palliative Care Scholarship Programme – in total over $129,000 was donated.

READ MORE:

Hosting its popular annual winter meeting over two days in June, the racing club generously agreed to have BNI volunteers collecting donations at the gate, in lieu of admission fees.

Approximately 2,000 people attended the meeting with many kindly donating $10 and $20 at the gate.

The Network @ 9 Chapter successfully raised $1,721 for Nelson Hospice.

Says Lindsay Bradley, the Network @ 9 president, “BNI Network @ 9 Nelson members braved the weather over two days, taking gold coin donations for entry into the winter meeting. A big thank you to NHRC and our Network @ 9 members.”

Article published in the Nelson Mail, 13 June 2011:

Kenn Butler, president of the Nelson Originals Chapter, originally came up with the concept of a brunch. He gives credit for its successful execution to a sterling team effort and the drive of a very capable events co-ordinator.

Kenn says: “All BNI members buy into Hospice as our designated charity. Teams are constantly thinking of new ways to contribute to the community through the organisation. The $187 we raised will be added to projects that are already underway.”

Above : Nelson Chapters gather to network over brunch.

Their support and appreciation of the work that Hospice does, is reflected in more than their weekly monetary donations. While there is a sense of accountability that motivates members to contribute regularly, there is also a willingness to go the extra mile by raising funds to boost the kitty.

And while money goes a long way to assist Hospice, Riverside Chapter members can attest to the fact that although money goes a long way in assisting Hospice, there is a different level of giving when you make a gift of your personal time and energy.

The relationship has been furthered by Kerry McLeod, Funding Development Manager from North Haven Hospice, joining the Chapter meeting to give members feedback on the important work Hospice does within the community.Her first hand account of how vital business participation is and how instrumental donations are in enabling this sort of work to continue, adds a personal touch to the endeavour.

Here Kerry McLeod, Funding Development Manager of North Haven Hospice, receives a chapter donation from Sean Minhinnick, President of the Riverside Chapter. Thank you to Judy Oliver from Jeff Oliver Print for her assistance in printing the BIG cheque!

To celebrate Hospice Awareness Week, BNI and Hospice NZ are once again asking all our members, friends and supporters to visit the hospice website www.hospice.org.nz and send an e-moment – which is just like an e-card (and it’s free!).

By sending a moment or sharing the web link you will be helping people to find out about the unique care and services provided by hospice, enabling people to live every moment.

Getting involved is really simple – just visit the website www.hospice.org.nz and everything is there for you.

If you need some inspiration there is a range of readymade e-moments for you to choose from, or if you are feeling creative you can make your own from a selection of photo’s, words and sayings provided.

You can send as many as you like, totally free of charge. E- moments are a great way to mark any occasion or just to let someone know you are thinking of them

E-moments are permanently available and during our awareness week are used to highlight the importance of Hospice services – since their launch in 2009, more than 3000 moments have been sent and enjoyed throughout the country and around the world.

You can send as many e-moments as you like, totally free of charge.  CLICK HERE to find out more.