This Week's Meeting - 15 December 2014

 
This week was our last meeting for 2014 and many thanks to the Stamford to organising great decorations, crackers and meals.
 
 
Our 5 Minute Speaker was Lesley Mynett-Johnson and we were lucky she could attend, as she was still recovering from a scooter mishap in Rarotonga.  Lesley works for Lifewise and thanked everyone who had donated children’s Christmas presents and Christmas puddings, which would all be given to Auckland families in need.  This time of the year is particularly difficult for families who have been struggling and any assistance is gratefully received.
 
Our speakers this week were the All Blacks Manager Darren Shand, who was interviewed by sports commentator Tony Johnson.  Darren is passionate about sports, but rugby isn’t at the top of his list – skiing is.  However, after managing the Crusaders, Darren applied to manage the All Blacks and was successful.  When Darren first took on this job, it was a very different culture to the one he was used to in Canterbury.  However, due to the changing rugby environment – the shift to professionalism meaning all players needed to be at the peak of their physical and mental fitness, has led to a complete overhaul of how this team is managed and there is a large group of people in the background ensuring the All Blacks are the ‘best of the best’.  The other issue to be learnt was the difference between a regular rugby game and playing in the Rugby World Cup, which requires a very different way of thinking – every game needs to be approached as if it is the final.  As history constantly reminds us, teams that are on the back foot, for whatever reasons, are the teams who have nothing to lose and can show spectacular skills and perseverance and win the game.  The aim next year is to be the first team to win the Rugby World Cup back to back and our players mental and physical strength, combined with their resilience and flexibility, means this is looking like a very achievable goal.
 
And finally, Sergeant Matt Kemp provided a no Christmas hat tax, an Auckland Football Club success tax and both organised and disorganised shopping taxes to boost our Sunshine Fund, before providing a number of shopping tips for men regarding buying a gift for their partner, which included:
  • NEVER buy any gift that has a plug attached (there are NO exceptions)
  • NEVER buy the same gift this year as last year
  • ALWAYS check the gift you are considering is appropriate.
On that note, I wish everyone a great Christmas and New Year and look forward to seeing you all again in 2015.  I will be on leave from Tuesday 23rd December and will be back in the office on Monday 5th January.  However, I will be checking emails every few days and will follow up with any urgent requests should they arrive – Jacqui.