It’s now just over 2 weeks until our AGM & Speaker Night.  If you have already RSVP’d then thanks.  If not, we would love to hear if you can make or alternatively if you can’t & would like to have your apology recorded.  To confirm, details of the event are as follows :

-       Wednesday 18th May 2011 at 7.30pm

-       The Parenting Place, 300 Great South Road, Greenlane, Auckland

-       Guest Speakers – Glenn Bartlett, Maeve Morrison & Heather Keall of the Auckland Cleft Team

If you wish to put forward any Notices of Motion or General Business to be raised at the AGM then please forward these to us in writing by Tuesday 10^th May 2011.

Members putting forward Notices of Motion or General Business must be present at the AGM in order to have these tabled.  Details of motions, nominations & general business received will be sent out approximately 1 week prior to the AGM.

If you have any questions about the AGM please don’t hesitate to contact us on either info@cleft.org.nz or 0800 4 CLEFT (0800 425 338).

Kind Regards

John Frear

Cleft New Zealand Inc

http://www.faceit.org.nz/
PHONE: 0800 4 CLEFT (0800 425 338)
Email: info@cleft.org.nz

Cleft NZ invites you to an Info Night with members of the Auckland Cleft Team (Glenn Bartlett, Maeve Morrison & Heather Keall) – and our AGM

Why come?

• Do you want to know what’s new in cleft care management ?
• Do you want to hear about what we can learn from overseas ?
• Do you have questions you want to ask the team that others may be interested in also ?

Then this is for you. Find out about what the Cleft Team are doing to deliver the best possible outcomes for you and your child.  

Even more reasons

• Show our support for the Cleft Team and the work they do
• Find out about Cleft NZ’s plans for the future
• Meet the Cleft Team professionals in a laid back environment

DETAILS

• Wednesday 18th May 2011 at 7.30pm
• The Parenting Place, 300 Great South Road, Greenlane, Auckland
• Please RSVP by Sunday 15th May 2011 to info@cleft.org.nz or 0800 425 338 (for catering purposes and to make sure we have enough room)

We hope to see you there.  Thanks.

Here are the details for the next Auckland Coffee Group:

Cleft NZ would like to thank Mick Rose & his team at MPD Group, located in NZ & overseas, for their initiative to support us through their Movember campaign last year. 

The funds they raised for us, in excess of $6000, will be put to good use to further the objectives of Cleft NZ in order to deliver direct benefit to all those affected by cleft.

Our purpose as an organisation is “To support & empower people on their cleft journeys”, and this includes not only people born with cleft but also immediate family and friends, medical and educational professionals, peers and society as a whole.  We seek to do this through information, products, education & advocacy.

 It is through the support & efforts of people such as Mick & the staff at MPD that we can continue to pursue these goals.  We thank them once again for the support they have given, it is much appreciated.

Vanessa and Levi are hosting the next Auckland Coffee Group, in New Lynn.  Everyone is welcome, we hope to see you there.

When:  Tuesday 22nd March 2010, from 10-12.

Please bring a small plate to share.  For the address details phone 0800 4 CLEFT  (0800425338)

2011 is well underway and we would like to invite any families in our region to a Coffee Group

WHEN:  Tuesday 22nd Feb from 10am until 12 noon

WHERE:  Louise and Henry’s house in Epsom.  (Ring 0800 425 338 for the address)

Please bring a small plate to share and RSVP to 0800 425 338 so we have an idea of numbers.

The recent Cleft NZ survey has endorsed the need to grow organisational capacity and push for best practice in the delivery of services for cleft people and their families.

“I would like to thank all those people who took the time to complete the survey”, said Chairman of Cleft New Zealand John Frear.  ”This information will be invaluable to us as we identify our priorities ahead”.

The survey was completed by 126 people in total – 29 people with cleft, 86 family members and supporters and 11 medical professionals. This was almost 30% of the 400 or so people listed on the Cleft NZ database so it was a very pleasing result.

Cleft NZ services are very well received, especially the Blue book and the new web site. The social functions were also appreciated but there is a need to hold more events outside Auckland. Social networking sites (like our Facebook page) are seen by many as a really good way to put people in touch with one another across the country.

Although the 0800 Cleft NZ number and parent support service received relatively low usage, the availability of these services for those that need them was seen to be very important. Most people see surgical repairs as being exceptional, although cleft people were marginally less favourable in their ratings.

Key opportunities for development were identified. Foremost among these were the need for improved socio – psychological support services to help address difficulties with self esteem and lack of confidence. Genetic counselling was also seen by cleft people and their families as an area needing improvement. Paediatric support and coordination was seen as lacking and capturing speech and audiology development needs were other areas for development. A number of the professionals felt the “system” was not enabling them to be fully effective. Advocacy is seen by most to be an important role for Cleft NZ.

Interestingly many were not aware that Cleft New Zealand membership is open to all cleft people, their families and supporters including friends, extended families and medical professionals. Pleasingly there was support for the idea of introducing subscriptions to help fund the organisation. Preference was given to a low level subscription between $10 to $50, but with discretion to nominate higher levels of contribution.

“We will use this information to develop our services and advocacy”, says John.

Our first every Christchurch Xmas party was held at the Botanic Gardens on Sunday28th Nov.  Thanks to all those who made the effort to get there.

An especially big thank you to Kenny for organising this.  We all appreciate your initiative and organisational capabilities.

We would also like to thank Harriette van der Zee and Peter Fowler from the Christchurch Cleft Team for making the time to come. 

It was gr8 to see you all.  Next time, we hope some teenagers can make it too!!

After 6 & 1/2 years, it feels like the right time to pass Cleft NZ, our vision and purpose on to the next group of passionate people.  I became involved because of our beautiful son Oliver.  After that first full on year I thought I’d like to learn more about the system and support new families through what we had just experienced. Read the rest of this entry »