Northern Regional Gathering

Northern Regional Gathering

Wai Ora Lakeside Spa & Resort

16th - 17th March 2013

This past weekend the Rotorua Group of AAPNZ hosted the Northern Regional Gathering at the luxurious Wai Ora Lakeside Spa & Resort.

The day kicked off with a welcome from the Deputy Mayor of Rotorua Mr Trevor Maxwell.

He along with the lovely Elaine MacFarlane and our very own Beryl Harris led us on an appropriate rendition of Pokarekareana as we were very close to the site where Hinemoa made her legendary swim across Lake Rotorua to Mokoia Island to her beloved Tutanekai.

  
 Kicking off the first of our presenters was Cathy Cooney.  

From 2001 until 2012 Cathy was the Chief Executive of the Lakes District Health Board.  As she told her journey from the beginning to the present she shared 

Cathy's message was: have a career plan; be courageous - if you believe in what you are doing and are passionate about it you will go far.  For any career - preparation and learning are imperative.
Soar like an eagle.

Kathryn Overall, Engage Communications - spoke to us after lunch on the use of social media as a marketing/promotions tool.  Making meaningful online connections whether through your own website and/or Facebook.  Kathryn told us to "jump on the learning curve - your willingness to learn and grow and keep learning and growing in your greatest asset".
Create opportunities to let people know about us and our organisation  - we should have an AAPNZ Facebook page as a starting point the use blogs, twitter, linkedin etc as platforms to grow our membership from.  We use these media tools to build relationships, to be helpful and to show that professional administrators are an interesting and worthwhile group.
"Power sits with those people/organisations who can grow valuable communication relationships".
Check out www.drivesocial.co.nz for hints and ideas on improving your social networks.  One tip from kathryn - Don't use your personal profile on business Facebook pages.

Our last speaker on Saturday was Carol Bannister, Careem - as always an inspirational speaker on how to dress for the occasion and how to make something out of very little.  We had a lovely time trying on new(used) clothes which some members bought to extend their wardrobes ready for winter.

Beryl Harris added a jacket which looked as though it had been deliberately made for the dress she was wearing - how classy!

Alexis Lewgor didn't mind showing off the different layers as she paraded in front of the audience.

Anita Galland alwasy looks stylish - this was her "casual look"

Mary presented Carol with a bunch of flowers as a thank you for taking the time out of her busy day to come and share pearls of wisdom and clothes with us.

At the end of a busy day, it was time to realx in Waiora Spa along with the odd glass of wine.  Looks blistful girls.

A copy of our amazing menu and (below) the scallops and prawn entree was simply devine even tasted better than it looked (if that was possible)

The conference room at WaiOra Spa where the Saturday conference was held.

Sunday, we held a quick meeting at the Rotorua Trust building where Alexis (Northern Regional Representative on NAC) told us about the problems and solutions that the National Committee have to face in 2013/2014.

We then had Kay Lindsay (Professional Administrator of the Year 2012) speak on her life experiences and how she came to be the PA of the year.  It was truly an inspirational speech as Kay shared all her lifes challenges with us.  Her advice - be honest with yourself; the future is going to happen so take it by the hand and turn fears into opportunities.

At the end of the morning we headed to Skyline Skyrides for a curry lunch and luge - it was a shame that the rain decided to arrive and only two or three brave souls managed to ride the luge.  A very well organised and rewarding Bays Gathering and thank you to the ladies from Hamilton & Tauranga who came to join us - it's always great to share these special times with special people.