Blind decide their future

For immediate release

Blind decide their future

Blind and sight-impaired people are deciding the future governance of the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind.

“This is very important as it is the only opportunity blind and sight impaired people will have to decide how they want the sole provider of services to blind and sight impaired people to be organised constitutionally,” says Chief Executive for the Foundation, Jane Holden.

In the weeks leading up to a September referendum a road show will travel to most centres in the country to meet with Foundation members. The meetings will allow members to ask questions and to discuss the coming referendum.

“This is a very big logistical exercise involving making contact with every single blind and sight impaired New Zealander who is registered with the Foundation,” says Jane Holden. “We want to ensure that everybody has a chance to vote and knows what they are voting for. This means trying to ensure they know about the coming meetings and to also ensure that they receive their information in formats they can read. That has meant sending out every single member copies of the proposal in either braille, audio, large print, on disk, or ordinary print.

As many blind and sight impaired people are avid radio listeners we are especially appealing to radio stations in the areas where the meetings are being held to support us by announcing the meeting dates and venues in their areas,” she says. “I thank them advance for their help.”

The timetable for the road show is:

Sunday 1-Jul 3.00 to 5.30 RNZFB, 530 Main St, Stoke Nelson

Monday 2-Jul 11 to 1 St Ninian Church Hall, Cnr Alabama Rd., Riley
Cres., Blenheim

Tuesday 3-Jul 10.15 to 12 RSA Lounge, Tainui St., Greymouth
6 to 8 RNZFB Offices, 96 Bristol St., St Albans, Christchurch

Wednesday 4-Jul 9 to 11 RNZFB Offices, 96 Bristol St., St Albans, Christchurch
3 to 5 RNZFB offices, 63 Grey Rd., Timaru

Thursday 5-Jul 10 to 12 Oamaru Centre for the Blind, 6 Ateward St., Oamaru
2.30 to 4.30 RNZFB Offices, Cnr Hillside and Law St., South Dunedin
7 to 9 Dunedin

Friday 6-Jul 9 to 11 St. Marks Anglican Church Hall, Renfrew St., Balclutha

Monday 9-Jul 10.30 to 12 Gore District Council Buildings, The Lounge,
James Cummings Wing, Ardwick. St, Gore
1.30 to 3.30 Invercargill Centre for the Blind, 172 Queens Dr., Invercargill

Thursday 12-Jul 10 to 12 RNZFB Whangarei Locality Ctr., 277 Kamo Rd. Whangarei

Friday 13-Jul 2 to 4 Mary Thomas Centre, 3 Gibbons Rd., Takapuna, Auckland

Saturday 14-Jul 10 to 12 RNZFB Awhina House, Recreation Ctr., 545
Parnell Rd., Auckland
2 to 4 RNZFB Guide Dog Centre, 30 McVilly Rd., Manurewa, Auckland

Monday 23-Jul 3 to 5 Tauranga, Fahey’s Motor Inn & Cobb & Co., Erinlea Lounge, 1237 Cameron Rd., Greerton,Tauranga

Tuesday 24-Jul 2 to 4 Gisborne

Wednesday25-Jul 9 to 11 Napier Travel Inn, 311 Marine Pde., Napier
2.30 to 4.30 St. Johns Ambulance Meeting Room, Cnr Ruapehu
and Paora Hapi St, Taupo

Thursday 26-Jul 10 to 12 Rotorua, Community House, Ground floor meeting
Room, 9-11 Haupapa St., Rotorua

Friday 27-Jul 11 to 1 Hamilton RNZFB Waikato Social Centre, 13-15 Liverpool
St., Hamilton

Monday 6-Aug 10 to 12 RNZFB Offices, 129-131 Vivian St., New
Plymouth
3 to 5 RNZFB Offices, 102 Peat St., Wanganui

Tuesday 7-Aug 9.30 to 11.30 RNZFB Offices, 62-66 Grey St., Palmerston North
2 to 4 Kapiti Senior Citizens Centre, 45 Ocean Rd, Paraparaumu

Monday 13-Aug10 to 12 RNZFB Offices, 121 Adelaide Rd., Newtown, Wellington

2 to 4 Silverstream Bowling Club, Dunns St., Silverstream, Lower Hutt
Tuesday 14-Aug10 to 12 St. Matthews Church Hall, Common Rm., 35
Church St., Masterton
6 to 8 RNZFB Offices, 121 Adelaide Rd., Newtown, Wellington

ENDS

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