NZ President’s Report | Welcome

In June I was en route to the US to visit family. Donald Trump, ISIS, and New Zealand’s shadowy trust laws filled the news. Brexit and anti-immigration sentiment were moving towards the front page.

The world seemed to be spiralling ever downwards. Could there possibly be a solution?

Then I sat on the lawn of one of the world’s great educational institutions and listened to President Eisgruber charge his soon to be graduates:

Your Princeton education has provided you with the intellectual resources required not only to connect with one another but also to resist or reverse the partisanship that so threatens America and the world today.  We need people who commit themselves to forging a public culture that enables shared, respectful, and engaged discourse through which we can negotiate differences and address the urgent issues confronting us.  Taking up that project will call upon all the resources that your liberal arts education has provided you.¹

We cheered and applauded these graduates from 57 different countries.   This Class, as are all classes since 2001, is a result of Princeton’s “need-blind” admission policy. Acceptance is offered based on the students’ merits and talents, and only later, are the financial grants determined—again, solely on need.²

“Approximately 60 percent of students receive financial aid… (and) 83% of recent seniors graduated debt free…”³ Generations of alumni support for the university underlies this defining programme.

The graduation ceremony followed on three mad-cap days of reunions when thousands of alumni gathered on campus to renew friendships, party, and attend two days of alumni led seminars on campaign finance reform; international energy solutions; legal justice reform; and what’s new in biotechnology. From the Class of 1937 to the Class of 2016, students and alumni mixed perspectives and connected in an environment which encouraged their discourse and debate.

Princeton’s alumni are a diverse group—diverse in culture, religious belief, political perspective, gender and sexual orientation, nationality, and career path, to name only a few.  Those differences make us stronger, but they can also sometimes be sources of passionate disagreement or even alienation. Yet despite the arguments—indeed, through the arguments—that we sometimes have with one another, Princeton’s alumni form a meaningful community that persists over time.  That community, imperfect though it may be, is part of what we celebrate today and throughout this festive weekend.⁴

This is the power of education. Our institutions may be a small public primary school or one of our esteemed universities, but each of these, and the range in between, have the power to impact lives and maybe shape the course of the world through the education we provide.

I encourage you all to see the power of our mission. Join President Eisgruber in charging your students and staff and alumni and parents to engage in discourse, to use our education, to embrace our diversity and share our success over the years to benefit others.

We work in education for a reason.

Catherine Boyer
President
NZ Chapter Educate Plus

_{¹ Eisgruber, Chris, “Commencement 2016: Reclaiming Our Civic Culture,” May 31^st 2016,
http://www.princeton.edu/president/eisgruber/speeches-writings/archive/?id=16814
² “Financial Aid FAQ”, https://admission.princeton.edu/financialaid/financial-aid-faq
³ “What’s Great about Princeton’s Financial Aid”, https://admission.princeton.edu/financialaid
⁴ Eisgruber, Chris, “Commencement 2016: Reclaiming Our Civic Culture,” May 31^st 2016}

CEO Message

Well, what a year it has been for our New Zealand members! You are now part of the one organisation, Educate Plus. It is hoped that this amalgamation will greatly assist our record numbers of New Zealand members – now at over 120! You and your Committee will now have full access to our Administrative and Support Services.

This is also an exciting year for our organisation as a whole with record membership – now over 1300 and our flagship International Conference set for 7-9 September this year. We hope many of you will be able to make it over the Tasman. I appreciate finances are tight, but this is an investment in you and your institution. We have over 80 of the world’s leading practitioners lined up to inspire and inform you about best practice in your particular field. Although we only have limited places left, I am prepared to offer any additional New Zealand delegates the Early Bird rate, if it will assist you in being able to attend. Please email me if you would like to take up this offer.

This weekend our Board meets in Brisbane – with Rose Crossland representing Catherine Boyer, who is unwell. One of the topics we will be looking at is our Certified Advancement Training Program. I am currently doing a feasibility study on running at least some of the courses in NZ next year – watch this space!

I wish you well for the remainder of the year and look forward ot seeing many of you on the Gold Coast in 50 days.

With kind regards

Neil McWhannell
CEO Educate Plus
neil@educateplus.edu.au

Welcome to New Members

The New Zealand Chapter warmly welcomes new members.  We look forward to meeting you at events and hopefully at the conference on the Gold Coast in September.

The New Zealand Chapter Makes it Legal.

It’s official!

As we head to print with this newsletter, the liquidators are completing the final details of the liquidation of ADAPE NZ and we have become the legal New Zealand Chapter of Educate Plus Ltd.

Congratulations and thanks to the many people who have steered us through this process from Helen Scott at Duncan Cotterrill, Hazel Heath and Craig Melhuish at Nexia Christchurch (formerly HFK Chartered Accountants), and Jill Rodgers for the impeccable maintenance and preparation of financial statements. Thank you to all members who supported this endeavour. Sincere thanks are also offered to Neil McWhannell, CEO of Educate Plus Ltd, and the full Board who have given unswerving support.

While there will be a few teething problems to work out in the next few months, we hope that it will seem like a seamless transition to most of you. We apologise to those of you who received membership invoices from us as the old NZ Chapter and then again from the Australian office. It seems to date that most of these issues have been resolved.

I am certain that the full and legal amalgamation with Educate Plus Ltd will stand our New Zealand membership in good stead for years to come.

Regards,

Catherine Boyer
President
NZ Chapter Educate Plus

2016 International Conference

Registrations have been extremely strong for this year’s International Conference, to be held on the Gold Coast 6 – 9 September. Limited spaces are available, so we encourage anyone considering attending to complete their registration as soon as possible.

The exciting pre-conference sessions are proving to be extremely popular, with some close to capacity.

You may wish to consider coming in on Tuesday 6 September and attending:

Capital Campaigns Master Class – a must for anyone considering a capital campaign in coming years. Suitable for Institutional Leaders, Boards, Foundations and anyone involved in Fundraising.

Developing Websites that Work – great for anyone looking to redevelop or maximise the potential of their institution’s website.

Stunning Photography – essential for anyone wishing to effectively market their institution and its activities.

TEDx workshop – this new initiative is proving extremely popular. Learn how to present and communicate with more impact and confidence.

Synergetic and Potentiality training and support – essential for anyone needing support or wanting to get the most out of their systems.

My Brilliant Career in Advancement – terrific opportunity for anyone wanting to further their career in the Advancement sector.

Archives – essential for any institution running or considering developing an Archives program.

Subsidised registration costs are still available to those offered scholarships or to anyone experiencing financial stress in paying the full fees. Contact the CEO neil@educateplus.edu.au is you wish to be considered for these special rates.

You will find the latest program here.

Scholarship Winners for Conference

Congratulations to the following members who have been granted NZ Chapter scholarships which will assist them to attend the upcoming Educate Plus Conference. We trust you will all have productive, stimulating and thoroughly enjoyable experiences and look forward to seeing you there.

Scholarship winners are:

Charissa Naidoo – Diocesan School, Auckland

Jennifer Roshan – Sacred Heart College, Auckland

Corinne Barnard – St Patricks College, Wellington

Leonie Partridge – University of Canterbury.

NZ Chapter Dinner at Educate Plus Conference

As intending participants at the upcoming Educate Plus Conference  on the Gold Coast will be aware  all Chapters will be holding their Chapter dinners on the evening of Wednesday 7 September  7pm -10pm.

Members and non- members are cordially invited to their Chapter dinners.

Venue and payment options for the The NZ Chapter dinner are still being finalised. We will let members know details closer to conference.

NZ Chapter Regional Networking Breakfasts.

A very successful series of networking breakfasts was held in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch in May. The formula of good food, interesting and thought provoking speakers and the opportunity to meet with colleagues proved a hit with members.

Your committee is planning another networking series of events in November.

Reports from the regions are as follows.

Christchurch

There was a wonderful turnout for the Christchurch Networking Breakfast. It was a great opportunity for us to connect with each other, particularly for those new to Educate Plus.

Shelagh Murray, Ask Right and Ric Fletcher, Christ’s College, shared their experiences from the 2015 Ask Right trip to the UK and what they saw as best practice in schools and universities who are successful in their advancement activities. 

Tilda Bostwick from Execucare also gave us a valuable insight into their recent salary survey. The implications for the education/advancement sector as well as our own individual career progression gave us food for thought. 

We are grateful that Tilda came down to Christchurch to be with us, thank you. Sincere thanks also to the team at Christ’s College for hosting us in the Boardroom and for the tour of the rebuilt and refurbished campus afterwards. Special mention must go to the catering team who prepared a five star quality breakfast whilst based in a portacabin – their kitchen is being refurbished (plus they had to prepare breakfast for the hungry boarders at the same time!)

Rose Crossland
Christchurch region 

Wellington

Colleagues from Victoria University, the Nikau Foundation, Execucare, Scots College, St Pats College Town and Samuel Marsden Collegiate School together with NZ Chapter President Catherine Boyer enjoyed an informal breakfast at the Old Bailey on Friday 13 May. Early morning parking was plentiful, our hot breakfasts delicious and conversation stimulating. Catherine kept us abreast of the amalgamation journey for the NZ Chapter into Educate Plus and Tilda Bostwick from Execucare – gave fascinating details of their latest Salary Survey generating a lot of interested discussion. Members agreed that this was a very worthwhile event – perhaps not always to be held on a Friday!

Martine Foster
Wellington Region

Waikato

Seven Waikato ladies and one gentleman met up at Mavis & Co on the balmy morning of Thursday 5th May.    A great networking opportunity and time for sharing of information coupled with having plenty of laughs as members caught up with each other.  Representation by each of the member schools/tertiary institutions was 100%.  Our Waikato Chapter is a collective group of enthusiastic personalities who have been extremely supportive of each other and their campaigns for a number of years now.   The Waikato chapter endeavours to grow its membership and include representatives from the Bay of Plenty to the mix soon.   Following breakfast, EducatePlus members toured the new University of Waikato CBD office.

Janice Lapwood
Waikato region

Auckland

The Auckland networking breakfast was held on 6 May at School House, Diocesan School.

Attendees from: Educate Plus, Ask Right, Diocesan School, Kristin School, Auckland Grammar, Whitecliffe School of Art, St Cuthbert’s College, Westlake Boys, Takapuna Grammar, Dilworth School, Selwyn College, Westlake Girls, St Kentigern College, Selwyn College, Execucare, King’s School, and Artful Fundraising were warmly welcomed by the Principal Heather McRae and Dio Director of Development Angela Coe.

Presentations by Daniel McDiarmid, Ask Right. Focused on Global perspectives on educational fundraising and implications for NZ.   Pamela Peryman from Kristin School spoke on the 5 tips for success with insight and reflections from the 2015 Ask Right trip to the UK.

Participants were seated at a large table- all could see each other- proving particularly valuable for discussion during Daniel’s presentation.

Great breakfast from the Diocesan caterers, great parking and a successful session summed up this event.

Carolyn Prebble
Auckland Region

4 Tips for Top Events

1. Involve and consult with your community
2. Keep your messaging around the event and accompanying collateral thoughtful and consistent
3. Be well prepared and 
4. Make sure you enjoy it.

NZ Chapter AGM to be held in December

Breaking with years of tradition, the NZ Chapter AGM will be held on 12 December in Christchurch rather than at the conference.  Having successfully amalgamated with Educate Plus Ltd, we are trying to align our Chapter AGM along with other chapters, abiding by the Educate Plus Ltd Constitution and Chapter Rules.

Auckland Grammar School Gala Dinner raises funds for Academic Endowment Fund

Auckland Grammar School Foundation Trust’s Gala Dinner has become a showcase event on the Grammar calendar for over 13 years.  This year the Gala Dinner raised a stunning $250,000 for the Academic Endowment Fund which allows the Foundation Trust to support Grammar teachers in new and innovative ways. 

The Foundation Trust was established in 2000 with the goal of creating a fund to assist with the recruitment, retention and rewarding of top-performing teachers.  Last year with funds raised through the Gala Dinner, the Annual Appeal bequests, and investment interest we were able to recognise 30 teachers for their dedication and commitment to the School and the young students.  

This year’s fundraising total was the result of many hours of work by a committee of dedicated parents led by Gretchen Hawkesby, working in concert with the Development Office.  The Grammar community provided nine exciting live auction items with naming right sponsor Barfoot & Thompson providing the auctioneer while on the silent auction run through the electronic Dash6 system we had 97 items.  A raffle added to the evening’s fun, along with live entertainment by the young men.

Click here to view photos.

Prime Minister John Key opens the Heart of Marsden

Prime Minister John Key opened Samuel Marsden Collegiate School’s new building Te Manawa o te Kura in May. Invited guests, students and staff packed the auditorium to witness this special moment in Marsden’s history. Featuring beautiful music from handbells, choir and orchestra, the girls sang their hearts out, heralding the opening of the new heart of the School.

James Johnston, Chairman of the Management Board, talked about the brave decision the Board made to demolish the old earthquake prone Main Block and replace it with a building safe and fit for 21st century learning. Principal Jenny Williams was “excited to gift this building to current students, staff, and generations of girls to come”. The Prime Minister spoke warmly and personally, particularly to students, about his humble beginnings, setting goals and not being afraid of failure. He reminded them that education was the very best thing they could do to help themselves achieve their goals. 

The plaque was unveiled, and the cake was cut by Head Girl Nina Richardson and Sai Parekh from Year 1. The official party followed Bishop Justin and arch deacon Steven King as they blessed the new foyer and then it was a chance for everyone to have a good look at the new building.

Designed by Athfield Architects, it is finished inside with natural wood, pops of colour, work spaces and study nooks, with an extensive green vista, providing a peaceful space for collaborative work and independent research and preparation.  Connecting the school from end to end the new building takes Marsden from the past into the future, while retaining links to the schools’ long history with the restored Honours’ Board and retention of the original 1926 entrance. Modelled on best practice work places, the Learning Studios are already loved by our students and recently housed a hugely successful workshop for nearly 30 Wellington Primary students by acclaimed NZ Artist and the 2016 Marsden Artist in Residence Michel Tuffery.