Just 38 DAYS TO GO!

It's starting to get exciting! We're now into the final straight in the run up to the HFNZ 60th anniversary celebrations. Registrations have now closed, and we're looking at a good group of members and supporters for both events.

• On Friday November 8 we will have a welcome reception at parliament, hosted by one of our MPs
• The main event of the weekend is the Gala Dinner on Saturday November 9. This will be held at Te Papa, and will include members, past and present staff, and special guests. 

As well as these events, the National Youth Committee are running an event on Saturday afternoon as part of HFNZ's youth twinning with Nepal.

Outside of the HFNZ events, you're free to make your own plans for entertainment. Here's another useful site, full of free things to do: https://www.stayatbase.com/wellington/free-things-to-do-in-wellington/.

Remember, if you've registered and not yet paid, now is the hour to get that done. We can't book flights or accomodation until the registration fee is paid.

We don't want money to be a barrier, so if it's an issue for you please reach out to Leanne at leanne@haemophilia.org.nz to organise a plan.

As you all know the next walk being undertaken by the Port Hills walking group is the Godley Head Circuit, this Sunday, 6/10/2019, at 9am. This is a lovely walk, and we're looking forward to a good day, and a strong turnout.

However, Kyle and I would like to flag that the next walk takes us to Orton Bradley Park to enjoy the Waterfall Gully Track, and coincides with their Spring Fair. We will provide further details closer to the time, but we wanted to invite those members to whom our walks don’t appeal, but might like to join us at the Food Festival around the middle of the day instead. We will provide more details closer to the time.

Spring Fair at Orton Bradley Park

Start: 10 a.m., Sunday 27 October 2019

End: 4 p.m., Sunday 27 October 2019

Location: Orton Bradley Park, 489 Marine Drive, Charteris Bay
Cost: Adults $10 and Children Free

Music, Gourmet Food Stalls, Activities for the kids, Art Stalls, Plant Stalls, animals and more. Explore the walking & Biking tracks, have a go on the high ropes course, see  the vintage machinery working or stroll through the Rhodo garden. Something for everyone!

Cancelled if wet.

 

We'll be sending out an email with more details in the coming weeks, so keep your eyes peeled. To find out more about either walk contact Ross at ross@haemophilia.org.nz. 

Following the recent changes to funded treatments for haemophilia A and B, we had some feedback that people were unsure about what to expect, and a little anxious about how the changes would affect them. With that in mind we're looking into running a series of one-day workshops in different locations around the country, looking at the psychological impact of changes in treatment regime on people with chronic medical needs. 

Currently, we have a very well-regarded expert lined up to lead the workshops, and we're in discussions around how they will be funded. The workshops are likely to be held in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, probably early in the new year.

While it's early days, and we're still very much in the planning stage, we're at the point where we need to know whether there's a demand for these workshops. They won't go ahead unless people are actually interested in attending.

If this sounds like something you might be interested in please let Sue know by emailing her at ceo@haemophilia.org.nz.

Over recent weeks we've had a couple of queries about membership, and which membership type applies to particular personal situations.

As you know, we have two types of membership: Family and Individual. 

In general, family membership is for family groups who all live in the same house where any children included in the membership are under 18 years old. If your kids are older than 18, and/or live at a different address to you, then they'll need their own individual membership, or to be covered by a family membership at the address they live at. Likewise if your children have kids of their own. In that case they'll need their own family membership.

Individual membership is for single adults over the age of 18 years.

We have a statutary obligation to have paid members in order to be an incorporated society. However, we make sure we keep our membership fees very low. For the last several years family membership has been set at $35, while individual membership is $25. HFNZ members get a whole lot of benefit for such a low annual cost. We don't view membership fees as a revenue stream. 

Nor do we want money to be a barrier to participation in HFNZ activities. If maintaining your membership is financially difficult for you, or if you're not sure which membership type is right for you and your family, please contact our administrator Leanne at leanne@haemophilia.org.nz to make appropriate arrangements. 

As mentioned in an earlier Pānui, our CEO, Sue Ellis, has been working hard updating HFNZ policies. We already shown you our complaints policy, and now we'd like you to see our Code of Conduct. 

The Code of Conduct is a cornerstone document that makes it clear exactly how we expect all HFNZ representatives to conduct themselves when performing duties and activities on our behalf.

Here's what the core of the Code of Conduct says:

Policy 

Staff, volunteers, and office holders working on behalf of HFNZ will: 

1. Treat all people with respect and dignity.
2. Operate within the law.
3. Base all dealings on fairness and honesty.
4. Use the property and resources of HFNZ, including paid time, responsibly and in the best interests of the Foundation and for the benefit of people with haemophilia.
5. Be accountable for their actions. 

Procedures 
Treating all people with respect and dignity,  includes: 

• Contributing to the maintenance of a safe working environment
• Placing value on people, and their contribution, in promoting quality in provision of services to and for haemophilia
• Encouraging cooperation in education and learning, and in personal growth in all the work we do
• Striving to accomplish the vision, mission, and objectives of HFNZ and the individuals who comprise the organisation. 

Operating within the law: 

• Respect the law, customs, codes, and business practice of New Zealand
• Notify the President in writing in the event of a breach in the law, customs, codes, or business practice of New Zealand
• Base legal dealings on integrity. 

Basing all dealings on fairness and honesty: 

• Do not use misleading practices, promote misleading information, falsify, or wrongly withhold information 
• Disclose any possible conflicts between private interests and obligations to HFNZ 
• Without a disclosure, ensure private interests do not create a situation where private interests could conflict directly or indirectly with obligations to HFNZ
• Do not accept personal benefits such as gifts over $100.00 and always make a disclosure of such gifts
• Do not accept personal benefits such as gifts or entertainment when the acceptance may create an obligation. 

Using property and resources of HFNZ responsibly and in the best interests of the Foundation and for the benefit of people with haemophilia: 

• Do not use resources to provide ANY benefits to selves or others unless it is by prior decision of the National Council or Regional Branch Committee. This does NOT preclude the reimbursement of legitimate expenses incurred by the individual on behalf of HFNZ
• Do not disclose confidential information without proper authorisation. 

Accountability for actions: 

• Accept personal responsibility for issues over which you have control.