Tuesday, 14 October

If it's Tuesday, it must be the FFI Conference.  Right you are!  300 some-odd souls (well,,, maybe some are odder than others, but on the odder hand...) - please excuse the lame joke - or don't - it is what it is - gather in the Renaissance Grand Hotel in beautiful downtown Auckland.  Yep.  First day.

It's nice this time to know some of the people at the conference other than our always dependable Des Moines and Lincoln members.  Quite a few of our hosts from Whanganui and Palmerston North host clubs are in attendance.  Along with old friends from other exchanges.  And, of course, most of our fellow ambassadors from the pre-conference exchanges.

The start was very cool as the entrance ceremony was a traditional Maori welcome as our leadership asked to be allowed to come onto their land and they greeted them and welcomed them.  All of this in the Maori language - not translated, but interpreted.  This was followed by Maori songs:  a love song, a song of peace using the poi (a small bag on a tether that was flung about rhythmically), and finally a haka (the threatening war chant - you know, the one with the performers bulging eyes and tongues thrust out - loved it).

 We get down to business.  A speech from Joy DiBenedetto, followed by a welcome from the Auckland City Deputy (and now acting) Mayor. 













This was followed by presentation of awards to outstanding members and naming of the club of the year.  You might recognize the member of the year - Dave Katalin from the Greater Milwaukee club.  The club of the year was the club from Taiwan, whose members were with us on the pre-conference exchanges.  We were very happy for them.  A great moment - an award recipient was named, but unfortunately there was a typo on the screen and they placed his club in Australia rather than New Zealand.  Of course there was an uproar from the Kiwis followed by hoots and laughter from the rest of us.  We used that several times during the day.







After lunch we began the real sessions.  Joy took in one on hosting methods and alternatives and one on photography.  David took in one on writing techniques and then one discussing club strategic planning.  The latter was not a new concept, but was one that has worked for many organizations in the past.  He does question whether the time commitment can work with a volunteer organization.  But we do need to look at what it can offer.

Work day over, and Joy and I went down to the harbor to stroll in the warm sunshine.  It's so nice to hear the gulls and to watch the small ferries move to and fro. 

We're finding that the public bus system in Auckland is very nice.  Our Air BnB host has thoughtfully provided us with bus passes that we can use all over the city.  Dinner was a simple affair at the apartment due to the huge lunch.  All that over and this blog entry completed and we're ready for bed.  See you tomorrow.