Notice of PVI 2024 Annual General Meeting
Notice is hereby given for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for Parents of Vision Impaired (N.Z.) Incorporated to be held at 10:00am on Sunday 20 October 2024 at The Novotel Airport Hotel, Christchurch.
Holding an AGM is not just a constitutional requirement, but also essential for upholding PVI’s commitment to transparency and accountability as a registered charity and incorporated society.
Board positions up for renewal in 2024:
Board position: Upper North Island. Nomination: William McGrath
I am proud to put my name forward to represent the Upper North Island on the PVI Board. Our whānau has been involved with PVI for almost three years now. We value the work Parents of Vision Impaired does to advocate for not only us as carers of special young people, but also for those young people. I wish to give back by helping ensure PVI continues and grows its legacy well into the future.
Our family lives in Pōkeno – Jess and I have two daughters (17 and 13) and one vision impaired son (4) who has Joubert Syndrome, an ultra-rare genetic disorder resulting in a range of health problems. I lead a team of developers managing software for Fisher & Paykel Healthcare. In my spare time, I enjoy music, vintage computing and brewing beer.
Board position: Central North Island. Nomination: Dan Barratt-Boyes
Board position: Tāngata Whenua. Nomination: Justine Edwards (incumbent).
Kia ora koutou,
I am a mother of 4, I have 2 girls; Giana and Kadence, and 2 boys; Robbie and Izzy. My daughter Giana has Septo Optic Dysplasia, she is totally blind but does amazing!! We live in Kirikiriroa where I work in early childhood education (ECE). In my free time I like to chill out with my children watching movies or going out for family adventures.
I have been on the PVI board for three terms; prior to that I was the Parent Support Worker (Waikato) for PVI. I would phone whānau to see how they were doing, planned coffee mornings, and a family camp out in Raglan which was a great success. My experience of being on the PVI Board has been awesome. I feel heard and it is great to be able to have input into things that further support our PVI Whānau. It has been a rewarding experience to work alongside the other Board members, to see their skills which contribute to PVI, and to be able to bring my knowledge and experience as the parent of a totally blind child.
I am currently on the Board for BLENNZ, and maintain strong relationships with staff, including with the RTV’s (who have supported Giana throughout her life). I always love meeting new and old whanau through immersion weeks and courses at Homai.
Through studying early childhood education, I can see how important it is for our education system to be inclusive for all children and see each individual and their whanau uniquely. Through my experience with Giana, I understand how important it is for us as parents to advocate for our children, so they get the support they need. It is important to me that we create an environment that is inclusive.
Board position: Anywhere in New Zealand. Nomination: Tirzah Shepherd (incumbent)
I live in Whitford, Auckland (on a lifestyle block) with my husband Rodger. We have been here for the last 21 years. Our daughter Ashley has CVI and right hemiplegia due to oxygen deprivation at birth. Ashley now lives by herself (with lots of support from us) in Howick and is 25 years old. Our youngest daughter Juliet has just moved to Cambridge University in the UK for her Masters in Materials Engineering
I am a chartered accountant, and I work part time on several small companies that we are involved with. I also am Treasurer of two local charities/community trusts in our area and look forward to bringing these skills to the PVI Board.
We have been part of PVI for around 2 decades now, we attend conference as work allows, and you may have seen me comment now and then in the Facebook group.
I feel I have the required skills and time to take on the Treasurer role and keeping the PVI accounts up to date. But also feel I have a lot to offer other parents, having been on this vision impaired/disability journey for some time now. Invaluable knowledge has been gained!
I keep an active lifestyle through competitive tennis, and lots of mountain biking and walking. We also have a short haired border collie that always requires attention and walks.
Board position: Upper South Island. No nominations received.
