Rotorua Grey Power October 2017

Grey Power a good
“parking place”?
Being on the Board of the Grey Power
Federation is a bit like being betwixt the devil
and the deep blue sea, as the saying goes.
KILIAN DE LACY
Grey Power federation member
On the one hand are the
people, largely old-timers,
who have remained energetic,
ever on the watch for issues
which could adversely affect
the elderly in New Zealand, and
diligent in doing the necessary
research to bolster their case, and
on the other are the rest.
It makes me think of some
recent words of Pope Francis,
who criticised “lazy Christians,
Christians who do not have the
will to go forward, Christians
who don’t fight to make things
change.” Such Christians “have
found in the Church a good place
to park,” the Pontiff said.
How many of our members
have found the organisation “a
good place to park”?
With 16 years of Grey Power
involvement behind me, and
being a newly elected Zone
ADVERTISING
Representative PROOF to the Federation
Board, I am amazed at the wondrous
power the majority members
of associations seem to
invest in us.
We are expected to accomplish
all the outcomes you, the members,
would like to achieve to
make your old age more comfortable
and equitable, but few of you
are prepared to supply us with
information and facts to enable us
to do what you want.
Not only are we expected
to persuade governments to be
more aware of the needs and
contribution of the elderly in our
profit-driven society, but we are
presumed to know, without being
told, what your issues are.
We are somehow expected to
have extra-sensory perception,
wave a magic wand and solve all
your difficulties. That is amazing.
And impractical.
Over the past years, I have
been involved at an association
level, sometimes as president, but
nearly always on the committee.
Time and time again, I would
ask the members for information.
Time and time again, I would
receive nothing. The same thing
has happened during the last three
years when I have served as zone
director. What is going on?
When Grey Power was formed,
the elderly had a cause – the
infamous surcharge imposed by a
Labour government and retained
by a National government despite
a promise to remove it.
Superannuitants started blowing
trumpets, waving flags, getting
media attention, and generally
imposing their presence on the
country. As the movement spread,
CUSTOMER PARKSYDE OLDER PERSONS PUBLISHING 25/01/17
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thousands joined.
At one point, we had more than
100,000 members, I believe, all
with an axe to grind. And grind
they did. The associations were
alive, letting the powers-that-be
know they were a force to be
reckoned with. Members were
only too happy to volunteer to
join committees, knowing they
had energetic leadership and rearing
to get their teeth into the
issues affecting the elderly.
Parksyde.....For the youthful +55
Parksyde
Meet with friends for lunch in our restaurant and
enjoy any of the activities we have to offer:
Scrabble • Bokwa Fitness • Tai Chi • Line Dancing • Zumba Gold
Canasta • Table Tennis • Indoor Bowls • Embroiderers • Housie
• Travel Club • Embroidery • Card Games • Mah Jong
We are not a retirement village
EFTPOS Available
Hours: 9am –3pm |9Tarewa Place
Ph: 348 9892 |www.parksyde.org.nz
AU-7349422BV
Since that time, it seems to me
that, with a few notable exceptions,
Grey Power has become
comfortable. It’s an organisation
you join to gain the benefits, like
Grey Power Electricity, enjoy the
monthly get-together with friends
along with a cup of tea and a
biscuit, and listen to a talk given
by somebody whom someone has
organised.
But as for active participation,
forget it. This, I believe, is the
comfort zone for many. But, as
Roy T Bennett wrote: “The comfort
zone is a psychological state
in which one feels familiar, safe,
at ease, and secure. You never
change your life until you step
out of your comfort zone; change
begins at the end of your comfort
zone.”
I know that many of us are
tired, having served on committees
in the organisation, some for
many years. At the association
level, it appears that if you can get
someone to take up the offices in
Start your summer with
fresh, clean curtains
Here’s an excellent curtain
cleaning deal for Super
Gold Card holders.
Ray and Lynn Kelly offer
discounts and don’t charge for
pickup and rehanging for card
holders.
Question: Don’t know what
to do with your curtains that are
stained with mould, mildew,
cigarette smoke or just getting a bit
grubby and need freshening up?
Ray and Lynn can clean all
curtains including thermal drapes.
Their system of cleaning
curtains works equally well
for Roman, Austrian or
We clean all
curtains
(Thermal backed included )
Roman blinds Austrian blinds
cedar blinds
ALL CLEAN CURTAINS
Phone Ray and Lynne Kelly
on 07 349 3736 or 027 495 0892
the group, the members can just
sit back and leave them there.
Somehow the Federation is
expected to keep going, taking
your concerns to Parliament,
convincing politicians of all
stripes of the justice of our cause
and generally keeping the drum
rolling – but without any sound
information on which to base
their case.
Those who are vocal in condemning
the efforts of the Board
on their behalf (and, sad to say,
they are many) forget that Board
members have a lot of work to
do, and they, like you, are volunteers.
They have a life to live as
well, generally.
So, let me remind you that
“Teamwork is the ability to
work together toward a common
vision. The ability to direct
individual accomplishments
toward organisational objectives.
It is the fuel that allows
common people to achieve great
things.” (Roy T. Bennett) Let’s
get ourselves out of the parking
space and feed the Board with
accurate information with which
they can work.
In this age of social media,
perpetual youth and money-grubbing,
don’t let the elderly
be trampled on or forgotten.
vertical blinds.
They don’t use heat in the
cleaning or dying so shrinkage is
kept to a minimum or none at all.
They also clean Cedar and
PVC Venetian blinds.
Most people deliver the
curtains to Ray and Lynn but
they offer a removal and hanging
service.
Also offered are repairs and
alterations to curtains and Roman
blinds.
Contact Ray and Lynn
Kelly, 18 Jade Place, Rotorua.
Phone: (07)349-3736 or mobile:
(027) 495-0892
Drop off at 18 Jade Place
Rotorua or call us to pick up
We also do alterations to curtains and make new
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Rotorua greypower News – November 2017 11
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