Grey Power November 2019

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NZ GREYPOWER MAGAZINE » NOVEMBER 2019
PRESIDENT’S REPORT:
I have had a very busy last few months since the previous
formal Board Meeting with meetings with various
Associations and Government Departments. I have
attended and addressed several Association meetings
as well as an ETU meeting, a meeting with Dr Megan
Woods, Minister of Energy, Graham Peters, CEO of the
ENA, Crimestoppers, GN Hearing among others.
BY MAC WELCH
National President Grey Power NZ
Federation INC.
I
have released several
Press announcements
and conducted several
media interviews.
I have been approached
on several occasions with
regards to Grey Power’s
position on the Euthanasia
Bill currently being
debated in Parliament and
to be included as a referendum
in the general election
next year.
On behalf of the federation
board I have informed
all news media contacts
that Grey Power has made
the conscious decision not
to adopt a policy on euthanasia
as we feel it is far
too divisive and must be a
matter of personal choice.
Often, I am asked to
express a personal opinion
on certain topics but
I always decline to do so
as there is a risk that the
news media will report a
personal opinion as being
that of Grey Power.
Often members ask
why I did not say more
in an interview but members
need to be aware that
media always cherry pick
what you say and only
print or publish what suits
their point of view or argument.
My compliments to Roy
Reid for the very successful
outcome of the income
tax issue we discussed at
the last AGM, which held
up completion of the presentation
of the Audited
accounts. Roy, myself and
Covisory worked to rectify
this situation as soon as
we became aware there
was an issue. It is now resolved
to the full satisfaction
of the Inland Revenue
the Board and I trust the
members.
I am distressed however,
by the ridiculous
statements made to the
media by a certain member
whose comments were
not only ill-informed and
incorrect, they were an
attempt to create trouble
and mistrust.
The membership has
been kept fully informed
throughout the process as
far as was possible before
negotiations with Inland
Revenue were finalised.
I must also add on
behalf of the Board that
we get very disillusioned
and disappointed by associations
and members
who are all too willing to
denigrate and criticize a
group of people who work
tirelessly on the members
behalf.
Mac Welch, Grey Power national president.
Recent criticism of the
Board in Zone 4 Minutes
was unjustified, ill-informed
and frankly uncalled
for, particularly
after the Treasurer had
circulated a statement setting
out the facts, of the
settlement of the income
tax issue. It is important
for members to read the
material they are sent.
If these members are as
qualified as they seem to
think they are they should
put nominations in and
stand for board positions.
Criticism of the board in
relation to the recent code
of conduct complaint was
ill informed and unjustified.
Once again a small
group of known disaffected
dissidents within Grey
Power took the opportunity
to deliberately spread
mis-information and stir
up trouble. The complaint
has been finalised, after
the complainant’s refusal
to engage with the board
or the solicitors appointed
to adjudicate on the matter,
and no further correspondence
on the matter
will be entered into. The
delay in reaching a conclusion
were mainly due
to improper interference
from third parties, who
should have known better,
and the complainant’s
refusal to engage in
the process.
I have been criticised
by a few members for
not answering the allegations
that appeared in the
press sooner or vigorously
enough, but as President I
must abide by the constitution
which prohibits any
person or party to a complaint
talking to the new
media.
I ask all members to
work for our organisation
not against it or to some
undercover zone or association
agenda.
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