Whakatane and soon, Northland and Taranaki . A general roll out to the rest of the country is planned for the next financial year (starting 1st July)

Harvey gave a belief report on the Cerebral Palsy website & the amount of traffic growth which has gone from about 200 MB to 1.5 GB a month & the CP Review which has gone from 16 to 24 pages. Harvey also gave a belief report on the Cerebral Palsy Endowment Foundation. Earnings from the Endowment Foundation will provide the revenue for grants. The CPS board is about to approve the grants committee and set a budget for them.

John Wade the CEO from Focus 2000 gave his report. He explained the new Organisational Structure and gave an overview of Focus 2000’s contracts. One the biggest contracts is Home based support for people who are disabled &/or elderly.

Later in the morning we were split up into 3 working groups, each having a mixture of the two boards. We were given a series of questions to work through, using these to help define our thinking on the direction Focus 2000 may take. Results from the groups were compiled to give Focus some background to further the development of their strategic plan.

The general feeling was positive. It was felt the two boards have come a long way in the last 18 months. Communication and trust between the two boards have immensely improved, which is the key to a healthy relationship.

This meeting was part of the yearly cycle of planning that has now been instituted. Such planning and co-operation augers well for the future of both organisations and the people they serve.

Paul Munckhof
Board Member of CP Society and Focus 2000.