WINGS mention in SETTLEMENT ACTIONZ

May 1, 2019

Liane Blair (left) and Gina Eiger (right)

WINGS Founders, Gina Eiger and Liane Blair were among 22 Northlanders who won 2019 Kiwibank Local Hero Awards. 

WINGS COMMITTEE 2019-20

May 1, 2019

 * Top Picture (from left to right) - Deirdre Nicholls, Paula Smith, Jackie Leech, Jennifer Starr, Mina Crisp, Avi Damerell, Zainab Ansari, Rosalind Burnett 

* Bottom Picture (from left to right) - New members -  Vaida Sirtutye-Hughes, Keti Juba, Sue Mostert, Tanya Zagrebelko

* Absentee - Laura Wallace 

Thanks to all our outgoing committee members - Leslie Allen, Rosalind Burnett, Fiona Mohr and Paula Smith for their hard work and welcome to our new members! It was a fun evening complete with our handsome mascot and a pizza or two. 

WELCOME TO OUR NEW COORDINATOR

February 1, 2019

At the start of this year, we were very pleased to welcome Zainab Ansari as our new coordinator. Zainab had been a member of WINGS for some time prior to her appointment, working tirelessly as a willing and valuable member of our committee, as well as a volunteer in the office, all of which has helped her smooth transition into the role of coordinator.

For a friendly and warm welcome to Whangarei, to find out about local groups and events or just to have a chat and a cup of tea or coffee, call in to our office at 37 Bank Street, Civic Arcade (Upstairs) to meet Zainab any day from Monday to Wednesday (9 am to 1 pm).

KIWIBANK LOCAL HERO AWARDS

December 17, 2018

This year WINGS founders - Virginia Barr Eiger and Liane Tracey Blair were nominated for the Kiwibank Local Hero’s award and they won!

Check out this story from the NZ Herald website - 

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northland-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503402&objectid=12178712

WINGS COLOUR QUIZ NIGHT WINNERS

November 3, 2018

1st Prize - Royal Island Visitors

2nd Prize - Red Team

3rd Prize - Purple Passion

Best dressed table: 50 shades of Pink

Best dressed men: Nic Connop (Purple) & Dave Andrews from Lawnco. (Orange)

Best dressed women: Liane Blair (Pink) & Jen Thompson (Purple)

WINGS 2017 RAFFLE WINNER

November 1, 2018

Aristeh was the lucky person who won first prize in the WIN with WINGS 2017 fundraising raffle.

Here she is enjoying her tropical holiday.

COMMITTEE FOR 2018-2019

May 2, 2018

Our AGM (or 'AGP' - Annual General Party'!) was a great success. Thanks to all our outgoing committee members for their hard work and welcome to our new members! We also say bon voyage and thank you to Caroline, our Coordinator, and welcome to Hannah who will be taking over as Coordinator. It was a fun evening complete with our handsome mascot and a pizza or two. 

HANNAH AZIZ - WINGS NEW COORDINATOR

April 26, 2018

It is with great pleasure, that we would like to introduce you to Hannah Aziz - our new WINGS coordinator. She is replacing Caroline who is going to Auckland to manage and run the wonderful Aio Wira Retreat and Seminar Centre in the beautiful Waitakere Ranges in Auckland - http://www.aiowira.org.nz/

Caroline still plans to come up to Whangarei for the odd outing and event and to also see her WINGS 'family'. We all know the importance of taking time out for ourselves and Caroline will be organising a few "time out retreats" just for us WINGS ladies at the Aio Wira Centre - keep an eye out in our newsletters for these.

Hannah starts in the office on Monday 7th May and Caroline's last day is Friday 4th May. 

There will be a 'Welcome Hannah' and 'Farewell Caroline' morning tea on Friday 4th May (replacing the coffee time at Riverside Cafe) from 10-11.30am at the Brenda Gardner Room at the CAB (downstairs from WINGS). Tea, coffee and biscuits will be supplied and we'd love you to pop in and say Hi even if it is just for 5 mins. Everyone welcome!

WIN WITH WINGS RAFFLE WINNERS

November 29, 2017

The Raffle draw was on 29th of November at the Whangarei Central Library. It was drawn by Her Worship the Mayor Sheryl Mai. She made it real fun by increasing the curiosity while announcing the names of the lucky 7 winnners. 

MOTHERS MEETUP

November 27, 2016

WINGS has started a new group for mothers with young children where they can meet up with other like minded Mums. It's a chance to have a coffee, yarn, share stories or idea's, ask questions or get some support and make some new friends. If interested, then send us a request to join our Facebook group.

THE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

November 9, 2017

Congratulations Liane and Gina!

Last night these amazing ladies received The Community Service Award from Rotary South group for outstanding and valuable service to the community.

In order to win this award they had to have demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovative skills within the local and/or the wider community.

Think we can all agree that they certainly did this with WINGS.

We all thank you for what you have given us!

Comments from Liane:  Thanks to all of the ladies who have supported WINGS by volunteering and attending WINGS and also all of the other community groups who have collaborated with us and all of the local businesses who have donated their products for our raffles. Please if you are visiting any of these businesses then acknowledge them and let them know you saw their name through WINGS. Thanks to all sponsors and our funders for funds received. So many people in the background who have worked really hard to keep the wheels in motion....so again thanks for your comments...it has been great meeting all of you..thanks from Liane and Gina....none of it was possible without all of you...

Click below to read what people say about us on Facebook

WINGS IN LINKZ MAGAZINE

August 28th, 2017

Recently, an article was published about WINGS in the LINKZ Magazine, which we would like to proudly share with you all. This is the story of our founders Liane Blair and Gina Eiger and how WINGS came into reality. Liane and Gina met each other in a shoe store around ten years back. Based on their experience of migrating to a new place and searching for a new social life, the idea of WINGS was born. This article explains how the continuous work of WINGS has brought smiles to many faces and helped people connect on many different levels.

We, as a community, have an opportunity to learn so much from each other whilst celebrating our differing cultures through cooking and baking together, art and dance sessions, self defence lessons, beach days and being pampered at the WINGS Pamper Day.

The story of our website creator Louise Stewart is also publised in the same magazine. Many of us would find similarity with her story of settling down in NZ.

Here is the link to the online version of the magazine. The article on WINGS is at page no 32 and Louise Stewart is on page no 28

https://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/files/documents/LINKZ%2068_WEB.pdf

NEW BOOK CLUB

August 21st, 2017

WINGS has started a new group for book lovers!

A small but dedicated group of readers have recently begun to meet fortnightly at Whangarei Central Library to discuss books of all kinds. 

They would meet at 10.30 am on a Tuesday, next meetings 29th Aug, then 12th and 26th Sept, 10th and 24th Oct. 

For further information, contact 
Kristin Kelly at kristin220@hotmail.com and
Lindsey Shaw at lindseyshaw1q@gmail.com

SALT DOUGH CREATIONS

July 27, 2017

Everyone enjoyed making the salt dough crafts and there is enough interest to do the same again.  Next week we may try using uncolored dough and taking it home on foil plates, so it can be baked slowly in the oven. We might also try modelling animals, like a mouse, a hedgehog, a lamb, or an owl, using salt dough round a core of screwed up foil. We could also try using pipe cleaners as armatures (skeletons) for figures, though that is likely to be more difficult.

WINGS WITH NORTHERN ADVOCATE

June 22, 2017

As part of National Volunteer Week (18 - 24th June), the Northland Advocate took on our challenge to spend time with us  to brainstorm on how we can better promote WINGS within our community and increase our paid memberships. A team of three people form the Northern Advocate (Craig, Greg and Jan) generously spent two hours with Caroline, Jackie and Rosalind throwing around idea's and strategies. A big Thank you to Volunteer Northland providing an avenue for businesses to help each other within Volunteer Week and a massive Thank you to the team from Northern Advocate for taking on the  challenge.

LIFE-MEMBERSHIP AWARDS

May 3, 2017

Liane Blair (on left) and Gina Eiger (on right) who founded WINGS in 2006 were made 'Life Members' and presented with a certificate to mark the occasion.

Both Gina and Liane have worked tirelessly over the past 10 years putting so much love and energy into developing WINGS and from the beginning they made sure it had a secure foundation. Gina retired from the committee a few years ago and Liane recently stepped down from her role as Coordinator but they are still very much part of WINGS and now its the time to enjoy the fruits of their hard work. Thanks Liane and Gina - we are grateful for your vision and enthusiasm to make WINGS an amazing organisation.

WINGS at INTERNATIONAL FAMILIES DAY

May 13, 2017

Whangarei Mayor - Sheryl Mai catches up with some of the WINGS team (Leslie Allen, Deirdre Nicholls and Rosalind Burnett - not in the picture)  at International Families Day at Forum North on 13th of May. 

Mark Allen who has autism, loves to make toys and for this event he created  planes, trucks, bikes etc from cardboard and gave them out to children.

VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR

May 3, 2017

Jennifer Lovatt was recognised for her work on the committee particularly fund-raising for Pamper Day. Lijie Goodhue’s name was also added to the shield for her role as treasurer for several years.

CAROLINE HUDSON - WINGS NEXT COORDINATOR

May 15, 2017

Hi all, I am really looking forward to the coordinator's role with WINGS and being part of an awesome organisation. 

I am a Whangarei-ette but have spent the last 30 odd years either in Ak or overseas. 

I started my career in Kindergarten teaching in Ak and then running educational based programmes for nannies looking after children. After 13 years of teaching  in Ak I decided that I wanted to spread my wings and become a commercial boat skipper so I changed tack in my career and headed for the high seas. This lead me to running boating and fishing seminars for women throughout NZ and then eventually into owning and running a boutique fishing lodge in the beautiful South Pacific islands of Tonga. 

Some 20 years later I have found my way back to Whangarei and have been here for 2 years now. With a lot of my old friends having moved on it was great to find new ones through the WINGS group. It really helped me settle back into Whangarei a lot easier. 

I love being active and social but I also like quiet times like being in the garden and doing yoga and pilates.

I look forward to meeting you all and getting to know some more amazing ladies.

RASHIM SETHI - WINGS COORDINATOR

January 15, 2017

Rashim Sethi worked for WINGS taking on the role of Coordinator. She took on the role enthusiastically and brought with her excellent IT skills as well as a kind and caring attitude to all the people she dealt with. 

At the beginning of 2016 WINGS had a new website which needed fine tuning and an Excel database of about 800 contacts to convert to MailChimp. Rashim’s IT knowledge was invaluable for this, as well as being very practical. WINGS newsletters now go out via Mailchimp. Rashim was responsible for maintaining and updating all social media, newsletters as well as the website.

This work was in addition to managing the monthly meetings and manning the WINGS office and doing the other administration which is necessary. This included forwarding emails to the relevant members and chasing up on tasks and organising people. The coordinator role also includes attending executive meetings and monthly meetings.

Rashim was very organised and achieved her tasks within deadlines. WINGS was very sorry when Rashim had to leave Whangarei as she was an asset to WINGS and fitted in very easily. We have continued to use her services as our online marketing manager.

WINGS COORDINATOR LIANE BLAIR TURNS ANOTHER PAGE!

November 27, 2016

We are just about to hit a great milestone with the upcoming 10 year celebration of WINGS. 

I have decided to retire from my position as Coordinator of WINGS and pursue other interests. I will still be a part of WINGS as a member and volunteer so you will not see the end of me!!! 

It has been a rewarding job and how else would I have met so many great women and their families from around the globe. Everyone has an interesting story to offer and it has enriched my life by having met each and everyone of you!!! 

I would like to thank everyone who have come to WINGS, volunteered and helped make this organisation a great success! All of you have made WINGS what it is today! 

I would also like to thank Co-founder Gina Eiger for her help getting WINGS off the ground. As I continue to say if I didn’t meet Gina in the shoe shop then I don’t think WINGS would have started! 

I look forward to the 10 Year Birthday/Anniversary/Reunion/Party and celebrating with all of you. It will be great to see many faces from the past as well as new ones too!