Newsletter Quarter 1, 2023
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Meet Our New Lead Community Advisor |
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Wellington MS is delighted to welcome Jo Dean as our new Lead Community Advisor. Jo spent the past 7 years working in the disability sector as a Service Coordinator/Administrator for CCS Disability Action Wairarapa and we are very excited she is joining our wonderful Wellington MS Team. Welcome Jo! Jo is looking forward to getting to know our clients all around the region. |
Image description: Jo Dean wears glasses and is facing the camera with greenery behind her |
A Replacement Car for MS Wellington |
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Thanks to our amazing funders Trust House Foundation, the Four Winds Foundation and Pub Charity Limited, MS Wellington has been able to upgrade one of its two vehicles for our Community Advisors. The replacement car cost in excess of $20,000 and is a Kia Rio hatchback 1.4l, perfect for zip-zapping around visiting clients. Unfortunately the old vehicle was over 10 years old and the maintenance requirements had become uneconomic. MSW's other vehicle is also nearing the end of its useful life and fundraising will commence later this year to replace it. I would like to help fundraise for another replacement vehicle |
Image description: Lacey Reedy is behind the wheel of the sporty new, electric blue, Kia.
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Can You Help: MS Awareness Week 2023 |
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MS Awareness Week is rolling back into town from 11-17 September 2023. We would dearly love to hold a street collection again, after the cancellations of the last couple of years but will need your help to make that happen. If you or someone you know are happy to be part of the street collection, as perhaps a collector or an area coordinator then please get in touch using the link below. Perhaps that doesn't suit but you might be able to collect or do a fundraiser at home, work or with your club, again we would love to hear from you. We're mindful that many of our people might not feel comfortable fundraising face-to-face in the post-covid environment. We totally understand and accept that, so please put yourself and your own wellbeing first. Please don't go without the things you need to make a donation either. We know MS Awareness Week isn't just about raising much needed funds to enable people with MS to live their best lives, its also about telling people we're here, who we are, what we need and how they can help. It's a big ask, but if you can help by giving a few hours of your time or fundraising and awareness raising in another way then please let us know below. |
Image description: decorative image of a help wanted sign.
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Image description: The top of the homepage of our New Website
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We've been working to upgrade to a new, modern website, supported by funding we received through the Government's COVID 19 communications funding we received last year. The new site is now live! The layout of the new site is very similar to the old one, but the new site is much easier to use so will require less resources to update and maintain. Thanks to Phillip King for his work creating the new site. We would also like to thank Hamish Bockett-Smith, for the many years of dedicated service he put into maintaining the old site. Hamish is still involved in lots of other work supporting Wellington MS, so will still be around. The new website is at the same place the old one was www.mswellington.org.nz. Please take a look and pass your comments to suzanne@mswellington.org.nz |
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Thanks to Outgoing Committee Members |
Laura Dempsey |
Eric Daubé |
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MSW would like to thank two of our fantastic committee members, who have recently stepped down to focus on other things. Thanks so much Laura Dempsey and Eric Daubé for your service to the Committee. Laura has recently been WMS's substantive Vice-President and stepped up to fill the role of President when it unexpectedly became vacant. Laura has always been generous with her time, energy and expertise and will be missed. Eric has been active on the committee over the last couple of years, developing the sponsorship guidelines and offering his expertise and experience in many areas. Our sincere thanks to both of you for getting involved, and supporting the important services we provide to people with MS and their whānau across the greater Wellington region. If you know anyone with suitable skills and experience to offer, please ask them to email president@mswellington.org.nz. |
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Operating in the New Normal |
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Aotearoa has adapted now the borders have re-opened and lockdowns appear to be a thing of the past. Wellington MS would prefer to meet clients and groups face-to-face but will move meetings online anytime that physical meetings might pose an undue risk to health or safety. |
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Covid Vaccine Update: Pfizer bivalent vaccine |
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The Pfizer COVID-19 bivalent vaccine is now available to New Zealanders as a booster dose. This replaces the existing Pfizer booster and is considered likely to be more effective against Omicron subvariants than earlier vaccines. Read the announcement on the beehive website: |
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Support Group Meetings |
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Our Support Groups continue to be well attended and meet up monthly, with some exceptions around Christmas time. Find out more on our website at www.mswellington.org.nz/client-services/support-groups-and-networks/ |
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Bangers-to-Bluff are coming to town |
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The Bangers to Bluff Rally is taking place 21 March – 1 April and is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness and funds for Multiple Sclerosis. MSNZ has a banger in the event. Their rally team Neil Woodhams, Graham Walker and Jeff Silvester want to meet as many members as possible along the way. We expect to meet them at the ferry terminal at 10.30am Saturday 24 March. The exact time and location will be published on Facebook. We hope you can join us, to raise awareness and funds for our fight against MS. |
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Banner promoting the Bangers to Bluff rally
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PO Box 15024, Wellinton 6243 www.mswellington.org.nz
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