September Update

Spring has finally sprung...thank goodness for that!  And it's funny that as soon as the first signs of spring appear we all start to come out from our winter hibernation and reconnect with our community - whether it's down at the local park, giving a smile at the local shop or taking part in one of the many community events that fill the spring calendar.

Each month thousands of people connect with communities around New Zealand through Community Connect.  Each month we welcome more and more new visitors who want to be part of this grassroots online community.  We have also been approached by a Tauranga businessman offering to do some pro-bono work for a community group ... and he found the group to work with through Community Connect.  Read on for more about that fantastic story!

In this newsletter we also introduce a new section on our Resources page and we ask for your views on the event that's on everyone's minds - Rugby World Cup!  We also remind you about our Events pages - it's FREE promotion so why not make the most of it!

Finally - you will see we have a new team member.  We welcome Jess Somerville to the team.  She's taking up the reins from Mel Tavendale, who is loving her new job as mum to little Josephine (check out our Facebook page for a very cute pic!)

We look forward to seeing you online!

Pip, Suzi & Jess
The Community Connect team

All About Boards

Feel like your organisation is trying to reinvent the wheel when it comes to governance?

Get free help and advice from the BRAND NEW Boards and Governance section on the Community Connect website. 

This section outlines all you need to know about Boards and points you in the right direction for heaps of free advice.  Did you know there are templates out there that can help you with issues such as policies, board orientation manuals, evaluation checklists and governing process...and way more.  The Community Connect site also links you to a great article for anyone considering joining a board.

Don't keep going around in circles...click here to see the new Boards and Governance section at TrustPower Community Connect.

Disability Services Trust gets FREE help - thanks to Community Connect

The Western Bay of Plenty Disability Services Trust is getting thousands of dollars worth of web and logo development for FREE - thanks to Community Connect.

Tauranga brand and web designer Scott used the Community Connect discussion forum to offer his services to a community group for free.  He did it because he felt inspired to help others and thought the best way he could do that was to put his skills in providing quality branding and web development services to use for a community group.

We had lots of feedback from Scott's offer and requests to be part of it.  Scott has reviewed all the requests and has chosen an organisation whose needs were the best fit with what he could offer....and the Western Bay of Plenty Disability Services Trust were the lucky ones!

Scott's going to refresh their logo and develop a bit more of a brand identity for them as well as a website to help them to communicate with the groups they support and to the end service users - the people with disabilities.  He's also going to look into setting up a content management system for them.

We'll definitely keep following the progress of this project and we can't wait to show you the Trust's new website in the future.

And you never know when we'll get another good samaritan offering support to the voluntary sector...so keep your eye on the Community Connect Discussion forum or join TrustPower Community on Facebook to make sure you're in the know!

What does the Rugby World Cup mean for volunteers?

Rugby World Cup fever has hit ... but what impact has that little oval ball had on your organisation?

Have you lost volunteers to the chance to be part of this historic event, or has the Cup reignited a sense of community and pride, resulting in increased volunteerism?

And with more than 80,000 visitors on our doorsteps, that must provide some opportunities and challenges for the voluntary sector.  What are your experiences?

Share your views on the latest Community Connect Discussion...just click here.

Promote your event for FREE!

The TrustPower Community Connect Events Calendar is one of the most viewed pages on the site.  People just LOVE finding out about interesting events happening in their community - and around the country!

Make sure you get your events on this FREE calendar.  Just log in to your Community Connect page and then click Add An Event (it's on the right hand side in the box).  This way your event will display on your group's Community Connect page as well as on the Calendar!

And if you have a great photo to go with your event contact us and we'll find room to promote your event on the front page of the site!

To see the Community Connect Events Calendar just click here.

The winners are being revealed...

More than half of the winners of the regional TrustPower Community Awards have been announced....and you can find out who they are right here.

And don't forget the amazing young volunteers recognised through the TrustPower Youth Community Spirit Award.  Find out more about this Award and read about the winner's announced so far right here.

So far this year there have been 15 regional TrustPower Community Awards, where around 180 voluntary organisations have received Awards and 15 Supreme Winners have been announced.  Those regional winners will all be gearing up to represent their region at the TrustPower National Community Awards, being held in the Ashburton district in March 2012.

With another 10 regional Community Awards still to be announced make sure you keep the TrustPower Community Awards Results firmly at the top of your favourites!

Join Us On Facebook

Want to know who won the latest TrustPower Community Awards?

Or when a new article or discussion is started on the TrustPower Community Connect website?

Just follow us on Facebook and you'll be the first to know!

Join the TrustPower Community and we'll keep you in touch with all our regional Community Awards so you know when nominations open, close and who the winners are.  You'll also see photos from our Awards events and other community activities, as well as updates on what's happening at Community Connect.

Just go to www.facebook.com/trustpower and be part of the TrustPower community online!

This newsletter is published by CommunityConnect.co.nz. TrustPower Community Connect provides an online space for New Zealand's voluntary groups and organisations. It provides a place to connect with other organisations, search for resources and discuss topics and even promote events.

Copyright 2010 TrustPower Community Connect. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.

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TrustPower Community Connect
Private Bag 12023 Tauranga Mail Centre, Tauranga, 3143

Contact: enquiries@communityconnect.co.nz
or call 0800 87 11 11, press 0 and ask to speak to Community Relations.