First Fridays Network meets - 3 May 2024 - The Palms food court - 1.30pm-ish or 2-ish to 4-ish

 

Kia ora koutou

First Fridays Network meets - 3 May 2024 - The Palms food court - 1.30pm-ish or 2-ish to 4-ish

Last month we met at Eastgate - this month we will meet at the Palms in Shirley.  We are not sure if we like malls - but at least there is plenty of space, and we do not stand out as a group.  We also wondered if we could meet earlier than 2pm - so - let's just arrive when it suits us - I aim to be there before 1:30pm.  I cannot visualise the mall - so if there's more than one food court, let's use cell phones if we cannot find each other (Elaine - 021993259).  As to how long we go on - actually, there is no limit.  The "First Fridays Network meeting" is simply an opportunity to get together and chat about meaningful things - and figure out where we will meet in June.

See below for more details - we can clarify these details on Friday.

Ngā mihi

Elaine

About the First Fridays Network : We are exploring new territory around how people can get together with future friends and find things we might like to get more involved in - we are figuring it out together, gradually, along with other similar networks and groups.  The following are things we have sort of agreed:

• We meet somewhere on the First Friday of each month.  Initially we met in libraries: Tūranga, Riccarton, South, Eastgate (although most of us did not get beyond the Food Court).  That's Nov, Dec, Feb, March - and we met in my house in January. 
  
• This kind of meeting is hosted by N4W:AoNZ - or Networking for Wellbeing : Aotearoa New Zealand. Basically, the big idea behind all this is to find ways to foster collectivity - so it is easy for people to get together with others - but without being tied to responsibilities - you turn up if it suits you and you don't if it doesn't. 
  
• We chat in small groups - that way it is easier for new people to join in - and for those who have been around a while to get to know each other a little better.  Maybe we move around a little - so we are not in the same group all the time. Toward the end of the session we get together and see if anything has come up that we want to share - and figure out where we will meet next time.
  

And we are gradually figuring things out.  For example ..

• We welcome new people - we are all hosts!  (This is what a network is for us - new people are welcomed - you are welcome to bring others along. Groups that are working on a particular project are not as open as this.)
  
• We explore ideas and look for things we might do in the next month.
• Last month there was a focus on "Flourishing" - that group met for the first time yesterday.
  
• The month before some of us figured out that we would get together to sort out some problems with using cell phones and computers.
  
• We can hear about what other groups or networks within N4W:AoNZ are doing - and maybe join in.
  
• For example, another network "First Impressions" which meets on Saturdays has decided to go to the Court Theatre's production of Some Brilliant things on Saturday, 4 May at 4pm.  You could also join in - just make your own booking - let me know, and we'll see you there. 
  

Basically, the First Fridays Network comes together because we can - on a Friday afternoon, once a month.

Links to articles ..

 

Ian has pinged through some links to articles that he would like to appear on this blog.  See the list on the right.  

By the way - this blog has become too complicated.  Your blog Tech team is sorting that out - we will replace this blog with something much simpler and easier for you to use.  

About blogger - out of action for updating - and separation of 7+ from N4W - this is good progress

Hi everyone - thank you for what you have done on Blogger. 

The next step is to simplify it. 

But I cannot simplify it until a feel a sense of agreement around various ideas that have emerged in the last year or so.  

So what I have done is set up a fresh Blog for N4W - this means N4W can sort itself out without consulting everyone. 

And, when that is done, this blog can revert to being one especially for Seven Plus and perhaps similar networks.  

Cheers

Eastgate follow-up

 Thanks to everyone who was at Eastgate yesterday, even those I did not manage to talk to. I've been pondering on how to explain this group to other people. So far I've managed to articulate my answer to why I am prepared to drive 45 minutes from Cust and an hour home in the later afternoon traffic for this monthly event: 

I am looking for meaningful connections and a supportive community to  help me deal with the challenges and make the most of the opportunities of  this stage (post paid work) of my life.

I'd love to see or hear what reasons other people have for choosing to be part of this. You are welcome to share your reason in the comment below. If you want help with commenting, I suggest taking Elaine up on her offer of a technology support get-together.

Karen

Flourishing Group 2024 - email 05/04/2024

 

Hi everyone

This is an update on the Flourishing arrangements.  June and I (Elaine) have talked everything over and all seems to be falling into place.  I am tidying up some stuff and want to talk with you each separately about it - but meantime here are some facts. 

(1) We have a Zoom meeting with Viv McAlister and Bernie White from the Third Age Foundation in Wellington at 9.30 am on Monday 15 April. 

• The purpose of this meeting is for you and the organisers in Wellington (Viv and Bernie) to meet each other.  This is an opportunity to hear a little more about the programme as a whole and the research that is linked with it.  They are keen to meet you, and to answer your questions.  
  
• Some of you are unable to attend the Zoom meeting.  I am keen to sort out how a buddy system might work so you and someone who cannot attend can have a catch up and a chat. 
• Please talk with me (or someone else) if you would like help with Zoom. 
  

(2) Our first face-to-face meeting is at St Nicholas Church on the corner of Barrington and Frankleigh St (parking off Frankleigh St).  We have the lounge booked from 2 - 3.30pm

• This meeting will be a relaxed session in which we get to know each other and chat about the six main threads of the Flourishing programme.  We will also talk about our ground rules so that we can be sure about things like confidentiality and respect for different points of view etc.
• Our group that did this programme in 2022 figured out that this cartoon fitted us.  We were embarking on a shared journey! 
  

Ngā Mihi - let's talk soon about my tiny list of trivial questions

Elaine  021 993259

(Administration Assistant to you all - and I am happy for you to phone or text - no worries)

N4W Update - what's happening in the next two or three days - just for those who are keeping tabs on me

(1)  Elaine (that's me as administrator of this blog)  is updating this blog over the next and intends to open it up so that those who are supporting N4W know what it is and how it works.  I plan to circulate material to a dozen or so people on Sunday. 

(2) First Fridays Network (perhaps we might call it FF+  .. with the notion that plus refers to a network) is meeting this afternoon (5 April).  The session is at Eastgate mall, at 2pm - and possibly moving up to the library later.  This writing is about planning for that session.  

• There are about 19 people on the mailing list and around 10 attending today.  The mailing list includes
• three people with a future interest - their names to not appear on the open list of participants in emails. 
• nine people who are joining our 2024 Flourishing group - which begins its activities later this month
• Five people are part of 7+
• Three people are currently interested in First Fridays - but have not yet attended . 
• Three people also attend First Impressions which meets on Saturdays once a month.                      
  
• That makes more than 20 because some people belong to more than one category. 
• Planning for today will involve consolidating some understandings about what works well for a group like this, and how we might do that during this session: 
• a purposes statement - as is being developed within Alt Wed (I am altering the statement in the N4W blog to coincide with this)
• The existing statement is  
• N4W is about working together to strengthen our communities and to support each other in friendship. Networking is a way of bringing people together. Well-being includes caring for our collective well-being - the well-being of planet, our nation, our communities, whanau, friends and groups, and our selves. This blog is designed to share information about N4W itself, and various networks and groups within N4W. 
• The purposes statement is currently - each * will be defined in the more detailed statement.
  
• N4W is a movement*, not an organisation.  It is evolving and growing alongside the networks* and groups* that identify with it and support its development.   
• The purpose* of N4W is to support activities* and conversations* that contribute to well-being* in all its forms.
• Each network or group within N4W works in its own way to support its own Purposes, Activities and Values and to take part in the ongoing development of the movement.
• This leads to the idea that First Fridays Plus (FF+ is a network within N4W - and it needs to identify its Purposes, Activities and Values
  
• which is part of the conversation this afternoon - and it can build on all the conversations the group has had so far. 
• Purposes - fresh opportunities to meet like-minded (what does that mean?) people who have similar or different interests - opportunities to learn stuff and share activities - opportunities to learn fresh skills and grow fresh ideas. ongoing meaningful conversations (as opposed to ... ???)
• Activities - what do we have - what do we want?
• Open meeting on First Fridays
• Maybe technology support?  
• Movie going - get together - games
  
• Maybe links to other N4W networks?
•  
  
• Values - kindness, respect, celebrating diversity?  

(3) Networking for Well-being and the Blog Update

 

to be continued -

 

  

 

 

First Fridays email for 5 April

 

Greetings, nga mihi nui ki a koutou.

The First Friday Network (N4W) is meeting at Eastgate on Friday of this week.  2 - 4pm.

You are all welcome.  We will meet on the ground floor - in the eating hall.  We will keep an eye out for each other. The meetings finish when it suits us, some leave earlier but usually about 4pm. 

About the First Friday meetings:

• Basically the meetings are an opportunity to get together, make new friends and catch up with those we have already met.  The purpose is to do with supporting each other through our friendships, and to support the collective well-being of our communities, and the health of our planet.  We care about the life to be good in the long-term for our mokopuna.  We have no fixed agenda - but we try to help each other in various ways with whatever is going on. 
  

• Last month (March) we met at South Library, and the month before in Tūranga.  We have figured out that meeting in cafes at libraries works well.  It does not matter how many people turn up - conversations among three or four people can be much more interesting than a big group - so we begin with a cuppa.  Two or three of us cunningly make sure that everyone who arrives is welcomed and can get involved easily - we usually sit with no more than three others initially.
  

• After our cuppa we will probably get together as a larger group to figure out share what we have talked about and to figure out what next.  The First Fridays Network is a relatively new within N4W so we are still sorting out how we want to proceed.
  

Please reply so that we know this message has gotten through to you - there are thee questions.  

• Are you planning to attend this week?
  
• Are you happy to stay on this mailing list?
• Are you happy to have your email address appear openly in future emails?

I suspect the replies will be "yes, yes, yes" for some of those who have already been to any meetings - but this email includes others who have not yet come to a meetings.

Enjoy your day.  Ring me if you have queries or suggestions.

Elaine 021553259