President’s Report v11n2

Revised Teacher Training Scheme

Congratulations to teacher trainers and teachers on their tremendous work in revising the NZSI teacher training scheme. This revised scheme promises to be very effective in accrediting teachers throughout New Zealand. This scheme can also give our teachers internationally recognised Suzuki teaching qualifications.

While work has been going on for some years to revise the current teacher training scheme, the Executive has been receiving increasingly urgent demands for more widely available teacher training. The Executive decided to present a final revision of the teacher training scheme to the annual general meeting in September.

The purpose of the revised scheme is to make teacher training as widely available and effective as possible. We collated information relating to Suzuki teacher-training schemes around the globe. We called a meeting of teacher trainers and teachers to discuss this information. This meeting used information from schemes in New Zealand, America, Australia, Europe, and Japan to draft a revised training scheme. This incorporates a number of alternative teacher training courses which could run concurrently. This draft was further revised at a follow-up meeting. The revised draft will be finalised at the Conference in Napier prior to the AGM.

Special General Meeting (SGM)

Despite very keen interest in the SGM, very few of you turned up so that we did not field a quorum and we were unable to do any business. However, concerns were voiced and answered relating to the financial position of the NZSI and the Suzuki visit bank accounts. Up-to-date financial statements are printed in this newsletter. We will hold the SGM on the opening night of the Napier Conference. The purpose of this SGM is:

(a) to streamline the executive
(b) to reconsider the roles of the executive and the branches (and consider autonomous branches)
(c) to review the objects of the NZSI.

The SGM should result in making the administration of the NZSI more cost-efficient and more effective.

Please note that any member may submit a motion for the SGM or the AGM. Such motions should be sent in writing to Alix Macartney by July 21.

Nomination of Officers

We have not included nomination forms in this newsletter. The SGM will review procedures for election of officers. Nominations prior to the SGM might prejudice this review, so nominations for executive officers will be taken from the floor of the annual general meeting.

Communication

It is vital that we have open communication links throughout our Suzuki movement. Suggestions and questions are always welcome. When in doubt, communicate any idea or problem to your teacher, branch, or executive representative. Or write to the newsletter. Effective communication can enhance our work and avoid misunderstandings. We need to keep in touch to function as an organisation.

See you at the Napier Conference.

Jerome Hartigan
NZSI President