President’s Report v1 n1

This year is New Zealand’s year, marking 150 years of nationhood that has been celebrated as no other year has been to date. The fabulous spectacle of the New Year festivities in Auckland and Hikurangi, the Commonwealth Games, Kiri’s homecoming, the Royal visit, and Waitangi Day, not to mention the Whitbread, have all added to the excitement.

Amidst this new year celebration, the NZ Suzuki Institute is also coming of age in New Zealand. The fledgling organization has expanded to such an extent that there are now fully operational branches in the South Island, Wellington, Napier, Hamilton, and Auckland.

With this growth, there is much excitement and also demands placed on all of us to ensure good cooperation and nurturing of our children through the Suzuki philosophy and the talent education teaching method.

I understand that very successful end-of-year events were held in all centers, and the new year was saluted in the South Island and the North with successful summer schools. The Executive met in Auckland on 4th February and again on 18th March.

The Executive has a heavy program to attend to this year, including finalizing the teacher training program and rationalizing the constitution.

A review of our membership lists and financial members leaves us with some cause for concern, as many listed members are not financial. Financial members only will ensure receipt of further newsletters. So please support your Institute, and I take this opportunity to wish you all well for this great and challenging new year.”

Yours in Suzuki, Donald A. Carter