Hi everyone,
Wow, December already and Christmas looming. It has been a busy time of year especially with International Men’s Day.
Int Men's Open Day 2024
International Men’s Day gets better and better every year. This is our third year. We splashed out more on advertising. You must have seen our posters around town.. As usually we had a full programme of events from workshops to dance and music, talks, Tai Chi amd Yoga and food to eat. We had a better kid’s programme this year with zorb balls, bouncy castle, flax weaving and face painting, which attracted a few dads to join. We were particularly impressed with how the men from our men’s groups supported the day setting up, shifting things, cleaning, organising and much more.
We got a lot of interest in forming a new men's group, which we did the following monday ( no mucking around!) , on Tuesday we formed a dad's group as well.
If you missed out and would like to check either of these groups out, please contact us (Victor or Hardy, contact below)
We would like to plan for something even bigger next year. We have a core looking at forming an organising group to meet early in the new year and get a good head start on things. If you like to give feedback or fresh ideas, we'd like to hear.
Thanks to sponsors - as we mentioned we didn't have any funding this year, thanks to several private donors and the generosity of the Council , Community Funding and Gibbons Construction, we could run the event without cutting ourselves short. Thanks a million!
Christchurch International Men's Day
Bear Heart who contributed to our event in 2023 took the initiative in Christchurch and held an event on 17 November at Mt Pleasant Comunity Hall, an awesome looking place. 55+ prebooked men showed up for a shared meal and 6 workshops/ circles about sexuality /relationships, fatherhood, extatic dance, breathwork. Participants were 50/50 men already in men's work and new men.
Bear feels there was a lot of heart in the event and energy for future bigger events. He will start a new men's group from the event in the new year. Well done , brother!!
6 workshop , sexuality and relationship, fatherhood, extatic dance breathwork 10 to 4. mt pleasanr com center. Lot of heart. Public 50%, new mens group.
Waitangi Weekend
Labour Weekend Rotoiti Retreat was a resounding success. We had 31 men! , with lots of men coming for the first time. It was a great mix of those who have been doing this work for years and the newer one’s in for their first deep dive.
We have the Deer Hunter’s lodge booked again for 14 to 16 Feb , the weekend after Waitangi weekend. This retreat is especially designed for men new to men’s work to get an experience of a deep dive. We all have amazing sharings in our fortnightly groups, but imagine how much deeper you get to go when there is a full weekend to go a step further and a step after that. We also need a core of experienced men to hold space. It is also a great chance to meet men from other groups and build the wider network.
The costs is $45 a night. Bring your own food , including contributing to shared dinners. Also bedding and everything you need for yourself. There will be a meal prepared for the first meal and after that we share all the tasks. There’s also free time top get to know people more informally, and to get out into the hills and bush. The venue has a strict limit on numbers, so be sure to book in if you want to make sure you can come. People are invited to give a little more towards the costs, to help out people who might find finances a bit tricky.
The new Teepee
The new teepee was put up by 14 guys from 5 groups in a flurry of hilarity. The first free-flowing attempt was followed by a more successful one where we actually read the instruction. Several groups have met there already.
Hilary is the gatekeeper, bookings through him (021 6165294), it's only for circle work.
Hilary says: Available for Nelson groups (men or women )to book via me. 12 seats (but fits more). No alcohol, drumming or yelling.Fires possible with conditions. Talk to Hilary for more info
Reefton Group
Our Reefton group that was started over a year ago now continues to meet, but the funding for support has now ended so we wish the Reefton men all the best to keep meeting and making a difference in your community.
The new website - mensgroup.nz
The website is going well with ongoing enquiries coming in. Men's groups from Auckland and Kerikeri have contacted us.
If your group isn't on the site yet, please consider submitting your details and a photo.
The more we post on it the more interesting the website will be. So if you have an event you like to advertise or some news to announce, let us know.
Signal groups
Each of the groups has a social media group. Most use Signal. They are a simple but powerful way of keeping connected. Some groups do lots of things together outside of meeting nights, and others don’t. Increasingly men are making links to men in other groups and building great bonds
Events
Waitangi Men's Weekend
14 to 16 Feb 2025
St Arnaud Deer Stalkers Lodge
This retreat is geared for newer men, there will be more time spent introducing our concepts. Guys in newer groups, who may have joined a group recently or are interested in joing one are welcome. So are men who have experience who will model our approach in the circle . Otherwise this event is the same as the other Rotoiti retreats
Group Facilitators workshop
Probably may 2025
let us know if you are interested to participate
This event is aiming at presenting to men who want to form and possibly facilitate or “uncle” a new group. We will spent time each day on talking about how to attract men how to create safety in a group, how to deal with difficult situations, how to model sharing that is respectful and enquiring into the roots of one's issues. How to support empathetically and challenge respectully. What makes our approach unique and differs from cults , church groups, professionally led groups like AA groups and therapy groups and the wellnes industry? What are the variations in our culture?
The format is circles where we all participate sharing our stories and discuss what how we handle the situation. No professional distance! There will be short spurts of presentations and discussons as well. But the idea is to explore men's group culture it while doing it.
Name Your Group
If you haven't do so, consider naming your group. It gives it character and makes it distinguishable from otehrs when talking about it.
other interesting events (not directly linked to us)
Links
mensgroup.nz ======= That's Our (Your) website
Photos
We are looking for engaging photos of men doing their thing, group photos, mens group activities, events etc to use on the website and possibly for promo on posters. Would you have some? Is your group ok being visible for the purpose of promoting our work? (please make sure everyone is happy with it)
Newbies
If you know someone who is looking for a men's group. Put them in touch with us. We've been very successful in placing dudes in groups.
If you want any announcements in this newsletter and/or on our website like events , vacancies in your group or whatever, contact us. We will however decide if its relevant here. We dont want to spam people.
Hardy
021 213 2299
Victor
022 326 4157
Nick (Motueka)
0210333574