Hi everyone,
All the best wishes for 2025. May all you fine men and your groups thrive!
Waitangi Weekend
14 to 16 February 2025
Deer Stalkers Lodge
St Arnaud
This is our 3rd Waitangi Retreat. A whole weekend to explore our stories in depth in the company of committed men.
The Waitangi retreat is especially designed to accommodate guys who havent done this for very long, so we will allow time to get you accustomed to this more in depth way of processing. We invite experienced men to hold space as well as newer men to take the plunge.
We all have amazing sharings in our fortnightly groups, but imagine how much more exploring can happen when you have a full weekend. 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 dinner, if you want to contribute to that let me know.
After that we share all the tasks. There’s also free time to get to know people more informally, and to get out into the hills and bush.
It would be really great if you would let us know if you are coming so we can gauge numbers. The venue also has a strict limit on numbers. People are invited to give a little more towards the costs, to help out people who might find finances a bit tricky.
Arrive anytime on Friday after 3pm. Dinner 7pm, we can leave some for latecomers. Then circle.
The new Teepee
The teepee is running full steam with 5 groups using it. No one has permanent rights to it, so your group can book it too, if you haven't already.
Hilary is the gatekeeper, bookings through him (021 6165294). The teepee is 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 (021 6165294) for more info.
2 new groups
We welcome 2 new groups that formed through the Int Mens Day. The Monday group (no name yet) is steaming ahead with 12 guys. Good on you, fellas.
The new Dads Group meets on Tuesdays. We have vacancies in that one and would encourage all you dads our there to join and share your experience as new or advanced dads. Its a tough game and here is your forum.
Facilitators and new men
If you are interested in joining or just visiting a group, get in touch. We will refer you or even start a new group once we have enough interest.
New groups are facilitated for a while to establish the culture and values we have (refer to our standards on the website). The facilitator is supported by "uncles" from other groups, so there is already a pool of experience in the new group. These people aren't “leader” in the traditional sense of the facilitator, but will model the way this work works as full members. No hiding behind professional distance.
We always need facilitators and uncles. If you have done this for a while and want to give back what you have received when you were new to this, contact us. Even a partial commitment is welcome.
Auckland Essentially Men
Essentially men in Auckland have been in touch with us and we will cooperate in the future to further our cause all around the country. Essentially Men has been around for decades and has a large pool of groups and individuals to draw on. They have long experience in this work and share our values.
You will see their representation on our website soon and we will introduce them in more detail in the next newsletter
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 done so, consider naming your group. It gives it character and makes it distinguishable from others 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 don't want to spam people.
Hardy
021 213 2299
Victor
022 326 4157
Nick (Motueka)
0210333574