Hi everyone,
Another busy season comes to an end. It certainly was busy for us, keeping projects on track and starting new ones.
In this edition:
Waitangi Men's Weekend
The Forum, Advisory Group
Kings Birthday Rotoiti Retreat
Chrischurch Men's Forum formed
Upcoming Projects
Name your Group
Group Facilitation and Start-up Workshop
Upcoming Events
Waitangi Men's Weekend
The Waitangi Retreat, which is designed with new guys in mind, was a full success. Although numbers were low , intensity was up. With a bunch of mainly new guys we got right into the depth of it . Two nights where we didnt finish before 10 30 or 11pm! If you havent done a retreat before or are generally new to the men's group culture, consider attending next years Waitangi event. It's – so to speak – the next level.
The Forum, formerly “The Scholars” - Advisory Group
The name was changed to The Forum. The Forum is a 3 monthly meeting of guys representing the Nelson/Tasman groups with the aim to discuss future and ongoing projects and keep a close communication between the groups and the people doing the work. If your group isnt represented yet, get in touch and get one of your men to join next time.
There were long discussions about what a men”s group is and isn't. Where are our boundaries with cults , religious, commercial and political groups. How do we ensure safety etc. It culminated in a list of principles/standards, which we believe cover all our groups bases. If you want to read it its going to be on the website soon plus I have attached it to this newsletter.
We also discussed the projects which I will describe below.
Kings Birthday Rotoiti Men's Retreat, 31 May – 3 June
Work is going on behind the scenes to encourage men from the Westcoast and Christchurch to attend. There are 4 Westcoast groups and we are hoping that all of them will send some of their men. We have been working on widening our catchment for men's groups and retreats, geographically, socially, culturally and generationally , and this is part of our effort. Wouldn't it be something if we could encourage more young men to embrace circle work. If you have any ideas on how to attract younger men, let us know.
Upcoming Projects
We are applying for funding for work on:
Nationwide network,
Cooperation with facilitated groups,
Enhancing our website,
Facilitators workshop
Christchurch Men's Forum to promote mens work in Christchurch
Hardy has done a trip to Christchurch and Dunedin to contact existing groups and test if there is interest in coordinating our efforts between the regions. We are offering them our experience in attracting new men into new groups and facilitating them for a while, public events like the Int Men's Day and how to network the existing groups.
We had another meeting on 2 April at the Canterbury Men's Center to see what efforts Christchurch men are interested in. ( men representing maybe 7 groups plus members from sports organisations who are interested in mens work as well as representatives Oof the canterbury mens center were present. The intention is to broaden the chch forum by finding more existing groups, being part of our mensgroup.nz website including having groups introducing themselves and tarting work on forming new groups. A follow up meeting is scheduled.
Encouraged by the great outcomes and learning from our retreats shared with men from facilitated group on the Westcoast and Kaikoura, men with a wholly different set of life skills and experiences, we would like to develop more connections with groups of men from other areas of men's work.
The workshop to train up facilitators is part of this effort. We like to think that new groups' safety and effectiveness of the circle work is instantly assured through trained facilitators rather than left to chance. This is where we uphold standards that distinguish us from cults and wellness industry. We invite people to be part of this discussion, contact us.
We are working on expanding our website to allow for other regions to represent themselves and allow outside men to find a suitable group.
Present your group on mensgroup.nz – our website
We are calling existing groups to write up a one paragraph blurb describing their group, when and how do you meet, how many guys , how many years have you been going, are you open or closed, are you looking for new guys? What makes you unique, what's your culture.This is a chance to show your pride in your group. Lay it on!
We need a photo as well!
Let's populate the website with events. If there is an event, that benefits men and doesnt clash with our culture and, the rest of us should know about it. Send us a link.
Name Your Group
The first new names for groups are coming in. I'd like to welcome the
Maverick Collective (formerly the New Tuesday Group, formed after Int Mens Day 2023),
The Twisted Sticks (formerly the Tuesday Groupies, formed after Int Man's Day 2022)
The Nelson Men's Circle (formerly Murrays Group, the oldest existing Nelson group)
There you go. Your group can have a recognisable identity, too. What describes your group best? One group debated C U Next Tuesday, but decided otherwise.
Events calendar
Our events
Rotoiti Men's Retreat - 31 May to 3 June, Rotoiti Lodge
Christchurch Men's Forum - 4 June, 2pm, Cant. Mens Center
Rotoiti Men's Retreat - 25-28 October, Rotoiti Lodge
International Men's day 2024 - 17 November
Waitangi Men's Weekend - 7 to 9 February 2025
Other interesting events (not directly linked to us)
Building Communication Bridges, by with Janet Redmond May 11/12 9.30 – 5:00 Nelson – Fairfield House, Janet is a well-known spaceholder, you can see a recent youtube interview with her here, talking with radio personality Dom Harvey about her participation in the Stylebender documentary, streaming on Neon, about Israel Adesanya.
(any events we should know about? Contact 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