On Wednesday 27 May OWLS hosted our annual Pink Ribbon Morning Tea at Gallaway Cook Allan to raise money to for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation. The event was well attended by members (dressed in a sea of pink attire!) and everyone enjoyed the scrumptious pink treats on offer. It turns out that this year’s Committee are quite handy bakers! The event raised a total of $389.60 ($60 more than last year) from donations taken on the day, donations made online, and the selling of leftover baking. A great team effort!

Dear OWLS Members,

OWLS will celebrate its 30th Anniversary in 2016. To this end we are currently looking for all OWLS memorabilia (think documents, posters, photos, flags, disks, and other artefacts) that should be included in our current archiving/history project to ensure the history of OWLS is properly preserved for future generations.

So search your offices and filing cabinets and let us know if you have something you would like to contribute/lend to the project and why it is important. We can even come and pick it up.

Just email us at members.owls@gmail.com and let us know what you have to share.

Please also let us know if you are interesting in helping with our archiving/history project.

Many Thanks,
2015 OWLS Committee

This is what we have so far? What do you have to share?

A large and happy group of OWLS attended a dinner at the Customhouse to celebrate Judge Farnan’s appointment to the Invercargill District Court. Based on the fact the final guests did not leave until nearly midnight, it is safe to say that a fun evening was had by all and Judge Farnan’s appointment was well and truly celebrated in style (despite uncooperative airplanes)! Congratulations again Judge Farnan!

On Tuesday 31 March, the 2015 OWLS Committee hosted “Meet the Committee” drinks at Di Lusso after work. This has become an annual tradition as the first OWLS event of the new Committee year. The turnout was impressive, despite a last minute clash with a Law Society event, together with the end of financial year rush. The event provided a chance for members to share delicious nibbles and drinks while mingling with their new Committee.

The OWLS Annual General Meeting was held on Tuesday, 17 February 2015 at Ombrellos Bar and Restaurant. The meeting was well supported, with a good turnout of members. The AGM began with members catching up with each other over a friendly drink and some nibbles, before the business part of the evening began. Firstly, the 2015 Committee was established. We have a full OWLS Committee again this year, with two new committee members, Catey Boyce and Anne McLeod, joining the Committee. Rachel Brooking and Bridget Irving have stepped off the Committee this year after many years and we thank them for their service. As well as general business matters, discussions were also held about the upcoming 30th anniversary of OWLS in 2016 and possibility of an archiving/history project and/or celebrations to mark that occasion. Discussions were also had about how best to display Marion Thompson’s tea set, which has been kindly gifted to OWLS by Sally McMillan. After the formal part of the meeting was concluded most of the members stayed on for a delicious dinner, during which OWLS Committee member Alison Douglass presented a very engaging talk on the prestigious New Zealand Law Foundation International Research Fellowship she has been awarded and the research she intends to carry out on the important issue of medical consent and capacity in New Zealand. This project will involve national and international research at the highest level and we wish Alison all the very best in her endeavours. All in all the AGM was a very successful and enjoyable event.

Would you or someone you know like to be on the 2015 OWLS Committee? We are seeking nominations of new and experienced members NOW to join our 2015 team. To find out more about what is involved in being on the OWLS Committee please contact one of our current Committee members or phone Sarah McNeill on 03 471 5497.

To apply please complete the attached nomination form and return it to us at members.owls@gmail.com by Friday 13 February 2015 or phone Sarah McNeill on 03 471 5497.

OWLS Nomination Form 2015

We look forward to you joining our passionate team.

The 2014 OWLS Committee wishes you and your loved ones a safe and happy festive season and we look forward to catching up at the 2015 AGM in February.

Thank you to all of our members for your ongoing support and stellar event attendance this year. We hope you have enjoyed the year as much as we have. We look forward to bringing you another action packed year of educational opportunities and fun social events in 2015.

Please get in touch (members.owls@gmail.com) if you are interested in joining the 2015 OWLS Committee. Nomination forms and membership forms will be available on this website in February 2015.

The last OWLS event for 2014 was a shopping evening at the Dunedin Trade Aid store. The 10 members in attendance were treated to drinks and nibbles courtesy of OWLS, and fair trade chocolate, tea, and coffee courtesy of Trade Aid.

This event was a great ethically minded opportunity to buy some last minute Christmas presents and decorations and to learn more about the international communities that directly benefit from Trade Aid. The 20 per cent discount kindly on offer by Trade Aid also ensured that nobody left empty handed (as the photos attest)! There is nothing quite like a bargain at this time of year.

There is a huge range of products available in store, ranging from baking goods, children’s toys, clothing, homewares, furniture, and decorations. It all even comes beautifully gift wrapped. I encourage all of you to have a look around the store as you finish off your Christmas shopping. Thank you very much to Trade Aid for hosting another lovely evening and we look forward to having this event again in 2015.

On Friday 5 December 2014 the annual OWLS Christmas Lunch took place at Plato Restaurant. The event was very well attended and a festive time was had by all. Members were able to choose from a variety of delicious fare, including beautiful fresh fish and seafood. The lunch was thoroughly enjoyable and was a great chance for members to take time out in the busy lead up to Christmas to catch up with one another and to wish each other a happy holiday season.

As is usual tradition, a collection was taken for Women’s Refuge and a total of $115 was raised by members. This has been donated to Women’s Refuge, along with the $85 that was collected at the Suffrage Day Breakfast back in September.

Following on from the success of the first Wise OWLS lunchtime forum, we held the second lunchtime forum on 19 November 2014 at the Otago Branch Meeting Room in John Wickliffe House.

The forum was well attended by Wise OWLS and members alike and focused on different “pathways to success”. A constructive discussion was had on the steps that members could take to achieve whatever “success” they desire.

As always there were some useful suggestions from more senior members about what they did to get to where they are in their career. We also received some helpful feedback on the format of the forums.