Age about to weary branch of Grey Power

The Rotorua branch of Grey Power could end up in retirement if organisers cannot get enough people to form a new committee.

Grey Power Rotorua president Rosemary MacKenzie said a special general meeting of the organisation will be held at the CT Club on Moncur Dr on Tuesday, April 9, from 1.30pm.

Mrs MacKenzie said with more than 1300 members in the district you would think there would be more than enough volunteers to form a 12-member committee. However, the organisation was being run by about four dedicated people.

"We need to jolly people along ... the current committee have been there for a long time and, unfortunately, we are not getting any younger."

She said the meeting was important to find out if anyone would be willing to form a new committee and if not, the Rotorua branch would have to go into recess. "We need a committee of at least 12 people to spread the workload."

Mrs MacKenzie said the last thing the organisation needed was to go into recess as people would lose touch with local issues. "This is not just happening in Rotorua either, the Whakatane branch are having the same problems." According to its website Grey Power's aims and objectives are to "advance, support and protect the welfare and well being of older people".

The organisation is also committed to protecting the rights of all New Zealanders to superannuation entitlements, quality healthcare, to oppose discriminatory and disadvantageous legislation.

Grey Power is not affiliated to any political party.