2022 BLIA North Island Annual General Meeting – Creating Values Through Teamwork
On the 2nd of October, BLIA North Island NZ organised the 2022 Members Representative Annual General Meeting. Abbess of FGS NZ, Venerable Manshin; Minister-in-charge of FGS Auckland, Venerable Rulian; BLIA North Island NZ Supervisor, Lintao Yu; President of BLIA North Island Chapter, Yulin Ku; Vice president - Nick Yoong, Larry Yang, Simon Yip; Advisors -Sally Wong and Eva Ho; Venerables, North Island directors including SS Anson Lin, committees, YAD members and over 100 people attended the event.
Despite the uncertainties caused by the pandemic, Yulin Ku expressed that the morale of members has not been adversely impacted as they have been holding on to their moral, faith and beliefs. Under the guidance of Abbess Manshin, the blessings of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s May All Beings Live Without Fear and Coexist in Peace have been upheld. The protective Covid precautions and measures were well managed, and nevertheless, the community was engaged with more volunteering work. Next, each Subdivision president of North Island Chapter and YAD committees took turns to present their reports. Topics include the cooperation with NZ Police, Three Goodness and Four Givings Festival of Humanistic Buddhism Cultural Sharing, the distribution of thousands of RAT Kits, taking part in the Memorial Service for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, other service works and activities held. These further illustrate that under the guidance of Venerables, BLIA will continue to spread the warmth and kindness across New Zealand.
The proposals that were discussed during the meeting were:
1) The recruitment of YAD Subdivision 1 and 2 members, and the election of new subdivision presidents, vice-presidents and committees. These new leaders will continue to spread Humanistic Buddhism across Aotearoa with innovation.
2) North Island Chapter will be holding a Cherry Blossom Festival in November. Activities include the invitation of local artists for art exhibitions and promoting educational awareness, Neighbourhood Day, Baby Blessing Ceremony, Temple Tour and many more.
3) Buddha’s Enlightenment Day will be from the 30th to 31st of December, the Temple will be providing Laba Congee to the community and spreading the auspicious wisdom of Buddha’s Enlightenment.
4) The Temple will be holding a series of activities for Lunar New Year 2023. These include New Year Pilgrimage, Light Offering Dharma Functions, Lunar New Year Eve Dharma Function, Lunar New Year Light Offering and Blessing Dharma Function, Vegetarian Food Fair, Food Offering to the Celestial Beings, BLIA North Island Members Lunar New Year Gathering. These create a joyful ambience and allow the NZ community to feel the warmth of Chinese festivals despite being overseas.
5) There will be three BLIA seminars in 2023, which will be conducted by Venerables with the aims to enhance the religious sentiments of members and strengthening the bonds and teamwork between members.
Abbess Manshin shared, Prajna wisdom aids us for further improvements in life, allowing us to have more wisdom, compassion and kindness, to be stronger and to cultivate merits and confidence while we serve others. Only when we discover the diamond within ourselves, our wisdom and confidence will be firm, and we will feel the joy in our hearts. “Hope that everyone will gain more strength, growing compassion, and living up to one’s worth fully”, Abbess Manshin added.