The Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre of New Zealand
Several attempts to utilise the old school landline (in order to save student funds) proved fruitless for team ignite and it was obvious after a tedious amount of ringing that another method of communication would need to be employed. It was then they decided to try their hands at te (as in 'the'. No it wasn't a typo, it is Maori language week after all!) 'te email system'. After after realising the once considered 'genius emailing system' is actually NOT the easiest and most effective way to receive information that is urgently required, it was necessary for team ignite to balls up, save their penny's and initiate proper conversation with our contact Grant from OPC.
However, it turns out that the cellular phone is also somewhat temperamental, and the information acquired came with lots of fading in and out and are you there's? Anyway to get to the point here is the jist of the OPC:
1. How was the company established?
It was founded in 1973 by Mountaineer Graham Dingle. It started with an old Italian tunnel camp. We will be able to elaborate on this seemingly fascinating story once we receive an awesome book from Grant.
2. What challenges will OPC be facing now and in the future?
(recent OSH regulations that may be affecting the current programs/ is your organisation able to cater for the number of interested patrons) Yes, OSH is definitely one of the challenges but also...
- The risk adverse nature of today's society. People are more conscious of what could go wrong (overly p.c hmmm?) Especially taking into consideration recent incidents such as the children who were drowned when the river rose to quickly.
- School teachers have their time a lot more tied up and are unable to arrange trips like these as often.
- There is a distinct lack of people available to volunteer due to the rising of living costs and both parents having to work to raise a family.
3. One of your goals suggests that you would like to utilise technology to reduce the operating costs. In regards to this, what could possibly be developed by us in this field?
They really want a place where the younger generation can interact and talk to one another upload photos and so fourth. A social networking system would be perfect for this, but they feel that they do not understand enough about bebo and facebook to be able to enter that space themselves.
Along these lines, if possible they would like a way to be able to reach the people who have already been on the courses to keep them interacting with the organisation. Something like old friends?
4. On average, how many people do you employ?
45 staff and up to 10 volunteers.
And what are the qualifications required of volunteers?
None. Generally the people that volunteer are from overseas and having a gap year.
Describe your ideal volunteer...
Into it and up for it!
5. We understand that you are targeting both industry and youth, would you say that one is a priority over the other or that they are both of equal importance?
Equal but their main priority is the youth market. (we need to define this further when conversation can be had in person on thursday)
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