Centrepoint will open debt free

Press, 11 December 1976, Page 10

Centrepoint will open debt free

Centrepoint, a club for women, will be officially opened debt free on January 29. By sterling effort in (he face of setbacks. appointments and little support from the general public, a band of Christchurch women has met the full cost of $55,000 for converting the former Plaza Theatre building into suitable premises. None of the women had had any special business training or much experience in fundraising. before they started the Centrepoint project.

They applied to the Council of Recreation and Sport for grants and received one for $9OO last year and another for $2500 this year. But the bulk of the funds was raised by women themselves. They held markets, stalls, raffles, and treks — anything they could think of to add a few dollars to the coffers. In addition they put in countless hours of planning and holding meetings, which have often kept them up till midnight. ACHIEVED AIM “Now we have achieved our aim,” said the president, Mrs Jan Pluck. “We feel proud of our efforts and are deeply grateful to the support of members. We have 2000 and the number is growing.”

In some ways the meeting place is a counterpart of a working men’s club, with emphasis on companionship for women of a wide variety of interests and opportunities for recreation. “But we have not had the advantages of many other organisations, such as working men’s clubs and football clubs, which seem to attract support from the commercial sector of Christchurch,” Jan Pluck said. “We had to open a debenture account and from the accruing interest members who contributed to the scheme will be paid back.” The hub of the building is the office, which overlooks Cathedral Square. In the nearby foyer are recesses

for books — the beginning of a library — a telephone booth and a small club gift shop for raising extra funds. ■The “Plaza” on this floor has a large lounge and a games area, which can be used for dancing. A winding stairway leads from the foyer up to the “Circle Coffee Lounge.” FLEXIBILITY

Centrepoint will be open from 10 a.m, to 10 p.m. Mondays to Saturday, and from 2 to 7 p.m. on Sundays. Outdoor sports and indoor games, and talks by notable visitors are being planned. The keynote of all activities will be flexibility. “We have no liquor licence at present, but we hope to get one later as an added facility for members to enjoy,” Jan Pluck said. “In the meantime well get a special permit to serve drinks at social functions.” A staff of three has been employed and will begin work at the club on January 17 to get ready for opening day. They are Mrs Gwen Kerr, co-ordinator — manageress; Mrs Grace Sim, sec= retary, and Miss Dianna Steven, coffee lounge manageress.

Voluntary help will be required during the week-ends and to some extent during the week to assist the paid staff, Mrs Pluck said. “As we progress we hope to employ more staff.” Club members pay an entry fee of $5 and an annual subscription of $5.50. i

Charges will have to be made for special functions and for the coffee-and-snacks service, which will be run as a business though at lower rates than usual. Many of the activities, however, will be free to members. After mid-February members will be entitled to take a friend to the club for a charge of 50c. Day passes will be available at $1 for women visiting Christchurch from other areas and from overseas countries. The executive committee j of 12, headed by Mrs Pluck, plans to make the club attractive to women of all ages and they welcome suggestions for programmes. The women include Mesdames Jennifer Heal, Audrey! Nettleton. Jan Pepper, Joan’ Winter, Myra Rouse, Ruth, Whittington, June Stigley, I Judy Pierce, Lenore Wright,! Phyllis Heal and Alison HolHand.

GALA WEEK They have organised a gala week programme which includes the official opening at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 29, to be followed by a ball in the evening. There will be a family day for friends and relatives of members on the Sunday. Other events during the week include an open day, an informal evening function, a “fun-and-games” day, a film evening, and an international day, followed by a “Polynesian Spectacular” in ithe evening. There will be

square dancing, a cocktail party, an interdenominational service and entertainment by the Gilbert and Sullivan Light Opera Society. “Gala Week” has been planned to provide every member with an opportunity to attend at least one event according to her taste,” Mrs Pluck said. “But because it has been necessary to use outside catering services for almost all of the functions, we have to charge admission for most of them.” Tickets will be on sale for the week’s functions at Hay-

i wnghts for members from • December 17 ( Further information about Centrepoint may be had by writing for it to P.O. Box 1737, Christchurch. Though Centrepoint will be opened free of debt the committee wants to add a few more amenities for which it will endeavour to raise about $2OOO. “We still need about 100 more stacking chairs, curtains to divide the sports and lounge areas, a few more coffee tables and flower vases,” said Jan j Pluck.