So we are running just a little bit behind schedule in letting you know our June Otesha happenings – but things have been happening!! (mostly behind the scenes) BUT now we can reveal them to you! Yay!   We can also recommend a couple of fun and inspiring activities to take part in while you are waiting for the next Otesha tour or fundraising event to come around – these are Powershift 2010 and the Changing the Dream Symposium – both aimed at inspiring us to be the change - read more below.  

• Welcome to the New Crew
• Welcome new Co-Director
• Farewell to the much loved and not forgotten team!
• Powershift 2010
• Changing the Dream Symposium

  Welcome to the New Crew   We have just had our Otesha AGM for 2010 – And we had an election! Yes, it is an election year and we thought we would get in there too!! Well actually, every year we meet and elect Management Committee members to keep tabs on us Co-Directors and help the organization run smoothly and sustainably! The committee is there to give us advice, a helping hand and support while we do our Co-Director thing! And we couldn’t exist without them! So we welcome – Ania, Tony, Sarah, Anna, Ange, and Julia to the management team for 2010-2011 and welcome back Dan and Rhi! Thanks for nominating yourselves and stepping up to help Otesha from behind the scenes!   Welcome New Codirector!   We welcome Vanessa Hewson our new Co-Director – who after 5 wonderful years teaching teenagers the wonders of biology and the joys of English Literature and an absolutely soul inspiring year living in a small rural village in Indonesia training teachers and growing organic vegies, is ready to return to her home town of Melbourne. She is very excited to join the Otesha team as she plans to combine her passion for education and the environment with us!    She is also looking forward to getting back on her beloved bike, drinking chai, practicing and teaching yoga, and most importantly, being part of a community that believes in the power of education and a shared vision to transform perspectives and empower people to make small changes for a sustainable future. Go Vanessa! Welcome to the Otesha Family!     Farewell to the much loved and not forgotten!   We would like to say a last farewell and give the biggest virtual hugs to our former Co-Director Ange, for just being wonderfully Ange!  Thankfully she has stepped up to Management Committee so it wont be the last we see of Ange in Otesha land – more like the beginnings of something new!   We also want to give virtual hugs, high fives and happiness to our outgoing management committee members, for all their hard work and dedication over the last year. Thanks Dylan, Nomes, Annie, Tim, and Thomasen - Your ongoing support , feedback, advice and smiles helped us through the last big year and energized us forward to this coming year with warm hearts, inspired minds and the knowledge that we have achieved so much thanks to you!     Powershift 2010   Power Shift '09 in Sydney attracted 1500 people and speakers such as Tim Flannery, Al Gore (via video) and politicians such as Mike Ran, Christine Milne and Nick Xenophon. It was an amazing success with young people feeling inspired and empowered to take action. This year the AYCC is organising a series of Power Shift 2010 summits that will change the way young people see the climate crisis through inspiring speakers, skills training, networking oportunities and lots of fun! As a member group of AYCC, Otesha wholeheartedly supports this exciting initiative.  In 2010 the Power Shift Summits will be held in:   ·        Power Shift Adelaide: July 31st to August 1st (University of Adelaide) ·        Power Shift Canberra: August 7th to 8th (Australian National University) ·        Power Shift Geelong: August 14th to 15th (Deakin University Waterfront Campus)   Building on the success of last year's summit Power Shift 2010 will include skills building workshops, planning sessions, social networking opportunities, political panels, live music and inspirational and informative keynote speakers such as Nobel Prize Winner David Karoly, Young Victorian of the Year Dan Adams, former Deputy Premier of Victoria John Thwaites, renewable energy expert Mark Diesendorf… and many, many more!   In a critical election year, these summits will empower young people from across the coutnry to take positive actions in their communities.    Make sure you go along and let us know if you want to represent Otesha there in the form of a workshop or something else fabulous!    Changing the Dream Symposium   What do Desmond Tutu, the Dali Lama, Julia Butterfly Hill and Van Jones all have in common? They have all participated in the Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium. And now you can be too!   Next monthly symposium - Sunday July 18, 1-6pm, South Melbourne.

This multi-media, experiential, facilitated event is a result of thousands of people world-wide coming together to create a transformative experience which calls forth a sustainable, just and fulfilling future on planet earth.  See the trailer here In the Symposium the best of the best from diverse countries and backgrounds help us consider four key questions:

· Where are we on the Earth at this time? · How did we get here? · What is possible for the future? · Where do we go from here?    Location:        Engineers Without Borders, 25-29 Chessell Street, South Melbourne. Bookings:       Essential.  Online Bookings click here Enquiries:       Dot Green on 0419 315 717 / dot.green1@gmail.com Contribution: $40 waged / $20 concession/reviewer, (no-one turned away for lack of funds)  More info:       www.changingthedream.org.au