Helping women back into the workforce has hit a strong note with Rotorua's business community.
On December 2, Post Business carried a story about Kim Pears, who had just received approval to set up a Rotorua Dress for Success, an international organisation helping women return to employment by offering free interview
Since then, she has received a phenomenal response and a key group of 14 people met this week to start establishing Dress for Success Rotorua.
"I have really been quite touched,'' Ms Pears said.
"They are all so interested, enthusiastic and happy to get involved.''
She said the high level of interest was reflected in informal discussions that continued well after Wednesday's official meeting, in a room donated by the Millennium Hotel.
Ms Pears said she was impressed by the calibre of women involved. But there were still gaps and she was keen to hear from anybody else who may be interested in helping at any level.
She stressed the organisation was about helping women, but you did not have to be a woman to help _ men were welcome.
Ms Pears and Dress for Success New Zealand-Australia regional director Sue Lewis-O'Halloran addressed the group.
The next step is to establish a board and set itself up as an official entity so Dress for Success Rotorua can make funding applications to get started on helping women in Rotorua and the wider Bay of Plenty and south Waikato region.
Ms Lewis-O'Halloran said the board would need to be hands-on at this stage.
She, too, was impressed with the range and calibre of people wanting to get involved.
"This is one of the benefits of coming to smaller centres. People absolutely do react and they have a genuine interest in what is happening in their community. Now we just need to harness that power and prioritise the ideas that came out of this first meeting.''
Anyone able to support Dress for Success Rotorua by volunteering time and expertise or donating items should contact Kim Pears at rotorua@dressforsuccess.org
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