SEPTEMBER 2006

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

The Grand Reunion of Lyceum Past Students planned for Saturday 7th October is fast approaching. I am hoping that all together we can make it another great success, and every ALPS member can help that success along not only by attending with his wife or partner but also by bringing with him at least one other former colleague from The Lyceum. The more the merrier and the nicer it should be to celebrate, especially for those who entered the new Lyceum building at Hamrun in October 1956 – 50 years ago, almost to the day.

Like a number of other members of the ALPS Council of Administration, I happen to be one of those “’56ers”, and I am certainly looking forward to seeing as many as possible of my schoolmates from Form 1L. So, presumably, will be those who completed their secondary education in July 1956: that, in itself, was another personal milestone that will forever be connotated with the new school.

Of course, all Lyceum past students, irrespective of ALPS membership or years of attendance at The Lyceum, are invited and welcome to join us in this unique celebration – including those who never took lessons in the present building.

Let us together make this event a resounding success, a day to keep remembering in the same manner as we have treasured the memories of our first day inside The Lyceum 50 years ago. I look forward to seeing you all there in the Lyceum Hall.

On different notes altogether, in this issue of ALPS News you can read about the dire need of regular sponsorship of the ALPS website and the serious proposal of an ALPS tour to Canada in 2007. There is no limit to the response for the first topic, but there is indeed a maximum possible response for the second.

GEORGE STAGNO NAVARRA

SPONSORSHIP OF A.L.P.S. WEBSITE
                                                                                                                   
It costs the Association of Lyceum Past Students a minimum of Lm25 per month to maintain its presence on the Internet and to keep members and non-members, in Malta and overseas, informed about all that goes on. The need of this continued presence is manifested by the response of over 17,000 annual hits. And in the next few months the website, www.ALPSmalta.com, will become even more useful as a tool for Lyceum past students to get in touch with their Colleagues of Old.

All those who have some form of business connection are being urged to help ALPS maintain its presence by offering a sponsorship of Lm25 a month for four months of the year, for a total of Lm100 a year. In return for such sponsorship the company involved will be entitled to have its logo appear with fellow sponsors on ALPS News for approximately 10 monthly issues. The company’s services and/or products will be permanently displayed on the website for surfers to familiarise themselves with.

Sponsors will be asked to provide publicity flyers, leaflets or brochures for distribution with any four issues per year of the newsletter to some 600 ALPS members, free of any postage charges. Such distribution of publicity material will also be available at any of the six to eight socio-cultural events organised by ALPS throughout the year.

The ALPS website is continually being updated and upgraded. Sponsors will be free to liaise with Communications & Publications Commission Chairman Laurie Vella for any alterations and/or enhancements to their range of products or services to be publicised on both the website and ALPS News.
    
There are many out there who can help ALPS to maintain its website with the right spirit of comradeship. Further information may be sought from ALPS President George Stagno Navarra on telephone 21 339232, mobile 7971 2222 or e-mail magestan@griffithsassoc.com.

 A.L.P.S. TOUR TO CANADA IN 2007

Word is spreading around quite fast about the proposed ALPS tour to Canada in 2007.

For the best possible results ALPS Canada Branch President Milo Vassallo, who has just retired after several years of highly-lauded service as Consul for Malta in Canada, has been roped in to lend a very savvy hand with the organisation. He immediately accepted to try to obtain best reduced airfares and hotel accommodation as well as the nicest excursions to make this an enjoyable trip abroad.

Of course it is still too early to give details about the best suited time of year for such a trip, the suggested excursions and the length of time a seriously-planned programme will require, and above all what it would cost. When Milo is back in Malta, probably in the third week of September 2006, a meeting will be called for all those who would have expressed their interest to ALPS Secretary-General Alex Borg (see masthead for details).

“No doubt, the ALPS banner will go with us to Canada,” President George Stagno Navarra told ALPS News. “We will have the chance to celebrate this great event together with other Lyceum past students residing in Canada.”

Anyone who was fortunate enough to take part in the ALPS tour to the South of France in February 2005 with Britannia Tours will remember the great level of enjoyment not only with the selection of excursions but also with the spirit of camaraderie that pervaded the group.

MOURNING THE DEAD

Since the July issue of ALPS News the demise was announced in August of Fr Salvino Azzopardi, SJ. For several years from 1996 he was the Spiritual Director of ALPS until he was posted to the missions. Secretary-General Alex Borg, who has been in the post since Day 1, recalled to ALPS News that Fr Salvino assiduously attended all council meetings and was in the forefront to encourage one and all to keep ALPS alive.

On behalf of the Council of Administration and all members President George Stagno Navarra sent a message of condolences to Fr Salvino’s brother, Fr Anton, who himself was the first Spiritual Director of ALPS. Fr Salvino actually took over the post from his own brother, Fr Anton.

Also announced, in July, was the demise of poet, author and former Lyceum master Guzè Chetcuti, at the age of almost 92. He will also be remembered for his great love of the Maltese language and his active involvement in L-Akkademja tal-Malti. In 1996 he was created a member of the National Order of Merit.

Just as this issue of ALPS News was going to print, the demise was announced of Mr Anthony J. Mifsud, father-in-law to ALPS President George Stagno Navarra, at the venerable age of 93. All Council members were present to pay their respects at the funeral Mass at Casa Leoni, St Julian’s, where Mr Mifsud had passed away.