JANUARY 2010

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

As has already been mentioned repeatedly in ALPS News, the 16th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Lyceum Past Students will be held at 6.30 p.m. on Friday 22nd January 2010 at The Lyceum in Hamrun, with the kind permission and unstinting cooperation of Head Master Tony Caruana Smith.

Following the reading of the minutes of the last AGM and the Administrative Report by Secretary-General Alex Borg, as well as the Financial Report by Treasurer David Abela, outgoing President George Stagno Navarra will address the meeting, and he and all other members of the ALPS Council of Administration will step down.

Elections will then be held for the post of President for two years, in the interests of continuity as per the ALPS Statute, and posts on the Council of Administration for one year. This will be followed by the appointment of two auditors.

This notice in ALPS News is to be taken as a circular. Only paid-up members will be allowed to vote. Friends of ALPS may also attend the AGM but without voting rights.

At the end of this edition of ALPS News there are two forms for the nomination of members to the Council of Administration. With all due respect to outgoing members of Council, each of whom has willingly served the association for several years – sometimes even at great personal sacrifice – it is forever hoped that new, younger blood will be drawn to serve in the interests of continuity.

Do please use these forms, preferably with the names of new candidates to serve on the Council of Administration. The closing date for nominations is 19th January 2010.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT 2009

Secretary-General Alex Borg has prepared a very extensive Administrative Report for 2009 – and with all the activities organised for the 15th anniversary, it was only to be expected that it would come out as rather a lengthy document.

Under normal circumstances the Administrative Report would be read out at the AGM, but in its present form it would take much too long to read. On the other hand it is felt that it would not be right to ask the AGM to take such an important document as read and approve it.

We have hit on an innovative idea, but one that needs exploration. For those who are really interested in all the details, but especially those who intend to attend the AGM, the Administrative Report is available on request in hard-copy format or in electronic version. All one has to do is to get in touch with Alex Borg on 21 386812, 9988 8579 or e-mail info@alpsmalta.com and it will be sent for careful perusal.

It would be gratifying if ALPS members and friends would indicate what they think of this idea, also by contacting Alex.

A.L.P.S. CHOIR IN L’ELISIR D’AMORE

On Saturday 30th January 2009, at 7.30 p.m., the ALPS Choir will proudly present a concert version of Gaetano Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore, under the direction of ALPS Cultural Commission Chairman and Choirmaster Joe Fenech.

As the flyer attached to this newsletter will show, the concert will be held at the Hotel Phoenicia Ballroom in Floriana. It was originally meant to be held in November, but had to be postponed due to various reasons. After all, it’s still our 15th anniversary year until next March!

The principal parts will be sung by soloists Karen Camilleri, Connie Frances Zerafa, Bernard Busuttil, Joe Huber and Ivan Vella. The ALPS Choir is being trained by Marlene Ferrante. The Musical Director will be André Paul Huber, recently returned from his studies and graduation in Italy, with Corinne Briffa at the pianoforte.

Tickets at €10 each are now available. Bookings may be made with Cultural Commission Chairman Joe Fenech on telephone 21 410632 or Secretary-General Alex Borg on mobile 9988 8579 or 21 386812.

LOVE WITH A TOUCH OF CARNIVAL

As in previous years, the ALPS Council of Administration is organising a Weekend Break at the Paradise Bay Resort Hotel, Cirkewwa, between 5th and 7th February 2010. The proceeds will go to Id-Dar tal-Providenza through the Lyceum Bicycle Marathon 2010.

The Council of Administration’s first thought was to have the special weekend a week later to coincide with Valentine’s Day on the 14th, but was persuaded to move it to a week earlier because in 2010 Valentine’s Day coincides with Carnival weekend. So the event has been dubbed Love with a Touch of Carnival.

Full details about the weekend, as well as a booking form, will be found at the end of this edition of ALPS News. With the December edition readers will have found a packet of 12 tickets for the Christmas Raffle organised by the LBM organising committee, also in aid of the marathon’s proceeds. Raffle tickets are in packs of 10 for €5, with two free tickets for whoever sells all the pack. The draw will be held on 22nd January 2010.

Prizes include a Weekend Break for two persons (bed and breakfast) at the Palace Hotel, Sliema; a similar Weekend Break at the Dolmen Hotel, Qawra; six separate tickets for flights to Crete; Sunday Lunch for two persons at the Maritim Antonin Hotel & Spa, Mellie?a; and a radio-controlled model from Simon Models of Santa Lucija.

ALPS members, friends and families are encouraged to contribute to the good cause by purchasing tickets and enticing others to do likewise. Ticket stubs and cheques (made payable to Oscar Galea) are to be sent to Oscar Galea, the ALPS Council member sitting on the Lyceum Bicycle Marathon Committee, at “Harmony”, Mater Boni Consilii Street, Fgura FGR 1614, by not later than 21st January 2010.

OFF TO VENICE FOR A CELEBRITY HAIRCUT

Members and friends of ALPS, together with spouses, are encouraged to join the group that will be wending its way to Venice on 14th February 2010 for a four-day tour which will include attendance to the opera Il Barbiere di Siviglia with first-category tickets at the Teatro La Fenice.

The tour is being organised by sector specialists Eurotours and prices start from €990, but people booking through ALPS Cultural Commission Chairman Joe Fenech will get a special discount of €25 each.

No more applications for celebrity haircuts by the Barbiere are being accepted. Sorry.

ST ANNE’S CHAPEL 2010 CALENDAR

The encouraging response to the efforts of the ALPS Council of Administration, spearheaded by St Anne Chapel Commission Chairman Oscar Galea, to make more frequent use of the chapel in Pwales Valley has prompted the drawing up of a calendar of events for 2010.

On 23rd January at 4.30 p.m. there will be a Mass of Thanksgiving at the end of the 2009 administration. Other Masses will be held at 4.30 p.m. on 20th February and 6th March, at 5.30 p.m. on 10th April, 6 p.m. on 5th June, 7.30 p.m. on 7th August and 4th September, and 5.30 p.m. on 2nd October.

Of particular importance will be the feast of St Gorg Preca, patron saint of ALPS, which will be celebrated on 8th May with Mass at 6 p.m.; the feast of St Anne at 7 p.m. on 10th
July; and Remembrance Day for deceased ALPS members, Lyceum masters and relatives of the Pwales community on 6th November at 4.30 p.m. Christmas Mass will be held on 13th December at 11 a.m.

Do please make a note of these dates and times.

ALSO FOR YOUR DIARY …

• ALPS Annual Spiritual Retreat at Manresa House, Victoria, Gozo, from 21st to 23rd May 2010, led by Fr Charles Tabone OP.

Further details will be forthcoming in ALPS News, but with so many members and friends of ALPS known to use their diaries with long-term foresightedness, they can now start filling their new diaries for 2010.

THAT THOUGHT AGAIN …

Unfortunately there has been very limited response to the appeal published in the November 2009 edition of ALPS News for books authored by ALPS members and friends to be donated to the association.

The appeal is hereby being repeated to all Lyceum past students who have ever published a book or books (and there are several of them!) to donate a copy of each publication to build up a specialised library that will be located in a prominent place at the Lyceum Library. Each book so donated would preferably include a signed message. A plaque with the names of all those authors who donate books will be installed as part of the library.

Members who decide to contribute to this project can get in touch with ALPS Secretary-General Alex Borg (see masthead for details) to make arrangements for delivery or pick-up of books.

MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS

Membership fees for 2010 are now due at €12 yearly and €70 for life membership, as per a decision taken at the last AGM.

Fees are to be addressed to ALPS Treasurer David Abela at “Juniper”, Triq Ganni Vella, Tal-Qattus, Birkirkara.

Leisure Weekend
including
VALENTINE’S NIGHT DINNER-DANCE