A look at the diary of activities throughout the first 15 years of the Association’s existence bears tribute to the untiring efforts of the members of the various editions of the Council of Administration. There are no records of how well each and every activity was patronised by members and friends, but it would not surprise anyone to say that attendances could always have been better! | ||
1994 | ||
March
|
20
|
Foundation Meeting. |
April
|
Pasta Night during the 50-hour Bicycle Marathon by Lyceum Students, with proceeds in aid of Caritas Malta. |
|
May
|
Foundation Meeting. Courtesy call on President Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, who accepted to honour ALPS with his patronage. |
|
June
|
17
|
Social evening at Qawra Palace Hotel. Education Minister Michael Falzon accepted Honorary Presidency of ALPS |
July
|
1
|
BBQ at Marsa Sports Club. |
1, 22
|
Two ALPS-sponsored Fora for Local Councils on the establishment of Neighbourhood Watch and Victim Support. |
|
September
|
First issue of ALPS News, edited by Founding President Guido Saliba, with the draft Statute in supplement. |
|
17
|
Evening excursion to Gozo with buffet supper at Arzella Restaurant, Marsalforn |
|
18
|
Cultural tour of Fort St Elmo and visit to The Malta Experience, with coffee break at Officers’ Mess, Police Academy. |
|
October
|
Group blood donation to SMOM Blood Bank, Floriana. First Annual General Meeting, approval of Statute and election of first Council of Administration. |
|
November
|
20
|
Extraordinary General Meeting to elect Second Vice- President. |
1995
|
(fourth centenary of Collegium Melitense) | |
January
|
21
|
Day’s outing to Ghajn Tuffieha Barracks, organised by the Civic Affairs Commission especially for children of St Therese Home of Zurrieq, co-sponsored by YSO (Education), Rotary Club Sliema, Bernard Own Scouts and Simonds Farsons Cisk Ltd |
February
|
Fourth issue of ALPS News under the new editorship of Joseph S. Abela |
|
March
|
3
|
Dinner-dance at Marsa Sports Club. |
19
|
Cultural visits to Hal Millieri, Bir Miftuh and San Girgor Churches. |
|
25
|
Bicycle Marathon and Pasta Night at The Lyceum, Hamrun. |
|
April
|
30
|
Family Picnic at Ghajn Tuffieha Barracks. Cultural visit to the Maritime Museum and Vittoriosa. |
October
|
2
|
Soirée Lyrique at The Lyceum, Hamrun |
6
|
Third Annual General Meeting | |
8
|
Celebration Mass on the fourth centenary of the Collegium Melitense. |
|
November
|
4
|
Get-together, reading and presentation of prizes for Essay Competition for current Lyceum students. |
11
|
Cultural visit to the Aquaculture Centre at St Lucian’s Tower and Marsaxlokk. Reunion for all past students who entered The Lyceum up to and including 1950, at the Lancer Hotel, Salini Bay. |
|
30
|
Night of Neapolitan Songs, Wine and Pizza at the White Rocks Complex, Bahar ic-Caghaq. |
|
1996
|
||
November
|
Education and National Culture Minister Evarist Bartolo accepted Honorary Presidency of ALPS |
|
1997
|
||
February
|
23
|
Luncheon at the Park Hotel, Sliema |
March
|
“Youth in Music”, Foundation Day Concert at The Lyceum Theatre, Hamrun. |
|
April
|
6
|
|
22
|
Cultural tour of Fort St Angelo. | |
27
|
Luncheon at Paradise Bay Hotel, Cirkewwa. | |
May
|
Cultural tour of Fort Rinella, Kalkara. | |
July
|
19
|
Barbecue Supper at Park Hotel, Sliema, in honour of outgoing ALPS Spiritual Director Fr Salvino Azzopardi SJ and his brother Fr Anton, former ALPS Spiritual Director, before the former’s departure to the missions in Sri Lanka. ALPS donation of Lm70 for the missions. Fr John Zammit introduced as new Spiritual Director. |
October
|
5
|
Fourth Annual General Meeting. |
25
|
Pasta Night at Park Hotel. | |
November
|
Five-day tour of Morocco with Sullivan & Sullivan Ltd. |
|
1998
|
||
February
|
9
|
Fenkata at Tas-Soldi Restaurant, Mgarr Malta. Sub-committee formed to study feasibility of setting up Victim Support Scheme in Malta (pilot project with Gzira Local Council). |
March
|
28
|
Cultural and social day’s tour of Gozo. |
April
|
18
|
Luncheon at the Coral Reef Restaurant, Qawra, in honour of Mr Justice Giovanni Bonello on his appointment as Resident Judge of the European Court of Human Rights. |
May
|
16
|
Kanzunetti, Operetti u Spagetti, a musical concert and dinner at The Lyceum. |
16
|
Launching of the first edition of The Chanticleer. | |
30
|
Cultural visit to Mediaevel Times and Knights of Malta, Mdina, with lunch at Palazzo Notabile |
|
July
|
25
|
Evening trip to Comino on “The Buccaneer”, complete with swim and snack. |
August
|
10-day Russian Waterways Tour with Cosmos of UK. |
|
October
|
4
|
Fifth Annual General Meeting at The Lyceum. Statute amended to include Regular, Life, Associate and Honorary membership of ALPS. |
17
|
Dinner-dance at Paradise Bay Hotel, Cirkewwa. | |
November
|
ALPS branch established in USA. | |
29
|
Requiem Mass at St Aloysius College, Birkirkara, for the repose of souls of deceased past students and teachers of the Lyceum and relatives of current members. |
|
1999
|
||
April
|
President of Malta Guido de Marco accepted to be the Patron of ALPS, as per the Statute. |
|
16
|
Patronage and Foundation Day dinner at the Victoria Hotel, Sliema. |
|
May
|
22
|
Cultural tour of Upper Fort St Elmo and visit to The Knights Hospitallers Exhibition, Valletta. |
June
|
1
|
ALPS group participated in John Suda’s TVM live programme “Kieku Tajjeb” with a donation for the Eden Foundation. |
29
|
Fenkata ta’ l-Imnarja at Freddie Formosa’s villa at Ta’ Giorni. |
|
July
|
Cultural visit to Birgu. Cultural tour of Fort St Angelo. |
|
August
|
28
|
Barbecue at Water’s Edge, Marsascala. |
September
|
Round Malta Day Cruise with Captain Morgan. Second issue of The Chanticleer published. |
|
October
|
ALPS branch established in New South Wales, Australia. |
|
3
|
Sixth Annual General Meeting at The Lyceum. Special Concert with Enzo Gusman and Friends. Pizza-Pasta Night at the Alexandra Palace Hotel, St Julian’s. |
|
November
|
28
|
Requiem Mass at St Philip and St James Chapel, San Gwann. |
December
|
Christmas Party for families of ALPS members. | |
21
|
Special Dinner in honour of Past Patron and Honorary Presidents, at Coral Reef Restaurant, Qawra. |
|
2000
|
||
January
|
24
|
Grand Millennium Celebration Reunion at Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort |
March
|
First AGM of ALPS NSW Branch. Sixth anniversary Mass of Thanksgiving at Ss Philip and James Chapel, San Gwann. |
|
April
|
8
|
Cultural tour of Senglea with lunch at Manchester Bar and Restaurant. |
24
|
Lyceum Scouts Group Easter Camp at Fort Mellieha, with non-scout members attending the Campfire. |
|
30
|
Visit to Rinella Movie Park, Kalkara, with optional lunch. |
|
July
|
22
|
Barbecue evening on The Terrace of the Coastline Hotel, Salina. |
September
|
Cultural tour including Rhine Cruise with Hix Travel. |
|
October
|
Seventh AGM at The Lyceum, Hamrun. | |
2001
|
||
January
|
Fr Paul Zammit SJ resigns as Spiritual Director after being posted to Gozo. Succeeded by Fr William Bartolo, OFM Conv. (already Spiritual Director of The Lyceum and the Lyceum Scouts Group). |
|
Agreement reached with the Conventual Franciscan Community of St Paul’s Bay for ALPS to restore and take care of St Anne’s Chapel at Pwales Valley. |
||
February
|
9
|
Pasta Night at the Park Hotel, Sliema. |
March
|
19
|
Family Picnic at Buskett. |
April
|
Day of Spiritual Recollection at St Anne’s Chapel, Pwales. |
|
20
|
Concert of Classical and Nostalgic Songs at The Lyceum. |
|
May
|
9
|
Dun Gorg Preca, one of the most illustrious of Lyceum Past Students, beatified by Pope John Paul II during his Papal Visit to Malta. |
ALPS publishes booklet, “Dun Gorg u l-Liceo”, for the occasion. |
||
26
|
Walking tour of Mqabba, organised by Local Council |
|
July
|
Cultural tour of Gozo, with lunch at Martin’s Diner, Nadur. |
|
August
|
Feast of St Anne celebrated at the chapel in Pwales. |
|
September
|
Tahlita Sajfija, an evening of songs and delicious food by the seaside at Marsascala. |
|
October
|
7
|
Eighth AGM at The Lyceum, Hamrun. Blessed Gorg Preca declared Patron Saint of ALPS. |
November
|
24
|
Requiem Mass at the Chapel of the Assumption Taz-Zellieqa, Gharghur, while St Anne’s Chapel was under restoration. |
30
|
Dinner-dance at Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort, Pembroke. Part of proceeds (Lm150) donated to Eden Foundation. |
|
18-day Cruise and Stay Holiday in Dubai. | ||
December
|
15
|
Christmastide Dinner at Imperial Hotel, Sliema. |
2002 | ||
February
|
15
|
Valentine’s Day Dinner at Ta’ Marija Restaurant, Mosta |
March
|
16
|
Anniversary Concert and Reception at The Lyceum, Hamrun. |
April
|
20
|
Cultural tour of Mdina followed by lunch at Xara Palace Hotel. |
Third edition of The Chanticleer launched | ||
May
|
11
|
Weekend of Recollection at Manresa Retreats House, Rabat, Gozo. |
25
|
Social activity at St Anne’s Chapel, Pwales. |
|
June
|
1
|
Full day’s tour of Gozo. |
July
|
6
|
Summer BBQ at Paradise Bay Resort Hotel, Cirkewwa. |
20
|
Feast of St Anne celebrated at the chapel, Pwales. |
|
September
|
AGM of ALPS NSW Branch. | |
21
|
21 Ikla Sajfija bil-Kant u l-Poezija on Marsascala coastline |
|
November
|
2
|
Requiem Mass at St Anne’s Chapel, Pwales. |
9
|
Special excursion to Siggiewi and The Limestone Heritage, with lunch at Hagar Qim Restaurant |
|
December
|
5
|
Christmastide Buffet Dinner at the Four Seasons Restaurant, Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza. |
2003
|
||
January
|
11
|
Conducted tour of Casa Rocca Piccola and visit to The Great Siege of Malta and The Knights of St John walk-through exhibition, followed by lunch at Inspirations Restaurant, St James Cavalier, Valletta. |
28
|
28 Ninth AGM at The Lyceum, Hamrun. | |
February
|
14
|
Valentine’s Day Dinner at the Diplomat Hotel, Sliema |
March
|
29
|
Foundation Day Concert and Reception at The Lyceum, Hamrun. |
April
|
26
|
Full day’s tour of Gozo with lunch at St Patrick’s Hotel, Xlendi. |
May
|
10
|
Feast of Blessed Gorg Preca at St Anne’s Chapel, Pwales |
24
|
Cultural visit to Casa Bernard, Rabat Malta, with lunch at The Grotto Tavern. |
|
June
|
Day of Spiritual Retreat at Manresa House, Rabat Gozo. |
|
July
|
Feast of St Anne at the chapel in Pwales. | |
August
|
31
|
Barbecue with a Difference at Inspirations Restaurant, St James Cavalier, Valletta, with ALPS Founder-President Guido Saliba celebrating 80th birthday. |
November
|
15
|
Requiem Mass at Chapel of the Assumption, Taz-Zellieqa, Gharghur, while St Anne’s Chapel was being repaved. |
December
|
12
|
Christmas Dinner at the Coastline Hotel, Salina Bay. |
2004
|
||
January
|
Tenth-anniversary logo starts appearing on ALPS News. |
|
25
|
Tenth Annual General Meeting at The Lyceum, Hamrun. |
|
February
|
Stickers showing anniversary logo start being used on all ALPS stationery and correspondence. |
|
Special, full-colour issue of ALPS News to mark the Association’s 10th anniversary. |
||
26
|
News conference for all local media to launch anniversary activities. |
|
26
|
Interview on PBS cultural programme “Meander” regarding the cultural side of the anniversary activities. |
|
March
|
4
|
Concert of Compositions by Charles Camilleri at Corinthia Palace Hotel, Attard, in association with the Malta Tourism Authority’s “Windows on Music” series at 5-star hotels. |
20
|
ALPS 10th anniversary day. Thanksgiving Mass at the Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort. Celebration Dinner, with presentation of mementoes to ALPS’s first Honorary Life Member Winston V. Zahra and all founder-members who kept up their membership. ALPS website www.alpsmalta.com officially inaugurated during the dinner. |
|
27
|
Rally for Lyceum Past Students at The Lyceum as part of the Lyceum Bicycle Marathon in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund. ALPS participated in the organisation and presented a sponsorship of Lm100. |
|
May
|
5
|
Cultural tour of San Anton Palace and Private Gardens at Attard, guided by Brig. Claude Gaffiero, by courtesy of President Edward Fenech Adami. Lunch at Saracino’s Café, Attard. |
19
|
Cultural tour of “Caravaggio
– Una Mostra Impossibile” at the restored Caraffa Stores on the Vittoriosa waterfront, guided by Fr Marius Zerafa OP. Lunch at the Caraffa Stores. |
|
June
|
5
|
Cultural tour to San
Anton Palace and Private Gardens. |
19
|
Cultural visit to
“The Impossible Exhibition” of Caravaggio’s works and luncheon at Caraffa Stores, Vittoriosa. |
|
26
|
Weekend spiritual
retreat at Manresa House, Victoria Gozo, with former MUSEUM Secretary-General John Formosa |
|
July
|
17
|
Reinauguration of St Anne’s Chapel at Pwales Valley, featuring new flagstone paving and polishing, new pedestal for the statues of St Anne, St Joachim and the little Virgin Mary, a commemorative plaque unveiled by Tourism & Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech and the first-ever presentation of a newborn baby to St Anne by a Pwales family. |
September
|
25
|
High tea at Charles Il-Barri Restaurant, Mgarr, with guided visit to the wartime shelter beneath the restaurant. Mass at St Mary Parish Church, Mgarr, followed by buffet dinner and cabaret show at Paradise Bay Resort Hotel, Cirkewwa. |
October
|
30
|
Cultural visit to Vittoriosa, starting with an informative talk at Couvre Porte and continuing with visits to the Inquisitors’ Palace, the exhibition “The Art of Pain”, Vittoriosa Parish Church and Museum, the Collachio and lunch at Il-Forn. |
November
|
Requiem Mass at St Anne’s Chapel, Pwales. | |
30
|
St Anne’s Chapel features prominently in PBS cultural programme “Meander”. |
|
December
|
7
|
Dr Guido Saliba, Founder and first President of ALPS, passes away at the age of 81. |
9
|
Funeral of Dr Guido Saliba with important role by ALPS. |
|
11
|
ALPS Yuletide Dinner at Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort. |
|
2005
|
||
January
|
30
|
11th AGM at The Lyceum, Hamrun. George Stagno Navarra confirmed as President of ALPS. |
February
|
10
|
Group of ALPS members and spouses leaves for four-day tour to Nice and the Côte d’Azur. |
March
|
5
|
Foundation Day Concert at The Lyceum, Hamrun. |
11
|
Opening of the Lyceum Bicycle Marathon. ALPS donated Lm100. |
|
12
|
Official unveiling of a plaque in the foyer of The Lyceum to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the school in its present location. |
|
April
|
23
|
Socio-cultural tour of Fort Mosta guided by ALPS member Brig. Claude Gaffiero, a Maltese artefacts exhibition at Ir-Razzett tal-Markiz, a visit to the Nicolo Isouard Band Club and luncheon at Pjazza Café, all at Mosta. |
May
|
12
|
Following the resignation of Treasurer Joe Mallia, ALPS Council of Administration appointed David Abela as Treasurer. Dr Nazareno Azzopardi was entrusted with the Association’s Philanthropic Projects.; |
20
|
Start of three-day annual ALPS Spiritual Retreat at Manresa House outside Victoria, Gozo. Reflections led by Prof. Stanley Fiorini and Manresa House Rector Fr Paul Zammit SJ. |
|
June
|
15
|
Inauguration of ALPS office at Dar Guido Saliba, Pietà, former legal office of late Founder-President Dr Guido Saliba. The office was officially opened by Dr Saliba’s widow Irene, who had first broached the idea to her husband. The Council of Administration held its first meeting in the new premises. |
24
|
ALPS joined Friends of the Manoel in “Help Amanda Smile”, organising a buffet BBQ dinner at the Coastline Hotel to raise money for facial reanimation surgery on seven-year-old Amanda Attard.; |
|
July
|
9
|
Feast of St Anne at the Chapel in Pwales Valley, with the participation of the Choir of the University of the Third Age under Mro Joe Fenech. |
October
|
1
|
First ALPS-organised Grand Reunion of Lyceum Past Students in the Main Hall of The Lyceum, also commemorating the school’s 50th anniversary in its present location. The occasion was marked by the unveiling of a plaque with the names of all past Headmasters of The Lyceum, and an exhibition of photographs covering the Association’s activities over the first 11 years of its existence. Education Minister Louis Galea briefly attended the occasion. By the end of the reunion, ALPS membership had swelled by 10%. |
22
|
Socio-cultural visit to Mdina Glass, the Malta Aviation Museum and Bristow Potteries – all at Ta’ Qali – with lunch at the Potteries. “The Chanticleer” 2005 was issued and very well received. |
|
November
|
19
|
Mass for the repose of the souls of ALPS members, other past students and teachers at The Lyceum, relatives and friends, at the St Anne Chapel in Pwales Valley. |
December
|
2
|
Bumper Yuletide Dinner at the brand-new Central Ballroom of the Golden Sands Resort & Spa Ghajn Tuffieha, which had just played host to the Commonwealth leaders for CHOGM 2005. Over 300 guests attended, and scores of couples took up the opportunity of a whole package including dinner, accommodation and breakfast.; ALPS launched its first philanthropic project for 2006: Pitazz u Lapes, with students being asked to each donate an exercise book and a pencil in aid of schoolchildren in the Arequipa Mission run by the Missionary Society of St Paul. Collections were augmented by individuals who no longer had any relatives in school, or who had no children at all. |
2006
|
||
January
|
27
|
12th Annual General Meeting at The Lyceum, Hamrun. Election to all Council posts except President and Secretary-General, and a review of the ALPS Statute. Oscar Galea was elected as the Council’s new member, eventually being assigned the chairmanship of the Civics Commission. |
February
|
14
|
Valentine’s Day Dinner at the Coastline Hotel. ALPS Philanthropic Commission Chairman Nazareno Azzopardi, helped mostly by Council member Anthony Aquilina, officially handed over thousands of exercise books and pencils, as well as other stationery and toys, to Fr Louis Mallia of the MSSP’s Centru Animazzjoni Missjunarja for shipping to Peru in a container. |
March
|
17
|
Sixties Night at the Hotel Bella Vista in Qawra. |
23
|
Start of Lyceum Bicycle Marathon with the full collaboration of ALPS, in aid of the Muscular Dystrophy Group and the Dar tal-Providenza. |
|
April
|
1
|
Foundation Day Concert at The Lyceum, Hamrun, with the participation of the Choir of the University of the Third Age, the Junior College Instrumental Ensemble, harpist Esmeralda Galea Camilleri, soprano Claire Caruana, tenor Andrew Sapiano, baritone Louis Cassar, pianist Yolanda Micallef and Lyceum Fourth-Former Waylen Dimech and his dancing partner Annalise Zammit. Certificates of appreciation were presented to Heads of Schools and individuals who had contributed to the Pitazz u Lapes campaign. |
May
|
19-21
|
Annual ALPS spiritual retreat at Manresa House in Victoria, Gozo, highlighted by a visit by new Gozo Bishop Mgr Mario Grech who was made Honorary Life Member of ALPS. |
June
|
19
|
BBQ at the Royal Malta Yacht Club, with ALPS Canada Branch President Milo Vassallo and his wife Rita as guests of honour. |
July
|
15
|
Feast of St Anne at Pwales Chapel. ALPS USA representative Fr Albert Felice Pace OP concelebrated with Spiritual Director Fr William Bartolo OFM Conv. |
September
|
15
|
Multi-Trade Ltd and Michael Debono Ltd, both of Zebbug Malta, became official sponsors of the ALPS website along with Elmo Insurance Agency and Studiomoda Group, which had supported the website since its inception.; |
October
|
7
|
Grand Reunion of Lyceum Past Students at The Lyceum. |
20
|
Talk by Joe Fenech at the St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, Valletta, on the background to the three one-act operas to be performed at the Astra Theatre in Gozo. |
|
November
|
25
|
Annual Mass for the repose of deceased ALPS members, Lyceum masters and students, and relatives of ALPS members and the Pwales community, at the St Anne Chapel at Pwales. |
December
|
02
|
Annual Yuletide Dinner at the Coastline Hotel, Salina. |
2007
|
||
January
|
20
|
Dinner with live cabaret show at the Paradise Bay Resort Hotel, Cirkewwa, to enhance proceeds from the Lyceum Bicycle Marathon 2007. This was ALPS’s best-attended event ever with over 330 patrons and 142 rooms taken up for overnight stay. |
24
|
13th Annual General Meeting at The Lyceum, Hamrun. Elections to all Council posts, including President and Secretary-General. Leo Scicluna was elected as the Council’s new member, eventually being assigned Project Coordination. |
|
March
|
2
|
Second fund-raising dinner at the Topaz Hotel, Bugibba, to enhance proceeds from the Lyceum Bicycle Marathon. |
24
|
24 ALPS President George Stagno Navarra presented a cheque for Lm1,700 from ALPS fund-raising events to enhance the proceeds of the Lyceum Bicycle Marathon 2007. All marathon proceeds, totalling Lm12,000, went for the complete refurbishment of the main kitchen at Dar tal-Providenza, Siggiewi. |
|
April
|
28
|
Foundation Day Concert: La Danza delle Libellule, in concert version produced by Joe Fenech, staged at a packed Salesian Theatre, Sliema. The proceeds of Lm452 were later presented to Fr Joe Forte to help fund works at the theatre |
May
|
12
|
Cultural tour of Zurrieq followed by light lunch at Wied iz-Zurrieq. |
23
|
New sub-committee appointed for St Anne’s Chapel, headed by Dr Nazareno Azzopardi with Leopold Scicluna and Oscar Galea as members. |
|
Ad hoc committee formed to work with President Emeritus Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, himself a Lyceum past student, on the restoration of the Lyceum Archives. |
||
25
|
Start of three-day annual Spiritual Retreat at Manresa House, Victoria, Gozo. |
|
July
|
14
|
Feast of St Anne at Pwales Chapel. |
August
|
28
|
Group of ALPS members and spouses, led by ALPS President George Stagno Navarra, Secretary-General Alex Borg and Treasurer David Abela, left Malta for three-week tour of Canada and Grand Reunion with Lyceum past students settled there. |
31
|
The Grand Reunion was held at the exclusive Ontario Club in Toronto. ALPS Canada Branch President Milo Vassallo was made Honorary Life Member of ALPS, while the remaining 31 “Canadian” members were presented with certificates of Honorary ALPS Membership. The tour was a resounding success throughout. |
|
October
|
12
|
The Lyceum Grand Reunion in Malta was held at The Lyceum, with Archbishop Paul Cremona, a 1956 entrant, as the guest of honour. He concelebrated Mass with a number of other priests, including ALPS Spiritual Director Fr William Bartolo, and then joined his former classmates and schoolmates for the reception. Scores of satisfied past students joined ALPS as new members. |
November
|
3
|
Thirty-six ALPS members and friends planted olive trees at the top end of Kennedy Grove, Salini, as part of the 34U Campaign. The site will eventually be identified as the ALPS Grove. |
17
|
Annuel Mass at St Anne’s Chapel, Pwales, for the repose of the souls of Lyceum past students and masters (foremost among them Founder-President Dr Guido Saliba) and relatives and friends of ALPS members and the Pwales community. |
|
December
|
7
|
Annual Yuletide Dinner-Dance at the Paradise Bay Resort Hotel, Cirkewwa. |
7
|
Launching of ALPS tie for members. | |
2008
|
||
January
|
19
|
Foundation Day Concert brought forward from April. A concert version of La Principessa della Czarda, also featuring the debut of the ALPS Choir, was presented to a packed audience at the Salesian Theatre, Sliema. Proceeds of €1,000 went to the Salesian Youth Centre. |
26
|
14th Annual General Meeting at The Lyceum, Hamrun. |
|
February
|
Contributions to the ALPS philanthropic project Pitazz u Lapis jew Gugarell by far surpassed all expectations. They went beyond just exercise books, pencils and hard and soft toys, and included crayons, chalk and school haversacks. Contributions were turned over to the Mission Fund (Mosta) for shipping to the Maltese Franciscan Sisters at Mwanza, Tanzania. |
|
April
|
26
|
The ALPS Choir notched up another great success with just its second public appearance. This time it was a very-well-attended Serata all’Operetta at the Casino Maltese, during which the ALPS Choir accompanied mezzo-soprano Connie Frances Zerafa, tenor Bernard Busuttil, soprano Karen Camilleri, baritone Lewis Cassar and soprano Louiselle Pace Gouder in an enjoyable evening of 20 popular excerpts from the best-known operettas. The evening was organised and directed by ALPS Choirmaster Joe Fenech, with Cynthia Genovese at the pianoforte. |
May
|
30
|
The annual ALPS spiritual retreat at Manresa House in Gozo was an inspirational success, with the biggest group ever attending. The retreat was ably led by Fr Mario Jaccarini SJ. ALPS presented Manresa House with two linen and lace tablecloths, made by Mrs Therese Calleja, for the assembly hall. |
June
|
27
|
The traditional end-of-season ALPS Barbecue on the weekend closest to L-Imnarja was held on the swimming-pool area terraces of Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija, Marsascala. |
July
|
12
|
Feast of St Anne at Pwales chapel. After Mass, two researchers gave short speeches about the chapel. ALPS also issued an eight-page booklet in Maltese to mark the eighth time the feast was being held by the Association. |
September
|
20
|
The first cultural visit of the 2008-9 season: a visit to Palazzo Falson in Mdina and the Domus Romana at Rabat. After an optional light lunch, several members took a 30-minute ride on the scenic Chuc-Chuc Train around Rabat and Mdina. |
October
|
10
|
A 60-strong group of ALPS members, friends and spouses left Malta for a seven-day Mediterranean cruise on board the m.v. Costa Concordia. The cruise was very successful in all aspects and culminated in a general request for ALPS to start thinking about another cruise in 2009. |
30
|
Great organisational success achieved with the Grand Vocal Concert, held at the Hotel Phoenicia Ballroom, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Italian composer Giacomo Puccini. The concert featured seven of Malta’s best soloists and the ALPS Choir. | |
November
|
15
|
Mass at St Anne’s Chapel, Pwales, for the repose of the souls of Lyceum past students and masters, members’ and friends’ relatives and relatives of the Pwales community. |
December
|
11
|
ALPS Yuletide Dinner at the Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort, St George’s Bay.
Launching of the BOV Visa Flypass credit card scheme for ALPS members. The ALPS Choir visits old people’s homes, singing Christmas carols and other popular tunes, to mark its first Christmas. |
2009
|
||
January
|
26
|
News conference at the Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort to launch the year-long programme of celebrations for ALPS 15th anniversary. |
January
|
30
|
15th Annual General Meeting at The Lyceum, Ħamrun. |
February
|
13
|
Friday-to-Sunday Leisure Weekend at the Paradise Bay Resort Hotel, Cirkewwa, including Valentine’s Night Dinner-Dance. |
March
|
20
|
ALPS Foundation Day. Start of 15th anniversary celebrations with Holy Mass at the Jesuits’ Church, Valletta, followed by unveiling of commemorative plaque, reunion and reception in the first building ever to have housed Il Liceo (now Heritage Malta Head Offices). ALPS magazine The Chanticleer officially issued. Sent to all members during March and April. |
March
|
27
|
50 hours Lyceum Bicycle Marathon in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza. ALPS helped organise and run the event, and donated €1,000. |
April
|
02
|
Farewell visit to outgoing President of Malta Dr Eddie Fenech Adami at The Palace, Valletta. |
April
|
24
|
Foundation Day Concert: Souvenir d’Italie at the Salesian Theatre, Sliema. |
May
|
08
|
ALPS Council formed part of a large official Lyceum delegation paying a courtesy visit to incoming President of Malta Dr George Abela. |
May
|
09
|
Feast of San Gorg Preca, Patron Saint of ALPS. Holy Mass at St Anne’s Chapel in Pwales Valley. |
May
|
24
|
Three-day spiritual retreat at Manresa House, Victoria, Gozo, led by ALPS Spiritual Director Fr William Bartolo, OFM Conv. |
June
|
13
|
Holy Mass as part of new efforts to make more extensive use of St Anne Chapel in Pwales Valley. |
June
|
26
|
ALPS end-of-season BBQ at The Edge Open-air Restaurant, Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort. |
July
|
11
|
Feast of St Anne at chapel in Pwales Valley, with the ALPS Choir singing during and after Holy Mass, and light refreshments. |
September
|
24
|
Opening of a seven-day ALPS Exhibition of Arts, Books & Crafts at the Old Liceo Building, Valletta, with the participation of 56 established artists, authors and photographers, current and just-past Lyceum students and their Art teachers. |
October
|
13-20
|
Seven-day Western Mediterranean cruise on m.v. Norwegian Gem by group of ALPS members, friends and spouses, led by President George dei Conti Stagno Navarra. |
30
|
Lyceum Grand Reunion at the Main Hall of The Lyceum, Hamrun. | |
November
|
07
|
Annual Mass at St Anne’s Chapel, Pwales Valley, for the repose of the souls of deceased ALPS members, Lyceum past students and masters, and relatives of the Pwales community. |
December
|
04
|
Traditional ALPS Yuletide Dinner at Corinthia San Gorg Resort Hotel, St George’s Bay. The occasion also served to mark the conclusion of a successful calendar year of ALPS 15th-anniversary activities, and featured the introduction of the revamped ALPS website.. |
January
|
22
|
16th Annual General Meeting at The Lyceum, Hamrun.. |
30
|
Gaetano Donizetti’s opera L’Elisir d’Amore in concert version at the Hotel Phoenicia Grand Ballroom, Floriana, with the participation of the ALPS Choir and soloists. | |
February
|
06
|
“Valentine Weekend with a Touch of Carnival”: a weekend break at the Paradise Bay Resort Hotel, Cirkewwa, including a Valentine’s Night Dinner the week before Carnival, all in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza through the Lyceum Bicycle Marathon. |
March
|
05
|
Presentation to the winners and runners-up of the ALPS Shield at the Liceo San Gorg Preca, Hamrun. |
April
|
09-11
|
Traditional very active participation of ALPS in the Lyceum Bicycle Marathon. |