{"id":5659,"date":"2015-01-28T14:28:49","date_gmt":"2015-01-28T14:28:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alps.asmlt.com\/?page_id=5659"},"modified":"2015-01-28T15:14:58","modified_gmt":"2015-01-28T15:14:58","slug":"february-2006","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/alpsmalta.com\/?page_id=5659","title":{"rendered":"FEBRUARY 2006"},"content":{"rendered":"

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It gives me great satisfaction to be close to you all,
\n as often as possible.<\/em><\/p>\n

As the months start rolling and the new Council of Administration
\n of ALPS settles down to work, it gets busy preparing events
\n and activities for members. This year looks like it\u2019s
\n going to be quite active from the onset.<\/em><\/p>\n

With the very successful Valentine\u2019s Day Dinner
\n already in the bag, we are now preparing a number of events
\n that you will find full details about in the present issue
\n of ALPS News and in other issues to follow. Although we have
\n more activities lined up than you will read about today, the
\n newsletter simply gives you a taste of the next few activities
\n so that you can plan around them. This is because we value
\n your active participation in all that the Council prepares
\n for members and friends. It is, indeed, that participation
\n that gives us the courage to create new and more varied events.<\/em>\n <\/p>\n

GEORGE STAGNO NAVARRA<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2006<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 12th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Lyceum
\n Past Students was held on 27th January 2006 at The Lyceum,
\n Hamrun. As always, it could have been better attended, even
\n though it was held on a Friday evening instead of a Sunday
\n morning.<\/p>\n

After the reading and approval of the minutes of the 11th
\n AGM, the Administration Report and the Financial Statement
\n as at 31st December 2005 were approved. President George Stagno
\n Navarra delivered a short address, the gist of which is reflected
\n in his message above. This was followed by the election of
\n officials and members to the Council of Administration and
\n a Spiritual Director. Two auditors were nominated for 2006.<\/p>\n

In keeping with the ALPS statute, the posts of President
\n and Secretary-General were not contested this year, in the
\n interests of continuity. Joe Fenech and David Abela were confirmed
\n as Deputy President and Treasurer respectively. The other
\n members elected to Council were Tony Aquilina, Nazareno Azzopardi,
\n Charles Calleja, Alfred Formosa, Oscar Galea (new Council
\n member) and Laurie Vella. Fr William Bartolo OFM Conv. was
\n confirmed as Spiritual Director.<\/p>\n

As previously advised, the Statute was reviewed and updated
\n to present times. The amended version is shown in the ALPS
\n website at www.ALPSmalta.com, with the changes appearing in
\n red. For some time the Statute section in the website will
\n show the details of the changes.<\/p>\n

One salient point in the new Statute is a new Clause 10 setting
\n up the Friends of ALPS. This was in answer to appeals from
\n non-Lyceum past members who regularly attend and enjoy the
\n Association\u2019s activities and wanted a greater sense
\n of belonging. The AGM readily accepted the proposal. Friends
\n of ALPS will not be paying a fixed subscription but will be
\n invited to give an annual donation. They will be able to attend
\n Annual and Extraordinary General Meetings with an observer
\n status.<\/p>\n

Another important point is the decision to update membership
\n fees from 2007: from Lm3 to Lm5 for members and from Lm25
\n to Lm30 for life members, or the nearest equivalent in euros
\n (to be decided in January 2008).<\/p>\n

\n NEW COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Council of Administration for 2006 is made up as follows:
\n President George Stagno Navarra, Secretary-General Alex Borg,
\n Treasurer David Abela, Deputy President Joe Fenech, Vice-President
\n Tony Caruana Smith, Assistant Secretary-General Charles Calleja,
\n Members Tony Aquilina (Chairman Membership Commission), Dr
\n Nazareno Azzopardi (Philanthropic), Alfred G. Formosa (Social
\n & Cultural), Oscar Galea (Civics), Joe Micallef (Lyceum
\n Youths), Laurie Vella (Communications & Publications).
\n George S. Grech, a former Headmaster of The Lyceum, remains
\n as the coopted permanent member of the Council.<\/p>\n

\n \u201cPITAZZ U LAPES\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Association\u2019s first philanthropic project for 2006,
\n \u201cPitazz u Lapes\u201d, has yielded thousands of exercise
\n books and pencils for the children of Arequipa Mission in
\n Peru, run by Malta\u2019s Missionary Society of St Paul (MSSP).
\n The project was directed by ALPS\u2019s Philanthropic Commission
\n Chairman Dr Nazareno Azzopardi with the willing help of the
\n whole Council of Administration, but especially of Council
\n member Tony Aquilina.<\/p>\n

Besides the primary, secondary and Junior Lyceum schools
\n that participated in the project there were also a number
\n of well-wishers who don\u2019t have any children or grandchildren
\n at school, but still volunteered to help the collection after
\n hearing about it through radio or media. The collected items
\n were packed in boxes at Dar Guido Saliba in Piet\u00e0 and
\n later passed to Fr Louis Mallia of the MSSP\u2019s Centru
\n Animazzjoni Missjunarja for shipping to Peru in a container.<\/p>\n

A big vote of thanks goes to all who helped, within the Association
\n and without, and a big \u201cWell done\u201d to Dr Azzopardi
\n for the way he handled the project.<\/p>\n

\n LOVE YOUR VALENTINE<\/strong><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s Valentine\u2019s Day Dinner proved to
\n be another huge success, with more than 80 couples attending.
\n The large turn-out meant that the Coastline Hotel had to move
\n the ALPS event from the planned Lacosta Restaurant to the
\n larger Coastline Suite. The happy atmosphere was helped along
\n in no small way by singers Christian Arding and Steve Cole,
\n with the former getting all into the mood and the latter taking
\n it from there with his great sense of humour and the way he
\n made the audience participate.<\/p>\n

In a throw-back to 24th June 2005, when ALPS and the Friends
\n of the Manoel Theatre had organised a very successful barbecue
\n in the very same Coastline Suite to raise funds for the Help
\n Amanda Smile campaign, ALPS Assistant Secretary Charles Calleja
\n announced that Amanda would finally have her longed-for operation
\n on the following Monday, 20th February.<\/p>\n

The unusual feature of every man at the dinner presenting
\n his better half with a red carnation, thoughtfully provided
\n by ALPS, was made even more meaningful this year with the
\n men reading out a short poem, composed by President George
\n Stagno Navarra (who else?), who also organised the whole thing.
\n At the end of the evening George went around distributing
\n Baci di Perugina to all present, and when everyone opened
\n them up at the same time one lucky guest found that she had
\n won a weekend for two at the Coastline Hotel on bed-and-breakfast
\n basis. <\/p>\n

Another surprise was finding out that ALPS Secretary-General
\n Alex Borg and his wife Sonia were celebrating their wedding
\n anniversary. All Council members gathered on the stage and
\n called the couple out to receive a special anniversary gift.<\/p>\n

\n SIXTIES NIGHT<\/strong><\/p>\n

By special request from several ALPS members a Sixties Night
\n is being organised at the Bella Vista Hotel in Qawra on 17th
\n March<\/strong>. For just Lm6.25 per person members and friends
\n can enjoy a sumptuous buffet complete with water and one glass
\n of wine, with a disc jockey thrown in for good measure. Care
\n has been taken to provide space for dancing to the music.<\/p>\n

Bookings are open from Social & Cultural Commission Chairman
\n Alfred Formosa on telephone 21 383486, mobile 9924 6574, e-mail
\n agf313@yahoo.co.uk or by mail at \u201cThe Cottage\u201d,
\n 20\/22 Tar\u2019 Giorni Road, St Julian\u2019s SGN 07. Please
\n don\u2019t leave it too late: another large turn-out might
\n make finding late placements rather difficult.<\/p>\n

\n LYCEUM BICYCLE MARATHON<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was with a sense of great pride and satisfaction that
\n ALPS was represented at the official handing over of a mini-bus
\n to the Muscular Dystrophy Group at The Lyceum. The vehicle
\n was partly acquired with part of the proceeds of the 2005
\n Lyceum Bicycle Marathon. The outstanding payment will be made
\n with part of the proceeds of the 2006 event, which will be
\n held between the 24th and 26th March<\/strong>, again
\n with the full collaboration of ALPS. <\/p>\n

Another beneficiary of this year\u2019s marathon will be
\n the Providential Homes for the Handicapped. The expected funds
\n are badly needed for the extensive refurbishment of a complete
\n floor of one of the three villas at Siggiewi.<\/p>\n

ALPS members and their friends are earnestly exhorted to
\n visit the marathon and give whatever financial help they can
\n afford for the greater success of the event. Besides direct
\n financial contributions, even having a drink or a snack from
\n the well-stocked bar will in effect be helping.<\/p>\n

\n FOUNDATION DAY CONCERT<\/strong><\/p>\n

What with the Sixties Night on 17th March and the Lyceum
\n Bicycle Marathon on 24th to 26th, it has been felt that also
\n putting on the now-traditional Foundation Day Concert around
\n the 20th March (the actual date that ALPS was founded) would
\n have been a bit top-heavy. It has therefore been decided to
\n hold the Foundation Day Concert on Saturday 1st April<\/strong>
\n (no, seriously, no joke).<\/p>\n

The programme is still being put together by Joe Fenech,
\n and more details will be forthcoming in the March issue of
\n ALPS News. But please pencil the date into your diaries because
\n it will be worth attending\u2026<\/p>\n

\n SPIRITUAL RETREAT IN MAY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unless the Council comes up with some other activity for
\n late April, the next appointment for all ALPS members and
\n Friends of ALPS (they are officially part of us now) will
\n be the now-traditional Spiritual Retreat at Manresa House
\n outside Victoria, Gozo. <\/p>\n

Members and Friends are cordially invited to attend the full
\n day on 20th May<\/strong>, when there is a probability
\n that a meeting will be held with the new Bishop of Gozo Mario
\n Grech.<\/p>\n

The full retreat will be between 19th and 21st May, but there
\n may be less than a handful of rooms available at Manresa House
\n on full-board basis. Those who would like to try their luck
\n can get in touch with Secretary-General Alex Borg (see masthead
\n for details), who will also appreciate an indication by those
\n who intend to attend only on the Saturday, for catering purposes.<\/p>\n

\n ANOTHER CLASS REUNION<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yet again ALPS News is willingly helping to publicise a planned
\n class reunion of Lyceum Past Students. This time it is for
\n students who entered The Lyceum in Hamrun in 1955 and completed
\n Form 5I in 1960, and it will be held on 17th March.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Readers of ALPS News who \u201cqualify\u201d for this reunion,
\n or know somebody who does, may contact ALPS member Emmanuel
\n Chetcuti on telephone 21 334276, mobile 7933 4276, e-mail
\n at emchet@euroweb.net.mt or by mail at 5 Triq Bonavita, Sliema
\n SLM 13.<\/p>\n

The unfortunate coincidence of this reunion on the same date
\n as ALPS\u2019s Sixties Night brings us to suggest that ALPS
\n members planning any such activities would do well to check
\n with Secretary-General Alex Borg in order to avoid dates clashing.
\n It is almost sure that a number of people involved would like
\n to be able to attend both events without having to choose.<\/p>\n

\n CALLING ALL PUBLIC-SPIRITED A.L.P.S. MEMBERS<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Chairman of the Malta Playing Fields Association, ALPS
\n member A.M. Bonello, has requested ALPS News to publicise
\n a request for public-spirited ALPS members to come forward
\n and join the MPFA on its executive committee. Quite besides
\n this request, ALPS member Alfred Micallef Attard joined the
\n MPFA last year as Honorary Treasurer, but more vacancies are
\n available for anyone who has the well-being of Malta\u2019s
\n youngsters at heart.<\/p>\n

Interested people may contact Mr Bonello on telephone 21
\n 311310 or 21 223877 or fax 21 378738. Alternatively they may
\n contact the MPFA Secretary on telephone 21 374565.<\/p>\n

\n MEMBERSHIP FEES<\/strong><\/p>\n

Individuals who have not yet done so are invited to send
\n in their membership fee of Lm3 for 2006 to Treasurer David
\n Abela at \u201cJuniper\u201d, Triq Ganni Grima, Tal-Qattus,
\n Birkirkara BKR 13.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
HELP
\n TO MAKE A.L.P.S. BIGGER AND BETTER
\n
Get former schoolmates to join as members
\n and participate in our activities.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT. It gives me great satisfaction to be close to you all, as often as possible. As the months start rolling and the new Council of Administration of ALPS settles down...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":25,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5659","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alpsmalta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alpsmalta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alpsmalta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpsmalta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpsmalta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5659"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/alpsmalta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5660,"href":"https:\/\/alpsmalta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5659\/revisions\/5660"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpsmalta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alpsmalta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}