NEW STATIONERY

Instead of the usual masthead, the March 2007 hard-copy edition of ALPS News reached readers on the new letterheads that the Association commissioned from Bonavia Printers of Tigné, Sliema, who also proudly sponsored the overprinting. The letterheads, designed by Ramon Micallef of Box Design of Ta’ Xbiex, are part of a new set that also includes membership application forms and envelopes overprinted with the ALPS logo and address. It is sincerely hoped that Members and Friends of ALPS will be proud of the modernised enhancement of the Association’s image.

FOCUS ON LYCEUM BICYCLE MARATHON

It can safely be said that the fulcrum of ALPS activities over the past several weeks has been the upcoming Lyceum Bicycle Marathon 2007 – not just in the organisation of public activities but also, and much more so, in the Council members’ discussions and almost-frenetic e-mailing and telephoning. The end – helping the Marathon Organising Committee to enhance the amount of funds to be eventually turned over to the Dar tal-Providenza of Siggiewi – justifies all the effort.

Following the highly-successful Cabaret Dinner at the Paradise Bay Resort Hotel at Cirkewwa in January that has already been adequately reported in the February issue of ALPS News, the Council of Administration organised another very successful dinner at the Topaz Aparthotel in Bugibba, which also featured patrons spending not one night but two at the hotel because the dinner was on a Friday. As in the previous event, all proceeds from the dinner – as well as the very high-yielding raffles – will go to the Marathon Fund. Add to that the very good sales of tickets for the lottery organised by The Lyceum, and you have the prospect of a princely sum that ALPS President George Stagno Navarra should be officially presenting on stage in the closing hours of the Lyceum Bicycle Marathon 2007.

ALPS paid for advertising in The Times, and with the willing help of Bishop Annetto Depasquale distributed eyecatching fliers to all parishes for putting up in their notice boards in the days leading up to the marathon, urging the faithful to visit The Lyceum with their families, enjoy the activities and, more importantly, help with their donations, even through SMS. The Association also paid for adverts in the church leaflet Jum il-Mulej on the weekends of 10/11th and 17/18th March.

Members and Friends of ALPS can make the Association’s final contribution even greater by selling and/or buying more lottery tickets (with proceeds exclusively to ALPS Secretary-General Alex Borg at “Alson”, Naxxar Road, San Gwann) and by donating top-quality items for sale at the Bazaar or Plant Shop during the marathon. Please contact Membership Commission Chairman Tony Aquilina on 21 373706 or 7937 3706 to arrange for pick-up of bulky donations.

FOUNDATION DAY CONCERT WITH A DIFFERENCE

During the busy run-up to the Lyceum Bicycle Marathon, part of the ALPS Council of Administration has been working in parallel on the organisation of a grand Foundation Day Concert with a difference – one whose proceeds will be going to another charity, in keeping with our social, civic and philanthropic calling.

Cultural Activities Commission Chairman Joe Fenech has been working for months to put up a Concert Version of Franz Lehàr’s famous operetta La Danza delle Libellule. The show will be held at the Salesians Hall in Sliema on 28th April with the participation of soloists Karen Camilleri, Louiselle Pace Gouder, Connie Frances Zerafa, Joseph Aquilina and Joe Huber, all accompanied on the pianoforte by Cynthia Genovese. Also taking part will be the Youth Orchestra of the Società Filarmonica Sliema conducted by Mro James Bernard Agius, the Choir of the University of the Third Age trained by Yolanda Micallef, and CATS Dance Company with the choreography of Mariosa Pavia. Monica Attard and John Dimech will be compères.

Free parking will be made available at St Patrick’s Grounds. All proceeds from the show will go to the Salesian Youth Centre, Sliema. Tickets at Lm2.50 can be booked from Studiomoda at Naxxar Road, San Gwann (telephone 21 386812, e-mail alps@global.net.mt), Joe Fenech on telephone 21 410632, or the Salesians Hall in Sliema.

With all the effort that is going into it, this year’s ALPS Foundation Day Concert should be a night to remember!

CANADA, HERE WE COME …

With the help of ALPS Canada Branch President, former Maltese Consul Milo Vassallo, the long-cherished dream of President George Stagno Navarra – the much-awaited ALPS Tour of Canada – has finally been put together and set for 28th August to 18th September, 2007. It promises to be so good that places are being snapped up.

The focal point of the tour will be a Grand Reunion between Lyceum past students from Malta and Canada with a dinner at the exclusive Toronto Club on 31st August: certainly a memorable event for ALPS. The entire trip, painstakingly put together through SMS Travel of Valletta, will include conducted tours of Toronto, Lake Ontario, Niagara, Calgary, the Pacific Coast, Vancouver, British Columbia, a five-day tour of the Rockies and a seven-day cruise in Alaska on the m.v. Norwegian Sun.

“The touring itself and the cruise are breathtaking enough, but the greatest joy will be to meet and socialise with former students of the doyen school of Malta who have kept the Lyceum torch alight in Canada,” said George Stagno Navarra. “We are hoping that the publicity given to the get-together will help to entice many more in Canada to inject new blood into the branch.

“Milo Vassallo has been lovingly working on the details of the trip almost ever since he retired, and he deserves a lot of the credit for the whole trip coming to fruition.”

More details about the tour may be sought from ALPS Secretary-General Alex Borg (you know how to get to him by now!).