NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2018
We are happy to inform you that 2018 began with an abundance of new Members joining various activities offered at the Drop In Centre. The majority wanting to learn Spanish for the first time or improve their language skills at the Intermediate session which already has 12 Members, space for 4 more.
Wednesday 17th January was the first of our monthly Coffee Mornings with Guest Speaker Mike from De Vere Group who provided lovely cakes to go with coffee or tea, he also gave a generous donation as more than 10 Members attended which will go towards musical instruments for our Music Therapy sessions.
Our next Coffee Morning :
8th March Thursday is World Women’s Day 11am till 12.30pm, organised to integrate with the Russian Group and other Associations using the Centre. This will be the first of many events for all the groups to socialise, integrate and exchange our varied cultures over refreshments. Ideas for future events will be very much appreciated.
World Women’s day is celebrated in every Country. This will be especially important as it is the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Right to Vote by the famous Suffragette’s led by Emily Pankhurst and Evelina Haverfield.
17th March Saturday. We have been invited to take part in the St Patrick’s Day Parade celebrated every year by the Cllr for Tourism Orihuela Costa. This very important event held at Cabo Roig is one of the major Parades held in Costa Blanca. We are honoured to be invited and ask you to join us on the day, dressed in green of course. Please let me know if you want to celebrate together and have fun.
We also want to say a big thank you for your support, we are amazed that so many people of various nationalities have joined our Association since we opened last September only 5 months, 137 members. 55 jointed since 15th January, proving we do want to integrate whilst living in Orihuela Costa and enjoy our time in the sun.
We are proud to announce that a 3rd class for Spanish Beginners started Monday 15th January 2.30pm till 4pm with Jill Morris and an Intermediate class Mondays 2pm till 3.30pm with Marilyn, which has only a few spaces left for each class.
Beginners level, we will organise a 4th class to commence after Easter.
Mondays : 12.30pm till 2pm. Spanish Beginners.
2.30pm till 4pm. Spanish Beginners.
2pm till 3.3pm Spanish Intermediate.
Wednesdays : 2pm till 3.30pm. Spanish Beginners. Full.
Wednesdays. 1pm till 3pm. Art sessions, oils, sketching and watercolours with Eva and Corinne.
2.30pm till 4pm. IT – Mobile phones & Tablets use by Belinda Regan.
Thursdays : 1.30 pm till 4pm. Card making sessions with Instructors Jackie & Denise, great fun, making personalised birthday, anniversary, Valentines, St Patrick’s Day and Easter cards, a wonderful way to relax with friends.
Thursdays : 12.45pm till 1.30pm. Gentle exercise to music with Instructor Angela Nicholson. Angela also is a Craft Instructor and can stay on to demonstrate her knowledge to anyone wishing to learn.
Thursdays : Drumming and percussion workshop with Instructor ‘Nick’. 1pm till 2.30pm, if you have always wanted to play, why not join, it is great fun.
We need percussion instruments, should you have the odd tambourine, bongo drum, triangle or cow bell etc., not used, please do bring it along to us at the Drop In Centre, we will happily enjoy making music with them on your behalf.
We hope to encourage music sessions to be held Mondays and Wednesdays as well as Thursdays. There are suggestions to hold Singing and Tea Dance sessions for all ages and nationalities, these can be organised if enough people want them.
Internet / wifi is not available at the Drop In Centre, yet! Cllr Sofia Alvarez has offered to help ensure we do have internet as soon as possible, all the language and cultural sessions urgently need it as will the Cruz Roja.
5th February, The Director of Orihuela Branch of Cruz Roja, Pilar visited us at the Drop In Centre together with Pedro Dominguez of the Alicante Branch, (Red Cross). The guests invited to the meeting were Cllr Sofia Alvarez, U3A John Summers, Stroke Support Group Former President, Lilybeth Stevens, her husband John, Gill and Sheila, Librarian Katalin Freeman, Jill Morris our Health Advisor and Ina President of the Russian Association.
We were able to show Pilar that CC Ramon de Campoamor is an ideal base for Cruz Roja to work closely with the organisations there, developing a branch on the coast, offering First Aid Training Courses and support to the Community of Orihuela Costa.
Lilybeth and her team said they will help develop a Stroke Support Centre for Orihuela Costa at CC Ramon de Campoamor. I confess I was overjoyed, both these valued organisations are very much needed for our future welfare, this has been a dream of mine for 6 years, my next campaign will be an Alzheimers / Dementia Association branch for Orihuela Costa.
The Tasha Appeal Campaign, we proudly announced that with the support of the Card making and Floral arranging group at the Xmas Craft Fayres we successfully raised €5000, the funds needed to fly Tasha to the USA for the specialist treatment she desperately needs, she is critical ill with 5 serious medical conditions. Tasha is currently in hospital having an operation without anaesthetic, she is in terrible pain.
With your support we can help raise the €100,000 for specialist treatment costs, of which €23,000 has already been raised.
We are waiting for approval from the Zenia Boulevard Management Legal Department to raise the funds needed for her care and treatment, once granted, we will need volunteers to help with bucket collections at Zenia Boulevard and the Celtic Isle Saturdays.
23rd February from 6pm. Stevie Spit and his amazing Artists are organising an Extravaganza at the Stray Sod CC La Fuente Campoamor, See attached poster.
30th March 7pm . 14 Tribute Acts Concert on at Orihuela Costa Resort.
Both events in aid of the Tasha Treatment Appeal, more info regarding the Concert will be sent nearer the time.
The Drop In Centre is somewhere for everyone to enjoy social activities, all ages and nationalities. Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 12.30pm till 4.30pm.
If you would like to join these sessions, contact Norah and Eva by email: oc.communitycare@gmail.com
Once again, we wish to thank you for your support and look forward to seeing you all again next week.
Norah, Eva, Jill, Belinda, Marilyn, Nick, Angie, Jackie & Penny.
Community Care Association.
