Heard in the Hive

The Chamber of Engineers, in collaboration with the Ministry for Resources and Infrastructure, recently presented the annual Malta Engineering Excellence Awards (MEEA) during the chamber's annual dinner at the Radisson Bay Point Resort in St Julian's.

This was the first year that these annual engineering excellence awards were being organised by the Chamber of Engineers.

The presentation ceremony was opened by Ing. Alexander Tranter, president of the Chamber of Engineers, who said that the chamber was extremely proud to have created these annual excellence awards to bestow national recognition to individuals and/or organisations that have achieved outstanding engineering accomplishments which have had significant impact on engineering in Maltese society.

The trophy chosen by the Chamber of Engineers to represent these Malta Engineering Excellence Awards was the Cippus, a pair of candelabra-shaped marble columns discovered in 1694 at Tas-Silg Punic temple.

At present, one is housed in the Louvre in Paris while the other is at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta. Of great significance was the inscription found on these columns which was the key to decipher the Phoenician alphabet. The chamber specifically commissioned Mdina Glass to reproduce a scale model of these columns in glass for this special occasion.

There were three categories in these awards - for Innovation, for Leadership and for Lifetime Achievement. The Innovation winner was the high performance zero emission electric car being developed at the University of Malta by Dr Joe Cilia, Dr Ing. Cyril Spiteri Staines, Dr Ing. Victor Buttigieg, Professor Edward Mallia, Ing. Stefan Riolo and Mario Farrugia.

This excellence award recognises engineering achievements that demonstrate a high degree of merit, skill and ingenuity, are original and innovative application of new or existing techniques and are of a high technical value to the engineering profession.

In the category for Leadership the winner was STMicroelectronics (Malta) Ltd. This award recognises exceptional leadership that demonstrates inspirational, creative and exemplary managerial contribution, together with success in planning, implementation and direction of outstanding achievements. It also recognises the elevation of the role and prestige of engineering and engineers in industry and society.

That for Lifetime Achievement, the chamber's most prestigious award, is given to an individual who has contributed significantly to the development of engineering in Malta. In fact this award is dedicated to the memory of engineer Maurice Debono, one of the founding members of the chamber.

The award recognises a high degree of imagination, innovation and initiative in the pursuit of engineering, the individual's contribution towards the development and promotion of the engineering profession. and participation in the dissemination of their acquired knowledge to Maltese society. The winner of this prestigious award this year was Professor Maurice Grech.

The winners of each of these categories were announced by Mrs Irene Debono, widow of Maurice Debono, and the Minister for Resources and Infrastructure, Dr Francis Zammit Dimech, presented each winner with the Cippus and a certificate of recognition.

People

Dr Adrian Mizzi, MD, was recently formally admitted as Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists at the College's admission ceremony held at the Institute of British Architects in Portland Place, London, last month.

Dr Mizzi underwent his undergraduate training at the Malta Medical School and graduated in June 1995.

Dr Mizzi is currently training in Diagnostic Radiology in Glasgow.

He is son of Alfred and Antida Mizzi and is married to Mariella née Caruana.

DR MAURO OVEREND, BE&A (Hons), M.Sc, C.Eng, MIStructE, A&CE, was recently awarded a Ph.D in Structural Engineering from the University of Surrey, UK.

In his thesis, entitled "The Appraisal of Structural Glass Assemblies", he developed a design method for the analysis , design and optimisation of hybrid steel/glass structures.

Mauro and his wife Natalie are currently living and working in London.

MR EVARIST V. SALIBA, Malta's ambassador in Athens, was recently awarded the honorary commemorative medal of the City of Athens by the mayor of Athens, Dimitrios L. Avramopoulos, in acknowledgement of his contribution in the promotion and strengthening of relations between Athens and Malta.

Thanksgiving celebrated by AIWA

The American International Women's Association (AIWA) celebrated Thanksgiving with a lunch at the Victoria Hotel in Sliema recently. Its outgoing president, Jane Sandstrom, welcomed members and guests to the 37th year of AIWA celebrating the American holiday, Thanksgiving Day.

Mrs Sandstrom thanked the 2002 board of the association for their sterling work. "Without you, we wouldn't be here at this festive occasion, and so many other occasions throughout the year", she told them.

Canon Alan Woods, Mr Thomas Murphy, deputy chief of mission at the American Embassy, and Mrs Murphy, Pamela Hansen, assistant editor, The Sunday Times, Elizabeth Aquilina, president-elect of AIWA, Oscar Aquilina and Torsen Sandstrom were among the guests.

"The late Helene Hanff, whom some of you may remember as the author of 84, Charing Cross Road, wrote what I think is the definitive description of the beginning of Thanksgiving, and, in fact, the founding of our country", said Mrs Sandstrom in her introduction.

Here in brief is what Ms Hanff had to say: "A group of English farmers disagreed with the Church of England and got on a ship called the Mayflower, and sailed to the New World, landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, and established a colony. Since they called themselves 'pilgrims' they became known in American history as the Pilgrim Fathers."

"So thanks to all of you who are celebrating with us today, and to those Pilgrim Fathers, who, according to Helene Hanff's account, were 'no better than they should be', but who gave us a lovely American holiday. Happy Thanksgiving," concluded Mrs Sandstrom.

Mr Murphy then read out President Bush's message for Thanksgiving.

AIWA was founded on February 11, 1969 as the American Women's Club of Malta. At the time the association was founded, it was for the purpose of bringing together American women and wives of American citizens for friendship, mutual assistance in settling in Malta, and to raise money for Maltese charities.

In September 1984 it became the American Women's Association. Through the years women of many nationalities joined the founding group, including, of course, Maltese ladies, so in 1992 the name of the organisation became American International Women's Association in order to reflect its beginning, as well as the international group it has become.

The association continues to raise money for Maltese charities with various activities, among them coffee mornings, sale of raffle tickets, lunches, and celebration of American festivities, i.e., Thanksgiving and Independence Day. While contributing to the welfare of those less fortunate, it continues to enjoy the friendship and support of women of diverse interests and nationalities.

Tourism Minister opens tribute to Malta exhibition

A wonderful tribute of sculptures in Malta stone was recently paid at the De Porres Cultural Centre in Sliema by Vency, the Bulgarian artist who has lived in Malta for the past 12 years and received First Prize Sculpture at the 2001 Malta International Art Biennale.

His exhibition was opened by Tourism Minister Dr Michael Refalo, who also praised the impressive collection of abstract works.

Dame Françoise Tempra, president of the Malta International Art Biennale, and Fr Marius Zerafa, vice-president, thanked Dr Refalo who in 1995, as Minister of Culture, gave his undivided support to the First Malta International Art Biennale, which grew from the participation of 50 countries to that of 105 in its fourth edition.

Vency (Ventceslav Metchev) won the 2001 Biennale First Sculpture prize with a giant sculpture which is part of the public Tempra Colonnade in Mgarr.

His abstract oil paintings (permanently on show with his sculptures at the Tempra Museum in Mgarr and the Wignacourt Museum, Rabat) have delighted the public and special guest Professor Giorgio Cegna from Rome University.

The show is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., until December 24, at the De Porres Cultural Centre, Sliema.

Myoka promotes services to leading international publications

Marion Mizzi recently hosted representatives of leading international health and beauty publications at the San Gorg Corinthia.

The three-day event served as an ideal opportunity to promote Marion Mizzi's health and beauty products and services recently rebranded under the Myoka name.

Representatives attending the event, which was organised in collaboration with the Malta Tourism Authority, hailed from a number of renowed magazines including Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire.

Welcoming the representatives, Mrs Mizzi outlined how since its inception 26 years ago with the opening of its first health and beauty salon in Fgura, the company has established itself as a household name in Malta.

Speaking about the organisation of the event, director Jean Vella pointed out that through such initiatives, the company sought to promote Malta as a spa destination.

He added that the advantage of Malta as a spa destination was that Malta's prices were very competitive compared to French, Swiss, Italian or American destinations.

Malta was an ideal holiday destination and what better way to fully enjoy a holiday if not with a healthy and relaxing treatment at a professional spa.

Maltese Diabetes Association's annual fund-raising dinner

The Maltese Diabetes Association recently organised its annual fund-raising dinner at Villa Arrigo, San Pawl tat-Targa. The evening was attended by over 200 guests. Catering was provided by Osborne Caterers. Wine flowed courtesy of Emm. Delicata & Sons Ltd, together with mineral water which was provided courtesy of Simonds Farsons Cisk plc and Anthony Caruana & Sons Ltd.

Welcome drinks and liqueurs were provided by Anthony Caruana & Sons Ltd. Petit fours were courtesy of Red October Ltd.

Joanna Aquilina and her band entertained guests with classical music.

Guests were addressed by Anna Zammiut Mckeon, president of the association, who spoke mainly of the association's activities, particularly the events to mark World Diabetes Day.

In a brief address, Chris J. Delicata, chairman of the organising committee, thanked all sponsors for their support to make the event a success.

After dinner, a raffle was organised and several gifts were distributed courtesy of Air Malta plc, Kenneth Zammit Tabona, P. Cutajar Ltd, Go Mobile, Jos. Debono Jewellers, Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort, Le Meridien Phoenicia, Barcelo Riviera Resort & Spa, Sol Sunrest, L-Imgarr Hotel, San Lawrenz Holiday Resort, Barracuda Restaurant, Victor Azzopardi Silverware and Dr Alexander Cachia Zammit.Russian orphans on dream holiday in Malta

The International Charity Society welcomed a group of 70 Russian children last Friday on a one-month stay to spend Christmas in Malta with host families.

All children are orphans, coming from four orphan homes in Russia (around 160 children in each home).

Fr Nikon, adviser to the vice mayor of Moscow, orphan home director and official, representing the Russian government, is accompanying the group.

This dream holiday is made possible by Maltese families who sponsor the orphans' stay every Christmas.

The ICS, registered as a philanthropic organisation, which brings Russian orphans to Malta every year, was formed with the intention of making known the Maltese people's generosity in other parts of the world, where human solidarity is badly needed.

The head of the Family Rehabilitation Project is Mrs Rita Scicluna. Dame Irina Malikova is director. Chairman of the board of trustees is Dr V.E. Ragonesi. The efforts of the charity are fully endorsed by government ministries and departments. The ICS is not involved - neither directly nor indirectly - with adoption matters.

The children will be arriving after an 11-hour train trip in Russia and a four-and-a-half-hour flight.

The Maltese families will be meeting the children at the airport. They are already waiting for them with great excitement and are looking forward to welcoming them in their homes.

Most of the families have prepared the rooms and new clothes for the children and also planned a variety of Christmas activities.

The society has worked out a Christmas programme of activities for the orphans and children of the Maltese host families. Any offers will be appreciated. Kindly contact Mrs Scicluna on 2134-3536 or 9986-0900.

Russian orphans come all year round during school holidays, for about a month in Christmas and Easter and up to three months in Summer.

Any Maltese family interested in hosting a child can phone 2125-2613 or 2169-2298 (during office hours) and/or 2134-3536 or 9986-0900 after office hours. Requests from elderly couples will also be taken into consideration.

For your diary

Car boot sales in aid of the Vittoriosa Stars Football Club are being held every Sunday at the football ground, Vittoriosa (Il-Fortini) all day. Parking is not a problem.

A card party in aid of the Girl Guides Association will be held at the Imperial Hotel, Sliema, on Wednesday. For booking, phone Laura on 2133-2502 or 9948-9797.

Ward U Zghar is organising a Christmas party for children on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Social Welfare Centre, St Venera. A Lm1 deposit, which must be paid on booking, will be refunded on the day. Children are to be collected at 9 p.m.

A party for children will be held by the 12th May Band and Social Club of Zebbug at the band club's foyer on Thursday at 5.30 p.m. On Friday, a party for youngsters will be held from 8 p.m. onwards in the foyer. On Sunday, after the 8 a.m. Mass, there will be a march of Christmas carols by the 12th May band. The band will be directed by Herman Farrugia.

A Christmas lunch for members and guests will be held on Saturday, December 28, at 8 p.m. in the Agira Hall of the band club. Tickets are obtainable from the committee (ladies' section) and from the club's bar. Entertainment will follow.

The Maltese-Australian Association is holding a Christmas dinner dance on Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Carolina Hotel, Bugibba. There will be an international show which will include Ukrainian dancers and Russian acrobats. Tickets are at Lm7.50. Non-members pay Lm8.

For booking, which is open until Wednesday, phone Nick Bonello on 2148-6241, Wally Moore (2163-4307), Paul Mamo (2131-5191), Arthemis Cilia (2157-7545), Marlene Xerri (2137-6276) or Victor Borg (2144-0807).

The Singles Social Circle (SSC) is holding its Christmas get-together at the Beachaven, Xemxija, on Saturday at 9 p.m. Tickets are at Lm1.25. One guest, who must be booked, can be brought along. Bookings should be made by Thursday.

A 50th anniversary reunion of past students of St Michael's Training College (1951-52) is being held on Monday, December 30. For details phone 2144-2114 or 2133-5026 after 8.30 p.m.

The President and Mrs de Marco's engagements - December 16-21

Tomorrow
10.30 a.m. The President and Mrs de Marco attend a Mass for schoolchildren and are presented with donations in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund by various schools in Gozo at Nadur Basilica.
Noon The President and Mrs de Marco present donations on behalf of the MCCF to various individuals and philanthropic institutions at Lourdes Home, Ghajnsielem.
4 p.m. The President visits the Christmas village at Anchor Bay, Mellieha.
5.30 The President receives the president and committee members of the Beland Band Club, Zejtun, at the Palace, Valletta.
6.30 The President delivers a recording of the annual Christmas and New Year's message

Tuesday
10 a.m. The President receives a group of Scouts participating in the World Jamboree in Thailand at the Palace, Valletta.
10.30 The President receives Mgr Luigi Conti, Apostolic Nuncio, and is presented with a message from Pope John Paul II.
11 The President receives Mr David Delicata, chairman of Round Table 1, and members of the committee and is presented with a donation in aid of the MCCF.
11.30 The President receives the chairman and members of Care Malta.
1 p.m. Mrs de Marco is presented with a donation in aid of the MCCF by the directors of Michele Peresso Ltd in Birkirkara.
6.30 The President and Mrs de Marco preside over a MCCF board meeting at San Anton Palace.

Wednesday
9.30 a.m. The President and Mrs de Marco attend Mass for schoolchildren and are presented with donations in aid of the MCCF on Freedom Square, Valletta.
1 for 1.30 p.m. The President and Mrs de Marco attend a luncheon in their honour, hosted by Fra Andrew Bertie, Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta, at Fort St Angelo, Vittoriosa.
7.30 The President and Mrs de Marco attend a reception hosted by the Commander of the Italian Military Mission at the SAS Radisson Bay Point Resort, St Julian's.

Thursday
9.45 a.m. The President is presented with credentials by Mr Joachim Rienko Wilton, Ambassador of the Netherlands, at the Palace, Valletta.
10.45 The President is presented with credentials by Mr Staffan Wrigstad, Ambassador of Sweden.
11.45 The President is presented with credentials by Dr Mohamed L. Samura, High Commissioner of Sierra Leone.
1.15 for 1.30 p.m. The President and Mrs de Marco host an official luncheon in honour of the newly accredited Ambassadors of the Netherlands, Sweden and Sierra Leone at San Anton Palace, Attard.
5.30 The President receives the Prime Minister, Dr Eddie Fenech Adami.
7 The President and Mrs de Marco attend a welcome reception hosted by Mr Valentin S. Vlasov, the Russian Ambassador, in Kappara.

Friday
10 a.m. The President receives the president and committee members of the Confederation of Maltese Trade Unions at the Palace, Valletta.
11 The President receives the mayor and councillors of Rabat.
11.45 The President receives the president and committee members of BASIC (Brothers and Sisters in Christ).
7.30 The President and Mrs de Marco attend a concert in aid of the MCCF, organised by Xaghra council at Xaghra basilica.

Saturday
10 a.m. The President delivers Christmas and New Year greetings as part of the Milied Flimkien 2002 campaign on Freedom Square, Valletta.