Heard in the Hive

A pleasant summer evening, a unique venue, good food and excellent company - these were the ingredients of Middlesea Insurance plc's 25th anniversary dinner.

The event, which was attended by various distinguished guests including directors, business associates, representatives of major corporate foreign and local shareholders, and representatives from international reinsurers, was held at Fort St Angelo under the patronage of the President and Mrs Fenech Adami.

Prior to the dinner, guests were regaled with the dulcet voice of soprano Gillian Zammit, who sang a number of arias.

After the dinner, Mario C. Grech, chairman of Middlesea Group, referred to the four fundamental keystones of Middlesea's success story. The first, and most essential, was the importance given to the education, training and continued professional development of the human resources through the establishment of the training centre in 1981.

Secondly, Middlesea embraced change, looked at the opportunities that were created, and grasped such opportunities. Thirdly, since the company's setting up, the board of directors and management identified the importance of going beyond Malta's shores to register continuous growth, and, last, Middlesea consistently followed principles of best practice in the application of corporate governance and adoption of corporate social responsibility. These fundamentals were still applicable today and would remain so for the future.

Mr Grech said: "The future challenges were undoubtedly shadowed by numerous imponderables. However, as in the past, any future success was totally dependent on a clear strategic direction and the resolve to succeed in the creation of wealth for shareholders, motivation of management and staff, and satisfaction for customers and stakeholders. With prudent optimism, I, together with the board of directors, management and staff, feel confident of our collective ability to succeed in attaining our objectives, through our involvement in the financial services industry both locally and overseas."

He then thanked past and present shareholders who had shown their trust in the company and who therefore contributed to make Middlesea a success.

In the closing speech, the President said that over the years, he had closely followed the progress that had been achieved by Middlesea. Twenty-five years ago, the company was set up and the people then involved had a vision of what the company ought to be.

It was primarily an achievement of the chairmen and the various boards over the years, whose collective dedication, vision and foresight ensured that the company would progress to where it is today.

Coupled with this was the evolution of Malta, under various administrations, into an international financial services centre of repute, an achievement that all were proud of. It was a collective vision which will continue to offer real growth to the Maltese financial services industry.

The President concluded: "We have sought and identified niches where economic growth could be obtained. In no small measure, Middlesea has shown that the way we can thrive is by using our skills, our ingenuity and putting together the best efforts that our people can provide. We have thereby gained credibility. The result is 25 years of success."

Mr Grech then presented the President with a memento.

Children at Wonderland get soft toys

Children at Wonderland in St Luke's Hospital were treated to clown soft toys by the Socjetà Azmatici Maltin, sponsored by HSBC Bank Malta plc.

The HSBC Cares for Children Fund has contributed Lm1,000 to the society, which has gone towards the production of 600 clown soft toys. Sam, as the clown toy has been called, is now the official mascot of the society.

"The production of these soft toys is a great way of treating children in hospital to a plaything. We are also happy that the society now has a mascot that will help its visibility. We are grateful to HSBC Cares for Children Fund for its generous donation which has made this possible," Tessie Caruana, treasurer of the Socjetà Azmatici Maltin, said.

"Respiratory problems among children are unfortunately common. HSBC believes that such a donation can help maintain a level of awareness about such illnesses, through the Socjetà Azmatici Maltin," Josef Camilleri, head of public affairs and corporate social responsibility at HSBC Bank Malta plc, said.

The Socjetà Azmatici Maltin, founded two years ago by Dr Stephen Montfort, has 300 members. Its aim is to generate awareness about respiratory illnesses and about learning to control such illnesses in order to lead a normal life. It is chaired by Dr Mariella Blackman, assisted by Dr Anna Mallia.

Female Employees Maltacom Association celebrates third year of success

Maltacom's female employees recently met up to celebrate the association's third anniversary. The Female Employees Maltacom Association (FEM) is an initiative taken by the Maltacom Group of Companies primarily to promote gender equality at the workplace and at the same time develop women's potential, both personally and as employees.

FEM boasts a good number of achievements since its inception three years ago. The association has always played an active role in the introduction of various policies targeting women's rights - with sexual harassment and other issues relating to gender equality high on the agenda.

Thanks to the determination and hard work of its team players, FEM has come a long way towards understanding the needs of its members and helping to implement work ethics towards a healthy environment enabling women to cope with day-to-day problems in their professional life.

Guest of honour at the anniversary celebration was David Kay, Maltacom's newly appointed CEO. He welcomed this opportunity to meet female employees socially, get a hands-on view of their work experience and discuss with them possibilities to improve their quality of life at work.

"Satisfied and happy employees in turn satisfy customers," Mr Kay said. He identified customer centricity as the catalyst for the company's future success in a highly competitive scenario in an interview recently communicated to Maltacom Group employees.

Ingrid Azzopardi, FEM chairman, thanked the Maltacom management for its ongoing support and commented positively on the commitment and participation of FEM members. A high percentage of Maltacom Group's female workforce turned up for the event and enjoyed a very pleasant evening of excellent food and entertainment marking FEM's anniversary.

Winners of the Golden Cross International Singing Festival

The third Golden Cross International Singing Festival, held annually in Malta, was a special edition. For the first time this year it was held in a new venue and consisted of two contests - the junior contest for children aged six to 15, and the main contest for singers aged 16 to 35.

The non-profit event, whose aim is to promote local talent internationally with the motto "peace and friendship through music and arts", was held at La Grotta Complex in Gozo where the audience surrounded the stage equipped with state of the art lights and sound. 

The festival was presented by three talented singers Gabriella, Christian and Alexia, who despite their young age are already gaining popularity among local music fans.

This year's edition proved to be even more spectacular because of an impressive list of guest performers for the opening show. The organisers also secured the participation of renowned international singers.

Fifty singers represented Malta, England, Bulgaria, Italy, Romania, Ukraine, Lithuania, Libya, Serbia and Belarus. She2's and Fabrizio Faniello were special guests during the festival days.

Antoine Farrugia placed first in category A of the junior contest with the song Ghadni Zghir, followed by Domenique Azzopardi with Tini Jdejk, Andrei Liviu Stoian (Romania) with Corina, and Charlene Muscat with Il-Hajja Zmien Sabih.

Category B was won by Yaryna Shust (Ukraine) with A Ukrainian Traditional Feast, followed by Urte Silagalyte (Lithuania) with Because of You, Albertine Abela with Zghozija, Kimberly Grech with Tama ghal Gejjieni, and Danica Muscat with Fil-Benna tas-Sliem.

In the main contest, Glorianne Arpa placed first with The Gift of Love, followed by Ruth Portelli with Bennejja ta' l-Istorja Maltija, Ava Marija Zdravkovic (Serbia) with Tears in the Eyes, and Shokri Gdurat (Libya) with Cries of the Forgotten.

The Best New Song Awards were won by Antonella Rapa with Id-Dinja ta' Madwari for category A in the junior contest, Lindsay Lee Zarb with Forever Young for category B, and Talitha Dimech with Free in the main contest. The FIDOF Award was won by Jorje Bosios with Habib Tezor in the junior contest, and Giannella Mazzola with The Time is Now in the main contest.

The Best Choreography Awards were won by Marzia Farrugia with Stejjer in category A, and Josmar Gatt with You're the One in category B, and Jan Pace with Ilhna fid-Dezert in the main contest. The Best Public Opinion Award was won by Martha Galea with Castles in category A and Yanica Marie Formosa with Il-Hajja Sabiha in category B, and Sarah De Marco with Night Time in the main contest.

The Grand Prix Winners were Shannon Muscat with Il Fejn (author and composer, Augusto Cardinali) in the junior contest and Enrico Giacco (Italy) with Avevamo Bisogno d'Amore (author and composer, Giovanni Baiardi) in the main contest.

For the first time this year, the Public Opinion Award was chosen by SMS voting. Clips with 20 seconds of the song of each participants where shown daily on Net TV, and information about all the participants and clips of the songs were uploaded on the official Website.

This festival was supported by the Malta Tourism Authority and La Grotta. For more information, visit www.festivalgoldencross.com.

Herrera - Vercellono

The marriage took place recently at St Francis church, Valletta, between Mireille Herrera, daughter of May Herrera and the late Philip Herrera, of Valletta, and Jon Vercellono, son of John and Leah Vercellono, of Herscher, Illinois, US.

Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Fr William Bartolo, OFM, and Fr Thomas Calleja. The ceremony was witnessed by the bride's aunt, Jackie Fenech Vella, and the bride's cousin, Bernard Herrera. Christopher Azzopardi carried out the duties of best man.

The bride wore a cream chiffon dress with French lace overlay and a veil held by a headpiece of gounatelle of pearls and crystal beads, and carried a bouquet of cream-coloured baby roses. She was attended by her sister Ariane Azzopardi as matron of honour, and her cousin Maja Herrera as flower-girl. Matthew Herrera was pageboy.

A reception was later held at the Casino Maltese, Valletta. The couple spent their honeymoon in Paris.

Dalli - Micallef

The marriage took place recently at St Andrew's parish church, Luqa, between Bernice Dalli, daughter of Paul and Lilian Dalli, of Valletta, and Ryan Karl Micallef, son of Malcolm David and Rita Micallef of Luqa.

Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Canon John Ciarlò and Fr Norman Zammit. The ceremony was witnessed by the bride's sister, Anita Portelli, and Victor Zammit. Carmel Aquilina carried out the duties of best man.

The bride, who wore a pearl-coloured beaded gown, was attended by the bride's niece, Cheryl Ann Aquilina, and the groom's sister, Ria Micallef, as bridesmaids. Julian Portelli, the bride's nephew, was pageboy.

A reception was later held at Overhill's, Birzebbuga. The couple spent their honeymoon in Tunisia.

People

Sandrina Spiteri Gonzi has just returned to Malta for a rest following the successful completion of an intensive dance programme at the Royal Ballet School in Covent Garden.

The programme consists of rigorous training and individual instruction led by world-renowned teachers in classical, jazz and contemporary dance. Admission to the Royal Ballet's Upper School is granted to dancers who demonstrate the highest standards of excellence. Over 1,000 students worldwide apply for the Royal Ballet Programme each year but about only 200 students make it.

The young dancer said: "It is every ballet dancer's dream to dance at the Royal Ballet. Being selected to train at such an institution gives you added confidence to meet the difficult challenges and the hard work and sacrifice required to become a professional dancer."

The Royal Ballet School enjoys worldwide recognition as a renowned institution for classical ballet training. Since it was founded in 1926 by Dame Ninette De Valois, the school has become the leading classical ballet school in the United Kingdom, an international institution which attracts the very best ballet students worldwide.

Previous Royal Ballet School students include Dame Margot Fonteyn, Sir Kenneth Dame Merle Park, David Bintley, CBE, Darcey Bussell, OBE, Miyako Yoshida, and Jonathan Cope, CBE.

The school is situated alongside London's Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. The state-of-the-art studios are linked to the Royal Ballet by the award winning Bridge of Aspiration, thus fulfilling De Valois's dream to have company and the school side by side in the centre of London.

Ms Spiteri Gonzi is a full-time dance student at Elmhurst School for Dance (UK). She auditioned and was selected for Elmhurst at the age of 13. A former student of St Martin's College, she left Malta last year to pursue her dance studies abroad.

The President and Mrs Fenech Adami's engagements - September 4-10

Tomorrow
5 p.m. The President presides over a meeting of the Commission for the Administration of Justice at the Palace, Valletta.

7.30 The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a reception hosted by the Libyan Ambassador on the 37th anniversary of the Great Al-Fatah Revolution at the Corinthia San Gorg Hotel, St Julian's.

Tuesday
9.30 a.m. The President is presented with credentials by Australian High Commissioner Jurek Juszczyk at the Palace, Valletta.

11.15 The President is presented with credentials by Danish Ambassador Gunnar Ortmann.

6.30 p.m. Mrs Fenech Adami presides over the committee organising a concert version of Puccini's Madama Butterfly, at San Anton Palace.

Thursday
10 a.m. Mrs Fenech Adami presides over a Malta Community Chest Fund working committee at the Palace, Valletta.

11 The President receives the president of the Portuguese Association of SMOM accompanied by the Portuguese Ambassador and the president of the Maltese Association of SMOM.

Friday
10 a.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a concelebrated Mass on the occasion of Victory Day at St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta.

11 The President lays a wreath at the Great Siege monument in Republic Street, Valletta.

For your diary

A Day's Outing in aid of the Little Sisters of the Poor will be held at the Radisson SAS Golden Sands Hotel, Golden Bay, on Wednesday. For bookings and information phone Blanche Martin on 2133-0387.

Richmond Foundation is organising a self-help group meeting at the Despot Hall, Education Department, Floriana, on Wednes-day at 5.30 p.m. For further information call the Richmond Foundation on 2148-2336 or 2144-0324 or e-mail info@richmond.org.mt.

A barbecue in aid of the Malta Hospice Movement is being organised at the Moulin d'Or, Lija, on Thursday at 7 p.m. For tickets, at Lm6 for adults and Lm3 for children, phone 2144-0085/6 by tomorrow.

Ward u Zghar is celebrating its 15th anniversary at Café Barrakka, Castille Place, Valletta, on Thursday at 8 p.m. For bookings phone 9947-2868.

The Mount Carmel Band Club of Gzira is organising a day in Gozo on Friday. The group will catch the 8.15 ferry and will visit Victoria, Ta' Pinu Sanctuary and Xaghra, and will have lunch in Xlendi, and will return with the 8.15 p.m. ferry. Tickets cost Lm7 for adults and Lm4 for children.

A fund-raising activity in aid of Moviment Missjunarju Gesù fil-Proxxmu is being organised at the Mellieha Holiday Centre (Danish Village) on September 12 at 8 p.m. Tickets cost Lm6 and are inclusive of drinks. To book, phone the Business Centre on 2148-8001 (Tania or Vanessa).