Informal English Speaking GroupNovember Newsletter Group Reminder The English Group will meet as usual at the Hotel Almazara, Rio Frio on Tuesday 3rd November between 12:00 and 2:00 pm. We are hoping for a good turn out this month as the hotel has a new director and we would like to show him the high level of support that the group has given to the hotel over the last five years. Difference Between the English Group and Asociación de Anglo-Parlantes de LojaThere appears to be some confusion over the relationship and purposes between The Informal English Speaking Group and AAPL, and we hope that this note will help to explain the situation. The Informal English Speaking Group was set up five years ago with the modest aim of providing a place where English speakers of whatever nationality could meet in an informal setting and exchange views and ask for help and advice. It also provided an opportunity of networking for people in business. Members are also encouraged to integrate into the local community. There is no committee or minutes etc, nor any formality other than giving contact details when attending your first meeting. Over the five years that it has been in existence, help and advice has been provided to many members of the group, and where we could not assist we could usually point them in the direction of other sources of help. Since the very start the Hotel Almazara has always been very supportive to the group in providing a meeting place, at no cost, where members can meet on a monthly basis. AAPL was set up earlier this year as a formal organisation with much wider aims than the informal group, in that it established a formal link with the Ayuntamiento de Loja and has an official constitution and is bound by legal statute. This of necessity means that it has a formal structure of a committee and AGMs. With the support of the Ayuntamiento, AAPL aims to encourage better integration between the Spanish and extranjeros by way of language classes, art and cultural activities. It must be emphasised that the two, The Informal English Speaking Group and Asociación de Anglo Parlantes de Loja are not rival organisations, but rather complementary to each other with many people being members of both groups. Women's Group at TrabucoAs a long-standing group we are always pleased to support new initiatives such as the 'Women’s Group" for English speakers starting in Vva de Trabuco. The group will meet on the second Thursday of the month - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The first meeting is on 12th November at Eduardos in Trabuco. This will take the format of information gathering, ideas, etc. and to present the committee and first six months programme of events. They hope to have speakers, demonstrations and also trips out. Norma Crone and Vicky Clark will be at the next meeting of the Informal English Group on Tuesday 3rd November to pass on information and leave some leaflets.Pink T-Shirt Walk Around the World – Many Thanks to EveryoneThe Walk Around the World for Breast Cancer organised by Carol Rogers was very well attended by both British and Spanish walkers with over 100 participants. The presence of the walkers was made known by the colourful pink T-shirts and the sound of the whistles provided. At the end of the walk there was a gathering, hosted by the Café Continental, where there was entertainment, food and drink, as well as a raffle. The money raised through the sale of T-shirts and other donations amounted to 780 euros for AECC, the Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer and 335 euros for the Walk Around the World cancer fund. With the walk and the series of coffee morning organised in September by members of the Informal English Group a total of around 2000 euros has been raised in the last two months for the Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer in addition to that raised for the world fund against cancer. Cafe Continental – Quiz 8th November The Café Continental, opposite the Parque de los Ángeles in Loja, will be holding a quiz afternoon on Sunday 15th November. Royal British Legion The preliminary meeting of the Loja branch of the Royal British Legion was held at Hotel Mirador on October 21st 2009 and was attended by David Pusey, District Vice Chairman and District Recruiting Officer. There were some 20 or so prospective members. It was agreed that the monthly meetings would be held on the 4th Wednesday of every month (excluding December). The first meeting, which will be the official inaugural meeting, will be held on Wednesday, November 25th at 6pm at the Hotel Mirador to which all are welcome, not just ex-service personnel. The annual Poppy Appeal is under way and collection boxes are available at Hotel Mirador, Café Continental, Bar Moni – Ventorros de San José, the Café in Villanueva de Tapia and one will be at the Informal English Group meeting Hotel Almazara, Rio Frio on November 3rd. Tapia 16th December – Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols A date for your diary – There will be a Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols Wednesday 16 December, 7.00pm at Villanueva de Tapia Church English and Spanish music sung by La Vid y La Vida, plus popular congregational carols. Health CardRemember that if one of a couple is of pensionable age their partner is also eligible as a dependent,, even if below retirement age, for the Spanish health card which gives free access to the Andalucía Health Service for treatment and for medicines. Hospital VisitsA number of people have volunteered to accompany members who are not fluent in Spanish to hospital appointments, they are willing to do this as a “friend” not in a professional capacity. Should you need help contact us at englishinloja@gmail.com Mobile PhonesBe aware that pay-as-you-go mobile phones may not work after 8th November unless you have registered them with your network provider.Google translation in emailIf you are using Google Chrome it is possible to set up automatic translation of email messages.Local PublicationsThe following free publications are available in the foyer of the Ayuntamiento in Loja. Monthly programme of arts and music events in Loja El Corto de Loja – the town hall fortnightly newspaper Guía de Servicios de Ayuntamiento de Loja – Guide to local services Poniente (Granada Hoy) new newspaper for the western area of Granada Province. Informal English Speaking Group Database Over the five years that the group has been running the database has grown and there is now a need to review the information. We know that a number of people have returned to the UK and no long wish to receive the email newsletter, others have changed their email address or even acquired one. Other addresses have become corrupted or altered for various reasons. To help correct any discrepancies that may have crept in over the five years we would be grateful if you do not wish to receive the newsletter or have a new address to tell us in a simple email to englishinloja@gmail.com. On the other hand if you know of someone who would like to receive the newsletter but for one reason or other is not the receiving the newsletter please tell us. Below is the policy towards the data protection of the information that you have given to us. What information do we collect? We collect information from you when you fill in the Signing In Book on your first attendance at a meeting of the group. This information includes Name, Telephone number(s), Email address and Village.
What do we use your information for? Any of the information we collect from you may be used in one of the following ways:
To contact you in the event of an emergency, such as the venue not being available for a meeting.
To provide you with the monthly newsletter from the group
To keep you informed of any items of special interest
Your information, whether public or private, will not be sold, exchanged, transferred, or given to any other person or organisation for any reason whatsoever, without your specific consent.
We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties any of your personally information.
Note: If at anytime you would like to unsubscribe from receiving future emails please notify us at englishinloja@gmail.com Web SitesFour web sites which may be of interest to members of the group, To access them just click on the link or copy and paste into your internet browser. El Corto de Loja – the local fortnightly newspaper from the Ayuntamiento de Loja http://www.andaluciainformacion.es/portada/?i=88&f=0
Programme of events organised by the Departmento de Cultura in Loja www.aytoloja.org/culturayocio/cultura/eventos.htm
The Junta de Andalucia official web site www.andalucia.org/destinos/provincias/granada/municipios/loja/?campana=100google
Ideal Newspaper
Peter & Patricia 30 October 2009
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