LifeCycle Annual General Meeting

Amid all the excitement of launching this year’s challenge and signing people up to be cyclists and members of the backup team, the LifeCycle Organisation held its Annual General Meeting on 28 March 2010. We have reproduced extracts from the minutes of the AGM below, to give you a brief review of the past year and some insights into our plans for 2010 and beyond.

Considering the unfavourable economic climate and the obscure countries visited last year, LifeCycle Organisation considers the 2009 event to have been a successful one with an income of money amounting to €126,000. The biggest disappointment was the loss of a friend and great cyclist, Mr Cliff Micallef.

Last year’s training could have resulted in the loss of two cyclists instead of one and LifeCycle Organisation feels it must stress the point that cycling in the very early morning hours is not to be encouraged.

LifeCycle Organisation last year took a more professional look even in its structure and for the first time it took on board a paid administrator. This idea may need to be taken on board in the coming years as it proved beneficial to the organisation as a whole. If personnel are not completely voluntary, individuals may be in a position to dedicate more time to the Organisation and its administration. The improvements in the Renal Unit are obvious to those who visit the unit and the benefits the patients get are obvious to those who are aware of the lifestyle renal patients are forced to lead. Awareness must be boosted so as the benefits the patients acquire from LCD screens, vehicles to allow nurses to visit patients at home etc are not seen as a commodity but are seen for the necessity they really are.

The aim for next year is to collect €200,000 clear of expenses. This is possible due to the backing of Betfair and the number of participants which are interested. Another aim is to have 1000 organ donors signed up. Also the aim for 2010 is to acquire more lifesaving machinery and the engagement of a psychologist.

Committee nominations were put forward but the committee felt that LifeCycle Organisation has grown and would function better if it were to become a Foundation. The LifeCycle Organisation therefore formally put forward a proposal to found the LifeCycle (Malta) Foundation. This implies that LifeCycle Organisation is the founder of LifeCycle (Malta) Foundation which would consist of a three person Supervisory Council (Alan Curry and Tony Bugeja were nominated for these posts, leaving the third post vacant for the time being) and a Board of Administrators (Gilbert Vassallo, Soner Gurelli, Andy Towler, Alan Curry (chairperson) and Shirley Cefai were nominated).

The Committee would like to thank Mario Scerri, Nicholas Calleja, and Fr Pierre Grech Marguerat for their work in the committee last year. Condolences are also forwarded to Cliff Micallef’s wife, Shirley Micallef and family for their loss. Cliff Micallef’s memory will be kept close to our hearts. The LifeCycle Organisation is incorporating a Cliff Micallef award within the challenge.