ACOMPALIA EGM: Granada-based hospice charity welcomes its new President
On 1 July, Acompalia held an Extraordinary General Meeting in Salobreña. On the agenda were tributes for founder and outgoing President Tina Emmott, and an inspiring call to action from new President Lindsay Ostervig.
The meeting was held in the Saga Room at Best Western’s Hotel Salobreña. It opened with positive news of a breakthrough designed to strengthen relations with the Spanish community, seen by the Acompalia committee as a vital element in achieving the vision of palliative care in Granada province.
Acompalia’s vice-president, Motril lawyer, Fran Ortega, and architect Ángel Gijón, our architect, are heading a group of regional Spanish business owners who will help Acompalia network with businesses, local government and the Spanish community. The group includes José Marín, retired businessman and university lecturer, and Victor Sáez, an eminent Motríl businessman, recently retired.
Outgoing president Tina Emmott reviewed highlights of her tenure from the launch of Acompalia in November 2011. She spoke about the establishment of Acompalia’s Telephone Helpline, and praised the tireless support of volunteer fundraising groups, especially the International Club of Salobreña, the Castell de Ferro volunteers and the Almuñecar Women’s Group.
Tina also noted that Acompalia was now in a position to apply for the status of public utility or ‘Utilidad Pública’, having presented two years of audited accounts. “In future, we will be able to return tax to those donors who qualify,” she said.
Tina then went on to acknowledge the wonderful support of dedicated volunteers over the past year:
“So many people are helping us in so many ingenious ways,” she said. Tina. She noted that in just one year, fundraising initiatives involved pigs, horses and donkeys; lavender, oranges and blue iris; fine art and fine wine; a rainbow remembrance arch and a candlelit remembrance walk; golf, mince pies, and music both classical and popular.
Tina concluded by thanking each of the Acompalia committee members in turn for their particular talents and formally announcing that she was stepping down.
New president Lindsay Ostervig acknowledged Tina’s “vision, enthusiasm and leadership” in creating Acompalia. “We are all here because of Tina,’ she said, “it’s that simple.” She went on to say that the Alcaldesa (Mayoress) of Motríl has now formally ratified the land grant made to Acompalia for building the Hospice/Palliative Care Centre.
Lindsay characterised 2014 as Acompalia’s year to ‘get down to business’, with a particular focus on attracting major funding in coming years to reach the 1.5m-euro target needed to build the Hospice. She said that a professional fundraising consultant was guiding the committee to create a Case Statement and other essential materials for approaching individual and institutional donors.
Lindsay also appealed to supporters to become members. “If each individual in our 350-strong database of supporters became a member and paid just €30 a year membership, we would have a guaranteed income of €10,500 a year,” she said.
Treasurer Chris Oliver reported on Acompalia’s finances. He stated that total income for the year so far (to 30 June 2014) stood at €13,933.39.
Finally, Lindsay appealed to the audience to enlist friends and family in “this inspired venture to bring comfort and dignity to those with cancer or other illnesses.”
For further details about Acompalia, please visit our website at:
www.acompalia.org
CONTACTS:
Lindsay Ostervig (President; for Spanish and English enquiries)
lindsay@acompalia.org
Mobile/Móvil: 664 776 251
Arpy Shively (Communications and PR)
arpy@acompalia.org
(News/Associations: Acompalia)