Tag Archives: AGM

presenting our new committee

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The Association was on the verge of closing, but there was a strong feeling at the well attended Oxford Leon Association AGM on 23 February that something of value would be lost, both for Oxford and León, if the Association ceased operating, and fortunately volunteers came forward! The Leon Association supports the twin between Oxford and León in the Central American republic of Nicaragua. 

“I am thrilled that the Leon Association, the first Oxford link with a city in the Global South, will continue”, says outgoing chair and former Oxford Lord Mayor, John Tanner. The Association raises funds to support clean water projects in remote communities and education projects in poor areas of León and cultural exchanges. 

The new officers are: Patrick Gray OBE (chair, shown below, left), Cllr Mike Rowley (secretary, right) and Jenny Houston (treasurer). Patrick Gray was a long-time director of the Midlands Co-operative Society and is a former City councillor. Mike Rowley is Oxford’s Deputy Lord Mayor and visited Leon in 2013.           

 

Christian Bonilla (Vice-Chair), Deirdre d’Arcy (membership) and Michael Gross (publicity) stay in their previous roles.

Oxford’s twin with far-away Leon was set up nearly 40 years ago to support health, education and the relief of poverty in Leon. Members have visited to see how projects we support are managing and we have also brought over teachers and musicians from León and visit schools to talk about life in León.  We welcome new members to keep the link going!  Long may the link continue!

we have a new committee!

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After worrying that we may be short of people and ideas to continue running the association, we had a very well-attended and constructive AGM and managed to elect a new chair, secretary and treasurer.

The new officers are: Patrick Gray OBE (Chair), Cllr Mike Rowley (Secretary) and Jenny Houston (Treasurer). Patrick Gray was a long-time director of the Midlands Co-operative Society and is a former City councillor. Mike Rowley is Oxford’s Deputy Lord Mayor and visited Leon in 2013.

Christian Bonilla (Vice-Chair), Deirdre d’Arcy (membership) and Michael Gross (publicity) stay in their previous roles.

The Oxford Clarion reports:

Oxford’s twin town arrangement with Leon, Nicaragua, will continue after the Leon Association was revived at a Town Hall meeting. The cities were twinned 40 years ago to show support for the Sandinista government, but dwindling volunteer involvement had raised fears for its continuation. “I am thrilled that the first Oxford link with a city in the Global South will continue,” said outgoing chair and former Lord Mayor John Tanner. “Politics has turned sour in Nicaragua and it is impossible to have official links. But the association still supports clean water and education projects.” This week’s City Council budget allocated an extra £20,000 to support volunteers in town twinning groups, with amendments which proposed to spend the money on other Oxford community projects defeated.

The news was also reported in the Oxford Mail.

AGM tomorrow!

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sorry for the late notice, but the OLAT AGM is happening tomorrow,

Tue 30.1. at 7pm at the Town Hall and also on Zoom.

We will be looking at how the last year has gone and how to maintain links with León, raise our profile and future fund raising and will Elect Officers for the coming year.  

After AGM business we will discuss the Twin Cities Youth Orchestra Project 7 – 14 July, when young classical musicians from Oxford’s Twin cities will come together to play Carmina Burana at the Town Hall on Saturday 13 July. We are very excited that we will be bringing two young Nicaraguan musicians – Jose who plays violin and Cesar who plays cello – to Oxford.  They will have a week on the Orchestra Project and then a week visiting schools and places of interest.

We also hope to have the Misa Campesina later in the year.