CIC Meetings in August and September

The Rethymnon branch of the Cretan International Community meets on the first Thursday of every month at Svea’s Konditori, Kapetan Lemonia 3, Rethymnon, from 11am. The August meeting will take place on Thursday 07/08/08, and the September meeting will take place on Thursday 04/09/08. Everyone, regardless of membership status is welcome to attend. The CIC coffee mornings are a great way to meet others from the international community, and to find out about up-and-coming local events. The local coordinator for the Rethymnon branch of the CIC is Anna Capernaros. Anna may be reached on 28310 57305. The President of the CIC is Eva Smith, her contact number is 6979 775400. You can find further information about the CIC organization itself on the www.thecic.eu website.

Summer ‘Chat and Swim’ Meetings at Camping Elizabeth

During the summer, additional ’chat and swim meetings’ will be held on the third Thursday of the month from 1pm at Camping Elizabeth, the general assembly point is at the campsite taverna which is a good place to have lunch. Camping Elizabeth is on the beach at Missiria, a few kilometers east of Rethymnon (just past Perivolia on the Old Road). The beach is ‘wild’ so you might want to bring your own beach mats and umbrellas….

Cancer Support Group

A Cancer Support Group has been formed for people who have been through or who are undergoing treatment for cancer, as well as for someone who has recently lost someone to cancer. These are the needs of the current group. It is a diverse group for now and different groups can be formed later on an "as needed" basis. This is a support group not a therapy group, and confidentiality is a given. There is no fee. Meetings will be held on the first Monday of every month in Georgioupolis, at the Samaria in the square, from 11 AM - 1 pm. Carpooling available from Rethymnon. Any questions or comments can be directed to Chris - 6977559644 or email cparnassus@hotmail.com

Sara’s Hope Foundation: As we were going to press Chris Parnassus kindly sent the Bugle information about the work of the Sara’s Hope Foundation — a charity set up by British couple Ged and Julie Hoburn in memory of their daughter Sara, who tragically died of colon cancer at the age of sixteen in 2001. The aim of the Foundation is to raise funds to buy a plot of land in the Souda Bay area of Crete and to build a holiday retreat for local children who are living with cancer and their families. In future editions of the Bugle we hope to be able to provide you with more detailed information about the progress of this truly worthwhile project. In the meantime, you can find out more about the Foundation online at the www.sarashopefoundation.co.uk website

Friends of Animals Rethymno

Our local animal welfare charity needs your support! Friends of Animals Rethymno are now sending out their own newsletter and re-homing lists via email. If you would like to be on the mailing list, or are able to volunteer, email christinastylianides75@hotmail.com or phone FAR on 6975720313. You will also find links on the www.rethymnon.biz website. You can find out more about the work of Friends of Animals on the www.animals.rethymnon.org website. FAR are now finding it increasingly difficult to re-home older dogs—some as young as 7 months old– so if you can help, please do!

Volunteering in Rethymnon

The Association of Rethymnon Volunteers meets every Tuesday evening at The Centre for Cretan Folk Art. This group brings together a wide range of people from diverse backgrounds who are interested in contributing to the local community. There are many ways in which people of all ages and nationalities can contribute — some of which may not be immediately obvious.

To find out more about volunteering opportunities in the Rethymnon region, contact Manolis Kallergis on 28310 88278. The Association now has its own website (in Greek only): www.ethelo.gr which provides information about the background history and ethos of the organisation, gives profiles of association members and also provides details of up and coming community events.