41 CLUB IBERIAN CLUSTER 2020
-------------------------------------------
(02/06/2018)
This is where I propose to make available the latest information on our plans
for the 2020 Cluster. I will update it with all the relevant details as our plans
develop and eventually I expect the full programme and application forms will
be available here.
Mike Proctor
Cluster 2020 Chairman.
Cluster Origins
As far as I can ascertain it all started when a guy called Tony Ogden (a
mainstay of Costa Blanca 41 Club) together with Ken Evans (a mainstay of
Majorca 41 Club) developed the idea of the Iberian Cluster. Tony and Ken
worked hard to promote continued friendship through the Cluster event and the
first Cluster was formally celebrated in 1993. In the early days visiting
members would stay as guests in the homes of members of the host club.
Today, Cluster is much bigger and is hosted at a Hotel. It is indeed a ‘special
event’ for the 41 Clubs on the Iberian Peninsula and still is entirely consistent
with the ‘Purposes and Objects’ of our movement in that it is all about
promoting fellowship amongst former members of Round table. In short the
Iberian Cluster is one hell of a party (akin to the Round Table National
Conferences of the 1980’s – albeit attended by somewhat smaller numbers) and
has become a must attend event in the European 41 Club Calendar.
There are currently 6 Iberian Clubs active within the Cluster: Algarve, Calpe,
Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, Majorca and Nerja. Members are from all over
Europe and each Club takes it in turn to Host the Cluster. The rota for the next
few years is:
2018 – Costa del Costa
2019 – Calpe
2020 - Nerja
History of Nerja’s Involvement
Nerja 41 Club was Chartered in October 2004. Our Founder Chairman, Troels
Peterson, was very keen and attended the Cluster 2005 and came back and
more or less told us that we were running the Cluster in 2007. Our Club had a
membership of approximately 15 at the time and we took on the task with a
great deal of excitement. With no experience and no notes from previous
Clusters to show us the way, we headed off to the Costa Del Sol Cluster 2006 to
sell our event for the next year where we performed a cabaret at the Gala
Dinner with a 007 theme. James Bond then became our theme for the event
appearing on literature, table decorations and Club t-shirts!
We hosted the Cluster again in 2014. Venue was the Hotel Las Marinas and the
theme was the 60’s. We learnt a lot that year!
We now have the challenge of using our experience to organise a great Cluster
in 2020.
Nerja 2020 Cluster: Brief report dated May-2019
After our appraisal of the hotels in our area (performed last year!) our
initial preference was the Iberostar Hotel in Torrox Costa. However,
due to their reluctance/slowness in giving us accommodation cost
information for Nov-2020 we also decided to look again at the hotel
we used in 2014 now renamed as the ‘AON Marinas Hotel’ and we
have requested accommodation costs from them to enable us to
produce an initial budget. Once we receive this we can compare the
two hotels.
Things have moved on now and we have very recently received some
cost information from the Iberostar Hotel. They are promoting the
hotel with a Halloween theme and are expecting that our chosen
weekend to be very popular. Consequently, they are not that
amenable to significant negotiation but this is an extremely upmarket
hotel and should be seen as attractive by 41ers. The basic room costs
are 59 euros pppn for double occupancy and 80 euros pppn for single
occupancy and a 10% discount has been negotiated.
My initial costing for a 3 day programme will be:
Description Purchase Price
(Euros)
Sale Price
(Euros)
Single occupation of Double room
3
days package - Thursday to Sunday 322 351
per
person
2
days package - Friday to Sunday 250 274
1
days package - Saturday to Sunday 64 73
Extra nights (tbc) 72 77
per
person
Double occupation of Double room
3
days package - Thursday to Sunday 265.3 294
per
person
2
days package - Friday to Sunday 212.2 236
1
days package - Saturday to Sunday 144 158
Extra nights (tbc) 53.1 58
per
person
Other Costs (in addition to cost above) = 1500 total 12.5
per
person
These
fi
gures
assume
that
the
Thursday
night
dinner,
Friday
excursion
and
Saturday
lunch
are
all
op
ti
onal.
Also,
a
margin
in
excess
of
the
actual
hotel
cost
is
included
in
the
‘Sale Price’ to protect
Nerja 41 Club from making a loss.
If anyone wishes to see/discuss a more detailed breakdown of this early budget, please let
me know. I plan to return to Spain in June and to attend the June and July meetings where
I can (if required) briefly outline the programme with costs.
Gentlemen, on a final note, the time has come to formalise a Cluster committee!!
Mike Proctor (Cluster 2020 Chairman).