On Thursday 15 September 2016, Beating Hearts Malta (BHM) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM). Mrs. Katrina Aquilina, as trustee member and Chairperson of the AGM went through a number of items on the agenda which can be highlighted below
- The presentation of the audited annual report and accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2015. Last year proved to be a record year for fundraising. Donations came from different sources, mainly from corporate donations, individuals and friends, events including weddings and funerals and paintings sold by Prof. Victor Grech. Fundraising continued in 2016 with the aim to reach the target set in 2015 to purchase a new foetal echocardiography probe (which was purchased in January 2016) and an echocardiography machine (which is in the process of acquisition, but which must however pass through a number of approvals before the actual acquisition). A special mention went to the successful fundraising event organized at Villa Arrigo in February 2016.
- The new membership in 2015 of BHM with the European Congenital Heart Defect Organization (ECHDO). ECHDO is an organization that brings together all heart organizations in Europe with its main aim being to increase understanding of CHD and to support patients of all ages.
- The re-appointment and election of the Board of Trustees. BHM thanked Mr. Lawrence Gray who did not express his interest to remain on the Board. The new elected Trustee members are Mr. Aaron Sammut, Mrs. Marisa Mercieca Bons, and Miss Sophie Degiorgio. The new Trustees join Mrs. Katrina Aquilina, Prof. Victor Grech, Dr. Maryanne Caruana, and Dr. Edward Callus as the Board of Trustees of BHM.
- The next fundraising project should be the purchase of a Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Equipment (CPET). The CPET can be used at Mater Dei Hospital not only for heart patients, but also other patients which might have heart problems. Further details of this fundraising project will be given to the members in the coming weeks.
For those paying members that for some reason did not receive the audited annual report are kindly requested to send us an e-mail on info@beatingheartsmalta.org or send us a message on our Facebook page, so that we can send you a copy.