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).