After the wonderful article in The Times a few weeks ago, which we reproduced here, the Sunday Times has now written about the Rota Vicentina in their edition of July 14 2013, which was again drawn to our attention by Leo.
This time the writer has travelled north from the Algarve / Alentejo border, so the Aljezur area doesn’t figure in his report. But it’s well worth a read all the same… (you can read the detail of the article by clicking on each page)

For more information about the Rota Vicentina, click on their website Here

Amovate is healthy, alive and well—but in desperate need of a blood transfusion.

New blood, that is, to join the Committee and help build on the past three or four successful years that has seen the organisation flourish and prosper.

What is Amovate?

The clue is in the name: AMOVATE, otherwise the Associação Dos Moradores e Amigos do Vale Da Tel, or the Association of Residents and Friends of Vale da Telha.

Contrary to some misconceptions Amovate is there for people of all nationalities who have links to the area.

And whether you are Portuguese, British, German, French, Scandinavian, Brazillian, Spanish, Dutch, Polish or any other nationality, please give a little thought to becoming a more active member of our community.

Three or four of our Committee members will be stepping down at the end of this year after up to seven years continuous active service, and to form a new Committee, there must be at least 9 members.

They have done their stint—now we’re looking for some more enthusiastic and socially aware people to take up the baton.

In that time Amovate has progressed from being a pretty moribund, virtually bankrupt and, yes, almost pointless organization to becoming a financially secure group heavily engaged in the social life of the Community and a valuable conduit to the local Camara.

And if you’d like to be part of that vibrant group get in touch with us and offer your services. You can find the details below.

There is no doubt that Amovate sparks different emotions amongst the local community, with some people accusing it of being a self-serving clique. That’s an outmoded, outdated view as more and more people are coming to appreciate.

If you join the committee there will be plenty of hard work for you, but no free drinks, no free rides and no recompense in any way, shape or form for your time – except free membership!.

But any Committee member will tell you there IS the reward of a sense of pride and accomplishment in serving this small Community here on the plateau that looks out onto the Atlantic in all its glory.

So why not tap into that because we certainly need more of you to step forward and be counted.

You may not be a fan of Amovate. But if it was forced to close down through lack of interest or lack of volunteers to share some of the duties, just contemplate the consequences:

First of all, with no-one to take responsibility for the Old School House, the keys would have to be returned to the Camara, meaning:

• NO classes—like Keep Fit, Pilates, Zumba, Yoga, Friday Gym

• NO library facilities.

• NO Monthly Car Boot Sale.

• The Golf and Angling clubs would have to find some other organisation with which to be affiliated putting at risk discounts, reduced rates etc.

• The Tennis Club, with its three well-maintained courts under the stewardship of Amovate President Peter Johnson, would be set adrift and would need to establish its own committee and organisers, not to mention funding.

• The allocation of Post Boxes would fall into disarray, as Amovate is charged with allocating and maintaining the post boxes at the Tennis Courts & the Apartments.

• Direct contact with the Camara at the highest levels would be lost.

• The Community’s social life would be badly affected.

 

The Amovate in the Community programme has been supporting local businesses struggling through the recession by staging events not in the Old School House, but in those businesses’ own premises, helping to keep their heads above water.

The Summer Ball, The Vale Da Telha Music Festival, the Summer Solstice, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Hallowe’en parties, plus various other events throughout the year all originate from the hard work of the Amovate committee.

All of this could vanish*** if Amovate doesn’t attract more Committee members, and more members prepared to play a more active role within an organisation that does contribute in a valuable way to the life of this Community.

You may be that person bubbling over with fresh ideas for activities, for social events, for a greater community involvement who we would welcome with open arms. Now is the time to turn those ideas into reality.

So, step forward, come and join us, bring your enthusiasm and fresh ideas to the table, and enjoy the pride and satisfaction of helping to keep all of this going to the benefit of all of us here on Vale da Telha and the surrounding areas located at the top of that hill between Aljezur and the Atlantic.

If you think you fit the job description and are keen to help out then just have a chat with any of the committee members whose names you find in the “Committee” link on the top bar, or e-mail us with your details at:

info@amovate.com

You will be made very welcome.

***Sue Bedford, who controls The Amovate website, which has become a key player in spreading the benefits of Vale da Telha living around the world, and Matt D’Arcy who writes most of the articles and takes many of the photographs will be among those stepping down.

But they have told the Committee they are prepared to continue their (unpaid) work on the website if a new committee so wishes.