Newsletter of the Panepirotic Federation of America INSIDE THIS ISSUE. Northern Epiros Benefit Fund Donates $638,709 In First 15 Years

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1 PANEPIROTIC MESSENGER Newsletter of the Panepirotic Federation of America January 2008 Volume 1, Issue 1 Panepirotic Federation of America, PO BOX 56046, Astoria, NY address: Worcepirotiko@aol.com tel: Message From our President By Φωτης Γκαλιτσης Συμπατριωτισσαι και Συμπατριωται Σας ευχομαι για τις Αγιες ημερες των Χριστουγεννων Χρονια Πολλα γεματα υγεια και ευτυχια και το Νεον Ετος χαρουμενο και καρποφορο. Η σημερινη ηγεσια της ιστορικης μας οργανωσης ΠΟΑ εχει θεσει τις εξης προτεραιοτητες. 1.Τα ανθρωπινα δικαιωματα των αδελφων μας Βορειοηπειρωτων. 2.Την παρακολουθησιν της αναπτυξεως της μιας και αδιαιρετου Ηπειρου. 3.Την προσελκυσιν και ενταξιν εις τας οργανωσεις μας νεων Ηπειρωτοπουλων γεννημενων εις τας Ηνωμενας Πολιτειας. 4. Επανενταξιν παλαιων τμηματων και ιδρυσιν νεων τοιουτων εις την ομοσπονδιαν μας. 5.Αποκτηση ιδιωτικης στεγης για την INSIDE THIS ISSUE Message From our President 1 Northern Epiros Benefit Fund 1 Ηπειρωτικο χωριό 2 Demetri s Corner 2 Himara, My Odyssey Fr. Kosmas Karvellas 3 Συνέλευση σtην Φιλαδέλφεια 5 ΗΠΕΙΡΟΤΙΚΟ ΧΩΡΙΟ ΑΠΟΔΗΜΩΝ ΕΞΩΤΕΡΙΚΟΥ 5 οργανωσιν μας. 6.Δημουργια Ηπειρωτικου Ομογενειακου Χωριου εις την ομορφη Ηπειρον μας. Δια την πραγματοποιησιν των ανωτερω χρειαζομεθα την βοηθειαν και την συμπαραστασιν ολων. Αποτελουμε μια Ηπειρωτικη Αμερικανικη οικογενεια και οι επιτυχιες η αποτυχιες αντανακλουν σε ολους και σε καθεναν χωριστα. Με απειρη εκτιμηση Φωτης Γκαλιτσης Προεδρος Northern Epiros Benefit Fund Donates $638,709 In First 15 Years By Nick Gage Nicholas Gage, chairman of the Northern Epiros Benefit Fund, which was established 15 years ago to help the Greek minority in Albania, recently announced that the Fund has donated $638,709 to individuals and Mr. Nick Gage organizations in Northern Epiros during the first fifteen years of its existence and still has assets totaling $438,394. The contributions went to help support religious organizations, schools, cultural groups, and individuals persecuted by Albanian government agencies, Mr. Gage said. The Fund has also financed road and water projects in Northern Epiros and supported groups and individuals fighting to promote basic human rights for the Greek minority. The Fund was started in 1991 just as Communism was collapsing in Albania under the auspices of Please see Northern Epiros Benefit Fund on page 4

2 Page 2 Panepirotic Messenger Ηπειρωτικο χωριό Τον περασμένο Aύγουστο ο προεδρος της Πανηπειρωτικης Ομοσπονδιας Αμερικης κ. Φωτης Γκαλιτσης μετεβη στην Ελλαδα οπου ειχεν επαφες με διαφορους παραγοντες, σχετικα με το Ηπειρωτικο χωριό, την διοργανωση του επομενου Συνεδρίου του Παγκοσμιου Συμβουλιου Ηπειρωτων κλπ. Στις 6 Αυγουστου, συνοδευομενος απο τους πρωην προέδρους της Ομοσπονδιας μας κ. Μενελαο Τζελιο και Νικο Γκατζογιαννη, οστις ειναι Στη φωτογραφια, στη Σωτηρα, διακρινονται απο αριστερα ο κ. Φωτης Γκαλιτσης, ο προεδρος της Ομονοιας κ. Γιαννης Γιαννης, ο κ. Γιαννης Τζοβας, πρωην Γενικος Προξενος της Ελλαδος στο Αργυροκαστρο, ο κ. Νικος Γκατζογιαννης, η Κα. Κωνσταντινα Μπεζιανη, υπευθηνη για τις Μειονοτητες στην Αλβανια και ο κ. Μενελαος Τζελιος. και προεδρος του Παγκοσμιου Συμβουλιου Ήπειρωτων, παρευρεθηκαν στις εορταστικες εκδηλωσεις στη Σωτηρα της Βορείου Ηπείρου, οπου ειχαν επαφες και με παραγοντες της ηγεσιας του Βορειοηπειρωτικού Ελληνισμου. Demetri s Corner Welcome to our first issue of the Panepirotic Messenger. We hope that we can enlighten our members for years to come. The newsletter will be sent out every three months. It will also be available online. At this time I would like to thank Eva O Brian for her endless energy in helping us becoming a more efficient organization, and at the same time keeping our members informed of events and news. I had the privilege of being in Annapolis for their Dinner Dance. Father Karavellas and the Washington Chapter put on a first class event. What a beautiful Church they have. Rumor has it they will be hosting Please see Demetri s Corner on page 4 Pictured: Dr. Yiannis & Mrs Evanthia Helidonas, Parents of the groom, Demetrios & Efrosini Helidonas. Parents of the bride, Michael & Theodora Servos

3 Panepirotic Messenger Page 3 Himara, My Odyssey By Father Kosmas Karavellas With many things going though my I met with the instructors of the Greek mind as I approached Himara for my School and visited the facilities and I third visit, I was once again taken by was very impressed by both. the mere beauty of the location of Himara; the sea in the west and the The several pictures that accompany L-R Father Kosmas and teacher mountains above the coastline of this report begin with the beautiful Himara and her villages. My journey entrance with the olive tree path and the entrance of the school. It is a two was to visit my ailing uncle and to take some gifts from my parish story building with a playground in in Annapolis, Maryland to the children at the Greek School in the back. When I visited, they had Himara. I had the great honor to have been received with great twenty-three students enrolled in May warmth from the Mayor Mr. Bolanos and his people. 2007; in September 2007, they had seventy-five students enrolled. The needs are many and I believe this is a great project for us all to help in. I ask for any individual or chapter that can help, to please do so, your help is needed and most welcomed. The needs for the school: 1) Computers for the children and teaching labs 2) School Buses to reach out and bring children from the south and north villages to school; to give every child and opportunity, not only the ones in the neighborhood. 3) Fund to subsidize the teachers for extra activities that they would teach. (Local dance, music, costumes, traditions, etc.) Please feel free to contact me at fatherkosmas@schogochurch.org or at 2747 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD 21401, if you wish to help and assist in this very worthwhile project. My trip was short, but once again it left me in awe of the beauty of the land, the hospitality of the people, the warmth of relatives, and the future, if there is any, of the children that are residents of Himara. As I left the region, I could not stop thinking of the wonderful people that had come into my life and the sense of belonging that I had never felt before. I have recommitted myself in continuing efforts to better our Himara and to bring awareness to our minority status in Albania. Happy New Year To submit an article, please contact Eva O Brien evagr1@comcast.net Phone: (781) Articles must be submitted electronically Father Kosmas Karavellas

4 Page 4 Panepirotic Messenger Northern Epiros Benefit Fund from page 1 the Panepirotic Federation by a group that Mr. Gage, Archbishop Sotirios of Canada, and Menalaos Tzelios, a former Federation president. It was launched after an anonymous donor, later identified as ship owner Basil Papachristidis of London, offered a challenge grant of$150,000 for Northern Epiros to Mr. Gage if he could raise an equal amount. The challenge was met when most of the Federation chapters made major contributions to the Fund along with several individuals including Mr. Gage, Lou Nicozisis and Bill Katsimbanis. A sizable amount was also raised from individuals who sent in donations ranging from $20 to $500. "The strong support of Panepirotic Federation chapters allowed us not only to meet the challenge of Mr. Papachristidis but to exceed it and we raised a total of $335,000 in the first year alone," Mr. Gage said. Demetri s Corner from page 2 the 2009 convention. We ll keep you posted. Pyrros and Enosis also held their events in November, Both were very successful. In Worcester many people made the trek from afar. Making the trip to Worcester were: Mr. & Mrs. Mandros, Mr. & Mrs. Tsoukas, Mr. & Mrs. Tsikitas from New York and the Pallas family from Arizona. This reminds me of the old days when people would travel far for an event. Hopefully it continues. Congratulations to the newlywed couple Dr Yiannis Helidonas & Evanthia Servos, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Michael Servos. I would like to ask all of our members who have access to the Internet to join our list. If you haven t done so please contact either me or Eva O Brien, or visit our website at Participating chapters included Enosis of Worcester, Pindos and Northern Epiros of Boston, Pyrrhus of New York and chapters in Washington, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis and Los Angeles. A major contribution was also made through the efforts of then Bishop Sotirios of Toronto. "In the years that followed, we were able to more than triple the amount contributed during the first year for a total of $1,123,092," Mr. Gage said. Major contributors since 1991 have been the Michael Anagnos Foundation and Dr. Anthony Kales, whose family comes from Northern Epiros, he added. "The founding committee was encouraged to work hard to make the Fund grow because of the great needs faced by ethnic Greeks in Northern Epiros and by the generous support offered by many groups and individuals who sent contributions ranging from $20 to $200,000," Mr. Gage said. The current assets of the fund total $484,383, he said. He said he had great hopes that the Fund will continue to grow and will eventually include contributions from every Federation chapter and thousands of concerned Greek-Americans. L-R Alex Pallas, Nick Gage, Pano Panagiotou, Teddy Fotos Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Demetrios Koutoulas Worcepirotiko@aol.com Eva O Brien evagr1@comcast.net

5 Panepirotic Messenger Page 5 Συνέλευση σtην Φιλαδέλφεια Τη Δευτερα 11 Δεκεμβριου,ο προεδρος της Ομοσπονδιας μας κ. Φωτης Γκαλιτσης, μαζι με τον πρωην προεδρο και υπευθυνο του Εθνικου μας Θεματος κ. Μενελαο Τζελιο ειχαν συναντηση με μελη του Διοικ. Συμβουλιου του Ηπειρωτικου Συλλoγου Ομονοια στη Φιλαδελφεια.Ο κ. Γκαλιτσης ενημερωσε τα μελη του Συμβουλιου για την μεχρι τουδε δραση και το μελλοντικο προγραμματισμο της Ομοσπονδιας μας. Η συζητηση διεξηχθηκε σε θερμο και θετικο κλιμα με τη διαπιστωση οτι τετοιες επαφες ειναι χρησιμες και εποικοδομητικες. Στη Φωτογραφια διακρινονται απο αριστερα οι Χρηστος Δ. Παππας, Αντωνης Δαλαγγελης, Κωστας Ζηδρος, ο προεδρος του Συλλογου Φιλιππος Νικολαιδης, Γιωργος Γορας, ο Αρχιμανδριτης Νεκταριος Κοτρωτσιος, Μενελαος Τζελιος και Φωτης Γκαλιτσης. ΗΠΕΙΡΟΤΙΚΟ ΧΩΡΙΟ ΑΠΟΔΗΜΩΝ ΕΞΩΤΕΡΙΚΟΥ Η Πανηπειρωτικη Ομοσπονδιά συ μφωνα με την απο φαση του Συνεδριόυ του 2005 εξετα ζει τη δυνατο τητα εξευ ρεσης χω ρου σε παραθαλα σσιο με ρος της Ηπει ρου για τη δημιουργιά του Ηπειρωτικου Χωριου των Απο δημων Εξωτερικου. Η προσπα θεια αυτη γι νετε με την συνεργασιά της Ομοσπονδιάς Ηπειρωτω ν Ευρω πης. Για τον πιο αποτελεσματικο τρο πο συντονισης των ενεργειω ν μας και υλοποιη σεως του προγρα μματος, αν ενδιαφε ρεστε να συμμετε χετε στο Ηπειρωτικο Χωριο των Απο δημον Εξωτερικου, παρακαλου με ο πως αποστει λετε στα γραφειά της Ομοσπονδιάς μας τις παρακα τω πληροφοριές. Ονοματεπω νυμο Διευ θυνση Τηλε φωνα Ηλεκτρονικο Ταχυδρομειό ( ) Ονομα Συλλο γου

6 Panepirotic Federation of America PO Box Astoria, NY Phone: We re on the Web! Visit us at: To order a copy in Greek or in English, please contact Demetri Koutoulas: Worcepirotiko@aol.com Phone: (508) Panepirotic Federation of America PO Box Astoria, NY 11105