National Board Meeting at HC/HC May 2009
NATIONAL PHILOPTOCHOS BOARD HOLDS HISTORIC MEETING
AT
HELLENIC COLLEGE AND HOLY CROSS SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY
The National Philoptochos Board held its spring meeting at Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, MA on May 1-2, 2009. National Philoptochos President Aphrodite Skeadas opened the meeting and His Grace Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, National Philoptochos Spiritual Advisor, offered the opening prayer and provided a Spiritual Reflection on the Sunday of the Myrrh Bearing women and the identity of Philoptochos women as women of faith with a strong relationship to Christ.
National President Aphrodite Skeadas welcomed the National Board at this meeting during the period of the celebration of Christ's resurrection and she thanked His Grace Bishop Andonios for his series of inspirational messages sent to the members during the Lenten period.
President Skeadas emphasized the importance of the growth and strength of the National Philoptochos and charged the members to become "Ambassadors of Philoptochos" and stand on the shoulders of our forefathers to expand the organization. As ambassadors each board member shares the responsibility to participate in the organization's growth and to reach out to embrace members for Philoptochos.
Treasurer Joanne Kakoyiannis in her report stated that the Membership continues to grow and she announced the three Philoptochos Chapters that provided the greatest funds to the Vasilopita: Annunciation, Houston, Texas, $13,000; Holy Trinity, Dallas, Texas, $10,630 and Annunciation, Atlanta, Georgia, $8,500.
The National Board approved disbursements of $163,000 for the following ministries:
Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology
Scholarships $46,000
Lenten Appeal $17,000
St. Photios Shrine: $25,000
Ecumenical Patriarchate
Philanthropic/Charitable Programs: $50,000
Archdiocesan Missions: $25,000
Committee reports were presented and the Social Services committee reported that $79,000 was disbursed in the first quarter to meet the many requests for Medical assistance during these difficult economic times. This amount is equivalent to annual distribution levels in the past.
Rev. Nicholas Triantafilou, President of Hellenic College and Holy Cross offered special remarks and introduced Dr. Ann Bezzerides, Director of the Office of Vocation and Ministry at Hellenic College, who presented three inspiring students, Anna Colis, Sam Johnson and Stella Hondros, who described their calling and motivation to become future leaders in the Church.
President Skeadas offered a most inspiring and impassioned presentation to the members regarding the relocation of the Νational Οffice. She appealed to each member to search her heart and consider the future of the National Philoptochos and the need for a permanent home for the organization.
In its early history the National Philoptochos responded to the late Archbishop Athenagoras and purchased the Ruppert Estate in Garrison, NY that is now the beautiful Saint Basil Academy. The National Philoptochos raised over $120,000 in support of the Archbishop Iakovos Library at Hellenic College/Holy Cross and in its seventy-eight years has distributed millions of dollars to its many ministries and charities to benefit those in need.
At this point in its history, the National Philoptochos Board took another monumental step and authorized the Executive Committee, in consultation with His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios and His Grace Bishop Andonios, to conduct a search for a permanent National Philoptochos Office location in New York City. The entire board enthusiastically endorsed this historic decision and Metropolis President Valerie Roumeliotes rose to present a check for $5,000 to President Aphrodite Skeadas from the Metropolis of San Francisco Philoptochos as the first of many donations made toward the purchase of a permanent Philoptochos home.
Friday's meeting culminated with a beautiful Education and Cultural program for the national board members at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. President Skeadas thanked Mr. and Mrs. George Behrakis for their generosity in providing the program which included a most informative guided tour by Christine Kondoleon, the George and Margo Behrakis Senior Curator of Greek and Roman Art.
Saturday's meeting concluded with a Membership Program responding to the goal of organizational expansion that included a special presentation from three area Chapter presidents. The National Board agreed that Chapters should be invited to participate in all future national board meetings to develop better communication between national and the local Chapters.
The National Board will meet prior to the Children's Medical Fund Luncheon at the Boca Raton
Resort in Boca Raton, Florida, Saturday, November 14, 2009.