Τετάρτη 22 Ιουνίου 2022

AHEPA Delphi Chapter # 25 - Ilias I. Katsos

 

With my hand on the Bible and hand raised 4 years ago I must admit I felt like I was being inducted into the Filiki Etairia, and something that has not been lost in my grass root thoughts and feelings that I had prior and continue to maintain. -

Four years ago I was sworn in as the President of the historic and legendary AHEPA Delphi Chapter # 25, the then and now largest Chapter in AHEPA’s national and international domain. In a short time (four years) from when I joined the Chapter and AHEPA we had taken Delphi #25 from less than a hand full of members to The 300 of AHEPA and a model for others. We grew and remain strong based on continuing to vote to pass on the baton to demonstrated strong leaders and maintaining our basic ideals and system of values related to Hellenism that gave brilliance to democratic societies, the scourge of autocracies and oligarchies. The great legacy of AHEPA Delphi #25 continues with ongoing great leadership as we head towards our 100th Anniversary in 2023. In terms of the Filiki Etairia it has been long gone but not forgotten by the palikaria and embedded in their / our grass roots collective memory.




FAREWELL RECEPTION honoring the Consul General of the Hellenic Republic in New York Dr. Konstantinos Koutras


 FAREWELL RECEPTION honoring the Consul General of the Hellenic Republic in New York Dr. Konstantinos Koutras was a packed house with all of the major NY Hellenic American organizations in attendance, as well as foreign diplomats from other nations. There were Welcoming Remarks by Ms. Nancy Papaioannou who was the Master of Ceremonies with an Invocation by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros and Opening Remarks by HE. Ambassador Alexandra Papadopoulou and HE. Ambassador Maria Theofili.

I represented EMBCA (East Mediterranean Business Culture Alliance) and gave some remarks relating to this highly regarded outstanding diplomat as did others. Dr. Koutras has done a lot for the community in the 6 years that he has been in New York. He is an eloquent and articulate scholar and honed foreign affairs expert who has been on numerous EMBCA panel discussions over the years. He will be missed but I am sure his new assignment (not announced) relating to the East Mediterranean using his highly honed diplomatic skills will be one of importance and to the benefit of both the Hellenic Republic and the region. AXIOS kai sta anotera !!