Meeting Minutes - Tuesday, April 8, 2025

FHS Monthly Meeting (ZOOM) Start Time: 6:31pm

Present: Tula Christopoulos; Catherine Karathanasis; Mariea Kazantzis.

February Minutes: Cathy moved; Tula seconded. Approved.

Financial Report: to March 10th Ryan out of the office until Wednesday.

  • There was some discussion on do’s and don’t’s of how to spend Hellenic Studies
  • The Foundation frowns upon donating to a scholarship fund other than Stockton’s.

Scholarship Updates: Katherine not present – No report.

Pappas Hellenic Center Report: Tom not present – No report but those present summed up the February-March events:

  • Mariea reiterated Tom’s comments regarding the successful opening of the Pappas Center Byzantine Reflections: Church Architecture and Iconography art exhibit with 140
  • The 27th afternoon artists’ (Kamages and Kordis), demo and roundtable discussion was canceled because the two artists could not be there.
  • The evening artists’ event was very successful with about 50 attendees and a musical ensemble, with rebetiko-style sounds which lent an extra dimension and vibe to the
  • Summary of March events: On Wednesday, March 7th an interesting and productive lunch meeting took place with political science students meeting special guest, Iphigenia Kanara, Consul General of Greece.
  • This was followed by an evening event featuring the Consul General who spoke on Greece’s geo-political position in today’s world. Well-attended by the public as well as Stockton community members (50-55 attendees), the evening turned out to be a triumph for Hellenic
  • The Vasilopita celebration was a hit with the Consul General taking part in the Happily, Professor and FHS co-chair Katherine Panagakos won the coin!
  • On Monday, March 10th, Demetrios parochial high school in Astoria, NY visited the Art Gallery and got a tour of the Stockton Galloway campus.
  • On March 20th the Constantelos annual Memorial Lecture featured George Demacopoulos of Fordham University speaking on Nicaea and the Challenge of a Common Date for Easter. Again, there was a full house (approximately 50) in the Art Gallery and an informal survey indicated a very positive response.
  • Laura Lionel, to write press releases and follow up articles on these

Website: Mariea.

  • Mariea uploaded the current agenda and
  • Over time, she will include more information on

Hellenic Voice: Mariea

  • Cathy will us know who still has to submit an article for the current She will include some Lenten recipes.
  • Tom submitted an article on the dual credit course with Astoria Demetrios High School.
  • If Laura Belasco has not submitted a student perspective on the March 7th lunch, Tula will email her.
  • Mariea will write a co-chair greeting this week in Greek and Tula will proofread it. Plan is to get the issue out before Easter.

Exploring Hellenism

  • Theme: Magna Grecia: Hellenism in Greece and
  • Dante Hall as the venue: Tula will ask Tom if he spoke with Rich Nagro (St. Michael’s) and

Luisa since the last FHS meeting; if not, she will offer to help him communicate with them.

  • Still scheduled for Fall
  • All indicated Sofia Restaurant as the preferred alternative if Dante Hall is

New Business

  • Tula confirmed some string bags given to Holy Trinity Sights & Sounds student event. Some were also distributed to the Astoria High School students who visited Stockton on March 10th.
  • Tula will send photo of string bag and March events to Mariea, Katherine and
  • Tula will send event photos and Stockton Youtube link to March 20th
  • Tom has negotiated a dual credit special course in Byzantine History between Stockton ARHU and the Astoria St. Demetrios High School. The students will receive four credits; transferable to other colleges.

Old Business:

  • Remains unanswered: Mariea asked if the History Club did go to Boston on April Tula will ask Tom.
  • 2025 trip to Washington DC will be planned for October 2025 for the community, not

 

Adjournment: 7:45pm

Respectfully submitted, Tula Christopoulos