Shaping the past, present, and future
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In 336 B.C., Alexander the Great became the leader of the Greek kingdom of Macedonia. By the time he died 13 years later, Alexander had built an empire that stretched from Greece all the way to India. That brief but thorough empirebuilding campaign changed the world: It spread Greek ideas and culture from the Eastern Mediterranean to Asia. Historians call this era the “Hellenistic period.” (The word “Hellenistic” comes from the word Hellazein, which means “to speak Greek or identify with the Greeks.”) It lasted from the death of Alexander in 323 B.C. until 31 B.C., when Roman troops conquered the last of the territories that the Macedonian king had once ruled.
Despite the Hellenistic period’s relatively short life span, the cultural and intellectual life of the era has been influencing readers, writers, artists and scientists ever since. The impact this heritage had on the Renaissance which helped Europe out of the middle ages and define the direction of European culture. That includeds the direction which culture and politics were taken in the colonies that became the United States.
A brief history of the Hellenic Congress of America (HECA)
The Hellenic Congress of America was founded on February 4, 2016 in New York, when 33 Greek-Americans from seven U.S. States convened at the LaGuardia Plaza Hotel in NYC and decided to establish a new non-profit organization, aiming to unite the Hellenes in America, including both individuals and organizations that share its mission and goals.
That first meeting took place at the initiative of Nick J. Apostolopoulos, of Charlotte, NC, a real estate broker/developer and former President of the historic Evrytanian Association of America “To Velouhi”. Mr. Apostolopoulos, who was born in Agios Andreas Evrytanias, Greece, became the founding President of the organization.
In July 2016, an application was filed with the Secretary of State of New York for the official founding of the Hellenic Congress of America. The text was co-signed by Nick J. Apostolopoulos, Theodore Vassilakis, former administrative judge in the State of New York, Demetris A. Filios, journalist and public relations consultant, Dr. Georgios Melikokis, educator, Chris N. Vournas, economist and tax specialist, and Timoleon Kakouros, realtor.
In December 2016, the Articles of Incorporation of the newly formed organization were approved and HECA obtained a 501c3 tax exempt status as a non-profit organization.
On February 8, 2017, the first public event of the new organization (a press conference) was held at the Greek Press Office in NYC. The Mission Statement of the Hellenic Congress of America reads as follows:
“The Hellenic Congress of America is a movement from the Hellenic Diaspora base that empowers community growth. Its mission is to unify, inspire and motivate Hellenes and Philhellenes, to connect, encourage and coordinate individuals and organizations for collective action locally, nationally and globally. The Hellenic Congress of America addresses primarily issues of daily life that interest the Hellenes of the Diaspora. It also intends to develop progressive, educational, cultural and philanthropic projects in the United States of America and worldwide...”
In the following years, two major events were organized by the Hellenic Congress of America. The first one was held on June 24, 2019 at the Arcadian House of “Geros Tou Morea” and its main purpose was to present the mission and the goals of the Hellenic Congress of America to the community of New York. The second one took place on October 3, 2019 at the Archdiocesan Hellenic Cultural Center in Astoria New York. Its focus was on the Right of the Greeks Abroad to Vote from their place of residence.
In 2020 the Interim Board of the Hellenic Congress of America was planning to hold the First Convention of the organisation. However, the onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic has forced the cancellation of these plans.
In the Fall of 2021 the Hellenic Congress was planning to hold a Special Convention on the Right to Vote by Hellenes Abroad from their Place of Residence, but the new wave of the Pandemic has made its postponement inevitable.
The Special Convention was finally held on Saturday, May 14 2022, at the Nick Andriotis Hall of the Saints Aikaterini and George Greek Orthodox Church in Astoria, New York and also via live streaming Zoom and it was very successful: among the participants were Prokopis Pavlopoulos, former President of the Hellenic Republic, Prof. Nikos Alivizatos, the renowned author, Dr. George Katrougalos, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Prof. Demetris Christopoulos, Dean of the Panteion University and Dr. Olga Sarantopoulou, the former General Secretary of the Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE).
At the Special Convention’s Banquet, held in the same evening, at the Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows Park, NY the President has presented on behalf of HECA the Hellenic Excellence Award to Mrs. Alice Halkias, honoring her and her late husband Michael Halkias for their lifetime of service to Hellenism.
In the Fall of 2022, the historic Societies “Geros Tou Morea” of the Arcadians of New York and “Omonoia” of the Kastorians of New York, joined HECA. In the beginning of 2023, the Hellenic Women’s Alliance and the Evrytanon Society “Karpenisi” also joined HECA. It should be noted that “Geros Tou Morea” has hosted the headquarters of the Hellenic Congress of America since its founding in 2016, for which the HECA expresses its appreciation.
The Interim Board of the Hellenic Congress of America, before its First Convention on March 18, 2023, was consisting of: Nick J. Apostolopoulos, President, Gus Lambropoulos, 1st Vice President, Nick Tavantzis, 2nd Vice President, Demetris A. Filios, General Secretary, Dr. George Melikokis, Treasurer, Hon. Theodore Vassilakis, Legal Advisor and: Theodora Abazis, Fotis Gerasopoulos, Maria Magoulas, Maria Markou, Esq. (Assistant Legal Advisor), Dr. Demetrios Markouizos, Evangelia Lampropoulou-Sarafoglou, Prof. Demosthenes Triantafillou and Chris N. Vournas, as members. The Advisory Board was composed of: Dr.Constantine Drosatos, Dr.Constantine Hadjidimitriou and Dr. Panos Stavrianidis.
On March 18, 2023 HECA’s 1st Convention was held at the newly renovated Arcadian House of “Geros Tou Morea” in Astoria, New York. The newly elected Board consists of:
President: Dr. Demetrios Markouizos
1st Vice President: Gus Lambropoulos
2nd Vice President: Nicholas Tavantzis
General Secretary: Dr. Despina Afentouli
Assistant Secretary: Andriana Vamvaka
Treasurer: Maria Magoula
Executive Advisor: Demetris A. Filios
Members of the Board: Nick J. Apostolopoulos (President Emeritus), Theodora Abazi (Advisor to the President), Hon. Theodore Vasilakis (Legal Advisor), Chris N. Vournas, Fotis Gerasopoulos, Eleni Abazi Michailidis, Olivia Morales Demosthenes Triantafillou
Associations' representatives: George Kanellopoulos (Arcadians – Geros tou Morea), George Retsos (Kastorians - Omonoia), Fanis Tsiamtsiouris (Evrytanon-To Karpenisi), Maria Markou (Hellenic Women's Alliance).
Alternate Members: Dr Demetrios Metropoulos, Andreas Tsiolas, Alexandros Bilinis.
Auditing Committee: Dino Rallis (Chairman), Dr. George Melikokis, John Tampakis
The founding President of HECA, Nick J. Apostolopoulos, was unanymously honored with the title “President Emeritus” during the HECA Convention on March 18, 2023. On the same day, the Grand Banquet dinner dance was held at Estiatorio “Mythos” in Flushing, NY. During the event, President Emeritus, Nick J. Apostolopoulos, was presented the “Hellenic Leadership Award” and the Hon. Theodore Vassilakis (Legal Advisor) was awarded the “Hellenic Excellence Award” by the newly-elected President, Dr. Demetrios Markouizos.