With a great success and an even better than expected turn out from presidents of Greek Federations around the country, the Hellenic American National Council Executive Board carried out its meeting recently in New York. Twenty-one presidents of Federations from around the country were hosted by HANC President Paul Kotrotsios.
At the luncheon, honoring the General Consul of Greece in New York who will soon be departing the big apple for her new assignment as the new Ambassador of Greece in Santiago Chile, all the participants thanked Mrs. Aghi Balta for her services to Hellenism and the Greek-American community.
AHEPA’s Supreme President John Grossomanides also participated in the meeting and promised a better and closer cooperation between AHEPA and HANC. It was the first time AHEPA took part in a HANC meeting. HANC's President Paul Kotrotsios also announced the creation of a Public Relations Committee that would promote Hellenism during this tough period for Greece and Greeks everywhere, a committee that would also show the current contributions of Hellenism and Greek worldwide.
The President of the Cypriot Federation Mr. Panikos Papanikolaou, who participated in this HANC Forum for the first time, briefed the Executive Board and its members for the latest development on the efforts in reunifying Cyprus and praised the Federation’s cooperation with the American Hellenic Institute on the issue of selling attack helicopters to Turkey.
The President of the Council of Greeks Abroad – USA and founding member of HANC, Mr. Ted Spyropoulos, spoke about his organization’s current status and praised the important work done by the Hellenic American National Council.
Other participants included, Nick Laryngakis-President of AHI, Kostas Hatzistefanides, President of Pan-Macedonian Association, Dr. Spyros Mezitis, President of “Reinasance”, Kostas Koutrakos, HANC Vice President , President of Pan-Laconians and President of HANC’s Education committee, Stella Kokolis, President of the Teachers Federation, Steve Pelardis, President of the Panrodian Association with Polyvios Pavlidis, Zaharoula Marmatakis, representative of the Pancretan Association, Panagiotis Doukas, President of the Pancorinthians, Vasilis Bebonis, President of the Panmessinians, Stelios Manis, President of the Hunters, Vasilis Matarangas, President of the federation of Zakyntos and Ioanian Islands, Nikos Bardis of the Pangregorians, Dr. Yiannis Nathenas, former State Senator Leonidas Raptakis from Rhode Island and New York Assemblywoman Aravela Simotas.
