On Tuesday evening, the Federation of Hellenic American Societies of Philadelphia and Greater Delaware Valley held its monthly meeting at Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Center City Philadelphia.
Following dinner and before the meeting began, Federation President Stathis Karadonis was honored by Federation members with a birthday cake. During the meeting, Karadonis announced some important changes to this year’s Greek Independence Day Parade and also greeted new delegates from the Hellenic University Club of Philadelphia.
Karadonis was pleased to announce the launching of the Federation’s new website, www.HellenicFed.org. The new website was developed by Enhanced Media, an affiliate of Cosmos Philly and other social news websites. In keeping with the purposes of the Federation, as a conduit between the many Greek-American societies and Greek Orthodox Churches in the area, and presenting a single voice to the non-Greek community and other Greek-American federations throughout the United States and Canada, the website features a new community calendar accessible to the general public. It also highlights Greek and American related news in the Philadelphia metropolitan area and the Delaware Valley.
The main focus of the evening’s meeting was the news that U.S. Congressman Robert E. Andrews of New Jersey has suddenly resigned his position and will leave office. The Congressman was slated to be the Grand Marshall of the parade. After much discussion, the members of the Federation agreed that they would replace the Congressman and honor as Grand Marshalls the Principals of the many Greek language schools throughout the Metropolis of New Jersey, includes the Philadelphia and Delaware Valley area. It is certainly an honor for the Federation and the entire Greek-American community to have these educators, representing not only the Principals but the many teachers and students, lead the parade.
The Principles will be invited to the annual Greek Independence Day Parade dinner, the night before, being held this year at the Adelphia Restaurant. At the dinner, the Federation recognizes key leaders and dignitaries and the inclusion and recognition of the Greek school Principals will certainly be instrumental in bringing more attention to the community and the Federation and its work for over 45 years.