Demonstrating that Young Greek Americans come together for common causes and goals across the country, the World Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE U.S.A. Region concluded its two day meetings in Chicago this past October, with the foundation of its Youth Network which will be a milestone on the road to success, according to the organizers. Young Greek Americans will be working together and taking on shared responsibilities to preserve and promote Hellenism in the U.S.A.

The convention opened with the invocation given by Fr. Mark Leondis, Youth Director of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, who also conveyed a message from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios. The President of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad SAE U.S.A. Region Theodore G. Spyropoulos welcomed the participants and gave his heartfelt wishes for a successful and productive convention. Greetings were also made by the Consul General of Greece, Ambassador Anastasios Petrovas, Consul for Education Mr. Nikos Nikolidakis, SAE Canada Youth Coordinator Tom Mastorakos and SAE U.S.A. Regional Coordinating Council members. Michael Galanakis (member of the RCC Youth Committee), Fr. Nicholas Kyritses and Dr. Peter Karavites from the Regional Coodinating Council of SAE U.S.A. were also present.

Power point presentations were made by the ad hoc organizing committee members Maurice Gritzalis, Anthony Papadopoulos and Chrysoula Economopoulos. The youth website was created by Steven B. Livaditis and Peter Quintas, founders of Portokalada.com. Spiros Vaggelatos presented the Greek Language Tutor program “ODYSSEUS”.

A five member SAE U.S.A. Region Youth Network Coordinating Council was elected at the convention with Maurice Gritzalis, a financial consultant from New York, as the Coordinator, Alice Shukla, an attorney from Washington, D.C., secretary, and Anthony Papadopoulos, an attorney from New York, treasurer. Sophia Koustas, a pr/events/communications professional from New Hampshire, and Stavroula Kotrotsios a university student from Pennsylvania, are board members.

Ten delegates, who were also elected with the coordinating council members, will represent the Youth Network at the SAE USA Regional Convention, November 20-22 2008: Penny Hambilomatis (IL), Eleni Hioureas (CA), Jordan Elrod (FL), Eleni Sopasis (NY), Ioannis Tomazos (CT), Chris Sarris (AL), Keke Kyriakopoulos (NY), Lambrini Melegos Papadopoulos (IL), Dimitra Adams (IN) and Lazaros Yiannos (MA).

Youth Network Coordinator Maurice Gritzalis emphasized the unity that existed among the youth at the convention, and the excellent organization that helped the delegates participate with ease and complete their work. “Everything is progressing wonderfully well,” Gritzalis said. “We are thankful to Mr. Spyropoulos for making this convention possible, for his inspiration and for the example he has created. We are now ready to continue with our tasks as are initially being reviewed in detail by the various committees.”

The Youth Network delegates created several committees in order to organize their activities. The SAE USA Youth Network also pledged its support for drawing public attention on national issues and unanimously voted acceptance of a resolution presented by Penny Hambilomatis on behalf of the Pan-Macedonian Association of USA, and a resolution on the Pontian Genocide presented by Demetrios Varnasidis on behalf of the Pan-Pontian Federation of USA & Canada.

A sustained wave of cheers and a standing ovation from the participants greeted the SAE USA Region Coordinator, Mr. Theodore G. Spyropoulos at the closing banquet. “We are confident the youth will take the baton and continue Hellenism through ages,” he declared. He also urged the Youth Network to investigate opportunities to establish relationships with young Hellenes in other SAE regions, such as Europe, Middle East/Africa, Oceania, Russia and the Newly Independent States, Canada and Latin America.

Special guest appearances were made by comedian/actor Angelo Tsarouchas and Margarita Bezaitis from Fame Story.

More information on SAE and the Youth Network can be obtained online, www.saeusa.org, or by calling at (312) 627-1821. The email address is saeusa@sbcglobal.net