By Nick Stamatakis
Having spent countless hours in the last three years discussing how to deal with the split in the Federation of New York, I am as exhausted as everybody else looking at the small-time politics of this issue. After all this time, if someone asked me right now what is the disagreement between the two, I would not be able to put together two sentences. This might be a good thing as it reveals the utter pettiness of the problems between the two sides, and it could, unexpectedly, lead us to a solution.
The two sides must realize this is their last chance to unite. Both sides behave in a way that does NOT move the Federation forward. Our goal for this organization is to invite and include the younger generations, correct? I am hoping your answer is yes!.. If it is not, then any further discussion is pointless – please do all of us a favor and stop being an obstacle to the future. No, we are not throwing you out; we will establish a lovely coffee shop in the basement of Stathakeion where you can come and spend your time.
For the rest of you who answered “yes” to include the younger generations as our primary goal, tell us what you have done to this effect and your plans. How do you plan to invite the professional associations (doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, artists, businessmen of all kinds, etc.) to the Federation and allow them to play their part? Or do you keep having your “Greek fights,” cursing each other, and sometimes fist-fighting as you have done in the past? Please explain your vision for the Federation.
Those with such a vision to move the Federation to the future, please consider the proposed solution here. It has been suggested before, but recently, it emerged as the only sensible way: A 3-member Committee to lead the Federation to elections by June. This committee:
- Must have three members (not five, seven, or twenty-one as proposed before) to avoid friction and proceed faster.
- The three members must be widely respected personalities, experienced in our community’s organizational affairs, agreed upon by the two sides, and as independent-minded as possible.
- They will be allowed access to the Stathakeion anytime they designate for meetings and other functions.
- Both sides will obey their decisions on all matters, especially on a common path to elections by the end of June.
- The committee will consider the old (2013) and the new charter (approved by the Kalamaras side), focusing on a common path for the election process. I have been discussing this with leaders of both sides for many months, and I can assure you that their differences are not that big in this respect. Elections can be planned following common sense ideas, the NY state laws, and Robert’s Rules when applicable.
- The new board can establish a new charter next year.
- There will be a 2-month period allowing the re-registration of all associations after checking their credentials and submitting a one-year membership check. Peter Gerazounis has done excellent groundwork in this respect, which needs to be finished with the cooperation of both sides.
- A special provision can be agreed upon allowing the election to an office of people who have not served on the Board for at least one term. The point here is to allow the younger generations in – as long as they have experience serving in similar organizations.
I could have suggested several names to fill this committee, but the right way is to accept the idea first and the procedures. The names will quickly come in the end. Thank God, we still have a few “elders” who can unite all of us.
You can use our comment section to provide your constructive points. Helleniscope will act as a medium/platform towards a unified road to elections. Please keep in mind this will be the last chance. If it fails, we all have some options, and the best is to establish new organizations oriented to preserving the Hellenic Culture in New York. Some of them already exist – look around you… And let the rotten, sclerotic, and marginalized supposed “leaders” alone in their path to extinction…
January 13, 2025, n.stamatakis@aol.com www.helleniscope.com
DISCLAIMER: The views and statements expressed in this article constitute constitutionally protected opinions of this author.
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BELOW THE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE PARADE MEETING – “PANOMOGENEIAKI” – THIS THURSDAY 7 PM AT STATHAKEION
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Mr. Stamatakis,
The only thing that the two entrenched cliques of the Omospondia know how to do well is to fight each other, in the name of uncalled for stupidity extraordinaire. Needles to repeat for one more time that there is no future for the Omospondia’s well being with the current graphic characters in charge.
I strongly believe that the only remaining way out of this mess, is for a committee of three to five young visionary leaders, to democratically take over the Omospondia’s affairs, with the backing of the vast majority of the registered associations.
In my humble opinion, Mr. Giannis Stroumbakis, a well rounded and proven visionary leader, who is well liked by the Omogeneia, should lead such a proposed committee.
Mr. Stroumbakis, please take the initiative and call for a meeting with the heads of the registered associations and with the press present. No one else should be allowed to attend and please discuss with them your vision for the Omospondia. I am sure that all the heads of the associations will attend. After all they are the boses and the final word is theirs that counts. Enough already with the Omospondia’s old ways of doing business, which threaten its own existence. This is the undeniable truth.
In closing, I will quote Mahatma Gandhi “Many people, especially ignorant people, want to punish you for speaking the truth, for being correct, for being you. Never apologize for being correct, or for being years ahead of your time. If you’re right and you know it, speak your mind. Speak your mind. Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is still the truth”.
Achilles Ligeras,
Commercial Real Estate and Business Developer, New York.
Mr. Stamataki,
If Mr Kalamaras was willing to follow Robert’s Rules of Order and NY State Laws which state that in order to change the bylaws of an organization you must follow the procedures stated in the existing bylaws we wouldn’t be in this mess! That is the whole basis of our differences and I glad you recognize the procedures that should be followed.
Nomiki – the key word here is “vision”: Do we want to include the younger generation or not? We need actiοns and not words. In a 10-mile radius around Astoria live tens of thousands of Greek-Americans, many very successful professionally. Do we have a plan to attract them and include them? This is the question we have to answer first. The majority on both sides stay with words when it comes to this main issue. How will these young and successful Greek-Americans comε close to the Federation if, for example, we do not make an effort to be bilingual in the meetings? And if we hold meetings that last for hours until midnight? Not to say anything about cursing and even fist-fighting… There are other measures too…
Who is Robert, and why do we need to follow any of his rules?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert%27s_Rules_of_Order
We have seen many examples of how “Rubert’s Rules” have been used to shut down “unwanted opinions” that don’t “fit the agenda” of governing committees….
Dear Markos,
I don’t know if you speak Greek but regardless I will enlighten you with the following: Τα περισσότερα τυπάκια-παράγοντες της Ομοσπονδίας μοιάζουν με κλάσμα όπου ο αριθμητής είναι ο πραγματικός εαυτός τους και ο παρονομαστής η μεγάλη ιδέα που έχουν για τον εαυτό τους. Όμως όσο μεγαλύτερος ο παρονομαστής, τόσο μικρότερη η φθίνουσα αξία του κλάσματος και ο νοών νοείτο.