Date:10/24/08

We bring to the attention and awareness of our members as well as of the community at large certain developments in the realm of Hellenic Education, which developed over the summer through the efforts of the Advisory Council of the Hellenic Link, Inc.:

1. Contacts in July with senior officials of the Greek Ministry of Education in Athens on the need to develop in America the academic capacity for training qualified teachers of the Greek language for American and Canadian schools of primary and secondary education proved unproductive. The Ministry does not include in its current developmental plans such a program, which, as our readers recall, came out of the joint HL-Stockton College faculty colloquium (May 31, 2008; see HL Bulletin 69), with a strong recommendation for implementation. Accordingly, it would be unrealistic to anticipate in the foreseeable future an approval-decision for one or more visiting professors coming from Hellenic educational institutions to service the program discussed at the colloquium. We should add that administrators and faculties of several Modern Greek Studies programs in American and Canadian universities have advocated ardently such a program.

2. Nevertheless, members of the HL-Athens Section have sought to explore alternative approaches to satisfy the existing educational need. Thus, Dr. Ioanna Anastasopoulou, Professor of Radiation Chemistry and Spectroscopy at the NTUA (National Technical University of Athens or Ethnikon Metsovion Polytechneion), broached the subject to the President of the NTUA by explaining to him the need to train teachers of the Greek language in America and pointing out that nowadays an acceptable and cost effective way to conduct it is through Distance Interactive Teaching via the Internet. In this vein, she requested the concurrence of NTUA’s administration in allocating time in the use of the Media Room of the University for teaching Greek Language-Literature to classes of students meeting simultaneously in similar facilities at the Richard Stockton College in New Jersey, USA. The teaching would be carried out by qualified professionals volunteering their time and effort. The NTUA President gladly endorsed the proposal.

3. On the strength of this very welcome development, the HL-Athens Section and the President of the HL, Inc. carried out additional exploratory and preparatory work. This work was reviewed at a 15-member, two-and-a-half-hour meeting held under the auspices of Dr. George Contopoulos, Academician, Professor of Astronomy, at his office in the Research Center for Positive Sciences of the Academy of Athens on October 9, 2008. The President of the HL provided background information. Prof. Anastasopoulou gave a detailed report on HL activities since the beginning of the summer, made an assessment of prospects, and offered recommendations for the indicated course of action. The following transpired at the meeting.

Dr. George Bozonis, Distinguished Philologist, Professor Emeritus of the University of Athens’ School of Philosophy, at the request of the HL President, agreed to chair a committee which, in cooperation with the ICHS (Interdisciplinary Center of Hellenic Studies) of Stockton College and the NTUA, will set into motion the local program in Athens and select suitable faculty for it ( already a small number of qualified and experienced teachers have declared their willingness and readiness for instructional tasks, on a voluntary basis). Prof. Bozonis indicated that during the years that he was associated with the American College of Athens in Psychico, he and his colleagues carried out a series of detailed studies on methods of instruction of the Greek language, which were recorded. These records are considered a valuable resource for the program under discussion.

The above mentioned committee, presently under formation, will include NTUA faculty as technical experts and a liaison with the host institution, as well as classicists and humanities scholars from other institutions of higher learning. Initially, this committee will request from and discuss with Stockton representatives specific curricular needs. The program in Athens will have to accommodate the requirements of Stockton for meeting its programmatic objectives.

This presently ad hoc committee recommends that with appropriate interaction between educational experts, appropriate texts and other learning aids be developed specifically for the participants of the ICHS program. NTUA could print these materials.

It was also suggested that serious thought be given to set the program in a calendar/week day/ hours of the day frame of operation, taking into account the 7-hour difference in time zone between the Eastern Sea Board of the USA and Greece.

It is essential that trial tests are conducted as soon as possible in order to establish visual and audio contact and defined clarity of messages between the Media Rooms of Stockton and NTUA.

After establishing a correct frame for the educational and technical aspects of the program, it will be advisable for the administrations of the two institutions, i.e., the R. Stockton College and the NTUA, to conclude a contractual agreement in order to formalize the program and safeguard its long range operability.

While NTUA intends to sponsor the program substantially with resources at its disposal, additional resources may be needed from extramural sponsors. The President of the Cultural Organization of the Municipality of Athens, Mrs. Sophie Daskalaki-Mytilineou, whom the President of the HL informed about the planned project at NTUA, expressed interest in its support. It is noted that with substantial support from a host of sponsors this Municipal Organization convened in Athens a well thought and appointed First World Conference of Modern Greek Studies in July 2008, and it is now organizing an International Conference on Byzantium, again in Athens in June 2009. Academician Loucas Christophorou, Professor of Physics, intervened in the discussion about financial support to emphasize that a grant proposal should be prepared and submitted to several possible sponsors, jointly by NTUA, Stockton College and Hellenic Link, to secure support for this novel, far-reaching in significance, educational project.

Academician Dr. Anthony Kounadis, Prof. Emeritus of Civil Engineering at NTUA, in his capacity as former President of the NGO “ Hellenic Language Heritage,” indicated that he would seek assistance for the project from the officers and members of the HLH, possibly in the form of volunteer teachers. It is remarkable that the first president of this civic Organization was Karolos Papoulias, the current President of the Hellenic Republic.

The President of HL announced at the meeting that at his request the regional Korgialenios Library in Cephalonia, one of the first libraries in Greece to digitize its historic archives as well as its day-to day-operations, has undertaken to compile a resource compendium with descriptions of the Hellenic Studies programs of all Hellenic universities and of the University of Cyprus, including profiles of their teaching faculties. This resource will be utilized by the Advisory Council in this and other projects.

It was stated that, we understand, there will be consultations between the Advisory Council and the ICHS of Stockton College held soon for an assessment of the above developments in order to proceed as expeditiously as possible to the design and implementation of a first in America ever full academic program for the education of Greek language teachers, following, as it is eagerly hoped, the conclusion of a formal agreement between Stockton College and the National Technical University of Athens.

CJE

Election of a new Board of Directors of the Hellenic Link, Inc. In the recent election, the members of the Hellenic Link, Inc. chose the members of the new Board of Directors for the period 2008-2010. Their names in alphabetic order, as provided by the Election Committee are as follows: George Avgerakis, Katina Efthymiatou-Stabile, Constantine Efthymiou, Constantine Gadjis, Pandelis Halamandaris, Constantine Hatzidimitriou, Spyros Katsifis, Kostas Makris, Nikos Metallinos, Michael Papaioannou, Dimitri Staikos and Anthony Vasilas. In the next several Bulletins details will be provided of the assignments of offices and duties as well as of decisions and activities planned by the new Board. At this time, as members of the Organization, let us wish to the elected leadership team sufficient strength to successfully carry forward the task of nurturing the noble objectives of the HL, and to also pledge to them our unwavering enthusiastic support. As their success entails determined work and sacrifices, every member should be prepared to act likewise. These two aspects of our Association are interlinked; they can only exist if bound together. This year’s Election Committee included the following members: Helga Gadjis, Bette Kalpakis and Anna Kanes.

CULTURAL AND ETHNIC NEWS OF NOTE FROM THE COMMUNITY

The Friends of the Hellenic Studies at Stockton College Celebrate October 28, 1940

The community of the Interdisciplinary Center of Hellenic Studies at S tockton College in New Jersey, which includes not only the Faculty of the Center and its students, but also the highly motivated Organization of the Friends of the Hellenic Studies Program and the sizable Hellenic community of Southern Jersey and surrounding areas, will stage a triple celebration on Sunday, October 26, 2008 to honor: St. Demetrios Day, the Liberation of Thessaloniki and Macedonia Day, and OXI Day. At this event, all those who together with Fr. Demetrios Constantelos are celebrating their Name will be honored, and the defeat of fascism and the Greek love of liberty will be duly extolled. In addition, the celebrants will share some unique experiences from Greece of the June 2008 successful scholarly symposium and theater exchange program at Delphi and the University of Athens. Of course, the celebrants will enjoy a symposium of their own, as the event includes a Greek style buffet and glendi at the Sophia Restaurant (9314 Amherst Avenue, Margate, New Jersey 08402). Tickets for the 1:30-4:30pm event will be $35 for Adults, $15 for Students and free for Children Under 12. For tickets call Dawn Kanaan at 609.652.4830 or e-mail dawn.kanaan@stockton.edu. Checks should be made payable to the Friends of Hellenic Studies. Credit card reservations will be accepted over the phone. Reservations must be made at least 48hours prior to the event. Proceeds will benefit the various programs of Hellenic Studies at Stockton (scholarships, etc) sponsored by the Friends.It will be a wonderful event to attend and enjoy. To make reservations, hurry up!

Pan-Macedonian Association USA in Protest to the UN for Grave Violations of Hellenic Human Rights by the State of FYROM

We have received the following Announcement, which we find to be of importance to our members and the community. Accordingly, we bring it to the public’s attention.

INFORMATIVE CAMPAIGN REGARDING THE HELLENIC HUMAN RIGHTS IN FYROM, Monday October 27, 2008 12:00 –2:00 pm 140 East 45th Street New York City Between 3rd and Lexington Avenues

The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) mobilizes community activists, with the support of the PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION USA, and other associations as well as human rights activists near the United States Mission to the UN in midtown Manhattan.

All who believe in justice and American democratic values are encouraged to join us and demand that: FYROM should stop being the perpetrator of cultural genocide against its historic Hellenic community. Its unapologetic, historically revisionist stance against humanity and violation of human rights should be properly investigated by the US State Department Human Rights division for denying the Hellenic minority in FYROM the right to their Hellenic identity and nationality.

The government of FYROM (with its capital in Skopje) has a long legacy of anti-Hellenic cultural genocide in the area of ancient Pelagonia. Since 1912 and onwards the Yugoslav government and FYROM since 1991, when it broke away from Yugoslavia, aspired the political destruction of Hellenism on their territories, especially in Pelagonia, the only real geographical part of Macedonia. They have flagrantly violated the human rights of the Hellenic community in their territory and continue undisturbed to do the same for a host years.

According to Article 15 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A of 10 December 1948.

1. Everyone has the right to a nationality.

2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 7 of the United Nations Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (26 August 1994) [4] uses the phrase “cultural genocideß.” The complete article reads as follows:

Indigenous peoples have the collective and individual right not to be subjected to ethnocide and cultural genocide, including prevention of and redress for:

(a) Any action which has the aim or effect of depriving them of their integrity as distinct peoples, or of their cultural values or ethnic identities;

(b) Any action which has the aim or effect of dispossessing them of their lands, territories or resources;

(c) Any form of population transfer which has the aim or effect of violating or undermining any of their rights;

(d) Any form of assimilation or integration by other cultures or ways of life imposed on them by legislative, administrative or other measures;

(e) Any form of propaganda directed against them.

FYROM is guilty of all of the above-itemized sub-articles.

The HELLENIC HUMAN RIGHTS RALLY will demand an end to the continuing campaign by the FYROM government to deny the Hellenic identity and nationality of its Hellenic minority.

The HELLENIC HUMAN RIGHTS RALLY will call for human rights violations against the Hellenic community to be publicly investigated and condemned by the US State Department.

Participants will be provided with signs, and Hellenic flags. Speakers will include community activists and human rights experts and live instrumental music from Macedonia. Please be advised that community affairs in New York do not permit signs or banners or flagpoles that are not made from paper or cloth. The HELLENIC HUMAN RIGHTS RALLY includes the distribution of thousands of informational pamphlets, stickers, t-shirts and expert media packets for the press. Please join us near the United States Mission to the UN, to send a clear and powerful message that the Hellenic people will not live in fear.

An Incisive Lecture on Current International Issues The Queens College Center for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies & the CUNY Academy for the Humanities and Sciences presented in their Seminar on the Modern Greek State Series an informative Lecture: “Crises in the Balkans & the Caucasus: From the Macedonian Issue & Kosovo to the Crisis in Georgia” Guest Speaker was the noted Dr. Andre Gerolymatos, Chair in Hellenic Studies & Professor of History, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, B.C. The Hellenic Link, Inc. was one of the civic Organizations, which sponsored this highly enlightening on contemporary issues event, presented to the public at the CUNY Graduate Center on Thursday, October 16, 2008

Professionals in every discipline or field of endeavor, whether of Greek Descent or Philhellenes, are cordially invited to join the Hellenic Link, Inc. as members. It is quite easy and useful! Just contact us at any of the following addresses.