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Member Update- BULLETIN

Editorial Committee: Ahilleas Adamantiades, Evangelia Georgoulea, Maria-Eleftheria Giatrakou, Dean C. Lomis, Katherine Efthymiatou-Stabile

Contributing Editors: Dimitrios Oreopoulos, Andreas Adams, Evangelos Calamitsis

Acting Editor: Constantine Efthymiou

No. 95, April, 2011

(revised, April 29, 2011)

 

Το  Διοικητικό Συμβούλιο του Ελληνικού Συνδέσμου απευθύνει τον χαρμόσυνο  Πασχαλινό Χαιρετισμό: Χριστός Ανέστη! στα μέλη και αναγνώστες του Δελτίου μας. Είθε η υπερβατική πραγματικότητα της Ανάστασης του Κυρίου να δώσει νέο νόημα στη ζωή μας και να γίνει η «καινή κτίσις» μέσα μας που θα δώσει λύση στα προβλήματα και διλήμματα του καθενός μας και του Εθνους μας.

 

Hellenic Education Programs Abroad to be Overhauled

As our readers recall, in the last issue of the Bulletin (January 2011, #94), we referred to the bill-- soon to be debated and enacted into law by the Greek Parliament – which introduces some radical changes to the existing programs supporting Paideia abroad, in order to upgrade them. The Hellenic Link, Inc. received belatedly an invitation to participate in a public offer of suggestions for the benefit of the bill. Despite the anomaly and in view of the significance of the matter, the Advisory Council on Hellenic Education decided to comment with the following letter, addressed to the Alternate Minister of Education, Mrs. Fofi Gennimata:

Εξοχ. Κυρίαν Φώφην Γεννηματά, Αναπληρώτριαν Υπουργόν Παιδείας, Διά Βίου Μάθησης και Θρησκευμάτων, Αθήνας

Εξοχώτατη Κυρία Υπουργέ,

Γράφω σχετικά με το υπό σύνταξη νομοσχέδιον του Υπουργείου σας , που στοχεύει να ρυθμίσει την στηριζομένην από την Ελληνικήν Πολιτείαν Παιδείαν Ομογενών.

Ειμαι εν γνώσει της παρασχεθείσης ευκαιρίας για δημόσια διαβούλευση του εν λόγω νομοσχεδίου, που περιέχει διατάξεις ζωτικής σημασίας διά την Oμογένειαν της Β. Αμερικής. Ατυχώς, η πρόσκληση για την διαβούλευση έφθασε σε μας την10ηνΜαρτίου, ώρες μόνον πριν εκπνεύσει η προθεσμία συμμετοχής εις αυτήν. Κατόπιν τούτου, εθεωρήσαμε περιττόν να ανταποκριθούμε  εκπροθέσμως εις την πρόσκληση,

παρ’ όλον ότι το θέλαμε. Αν, παρά την αντένδειξη αυτή, σας γράφω οφείλεται εις την Γενικήν Γραμματέα του Σ.Α.Ε. Διδάκτορα καν Όλγαν Σαραντοπούλου, η οποία γνωριζουσα την εργασίαν μας εις τον χώρον της Ελληνικής Παιδείας στην Αμερική μας ενεθάρρυνε και τελικώς έπεισε στο ότι δεν είναι αργά να σας θέσουμε υπόψη  απόψεις και προτάσεις μας διά το νομοσχέδιον.

Εν συντομία, αναφέρω ότι ο «Ελληνικός Σύνδεσμος» (Ε.Σ, Hellenic Link, Inc.), που έχω την τιμή να εκπροσωπώ, είναι μη κερδοσκοπικός οργανισμός επιστημόνων, ερευνητών και εκπαιδευτικών Ελληνικής καταγωγής και Φιλελλήνων, ο οποίος ως αναγνωρισμένος φορέας (N.G.O.) εδώ στις Η.Π.Α. προωθεί την Ελληνική γλώσσα και πολιτισμική παράδοση. Εις το πλαίσιο των δραστηριοτήτων του από ετών έχει εγκύψει στη μελέτη των προβλημάτων της παρεχομένης στα σχολεία Ελληνικής μόρφωσης και των εφικτών μεθόδων επίλυσής των. Αποτέλεσμα της μελέτης αυτής ήταν η δημοσίευση ενός Σχεδίου Ελληνικής Παιδείας για την Αμερική ( Α Hellenic Education Plan for America, New York 2005), προϊόν συνεργασίας 26 Ελληνοαμερικανών πανεπιστημιακών και εκπαιδευτικών. Στην συνεχιζόμενη προσπάθεια εφαρμογής σημαντικών συμπερασμάτων του Σχεδίου, το Συμβούλιον Ελληνικής Παιδείας του Ε.Σ. έχει πρόσφατα προβεί μεταξύ άλλων στις κάτωθι ενέργειες ανάπτυξης Ελληνομάθειας στην Βόρειο Αμερική:

Κυρία Υπουργέ, τα ανωτέρω κομβικής σημασίας θέματα πιστεύομε ότι εδράζονται στο πνεύμα και γράμμα του νομοσχεδίου που έχετε ανακοινώσει. Ενσωματώνουν ακόμη στοιχεία εκπαιδευτικής και παιδαγωγικής ιδιαιτερότητας της Αμερικανικής πραγματικότητας  που και αυτά περιλαμβάνονται στους στόχους του νομοσχεδίου που αναγνώσαμε. Διά την εφαρμογήν των θεμάτων αυτών εις τον χώρον της Ελληνοαμερικανικής Ομογένειας επάνω στη βάση του νόμου που θα ψηφισθεί από την Βουλήν, πιστεύομε ότι θα είναι πολύ χρήσιμος και μάλιστα ουσιώδης  ένας διάλογος διαρκείας και συνεργασία  μεταξύ των ενταύθα εργαζομένων ειδικών και των αντιστοίχων εκπαιδευτικών και υπηρεσιακών παραγόντων της Ελλάδος. Ίσως, ο χειρισμός των θεμάτων αυτών από μίαν κοινήν συμβουλευτικήν επιτροπήν θα ήταν ο ενδεδειγμένος τρόπος προώθησης και επιτυχούς εφαρμογής του νόμου που θα μπορούσε να ικανοποιήσει τις σύγχρονες και μελλοντικές  ανάγκες της Ομογένειας στον τομέα της Παιδείας.

Παρακαλούμεν να αξιολογήσετε τα προτεινόμενα και να μας πληροφορήσετε τας απόψεις και αποφάσεις σας. Εμείς θα είμαστε ευχαρίστως διαθέσιμοι για μία παραγωγική συνεργασία .

Με τιμή και εκτίμηση,

Κώστας Ευθυμίου, Ph.D., Συντονιστής Συμβουλίου Ελληνικής Παιδείας

Πρόεδρος Ελληνικού Συνδέσμου

Distinguished Member Joins the H-L Advisory Council

The “Hellenic Link family” welcomes with joy the new Member of the Advisory Council on Hellenic Education, Dr. Evangelos Gizis. Dr. Gizis, who recently retired from Queens College as its Provost, brings to the Council a rich and diverse experience, gained over the years by serving higher education in top administrative positions. Besides Queens College, Dr. Gizis has also served in similar capacities the Hostos and Hunter College-Units of the City University of New York, a University well known for its prodigious student enrollment and immense impact on American Education. We recall with pleasure the sensitivity of Dr. Gizis towards Hellenic issues shown on different occasions; he was one of a handful of Greek-American academics who in 1974, after the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey, co-signed a wake-up manifesto, placing themselves at the service of Hellenism. That was the beginning of the movement of which the Hellenic Link, Inc. is the contemporary extension. We are happy that in the legacy of that beginning, he has found an excellent and most appropriate way to continue his professional and civic contributions to the community. In welcoming him, the H-L Bulletin warmly congratulates Dr. Gizis for his academic accomplishments and sincerely wishes to him a long and productive participation in the proceedings of the Council in good health.

Actions for Hellenic Education Approved by BOD

At a joint meeting of the H-L BOD and Advisory Council on Hellenic Education last month, a detailed report was given on the programs initiated and pursued by the Advisory Council on Hellenic Education. It included references to results obtained thus far, and to the status of projects in progress. In response to this report, the following motion was introduced:

«It is moved that the BOD of the Hellenic Link, Inc. approve

1. The implementation of distance-teaching of the Greek language in collaboration with colleagues in Greece as well as in educational institutions in America.

2. On- going efforts to initiate distance-lecturing on themes of Hellenic Civilization and Culture.

3. The initiation of a modular-style presentation of major themes of Hellenic History and Heritage, particularly on Byzantine Civilization, in the form of a Teaching-Guide suitable for the American secondary and tertiary education systems, in a co-authorship collaboration of educator-members  of the Advisory Council of the H-L and of researchers of the Institute of Byzantine Research of the National Research Foundation of Greece.

4. The enhancement of teaching the Greek Language in America through usage of technology – based methods  of the Institute of Language and Speech Processing (ILSP).

5. The dissemination of learning of the Greek language by utilizing the Web Site of the H-L. in cooperation with ILSP.

6. The promotion of  teaching  Modern Greek in public and private schools in America , as well as of development of pertinent curricula for training qualified teachers of Greek, through development of National Standards for teaching the Greek Language in cooperation with the Modern Greek Language Teachers Association (MGLTA) and the American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages(AFGLC).»

The motion was put to a vote and was approved unanimously.

News from the Task-Force on Modern Greek Language Standards

In the context and frame of the Annual Conference of the National Council of the Less Commonly Taught Languages (NCOLCTL), which was just held in Madison WI (April 7-10, 2011), the Task-Force for the development of National Standards for the Teaching of Modern Greek, organized by the Advisory Council(Dr. Vasiliki Tsigas-Fotinis, Coordinator) of H-L in collaboration with the Modern Greek Language Teachers’ Association (MGLTA, Dr. Eva Prionas, President), attended a Session specially edifying for the goal of its mission. The theme of the Session, presented by Dr. June Phillips, was “A Decade of Standards: Year One for Modern Greek.” Dr. Phillips is Professor and Dean Emerita of Arts and Humanities at Weber State University (UT). An accomplished

Teacher in the field of foreign languages, she has taught French at the junior high through college levels as well as methods of foreign language teaching. A past president of ACTFL, she was project director for the design of Foreign Language Standards and is currently directing a federal project for ACTFL to revise them. She also co-chaired the development of standards for FL Teacher Education Programs. With her most relevant knowledge and experience-background, which she shared generously with the members of the H-L Task-Force, she provided the needed impetus and guidance for their work on National Standards for teaching Modern Greek.

Cultural Communion in the Offing between Odyssey Charter School and Schools in Greece

We are being informed that a very interesting relationship is being developed between the Odyssey Charter School of Wilmington, DE and schools of the Educational District of Argos-Nafplion, in Greece. The program will concern various educational exchanges between the faculties, first, and later the student bodies of the respective schools.  The development of this program is mediated by Harvard University’s Center for Hellenic Studies in Greece (located in Nafplion of Peloponese) and the Educational Office of the Greek Embassy in Washington, DC.  We are very pleased and honored that the Hellenic Link, Inc. has been invited to contribute to this effort.

Upcoming Community Events

In Celebration of our Lord’s Passion and Resurrection: a Byzantine Music Concert will be presented by the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music:



The Melodists

(The Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir)

Venue of the Concert:         Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity

319East 74th Street, New York, NY 10021

Time of Concert: Sunday, May 8th 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

The Concert is Free to the Public—A Reception will follow

 



The Acropolis Restoration Project---A Lecture

To be Presented by the Hellenic-Technical Society (HATS) & the Cathedral Fellowship

SPEAKER:    Maria Ioannidou

Director, Acropolis Restoration Service (YSMA)



This Technical Presentation concerns the restoration of the Acropolis Temples and Monuments

under the scholarly supervision of the Committee for Conservation of the Acropolis Monuments

VENUE 1:

The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity

Cultural Center at 337 East 74th Street, New York, NY 10021

TIME:          Monday, May 9th 2011 at 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Reception to follow

&

VENUE 2:

AIA Center for Architecture

536 LaGuardia Place, New York, NY 10012

TIME:            Friday, May 13, 2011 at 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

For more information: Georgia Kokkinidou, tel. (917) 661-7800;

Email:  gkokkinidou@ThorntonTomasetti.com

 

ATTENTION H-L MEMBERS!

Time to Elect a New BOD of the H-L

We bring to the careful attention of the Hellenic Link Members that soon they will be contacted directly and called to nominate candidates for the Board of Directors and to participate in the election process, which will follow. All members in good standing are eligible to be elected and to vote. It is essential, therefore, for ensuring the renewal of our Association’s leadership, that all members have currently paid their membership dues. There will not be another reminder of this well understood obligation, which is clearly stated in the by-laws of the Association.  For the conduct of the election, the Board will be appointing a three-member Election Committee,* which will contact the membership to provide details of the election and instructions for voting by mail. Let us all do our duty by being ready to serve and/or by helping other members to serve; by so doing, we will express our concern for continuation of  a rigorous pursuit of our Association’s Objectives and consequently for the benefit of all.

* If an H-L member living in the New York area wishes to be on the Election Committee, let us know as soon as possible.

 

 

On-Line Course in Modern Greek Offered Free

In cooperation with the Institute  for Language and Speech Processing (ILSP)/

“Athena” Research  Center, the Hellenic Link, Inc. is offering as a service to the community a series of Greek language lessons on its Web site: http://www.helleniclink.org ( on a 24/7 schedule)

On the home page of the site, upper left corner, click on “Learning Greek”

to be introduced to a series of fifteen lessons of the filoglossia+ courseware.

Please inform anyone who would be interested in learning Greek of this service.

 

 

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



THE HELLENIC LINK, Inc.

A NON PROFIT CULTURAL AND SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION

OF HELLENES AND PHILHELLENES

INCORPORATED IN DELAWARE

Suite No. 278, 38-11 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, New York 11105

Web Site: http://www.helleniclink.org Email: info@helleniclink.org

Contact Telephone : (718) 217- 0430