THE HELLENIC LINK, Inc.

Member Update- BULLETIN

No. 85, February 2010

The 15^th Annual AFGLC Conference: On Focus, Contemporary Methods to Promote Hellenic Values

The Forum/Conference was held at three different locations on February 19-20, 2010: at the University of South Florida in Tampa (2/19) and on the St. Petersburg Campus and the Spanos-Pappas Center, in Tarpon Springs Florida. The American Foundation for Greek Language and Culture (AFGLC) has been actively and systematically supporting for years the preservation of Hellenic Heritage and Values in the United States of America. Its specific Aims and Objectives are remarkably similar to those of the Hellenic Link, Inc., with main emphasis placed in the support of programs of Greek Language and Culture

at institutions of higher learning. The core of this mission is being achieved by assisting in the establishment of Interdisciplinary Centers of Hellenic Studies (ICHS), which typically operate with

five endowed professorships in Greek Language, Greek History, Greek Philosophy, Byzantine History and Orthodox Religion, and Greek Culture. Several such ICHS are already sustained through the benevolent support of AFGLC, and there are more in a formative stage.

The Title Theme of the Conference 2010 was: “Hellenic Values in a Global Civilization: Engaging the Colleges, Universities and Citizens” There were 58 presentations included in the Program, distributed in

Nine Thematic Units:

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1. Ancient Visions, Modern Issues
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2. Teaching Greek Language and Culture
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3. The AFGLC/IFGLC Agenda: Work in Progress and Plans for the Future
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4. Ancient Visions, Modern Issues (Part II)
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5. The Legacy of the Greek Immigrants: Will it Endure?
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6. Online Learning Programs for Teaching Greek Language and Culture
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7. Longitudinal Teaching of Greek Language and Culture
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8. Sharing the Experience for Teaching and Promoting Greek Language and Culture (3 separate Workshops)
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9. Sharing the Experience for Teaching and Promoting Greek Language and Culture
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(Joint Review Session)

One of the main thrusts-proposals made at the Conference was a bold and ambitious plan

to create T.O.U.C.H. (The Online Union & Center for Hellenism). This plan, as promulgated and articulated by its chief proponents Mr. Constantine Stefanakos (Media/AFGLC Producer, Tampa) and Dr. Ulysses J. Balis (Director of AFGLC Website, Associate Professor of Pathology and Director of Informatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor), would constitute an online center for the learning of the Modern Greek language, global communication and the digital archiving of the Hellenic Culture.

It is envisaged to be an interactive online Union and Center supporting organizations concerned with the spread of Hellenism. It would be so organized as to serve three main functions: GLOSSA, a learning center for the Greek language, useful among others, to Educational Institutions, Greek Language Websites and Greek Tourism; KOINO, a Global Community forum for the discussion and interaction on topics of

Hellenism, ancient and modern, and based on research and current events; POLITISMOS, a repository for the Hellenic Culture, archiving Historical Documents, Greek Art, and genealogies for individuals, patrons to politismos and eminent Greeks globally.

As we announced in the last issue of the Bulletin, the thematic contributions to the Conference by members of the Advisory Council on Hellenic Culture of the Hellenic Link were significant. In the interest of our readers, we present them here briefly, as they were reviewed by the Coordinator of the Council, Dr. Constantine Efthymiou at the concluding Session of the Conference:

In three sessions of the Conference, including one workshop, the Hellenic Link, Inc. had the privilege and the opportunity to bring into focus and discuss several issues, considered pivotal for putting the Greek language and Culture on the road not only to preservation but also to blossom in 21^st Century America.

1) “Aligning Greek Language Teaching with U.S. National Standards ”was the theme presented by Dr. Vasiliki Tsigas-Fotinis. Dr. Fotinis offered the rationale for the need to develop and express principles of teaching/learning Greek, which would enable the inclusion of Greek in the repertory of foreign languages currently taught in American schools. She also dealt with the need to establish criteria for valid training and certification of teachers of Greek. Interestingly for the community of Hellene educators, she came forward with a concrete proposal for a collaborative project to work on the prerequisites as well as for the development of teaching standards applicable to Greek.

An outline of her proposal was circulated among all participants.

2) Appropriately for the Conference Theme, Dr. Nikos Metallinos, who has been working on the subject, talked to us today about “Tools of Longitudinal Student Exposure to Greek Language and Culture.” From the basis of his experience gained at the Hellenic Studies Unit of Concordia University in Montreal, he drew a blue print for upper level graduate studies, which would graduate competent Greek teachers for the Canadian and American schools. With support from the administration of his institution and the Hellenic community of Montreal and beyond, he could plan action for the reversal of the problem of continued decline in Greek school enrollments by introducing curricular improvements to secure an academic preparation of Greek teachers imparting solid knowledge and enhancing teaching leadership potential.

3) In his paper “Hellenic Paideia: College-level Education for High School Students”, Dr. Dean Lomis was preoccupied with the concern how to be able to associate or re-associate Greek American youth to their cultural bearings. For teen age Americans, including Greek-Americans, he envisages a special Greek language and culture college-level curriculum, i.e., while they are still in high school. The relevant program that he proposes embodies two educational elements: one remedial, familiarizing the student with the Greek language, cultural heritage and ethos, while the second, utilitarian with cost-effective educational characteristics , offers advanced placement academic credits to enhance their collegiate studies. To review the suggested structure of the program, curriculum distribution, adjunct faculty status and recruitment, tuition and expense arrangements, academic credit, and advanced college placement considerations, reference is made to the paper itself which will be included in the Proceedings of the Conference to be published hopefully soon. According to Dr. Lomis, success of this program will hinge on the academic institution with a viable Hellenic Studies program, which would provide the focus of leadership and guidance. As such, the USF was recognized and proposed as most appropriate for the implementation of the innovative program.

4) Dr. Constantine Hatzidimitriou in his paper“Modular Teaching of Hellenic Cultural Themes: The Crucial Link between Content and Pedagogy” made an overview of the evolution of Hellenic Studies in the United St ates at the elementary, secondary and higher education levels in both private and public institutions. He observed that the prevailing pattern of teaching has been one of isolation and non-alignment of resources, scholarship and pedagogy between lower and higher education and between the private and public sectors. He further expressed the view that this non-alignment has resulted in a systemic failure to link the content of Hellenic Studies to major themes and subject matter in the American educational mainstream, especially in context of the public elementary and secondary schools. Citing specific examples, he went on to propose that one way to help reverse this marginalization and decline is to institute a modular approach to teaching core subjects of Hellenic Culture, utilizing solid interdisciplinary links between academic specialists and the sectors of elementary and secondary private and public school systems.

Two presentations on methods combining the use of multimedia and language technologies and tools in language learning were contributed to the program by the Institute for Language and Speech Processing (ILPS) and its Affiliate “Athena” Research Center (respectively directed by Professors Basil Mertzios and George Carayannis) in collaboration with the Advisory Council of the Hellenic Link. Dr. Frieda Chralabopoulou of the ILPS meticulously prepared two papers. Unfortunately, she was unable to make the transatlantic trip for the presentation. Standing in her stead was Dr. Maria Hnaraki of Drexel University, who kindly assumed the task. We are indebted to all of them for enriching our Program with resourceful ideas and information as well as handy tools for our cultural tasks. As to the presentations themselves:

The first paper “Employing Technology as a Conduit to Enhance, Promote and Disseminate Less Coimmonly Taught Languages: The Case of Modern Greek” by Drs. Frieda Charalabopoulou and Constantine J, Efthymiou, presented in the context of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL), was on “filoglossia+”, multimedia courseware addressed to adult learners of Modern Greek with little or no previous knowledge of the language. The aim of the paper was to present the basic features of this particular course series, which aspires to increase the visibility of the Greek Language worldwide and also to make it available to Greeks of the Diaspora, wishing to solidify ties to their culture, keep the language of their forefathers alive and thus preserve their Hellenic identity.

In the Workshop, Dr.Frieda Charalabopoulou presented under the title “Educational Software for Greek Language and Culture” four applications addressed to English speaking foreigners who are interested in the Greek language and culture and/or to the Greeks of the Diaspora. The applications, all related to Greek language learning, included (i) filoglossia+(φιλογλωσσία+), a four multimedia CD-ROM series with English language support targeting English-speaking Learners of Modern Greek, (ii) XENION lexicon, a bilingual and bi-directional(Greek-English/English-Greek)dictionary and (iii) Nea Logomatheia (Νέα Λογομάθεια) addressed to Greek students of primary and lower secondary education. Regarding the Greek culture, SAPPHO (ΣΑΠΦΩ), a DVD-ROM series which constitutes a thesaurus of knowledge about the Greek islands, was presented.

Dr. John Anton, Distinguished Professor of Greek Philosophy and Culture, University of South Florida, and leading member of the HL Advisory Council on Hellenic Education, closed the Paper Presentations with a bugle-call address to the plenary session: “Concluding Remarks: The Charge!”

It should be noted that the above contributions represent extensions or follow-up studies of the

Hellenic Education Plan for America (Hellenic Link, Inc., New York 2005).

In future Bulletins and/or the HL Website, we will present in greater detail the proposals made at this AFGLC Conference; anyone interested in obtaining a copy of any of them, please contact us.

. The Three Hierarchs and The Greek Letters: Celebration Observed by the HL

Instead of limiting this Celebration of immense Cultural significance to Hellenism to a Lecture Hall of finite size capacity, the Hellenic Link brought it this year to an infinitely larger cyber space, for spiritual nourishment and edification of members in far flung places and indeed of many more people. Two Lectures by distinguished Speakers were posted on the HL Web Site and thus were made accessible to all:

“The Greek Language Around the World” was the theme presented by Professor Anthony

Kounadis, Member of the Academy of Athens; “Hellenic Paideia and Church Fathers”

was the topic expounded by Father Demetrios J. Constantelos, PhD, D.D.

Moreover, a special message for this Feast Day was addressed to hundreds of Greek Orthodox Communities (as a timely reminder of their proactive role in cultivating the tenets of Christian Hellenic Education, taught by the three celebrated Sage Saints), under the title: “HELLENIC PAIDEIA, CHRISTIAN HELLENIC PAIDEIA and the task of the Greek Orthodox Community in America.” This celebratory message came also from Father Constantelos. It was accompanied by a letter addressed to each Community, written in Greek as well as in English, signed by the President and the Secretary of the Hellenic Link, Inc.:

“Dear Compatriots and Brethren in Faith:

On the occasion of the Celebration of the Day of the Three Hierarchs and of Greek Letters by our Church, our Cultural and Educational Association “The Hellenic Link, Inc.’’ is sending you the text of a profound Lecture given on the subject by the Rev. Dr. Demetrios J. Constantelos, Distinguished Research Scholar, Professor of History and Religious Studies, Emeritus, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.

The Lecture is titled:

“HELLENIC PAIDEIA, CHRISTIAN HELLENIC PAIDEIA

And the task of the Greek Orthodox Community in America”

Because of the vital significance that Paideia (Education), as promulgated in the teachings of the Three Great Hierarchs, has for the future of Greek Orthodoxy and of Hellenism, we ask that you bring the message of this brilliant Lecture to the attention of your members.

We also attach the latest informational Bulletin of our Association, which is dedicated to the cultivation of the Greek spiritual and cultural values and the preservation of our Hellenic Heritage and language. Should you find its content interesting for your membership, we would be glad to have you in our mailing list for future issues. Please let us know if you are interested.

With warmest prayers for a Blessed New Year to characterize your journey throughout its course,”

(Signatures)

And the Greek text:

«Αγαπητοί Έλληνες Συμπατριώτες και Αδελφοί στην Πίστη:

Με την ευκαιρία του Εορτασμού της Ημέρας των Τριών Ιεραρχών και των Ελληνικών Γραμμάτων από την Εκκλησίαν και τον Ελληνισμό, η πολιτισμική Ένωση Επιστημόνων Αμερικής «Ελληνικός Σύνδεσμος» σας αποστέλλει το κείμενο πρισπούδαστης Ομιλίας για το Θέμα αυτό, του Αιδεσ. Δρος Δημητρίου Ι. Κωνσταντέλου, Διακεκριμένου Ερευνητού, Ομοτίμου Καθηγητού Ιστορίας και Θρησκευτικών Σπουδών εις το Κολέγιον Ρίτσαρντ Στόκτον της Πολιτείας Νέας Υερσέης.

Θέμα της Ομιλίας είναι:

« ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΠΑΙΔΕΙΑ, ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΙΚΗ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΠΑΙΔΕΙΑ

και το έργον της Ελληνικής Ορθοδόξου Κοινότητος της Αμερικής»

Λόγω της ζωτικής σημασίας διά το μέλλον της Ελληνικής Ορθοδοξίας και του Ελληνισμού που έχει μία Παιδεία σύμφωνη με τα διδάγματα των τριών Μεγάλων Φωστήρων της Εκκλησίας, όπως με γνώση και σαφήνεια αναλύει στην Ομιλία του ο Πατήρ Κωνσταντέλος, σας προτρέπουμε να μεταφέρετε το μήνυμα της εις τα μέλη της αγαπητής Κοινότητός σας.

Επισυνάπτουμε ακόμη πληροφοριακό Δελτίον του Ελληνικού Συνδέσμου, που είναι αφιερωμένος στην καλλιέργεια των Ελληνικών πνευματικών και πολιτισμικών αξιών και στη διατήρηση της Ελληνικής μας Παράδοσης και Γλώσσας. Εάν πράγματι βρείτε το περιεχόμενο του Δελτίου ενδιαφέρον, θα χαρούμε να σας συμπεριλάβουμε εις τους τακτικούς παραλήπτες του. Παρακαλούμε να μας γνωστοποιήσετε το ενδιαφέρον σας δι’ αυτό.

Με θερμές ευχές διά μίαν ευλογημένη πορεία της Κοινότητός σας εις το Νέον Έτος

Σας χαιρετούμε,»

(Ακολουθούν υπογραφές)

Wellness Outreach in Hellenic Senior Centers Continues Successfully

Continuing with the theme of proactive wellness and healthy ageing, the roving clinicians, Ms Angela Floratos (BSN, RN) and Dr. Andreas Adams, presented a ”double-edged talk to the older adults at the St. Demetrios of Jamaica, NY Senior Center. The topics included health care proxies, nutrition, and the connection between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and diabetes, especially of type 2. The latter speaker, a clinical gerontologist, explained that this type of diabetes seems to afflict older individuals, some of whom may have been diagnosed with AD. This link is especially accentuated in diagnosed persons who carry the ApoE4 gene, considered an inherited risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s.

According to scientific research and related-literature from the NYC Alzheimer’s Association, “nearly 21 million Americans in the USA have diabetes (and)……more than 6 million don’t even know that they have it” Moreover, “ more than five million people have Alzheimer’s in the U.S. And people with diabetes may be at even greater risk of Alzheimer’s.” Equally alarming is the fact that an estimated 54 million US adults have prediabetes, or blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet in the diabetic range.”

While medical science is somewhat unclear about the link, as Dr. Adams stressed, high blood sugar and/or insulin increase(s) the risk od cardiac disease and stroke which damage blood vessels in the brain. This contributes to AD. Insulin can cause disequilibrium in the brain, which can trigger AD. High blood sugar causes inflammation which damages brain cells, and hastens the development of AD. And there appears to be a definite connection between obesity, diabetes, and possible AD.

Ms. Floratos and Dr. Adams, cited several modes for lowering the risks of these diseases.

Good nutrition and physical/cerebral exercises were emphasized. The former also highlighted the relationship between salt intake and fluid retention, other advantages and benefits of a low-salt diet, possible causes of urinary tract infections (UTI) in older adults, and its prevention and treatment. On a one-to-one basis, RN Floratos explained the importance/need for health care proxies, She assisted some of the older individuals in filling out these proxies, bilingually. She distributed such proxy forms to the others so the latter could discuss them with their family members. She concluded with a summation, in Greek and English, on the instructions of filling out these forms.

Dr. Adams is a recent recipient of the Donald W. Reynold mini-fellowship at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine (2010). This fellowship will enhance his clinical expertise so he can continue to provide clinical/educational services to his patient-clients, and their caregivers at BADAC * of the SUNY Downstate Medical Center, and to older Greeks/American-Hellenes in New York City and the surrounding communities.

by Andreas Adams, Ed. D., MSW and Angela Floratos, RN