SAE U.S.A - World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE)

Introduction

Press Office

Press Releases

1st RCC Meeting-SAE USA

Friday, 20 April 2007

The foundations for the operation of SAE America under the new law 3480/2006 set forth by the Greek State, were set during the first RCC meeting that took place on April 13th to the 14th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in New York.
President Spyropoulos reported that he is working on a draft version of the Bylaws under which the RCC of SAE USA Region will operate, modeled after some of the other Regionsʼ Bylaws and informed the attendees that he will send it to the members as soon as it is complete. H

e announced that he has registered the organization as a 501 ( c ) 3 and obtained a Federal Tax ID number.
Mr Spyropoulos stated that in the near future SAE USA Region will obtain a new headquarters facility in Chicago. Also, a new website for SAE USA is in the process of being developed.
During the meeting several issues of great importance to Hellenism were discussed.
Voting in the Greek National Elections.
It was made clear that the right to vote in the National Elections for all Greek Citizens is “a given”. Those who are eligible and wish to exercise their voting right, regardless of their place of residence, may do so.
After extensive discussion, the RCC unanimously voted to authorize President Spyropoulos to convey the following message to the Greek Government:
1) Greek-Americans propose the election of their own representative(s) from the USA Region to represent them in the Greek Parliament.
2) Greek-Americans support the absentee vote.
President Spyropoulos was authorized to negotiate the details within the parameters mentioned above.
Regional Representation
All members acknowledged and agreed on to the fact that the current membership list of SAE USA Region representatives needs to be revised and updated.
The council members stressed that the main objective is to achieve the most effective representation for a strong S.A.E. USA Region. For this reason, a set of qualification criteria will be developed.
The members of the RCC will make every effort to encourage the establishment of additional Federations -based on criteria of locality as well as their thematic categories- in order to minimize individual organization membership and emphasize representation in the Federations. Additionally, it was pointed out that certain organizations of strategic importance should continue to be represented individually.

After the primary examination of the SAE membership list provided by the General Secretariat of Greeks Abroad it is evident that certain “phantom” organizations should be eliminated. However, it was requested (since middle March) by all organizations currently on the list, to update their data information, so as to be appropriately documented and be assigned the appropriate number of representatives.

Financial Independence of SAE

The RCC unanimously agreed that SAE USA Region should seek financial independence so as to avoid its dependence (and subservient to) on the Greek State funds. Discussion on the matter will continue in future meetings.

The issues of youth participation and the Hellenic Paideia were discussed extensively. All members agreed that in order for young adults to participate in SAE affairs, they should be provided with the appropriate incentives.

Free trips to Greece, the youth camps, and parties, do not offer the desired results, as they have a short-term effect. As it was stressed, SAE should introduce a new tactic to approach the youth, taking under consideration its needs and aspirations.

Members Galanakis and Economides volunteered to work with Gus Karalekas and make the appropriate recommendations.

Regarding the issue of the Hellenic Paideia, all participants agreed that this is a matter where SAEʼs responsible leadership is in need to bring positive results. As it was said, this is an issue where SAE CAN make a difference. However, it was pointed out that due to the complexity of the matter, SAE should carefully formulate its strategy.
The members of RCC will continue to work on this subject as one of their targeted areas.
The need for close cooperation and better coordination of all forces of Hellenism in order to promote our National Issues to the USA Government was also stressed during the proceedings of the first RCC meeting. The council members emphasized on the issue of respect to the Religious Freedom, currently violated by Turkey, as is the case with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Halki Patriarchal School of Theology.
Other issues discussed were : the support of the Hellenic Studies programs, the project of recording the Hellenes in USA, the businesses owned by Greek Americans, and Academicians of Greek origin in USA, as well as the institution of “Elliniada”, the program “Plant Your Roots in Greece”, and the support to the international campaign for the Restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures. Discussion on the above mentioned issues will continue in future meetings of the RCC.
SAE, USA Region, will also coordinate efforts so that Greece can be admitted to the Visa Waiver program, as the country has met all the criteria for participation.
The objective of the first meeting of RCC SAE USA Region was for the members to get acquainted with each other and with each otherʼs views on some of the important subjects so to better facilitate cooperation and communication among them.
The next meeting is expected to take place in June, most likely at the new SAE headquarters in Chicago.
On Friday afternoon (4/13/07) the RCC welcomed the members of the Special Standing Committee on Greeks Abroad of the Hellenic Parliamentʼs Chairman Evgenios Haitidis (ND), first Vice Chairman Grigoris Niotis (PASOK), and member Dimitrios Tsiogas (KKE). The MPs offered a personal greeting, expressing their support to SAE and emphasizing their commitment to cooperate with SAE USA Region.
President Spyropoulos informed them on the issues discussed during the meeting.
The MPs had the opportunity to exchange views on the Voting Right of Greeks Abroad with the members of the council. Their views seemed to be closer to the proposed preliminary law, but they stated that they understand the position expressed by the Greek-American community on the absentee ballot and the representation by our own elected representatives.
They plighted to consider those positions and convey them to the entire committee.
On Saturday, 4/14/07, the members of the RCC welcomed Mr. Manolis Velivasakis, President of the Hellenic American National Council. President Spyropoulos updated him on the topics brought forth for discussion. The two officials had the opportunity to exchange information on matters of mutual interests.