Philoptochos
Chapter Update
Next Meeting, Sunday, May 19. This is our last meeting before summer and we are having elections so please try and be in attendance.
It is not too late to join Philoptochos! We INVITE you to EMBRACE membership in the Philoptochos Society and become INVOLVED in one of the most worthy organizations in the world! Please see Barbara Vittas for membership forms or you can use the one at the bottom of this page by changing the year on the form. We would love to have new people, ideas, experiences, and skill sets be a part of this most important organization of our church.
Our Outreach committee is always ready to serve. If you need somone to come visit someone home bound or in need, please contact Fr. Vasile or Chairperson Rena Poletes for arrangements.
We still have a healthy stock of the DVD Angels and Autism so if you know of anyone who would benefit from it, please see Joanie Ruppel or the bookstore to purchase a copy for only $10. This is a timeless video and aimed to help those create understanding and tolerance for those with special disabilities with a subject geared to autism.
The "Shoes for Orphan Souls" project is ongoing. If you are able, please purchase a pair of new tennis shoes for donation. One of our families chose to have birthday party guests bring shoes for this project instead of toys - a fantastic idea! Please put your donation in the clear plastic tub or if you are brave enough to seek out the actual collection box, that would be great too.
Cookbooks are available to purchase for $15. The cookbook was made from parishioners recipies and makes an excellent gift!
Please see our planned events for the next few weeks and sign up to help wherever your time and talent fit in.
PLANNED EVENTS 2013:
May 19 - Meeting with Elections
June 2 - Scholarship Presentation
COMPLETED EVENTS/PROJECTS 2013:
Jan 13 - Vasilopita auction, all proceeds sent to St. Basil's Academy. Thank you to Toni, Angela & Georgia who headed up the baking crew and a big thanks to our young adult, Philip Sullivan, who conducted the auction!
Feb. 10 - Valentines Luncheon fundraiser with dessert auction - Thank you Bertha for chairing, Rena & Margaret for your talents. And thank you to all who brought desserts to be auctioned!
March 3 - Membership Tea with guests National Board Member Martha Stephanidakis, Metropolis of Denver President Marian Catechis, and National Board Member Helen Carnegis from Dallas. Thank you Barbara for opening your home to us for this special gathering. Ladies, please turn in your membership forms and stewardship pledge by April 28.
Lenten Soup Supper #1 - Thank you!
Lenten Soup Supper #2 - Double Thanks!
April 6 - The Couples Retreat was a huge success. We had 13 couples participating and interacting with Father David Eckley and Presbytera Vasiliki's presentation. A big thank you to Bertha Gianulis for spearheading this idea and seeing it come to fruition. We hope to hold these retreats on a bi-annual basis changing the curriculum each time.
Lenten Soup Supper #3 - Triple Thanks to Kathy Fox - we collected and forwarded to Holy Cross Hellenic College, the most we have ever sent!
Saturday, April 27 - Meeting and Baking Day
April 28 - Stewardship Pledges Turned In
May 2 - Dying of red eggs by volunteers - Thank You to Pat, Toni, Harriet & Toni H.
May 3 - Decorate Epitaphio
May 4/5 - Anastasi Reception - Thank you to Leo, Theresa A, Gail & Cecilia!
May 12 - Mother's Day Artoclasia and Memorial - Thank you to Athena, Marie, Voula & Khanh
You know what I see? I see 11 - that's eleven - different people involved in the last three events we hosted. There were also several people other than these eleven who helped decorate the Kouvouklion and helped with the bake sale. I love it when we all lend a hand!
COMPLETED EVENTS/PROJECTS 2012:
January - Vasilopita auction, all proceeds sent to St. Basil's Academy. Metropolitan Isaiah was among us and cut the bread. Thank you to Toni N., Angela C., & Georgia P., who headed up the baking crew. Also thanks to George Vittas for acting as auctioneer!
February 12 - Once again our parish hall was transformed into a thing of beauty to celebrate the secular holiday of Valentines Day. A gourmet meal was served and a delicious dessert raffle enjoyed by all who attended. Thank you Bertha for chairing this event, to her family who helped cooked and to Leo Alexander for his delicious salad and general help.
February 26 - Membership Tea was held at the home of Barbara Vittas. Thank you Barbara for chairing the Stewardship committee.
March 2/16/30 - Lenten Soup Suppers ~7:00pm after Heretismoi service
March 25 - Coordinating of the parish Pan-Hellenic Vespers - thank you Alexanders & Geils
March 25, April 1, & April 8 - Collection for Easter Flowers
April 5 - Dying of Easter Eggs - thank you Toni and crew
April 6 - Dressing of the Kouvouklion - thank you Barbara and crew
April 7 - Easter Baking Day - thank you Toni & Angela and crew
April 8 - Delivery of Easter Bake Sale orders
April 15 - Anastasi reception - thank you Alexanders
May 5 - Festival of Tables - thank you Bertha & Allison
May 6 - Artoclasia for St. Irene's Name Day - thank you Toni Nicholas for baking!
July 16 - Presentation of $2000 grant to the Child Study Center in Ft. Worth
Sept 1 - Executive Board Meeting
Oct 12-14 - Successful Festival! Lots of cookbooks sold!
Nov 2-3 - Garage Sale profit just under $1500. Capital Campaign pledge payment made.
Nov. 4 - Tray collection for Patron Saints of Philotochos, Sts. Cosmas and Damianos
Nov 9-11 - 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Denver Metropolis Center, Denver, CO. Barb & Bert attended.
Nov 11 - Godparents Sunday gift card collection for Hurricane Sandy victims. Cards sent directly to Staten Island Orthodox Churches with parishioners in need. Over $150 was collected and sent. Another $150 was collected and given to the church benevolent fund.
Dec. 15 - Bake Sale Baking and Meeting. Thank you Toni & Angie for chairing this event!
Dec. 16 - Adopt-A-Family gift deadline. Thank you Linda P. for chairing this project!
See 2009 Walk-a-Thon pictures here
Philoptochos Officers and Board for 2011-2013
President - Joanie Ruppel
Vice President - Barbara Vittas
Secretary - Rena Poletes
Treasurer - Angela Cline
Advisor - Bertha Gianulis
Pat Ballas - Board Member
Margaret Chokas - Board Member
Toni Nicholas - Board Member
Athena Pachares - Board Member
Connie Rafailedes - Board Member
Karen Steffaro - Board Member
Forms available on this website:
- Philoptochos 2012-2013 Calendar
- Angels and Autism DVD Order Form
- Philoptochos Pledge Form
- Philoptochos Stewardship Letter
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About The National Philoptochos Society
The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, the official philanthropic organization of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, was established in November 1931, by the late Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I, who was then serving as Archbishop of North and South America.
The members of the National Board of Philoptochos are dedicated church women who offer countless hours to the philanthropic, humanitarian, and Christian mission of the Church. There are 485 Philoptochos chapters in the United States filled with 27,500 members.
The structure of the Philoptochos includes the National Board, Metropolitan Boards, and Chapters in every parish of the Archdiocese.
St. John's Philoptochos was instituted in 1981 and is active with charity work, bake sales, a Festival of Tables every other year, and various projects within the community. It is with elation we have celebrated the 80th anniversary of the beginning of National Philoptochos in 2011.
OUR MISSION: To aid the poor, the destitute, the hungry, the aged, the sick, the unemployed, the orphaned, the imprisoned, the widowed, the disabled, the victim's of disasters, to undertake the burial of impoverished persons and to offer assistance to anyone who may need the help of the church through fundraising efforts.