Chios Societies of the Americas and Canada, Inc.
The Chios Societies of America & Canada was
organized in December 1939, with a Supreme Lodge opening in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania in January of the following year. The fourteen chapters of
the federation were located in Pittsburgh (“Agia Markella"), Aliquippa
(“Agia Markella"), Monessen (“Omonoia"), McKeesport (“Proodos"),
Bethlehem (“Agia Markella"), New York City (Panchiaki “Koraes" Society),
Cleveland ("Chios"), Warren ("Agia Markella”), Steubenville (“Omeros"),
Campbell (“Agios Nicolaos"), Yorkville ("Chios”), Gary Indiana ("Kanaris"),
Detroit, Michigan ("Agia Markella") and Baltimore, Maryland, (“Andreas
Sygros"). Andrew Potous served as First Supreme President and Gust
Mesologites as First Supreme Vice-President. The first national
gathering was held May 22, 1939 at the Mayfair Hotel in Pittsburgh but
it was not until November of that year that a dance was offered for
conventioneers in Steubenville, Ohio.
The United Chios Societies of America
consists of chapters in New York (21), Baltimore (2) and Cleveland,
Warren, Steubenville, Philadelphia, with representative chapters in
Chicago and New Orleans coming into the federation in 1985, and
California in 2005. There are also prospective chapters in Montreal,
where a major social gathering occurred in 1977, and in Toronto, Canada.
Throughout their 65 years the Chian conventions have reflected social,
political and cultural attitudes reflective of their times.
The first two conventions embrace a
pristine period, conventioneers having survived the rigors of The Great
Depression. The Second World War shrouded conventioneers in despair over
news concerning battles in the European and Pacific theatres, and war
rationing and homage to the War's casualties caused the suspension of
conventions in 1944 and 1945. The 1946 Cleveland convention was held,
like the celebrated Baltimore convention the following year, in the
glowing aftermath of Allied Forces triumph. Financially leaner years
forced conventions to become biennial events as of 1953, a tradition
which continued until the Warren convention in 1963, when it was decided
that conventions should resume an annual course. The turbulence of the
middle sixties and early seventies, with tragedies following in
succession from the time of President Kennedy's assassination in
November of 1963, through the sad close of the Vietnam War in January
1973, also had a profound effect on Chian national gatherings.
The first UCSA convention on Chian soil was
held in 1969, at the island's Xenia Hotel, with delegate meetings at the
Korais Library; Attorney Christ Stratakis served as the general
chairman. UCSA conventioneers returned to Chios in 1972 and 1978, the
latter event held at the newly constructed Chandris Hotel.
In 1984, at the 31st National Convention, a
new surge of interest and activity prompted the resumption of annual
conventions.
At the same convention the UCSA name was
changed into the present name of Chios Societies of America and Canada
(CSA&C). Even though the name has changed we still refer to the
societies as the UCSA. In 1991, with the initiative of the Chian
Federation, the concept of the International Convention was born.
The CSA&C has had 65 years of history
filled with the worthy accomplishments of its Chapters and our island.
Over and above the gifts to Chios, the most significant
accomplishment has been the preservation of our heritage and identity.
This organization has made us proud of the fact we are Chians and will
always continue to do so.
Accomplishment
timeline of the CSA&C from the last 20 years:
·
In 1985,
the Supreme Lodge of the CSA&C received the request and guaranteed the
cost of the repairs of the Mihalion Orphanage in Chios, to become the
Main building of the University of the Aegean.
·
In 1986,
the CSA&C assisted with the procurement of the computers for a full
classroom in the University of the Aegean and named it the “DR. JAMES
KELLIS ROOM” (with the assistance of our compatriot the late Dr. George
Livanos).
·
In 1988,
the CSA&C assisted with the procurement of a Microfiche (electronic
machine) for the Korais Library, which was installed the same year.
·
Also in
1988, with the donation of $6,000.00 from Mr. Nikolas K. Marinakis, Mr.
Dimitrios M. Bouboulis, Mr. Stefanos M. Bouboulis, and Mr. Markos K.
Marinakis (all who were members of the Supreme Lodge), the CSA&C
procured the first computers for the offices of the Prefecture of Chios.
·
In 1991,
at the 1st International Chian Convention in Chios, the Greek
Government honored US Army General Vassilios (William) Gus Pagonis, a
Persian Gulf War Veteran. Also during that convention, the Chian
Federation of New York gave the Homeric Award to the President of
Greece, the late Constantine Karamanlis and to Chian Philanthropist
Stamatia Michael Xylas.
·
In 1992,
state of the art instruments (laser) were procured and installed at the
ophthalmologic clinic of the Skilitsion Hospital of Chios.
·
In 1995,
at the 2nd International Convention in Chios, all Chians around the
world were called on to participate. Chians from Australia, Egypt, the
USA, Canada, Holland, England, Athens, Piraeus, Rhodes, Syros, and
Thessaloniki, for the first time ever, attended and exchanged views on
how to help Chios. Two specialists were commissioned to carry out a
study of the Skylitsion Hospital to address its needs and priorities.
Fundraising commenced throughout North America for Catscan, Mammogram,
and Sonogram equipment. The CSA&C organized the procurement of the
equipment, which were installed at the hospital, to everyone’s
satisfaction and relief for the accomplishment.
·
In 2003,
at the 4th International Convention in Chios, a motion was
carried and approved unanimously to raise $50000.00 in order to
contribute for further improvement of the Cardiology Clinic of the
Skylitsion Hospital. The CSA&C also committed to annually provide
financial support to maintain the office hours of the Enosis Omogenon
Chios Society. The office assists Chians abroad with information and
support to help manage their Greek affairs.
·
In 2004,
the first $10,300 for the Cardiology Clinic was donated to the CSA&C, by
the Association of Kambiousion Chios of America (the net proceeds from
the 50th National Chian Convention), and presented to the
administrator of the hospital, in Chios, for the procurement of
Esophageal cardio-diagnostic equipment. The Panchiakon Society of
Chicago, “Pelineon,” followed the example and pledged their net proceeds
of the 51st National Chian Convention for the Cardiology
Clinic, as well. The CSA&C completed the remaining commitment to the
hospital in the summer of 2006.
·
In 2005,
during the 51st National Chian Convention, the first
“Dimitrios Bouboulis Memorial Scholarship Awards” totaling $4000.00 were
awarded to six recipients of Chian descent for their college education.
The CSA&C is gearing up to increase the amount of scholarship
fundraising to award additional recipients during future conventions.
More
recent conventions have tended to have in their gatherings the
enthusiasm of the pristine period, reaffirming the Chian ethos, but
utilizing to the maximum the technological innovations and amenities at
their disposal. The result has been some very professionally managed
social functions of late. Two of the very finest conventions were those
held in Philadelphia in 1965, where at least a thousand persons gathered
for an opulent dinner, and the first held in Chios in 1969, over which
the then Supreme President Gus Glyptis presided. All general Chairmen
have performed admirably.
In 2006,
the 52nd National Chian Convention was hosted by the newest
chapter of the CSA&C, the Chian Society of California. For the first
time in their history, the Chians of North America had finally
accomplished the goal of becoming organized and united from coast to
coast.
John
E. Frangos
Past
President
The current member
societies of the organization are:
Chian Association of
Canada - Montreal, Canada
The Chian Federation
of New York
Chian Society of
California
Chios Homer
Association - Boston, Massachusetts
Chios Society of Agia
Markella – Florida
Chios Society Agia
Markella - Warren, Ohio
Chios Society Chapter
#7 - Cleveland, Ohio
Chios Society of
Dallas, Texas
Chios Society of New
Jersey (Pending)
Chios Society of
Pittsburgh
Dafnonas Chios Society
- New York, New York
Homer Association of
Toronto - Toronto, Canada
Panchiakon Society of
Pelineon - Chicago, Illinois
Panchiaki Korais
Society Chapter #1 - New York
Society Koraes Chapter
#16 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Order of St.
Markella of Chios - New Orleans, Louisiana
Tholopotamousion
Association - Montreal, Canada
Thymiana Chios Society
- New York, New York
United Chios Society &
The Ladies Panchian Society “Chios” - Baltimore, Maryland
United Chios Society
Homer Chapter #4 - Steubenville, Ohio and Weirton, West Virginia
Contact Information
We can be reached
at:
- Telephone:
- 201-960-9260,
Supreme President, Dimitrios B. Kontolios
-
- Postal
address:
- 912 Linden Ave.
Ridgefield, NJ 07657
-
-
- Electronic
mail:
- General Information: mailto: chiossocieties @ aol.com
Webmaster: mailto: jimik3567 @ aol.com
-
-
