NEW YORK – The 74th National Convention of the Pan Arcadian Federation of America honored Founder and President of the Demos Pharmaceutical Company Stavros Demos and EMBCA Founder and President Lou Katsos at their gala on November 17.
The event began with two younger members of the “Geros of Morea” Association, Mariangela Kefalas and Eleni Sarafoglou, welcoming the guests in Greek and English, respectively.
Then the baton passed to Pan Arcadian Federation President Andreas Papantoniou who thanked the members who re-elected him to the presidency, while noting that “the Federation will continue to play an important role both in the Greek community living abroad and in the homeland.”
Deputy Regional Governor of Arcadia Evangelos Giannakouras, who attended the entire conference, thanked the Federation and wished everyone “a good reunion in the motherland.”
The Consul General of Greece in New York, Konstantinos Koutras congratulated the organizers as well and the Arcadians of America in general.
“I feel very proud of you because I find that the Greek language, the Greek culture, our Greek Orthodox faith, has a future thanks to you,” he said.
In addition to the two official honorees, the Federation honored the Prime Minister’s Special Advisor on Greeks Abroad, Katerina Panagopoulou, who announced that she will propose to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras the creation of a Registry for all Greeks living abroad.
EMBCA President Lou Katsos received the Panagiotis Sekeris Award. In his acceptance speech, Katsos explained the history of the award’s namesake, noting that Sekeris was a merchant and a leading member of Filiki Eteria.
“I was born in Georgitsi Laconia, but the members of the Katsos family are normally from Arkoudorema. During the Revolution, my ancestors founded a village called Neochori, in the mountains of Arcadia, which my relatives also founded,” Katsos told The National Herald.
Stavros Demos, a leader in the pharmaceutical industry, was particularly moved as he was presented with the Theodoros Kolokotronis Award by the Panarcadian Federation. He spoke with TNH about the honor and his father, who was an immigrant to the United States, before returning to Tripoli to start a family.
“I dedicate this honor to my late father, who was also an immigrant and would love to see his son today. He had come here at age 14 and said he was 20 in order to get in. He stayed in the USA for about 12 years, made a fortune, went to Tripoli, married my mother, and stayed there,” said Mr. Demos.
In his speech, he referred to the sacrifices of the Arcadians in America, as well as the work of the Pan Arcadian Federation, including the Pan Arcadian Hospital.
“The Panarcadian Hospital of Tripoli is your own handiwork and proof of your feelings towards the origins of your home. This is where thousands of patients have been treated and are grateful to you.”
Among those present, Demos’ wife, Dimitra, and his daughter, Stella, both shared their deep appreciation to the Greek community with TNH.
“I am very happy to be here today in this beloved country of America and I am excited that the Arcadian compatriots honor my husband,” said Mrs. Demos, while daughter Stella Demos pointed out that “we all have a special love for this place, we are very proud and it is always in our hearts.”
It is noted that Demos Pharmaceutical Company with strong export activity has four factories and one under construction. The company weathered the crisis without having to downsize or layoff any of the employees. Stavros Demos noted that “there is a mutual relationship of respect with the staff,” but also appreciates that this attitude “stimulated the young people to increase sales, so what the company lost from the domestic crisis, it earned in exports.”
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