38th P.A.A. Convention Recommendations
From: Matt N. Stavrakakis, Chair
14 Shenandoah Street
Kenner LA, 70065-1025
e-mail : kingminoas1@cox.net
Dear Committee Chairman Mr. Gregory Vlamakis, Chapter president Mr. Brilakis, president
of Ladies Chapter Amalthea Mrs. Mary Papadakis, president of chapter Faragi of Samaria,
Mrs. Thomaitsa Mantis, members of the executive council, all the members of the
convention committee and fellow Cretans. I would like to share with you the comments
that I received from my inquiry published on the July-August “KRHTH” magazine calling
for you suggestions for the 38th Cretan convention to be held in Chicago, Illinois
June 28 to July 5, 2003.
Following are the suggestions gathered from that inquiry that need to be addressed:
HOTEL: The hotel for the convention must be centrally located and should have a
shuttle bus to and from the regional airport. If possible close to other business
places such as food, shopping, etc. All Convention activities should be planned
within the hotel, except the picnic and church services, not only for the safety
but the convenience of the attendants.
PRICE: It is very important to try to negotiate the lowest possible price with the
hotel in order to have more participants. With advance reservations I believe that
we can find a hotel room a group rate for $79 dollars per night.
YOUTH: We must be more sensitive to the price that we charge the youth because the
purpose of all conventions is to pass on our culture, our heritage, and to meet
one an other in order to keep the Cretan culture alive. If the youth is unable to
attend, I believe we are missing the point of having conventions. We need to have
a special admission for the youth, and we should consider to have admission of $15.00
dollars after 10 p.m. for the dance only and tickets to be sold with the packages
so people will preplan.
SPEAKERS: We must try to limit all speakers to three to five (3-5) minutes in order
to have everyone’s attention. I believe that the youth should start performing with
the ethnic dances no later than 10 P.M.
DIGNITARIES: In order to cut expenses maybe we need to limit some unnecessary guest
or dignitaries to a minimum and invest the money on our youth.
SECURITY: We need to have 24 hour uniformed police security on duty. It is a shame
that few young individuals drink beyond their limits and they become uncontrollable
by starting fights, destroy hotel property, turn the fire alarms 2-3 a.m. etc. Ladies
and gentleman this must be stopped. We have made a bad name for ourselves at various
hotels throughout the U.S.A. and we must find an effective solution to stop this
reputation. Maybe we need some volunteers to assist the security indirectly so we
wont create hard feeling. Many people come to the convention from all over the country
spending thousands of dollars, to meet old friends and make new ones, to introduce
there families, and above all to feel once more “KRHTANS” in this foreign land of
ours, to feel the Cretan hospitality, the love and traditions and yet they leave
disappointed and they are not coming back. We must try harder to improve participation.
DAY TOURS: Special activities must be planned very carefully in order to give time
to the participants to be on time for the night events, and not to run from one
activity to the other.
MEETINGS: It was brought to my attention that lot of delegates signed up in the
morning that they are attending the meeting and shortly after leave the meeting
room. This is not right and we must make it mandatory that the person who carries
votes must attend all meetings in order to be well informed of all the business
and what he is voting for. We should strive to limit our business meetings from
9 a.m. sharp to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. only with 15 minutes brake in between sessions
as time permits. It has been suggested that more attention should be in the scheduling
of the various committees to avoid conflict.
VOTING PROCEDURES: Voting procedures must be improved in order to protect the sanctity
of a secret ballot.
My fellow Cretans, I believe that if we take under consideration the above recommendations
we will have a smoother running convention, which will make it pleasant and enjoyable
for all the participants.
Fraternally,
Mattheos N. Stavrakakis
Advisory Committee Chair
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