Dear Sisters and Brothers,
I hope this message finds you and your family well. While this past year had been difficult for us to stay connected through chapter events and gatherings, I’m hopeful that with the recent distribution of vaccines we will soon turn the tide in this pandemic. As we start 2021, it is more important than ever that we begin to establish a framework for how we can support each other and our great organization in the new year.
The Supreme Lodge, Foundation, and Chapter officers are working diligently to develop outreach and engagement initiatives, with hopes of establishing new found momentum and reestablishing our base. In my message today, I’d like to share with you some details on upcoming events and initiatives set for the coming months.
Youth Leadership Zoom Event
In an effort to keep our youth members connected throughout the year, virtual meetings have been established to keep our future leaders engaged. Our hope is that these meetings will help establish a continual dialogue, create lasting friendships, and set goals for the future.
The next youth leadership meeting will be held via Zoom on Saturday February 6th at 1pm est. I encourage all youth members to attend. For more information and details on how to participate in Saturday’s meeting, please contact our Youth Governor Yianni Fragos at johnfragos73@gmail.com or myself directly.
Chapter President Zoom Event
The role of a chapter officer is a key component in the success of a chapter and the Brotherhood as a whole. The Supreme Lodge depends on chapter officers to not only keep a chapter unified and engaged, but communicate directly with the lodge.
Recently, the Supreme Lodge has notified chapter presidents of an interactive Zoom event, for lodge members and chapter presidents. This initial meeting will be used to communicate plans for the future and strategies to ensure we rebound quickly from the pandemic setbacks. I hope that all chapter presidents are able to participate in this event.
Art and Culture Committee
From my time serving on the Supreme Lodge, I’ve learned a great deal about the members of our organization and the many talents/interests they possess. I have very fond memories of members proudly reciting poems from their time in Ikaria, displaying landscape paintings from their experiences on our beautiful island, and the singing of songs which they wrote with great passion. Painters, poets, musicians, photographers, graphic designers…and the list goes on.
It is no secret that within our ranks we have a great number of talented individuals who gather their inspiration from our common heritage and culture. Therefore, the Brotherhood has established an “Art and Culture” committee, which will work to bring those who are interested in our art and culture together to celebrate our strong Ikarian heritage but also showcase the many talents of our members. While still in the infancy phase, we have high hopes for this committee and feel as though it will be a valuable addition to our organization.
Supreme Lodge Meetings
Traveling to meet and interact with chapters has always been my favorite aspect of serving on the Supreme Lodge. Unfortunately, over the past year our ability to travel has been impacted dramatically. While I’m hopeful for the future, the Lodge would like to begin holding brief virtual meetings with chapters in order to stay connected and share ideas and visions for the future. Our District Governors will begin reaching out to individual chapters shortly, in hopes of selecting dates/times, so I encourage chapter officers to discuss this effort among their members.
In closing, the success of the Brotherhood rests in the hands and hearts of its members. We must continue to support each other, and keep the Pan-Icarian Brotherhood of America “Icaros” in our daily lives. How we rebound from the setbacks of the pandemic will come to define us and determine our role in the future.
Thank you for your strong support and dedication to the Pan-Icarian Brotherhood of America “Icaros”!
Fraternally Yours,
Damianos T. Skaros
Supreme President
Pan-Icarian Brotherhood of America “Icaros”
