LOOKING FORWARD

Dear Parishioners,
 
Let us all look forward to 2012.
 
We should ask our parishioners to request a Special General Assembly to be held on January 15, 2012, at 2:00 o’clock p.m., at the Holy Trinity Campus.
 
There are a few things that we must address.  The Agenda for this Special General Assembly must only involve administrative matters.  The Agenda should include:
 
1.  Free and unimpeded attendance by all who are willing to attend and express an opinion about our need to move forward.  We do not need artificial encumbrances (nor Police Officers) to deny any one of us access to our meetings and our buildings.  Everyone should be allowed to attend, express his/her opinion, and vote.
 
2.  Free and unimpeded elections for 15 parish council members.  8 to be nominated for a two year term, and 7 to be nominated for an one year term.  We do not need arbitrary, ambiguous, and capricious standards for eligibility to become a candidate for the parish council.
 
3.  We need to prepare a preliminary budget to be approved by the Special General Assembly for calendar year 2012.
 
4.  We need to authorize an elections committee to conduct elections.  (I believe the Elections Committee having guarded the election process, and having conducted an unbiased election process should be nominated to act again).
 
5.  We need to authorize an audit committee to empower it to examine the Parish’s financial condition without any restraints, or constraints, or conditions.  (The Audit Committee which reported to the General Assembly in June 10, 2010, is again appropriate for that task.)
 
6.  We need to adopt a widely accepted and viable stewardship program for the benefit of our entire Parish.
 
7.  We need to involve our youth in a substantive and meaningful way in the affairs of our Parish.
 
8.  We must safeguard the approximately $1.2 million from the vagaries of the parish council, and make sure that control FIRMLY remains with the General Assembly.
 
We must put an end to name calling and synergistically strive for unity and the elimination of the strife and turmoil.
 
We have lost a lot of time.  We must do double time to make some gains during 2012 and many more in subsequent years.  We must be and act united in our efforts to ensure the survival of Orthodoxy in the years to come.
 
These are some of my thoughts.  Please free to add or subtract the suggestions.
 
This week we must circulate a Petition for a General Assembly with the proposed Agenda.  We must collect the required 10% signatures, and united should do God’s work.
 
THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY.  WE ARE PROUD OF IT.  Let us make sure that we return it to its former glory.
 
Best regards,
 
Nick 
 
Nick J. Colessides
E-mail: nick@nickjcolessides.com