LET THE DIVIDERS STOP, AND THE UNITERS START!

As we look forward to the first free and fair elections in this community in nearly three years:

• let us remember who was strong in their support for this community's unity and progress; 
• let us support those who stood, and who will stand, for this community's healing; 
• let us cast our votes for stewards who squarely defended, and continue to defend, the legacy of our wise and visionary Greek Orthodox ancestors. 

Let us further encourage that when voting we consider candidates:

• who did not previously participate in, or seek to justify, unbalanced, one-sided, non-elected councils that represented only a very small minority; 
• who did not stand by and watch faithful stewards castigated, and unethical behavior condoned, and offered excuses such as, "well, the bishop or the priest wants it this way"; 
• who did not allow, or who thwarted, audits mandated by both the UPRs and civil law in order to ensure proper and transparent governance; 
• and, who were not engaged these past years in stifling stewards from participating in their own community's governance. 

Several people who served on, or who condoned, these unelected, unrepresentative, appointive councils are running again, claiming NOW to be FOR UNITY! These same people served, contrary to the UPRs, as unelected "leaders" for far too long.

It is now time for others - for people of good will, for people who are fair - to serve on the Parish Council in this community. It is well past time that other stewards are given the opportunity to humbly, honestly and ethically serve this community. We should look for leaders who will work with each other - even though they might disagree at times.


We should also look for leaders, who, while being respectful to the clergy, will seek and assert a more balanced role for the laity. This is a problem which, sadly, has persisted here, and in other Greek Orthodox communities in this country, for far too long.


Be sure when you cast your ballot that you have marked AT LEAST 8, AND NO MORE THAN 15 CANDIDATES. After marking your choices, carefully COUNT the number of "X"s you have placed on the ballot and make sure you have no fewer than 8, no more than 15. Otherwise the ballot will be declared invalid. 


Also, please make sure you vote on May 20th, or, if you cannot be present, please make sure to get an absentee ballot and cast your vote by calling: (H.T 801-328-9681 P.E 801-277-2693) 


EVERY VOTE IS IMPORTANT! (See unofficial ballot)


Note: for our Greek speakers/readers, this article is also translated in Greek. See the previous article.