A MEMBER OF THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT

Moderators' Note:  In the recent letter we received from the Metropolitan prior to his ratification of 13 of 15 elected parish council members, some controversy has arisen. The Metropolitan was obviously informed as to highly specific stewardship issues with some of the newly elected members. It was - erroneously - assumed that the Election Committee had informed the Metropolitan of the "stewardship problems". 

Mr. Dean Dinas, member of the Election Committee, has asked that we post the following comments he would like to make regarding the subject.


I summarize below the process as it occurred during this Parish Council Election:

a) The Metropolis of Denver recognized our vetting process as meeting their [temporarily relaxed] standard for Parish Council candidates this time, and the clergy+Holy Trinity Cathedral Administrator solely reviewed Stewardship records. 

b) After they were satisfied the candidates met the Metropolis' standard, they sent [just] the summary to the Metropolis; the Election Commitee never had access to Stewardship records, and, per UPRs, accepted the vetting process, and this level of detail was never shared with the Metropolis of Denver. 

c) The Election Committee and office of the GOCSLC which sent the summary of this vetting process had no other contact with the Metropolis of Denver between the time they sent the vetted list to the Metropolis and after the Elections. 

d) At no time during this process did the detailed Stewardship records of the Parish Council candidates leave the control of the Holy Trinity Cathedral church office or the clergy who vetted the candidates to run. There was no reason for any database containing these records to be accessed or shared, other than for the purposes of LOCAL church office analysis in the vetting of the candidates.

As a member of the GOCSLC Election Committee, I can confirm the above, since I was in continuing contact with the Holy Trinity Cathedral Administrator to ensure we were all in compliance with the Metropolis of Denver standards, and the UPRs as they applied to the Election Committee.

- Dean C. Dinas

ΠΑΝΤΑ ΑΧΙΟΙ !!!

Dear Parishioners,

Your newly elected parish council completed the oath of office yesterday and will begin fulfilling our commitment to you effective immediately. We have met and elected officers. They are as follows:

• President - Dimitrios Tsagaris 

• 1st Vice President – Dr. Philip Kithas 
• 2nd Vice President – Dr. Demetrios (Tykie) Skedros 
 
• Treasurer - Gus Colessides 

• Assistant Treasurer - Chris Sakellariou 
 
• Secretary - Alicia Kastanis Mares 
 
• Corresponding Secretary – Dr. Maria Oneida-Hardwick 

Our goal is to unite the community and return it to the vibrant Greek Orthodox Church and community it once was. We have a lot of work ahead of us and we are confident that each of you will help us in any way you see fit. We will communicate with you and keep you informed on ALL community issues as soon as we engage in the transition process and have a better understanding of the current status. We thank you for giving us the opportunity to be of service.

Your Parish Council,

George Adondakis - Gus Colessides - Steve Gamvroulas - Dr. Maria Oneida Hardwick - Dr. Phillip Kithas - Alicia Kastanis Mares - Thomas Peters - Chris Sakellariou - Sakis Sakellariou* - Pete Saltas - Pete Sefakis - Dr. Demetrios (Tykie) Skedros - Dimitrios Tsagaris

• One of the top priorities of the new board is to have the remaining elected board members, Mr.Nick Bapis and Mr. Yannis Armaou be ratified and join us.

*Moderator's Note: Mr. Sakis Sakellariou will be sworn in upon his return from Greece where he is visiting a gravely ill relative.