Daughters of Penelope District 23 | Daughters of Penelope District 23

The Daughters of Penelope is an International Women’s Organization and affiliate organization of the AHEPA Family (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association). The Order of Daughters of Penelope was founded by a remarkable woman, Alexandra Apostolides Sonenfeld on November 16th, 1929 in San Francisco, California. With her perseverance and encouragement of her husband Dr. Emanuel Apostolides, a devoted Ahepan, she created a Greek Women’s Organization and established the first Chapter of the Daughters of Penelope, Eos Chapter #1 with 25 charter members, whose husbands were AHEPA members. She was elected the first Grand President of the organization in 1931. Today, the Daughters of Penelope is proud to claim more than 400 Chapters in the United States, Canada, Greece, the Bahamas, Germany, Cyprus, Belgium, England and sister Chapters in Australia.

The Mission of the Daughters of Penelope is to promote the ancient Hellenic ideals and traditions of education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, integrity, and family and individual excellence through community service and volunteerism.

The Daughters of Penelope promote the social, ethical and intellectual interests of the members; cultivate good citizenship and patriotism for the countries in which they live; promote the spirit of cooperation and work closely and in harmony with the whole AHEPA Family. The betterment of humanity is a unifying theme of the Daughters, and members are encouraged to participate in worthwhile projects both nationally and in their respective countries.

Over its history, the Daughters of Penelope has achieved remarkable accomplishments. It has strengthen the status of women in society, sheltered the elderly and abused, educated the youth, promoted Hellenic heritage, raised funds for medical research and many others.

The Order is identified by a symbol portraying the HEAD OF PENELOPE in ancient headdress, which symbolizes FRIENDSHIP and WOMANHOOD, and is significant as the very foundation of LIFE, HOME and COUNTRY. Encircling the head of Penelope is the OLIVE WREATH, the only prize awarded to victors in the ancient Olympic Games. The CROSS is a symbol of our Christian Faith and a NATIONAL SYMBOL in the GREEK FLAG, and the CROSSED SABERS are from the SHIELD of GREECE. The EAGLE symbolizes the UNITED STATES. The letters ΘΠ (THETA PI) stand for ‘ΘΥΓΑΤΕΡΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΠΗΝΕΛΟΠΗΣ’, which translated in English means ‘The Daughters of Penelope’.

DISTRICT LODGE (2020-2021)

DISTRICT GOVERNOR
Dr. Xanthe Vafopoulou
Liaison Chapter: Meandros, Montreal
66 Houseman Crescent, Richmond Hill, ON, L4C-7R8
Tel: (647) 382-1388
xanthe.vf@gmail.com

DISTRICT LT. GOVERNOR & MARSHAL
Angela Mouriopoulos
Liaison Chapter: Mycenae, Toronto & Orpheus, London
48 Darlington Dr., Hamilton, ON, L9C-2L7
Tel: (905) 520-9470
a_mour23@hotmail.com

DISTRICT SECRETARY
Roula Maginas Koumoutsidis
Liaison Chapter: Philomela, Hamilton
19 Toohey Ln., London, ON, N6G-4Y2
Tel: (519) 433-1285
roulakoumis@rogers.com

DISTRICT TREASURER
Zambetoula (Betty) Drakontaidis
2550 Berthon Street, Lonqueuil, QC, J4M-1M7
Tel: (514) 996-2317
zambetoula@hotmail.com

DISTRICT ADVISOR to the MOA
Kathy Dimou
Liaison: Maids of Athena District Lodge
126 Trinnell Blvd, Scarborough, ON, M1L-1S7
Tel: (416) 451-9478
kathydimou@gmail.com

DISTRICT ADVISOR to the DOP
Annie Valkanas
Liaison: DOP District Lodge
602-730 Wonderland Rd N, London, ON, N6H-4Y9
Tel: (519) 200-9769
vasilissa1967@gmail.com

VP of SCHOLARSHIPS and PUBLIC RELATIONS
Fotini Caragiannis
Liaison Chapter: Euphrosyne, Ottawa
1575 Barre Street, St-Laurent, QC, H4L-4M5
Tel: (514) 778-8966
f.caragiannis@gmail.com

GRAND LODGE (2020-2021)

GRAND PRESIDENT
Celia Kachmarski
829 Canfield Way SW
Calgary, AB, T2W-1K2 Canada
Cell: (403) 880-6029
Email: grandpresidentdop@gmail.com
Liaison to Australia, Greece, and Europe

GRAND VICE PRESIDENT
Kathy Bizoukas
1932 Somerset Drive
Munster, IN 46321-5158
Phone: (219) 313-7005
Email: kathy.bizoukas@gmail.com
Liaison to all Districts- Membership/Growth & Expansion

GRAND SECRETARY 
Georgette Boulegeris
Heatherwood Lane
Bedminster, NJ 07921
Cell: (908) 342-4433
Email: GiGiBoulegeris@gmail.com
Liaison to Districts 2, 13, 21

GRAND TREASURER
Marianthi Treppiedi
5008 W Navaho
Spokane, WA 99208
Cell: (509) 879-7415
Email: mtreppiedi@comcast.net
Liaison to Districts 1, 4, 17

GRAND GOVERNOR ZONE V
Margaret Dritsas
303-429 Somerset Street West
Ottawa, ON, K2P-2P5, Canada
Cell: (613) 297-2401
Email: margaret.dritsas@gmail.com
Liaison to Districts 5, 23, 24, 26

GRAND ADVISOR TO THE MAIDS OF ATHENA
Kathy Leles
1223 Pyrenees Ct
Tracy, CA 95304
Cell: (209) 835-7414
Email: kleles@att.net
Liaison to all Maids of Athena Chapters

DISTRICT 23 LODGE OFFICERS 2019 to 2020

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS 2019 to 2020

DISTRICT 23 LODGE OFFICERS 2018 to 2019

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS 2018 to 2019

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS 2017 to 2018

BULLETIN, DECEMBER 2018

BULLETIN, APRIL 2018

DISTRICT #23, November 2017 Newsletter

DL & Chap. Presidents, Sept. 10/20

2020 MID-YEAR CONFERENCE GOVERNOR’S PRESENTATION

2020 MID-YEAR CONFERENCE Lt. GOVERNOR’S PRESENTATION

2020 MID-YEAR CONFERENCE SECRETARY’S PRESENTATION

2020 MID-YEAR CONFERENCE TREASURER’S PRESENTATION

2020 MID-YEAR CONFERENCE MOA ADVISOR’S PRESENTATION

2020 MID-YEAR CONFERENCE WEBINARS PRESENTATION

2020 MID-YEAR CONFERENCE PRESENTATION OF DISTRICT 23 CONVENTION IN 2021

Ioannis Th. Mazis (Presentation, 8 November 2020)

Daughters of Penelope District 23 Webinar Series: Lessons from Greece

Webinar #2: Sunday, January 24, 2021

Vasilia Mavrou, Executive Director, Melissa Girls Orphanage, Thessaloniki, Greece

Melissa was created in 1921 and celebrates 100 years of service this year. After this moving, educational presentation I thought some notes that could be shared with your membership and friends, may be helpful.

Melissa’s name comes from the Greek word “bee” as bees work continuously, nonstop, ongoing
Melissa offers a home and protection for girl’s who need it the most
Melissa orphanage is an important piece of Thessaloniki’s history
It was started by some Thessalonian ladies with means, who saw a need
It’s first location was a large stately home in Thessaloniki; in 1980 this changed to their current location which is a building and land donated by the government
Melissa saved 80 children from the burning Smyrna and the children were brought to Thessaloniki through the kindness of the US Navy, something that the ladies never forgot
Girls range between the ages of 4 – 18 years old and are placed here by government services once they are removed from homes of sexual, physical and mental abuse
The home is organized as a family – meeting the social and educational needs of the child and offering clothing, food, shelter, safety and love
Melissa acts as a guardian for girls and has an Independent Living Center, which houses 6 girls over the age of 18
Before 1940, boys were also housed in Melissa but now there is a boys orphanage called Papafio, that is overseen by the Metropolis
Due to the recession and now pandemic there is a financial crisis, with donations having dropped from 2017 by 80%
Vasilia stated that many girls who come don’t feel worthy (δεν νοιώθουν άξιες); Melissa offers them a second chance to live, to dream, to make their dreams reality
2018, D23 AHEPA and DOP (district and chapters together) sponsored Dioni, an 18 year old Melissa girl, who now is completing her education as an Educational Assistant and is also engaged to be married, a testament to Melissa encouraging girls to dream and making their dreams reality
FYI: Greece now has an online platform for fostering and adopting children, called www.anynet.gr
The prime minister stressed, “H Ελλάδα διαθέτει πλέον ένα σύγχρονο και διαφανές σύστημα αναδοχής και υιοθεσίας, που μπορεί να συνδέσει γρήγορα παιδιά με γονείς που θέλουν να τους προσφέρουν τη θαλπωρή του οικογενειακού περιβάλλοντος.” He further stated that this will “set aside the bureaucratic hurdles of the past,” and be able to “quickly connect children with parents who want to offer them the warmth of a family environment,” via the online adoption and fostering database at anynet.gr, a system active since July 6.
Mavrou stated that she is hesitant about this program but time will tell whether this system will work
WAYS we can all help:
- Spread the word – share this information
- Melissa offers a good solution to removing and saving abused girls
- encourage friends/family to sponsor a child or send a yearly donation

Many of us were moved by Vasilia Mavrou’s presentation, let’s keep the momentum going and spread the word, even if we touch a few others, we will help in making a difference and hopefully saving one more life.

District 23, Daughters of Penelope.