NEW YORK, NY –
Demos Siokis, the former President of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, recounts in a social media post how the two sides of the Federation managed to come together and hold joint elections after an eight-year crisis, following an initiative by him and Nomiki Kastanas.
“There are moments when history is not changed by grand speeches or dramatic gestures. It changes when someone decides to take the first step.
For me, that first step came on March 22. On that day, I sent a simple message to Nomiki Kastana: “Hi Nomiki, can we get together?” Her reply came almost immediately: “Yes. When?” A short message. A simple response. Neither of us could have imagined that this brief exchange would mark the beginning of a journey that, just 84 days later, would lead the Federation to the elections of June 14.
The First Meeting
Two days later, on Tuesday, March 24, we met at a well-known Italian restaurant in Manhattan, away from everyone’s attention. There were no factions. There were no titles. There were no cameras. There were simply two people who believed that the Federation deserved a new beginning.
Our conversation lasted for several hours. We spoke with complete honesty about the past, but even more importantly, about the future.
The First Step Toward Reconciliation
During that first meeting, I raised an issue that had deeply affected me personally. I referred to the letter that had been sent to the New York City Mayor’s Office prior to the planned recognition of Mr. Kalamaras. I explained that, in my view, that action had created deep divisions and had become a major obstacle to any genuine effort toward unity.
I asked Nomiki that, if we truly wanted to turn the page, she should make a courageous gesture: personally contact Mr. Kalamaras, explain what had happened from her perspective, and offer him an apology. To her credit, she did exactly that.
In the days that followed, she called him, they spoke, and she apologized.
I consider that to have been an act of courage and maturity, and I believe it deserves public recognition. Genuine reconciliation begins when someone has the courage to take the first step.
A Small Moment with Great Symbolism
That first meeting also included a simple but unforgettable human moment.
The young waitress serving our table told us it was her very first day on the job.
There was some confusion with the menu and our order. Instead of becoming frustrated, we smiled.
We encouraged her and told her that everyone remembers their first day at a new job. By the end of our meal, she thanked us with a smile.
Looking back, I realized how symbolic that moment was.
Just as she needed understanding, encouragement, and confidence to begin a new chapter, the Federation also needed trust, goodwill, and the willingness to give each other another chance.
Nine Days of Relentless Work
From that day forward, we worked every single day. Only Nomiki and I knew what we were planning. No one else. There were no leaks. There were no public announcements. There was only work. Time was not on our side. Even while I was in Paris at the end of March, we continued speaking every day. Through phone calls, text messages, and countless hours of discussion, we refined our shared vision. We wrote. We revised. We added. We rewrote.
In just nine days, we completed what became known as the Roadmap for Unity.
It was far more than a document. It was a practical plan that offered a clear path out of division and toward democratic elections for the Federation.
March 31 – Presenting the Roadmap
On March 31, we presented the Roadmap to both sides. For the first time, they saw the proposal that had been developed over those intense nine days. The initial response was encouraging.
For the first time in a long while, there was a common foundation upon which meaningful dialogue and genuine unity could begin to take shape.
April 1 – Taking the Risk
On April 1, we decided to take the next step. We made the initiative public. It was an unprecedented effort. We knew there would be skepticism. We also knew that, because it was April Fool’s Day, many people would assume it was a joke. That is why, in our public announcement, I made one thing perfectly clear:
“This is not an April Fool’s joke.”
We accepted the risk because we believed the Federation deserved this opportunity. We believed it was time to put division behind us and begin building a future based on dialogue, mutual respect, and cooperation.
From the Roadmap to the Elections
The weeks that followed were filled with countless meetings, difficult negotiations, and many hours of discussion. There were disagreements. There were obstacles. There were moments when everything seemed uncertain. Yet the goal never changed. To reunite the Federation. To restore trust. To hold democratic elections.
Every conversation, every compromise, and every effort was guided by one principle: the Federation had to move forward together. Step by step, the Roadmap became more than a proposal. It became the foundation upon which both sides could work toward a common objective. The process was not always easy.
There were moments of optimism and moments of disappointment. There were difficult decisions and unexpected challenges. But no matter how complicated the discussions became, we remained committed to the belief that unity was worth fighting for.
Finally, after 84 remarkable days, the journey that had begun with a simple message on March 22 reached its destination. On June 14, the Federation successfully held its elections. For many, the elections marked the end of a difficult chapter. For me, they represented something much greater. They marked the beginning of a new era. An era in which dialogue prevailed over confrontation. An era in which cooperation proved stronger than division.
The elections themselves were never the final objective. They were the result of a collective effort to restore confidence in the Federation and to provide a democratic path forward for its future.
Looking back, I remain convinced that none of this would have been possible without the willingness of individuals to put the Federation above personal differences. The greatest victory was not simply that elections were held. The greatest victory was that we demonstrated that unity is possible when people choose understanding over conflict, respect over resentment, and cooperation over division.
That, above all else, is the lesson of those extraordinary 84 days. No effort toward unity can succeed without the dedication of people who work quietly, responsibly, and with deep respect for democratic institutions.
My deepest appreciation also goes to Nomiki Kastana, who responded immediately and positively to my invitation to meet and embraced, with sincerity and determination, the idea of unity.
Our daily communication, mutual trust, and shared belief that the Federation could move beyond division enabled us, in just nine days, to develop the Roadmap for Unity, which became the foundation of this historic effort.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Transparency Committee, whose work was instrumental in ensuring that the entire process was conducted with integrity, transparency, and credibility.
Special thanks are due to the Chairman of the Committee, Peter Gerazounis, and to its members, Fotis Gerasopoulos, Sotiris Konstantakopoulos, Dimitris Paliouras, and Eleni Hatzi, for their dedication, professionalism, and countless hours of service throughout this demanding process.
Special thanks also go to Lou Katsos, who consistently advocated for unity through both his public statements and private conversations. Time and again, he emphasized that only through dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect could the Federation move forward. His unwavering commitment to unity served as a positive influence throughout this entire process.
I also wish to express my appreciation to the Election Committee. Although a significant mistake occurred during the election process involving the allocation of two additional votes to one association, creating understandable concern, I believe it is only fair to recognize the countless hours, dedication, and sincere effort that the committee members invested to complete the election process. Mistakes should be acknowledged, but so should the commitment of those who worked in good faith to fulfill their responsibilities.
Finally, I want to thank everyone who believed in the cause of unity, even when it seemed difficult—or even impossible. No individual can change the course of an organization alone. But when people unite with a common purpose, mutual respect, and trust, remarkable things become possible.
Looking back today, I realize that everything began with something very simple.
A message. A meeting. A courageous apology. A smile shared with a nervous waitress on her first day of work. Nine days of relentless effort. A Roadmap. A willingness to take a risk. And a shared belief that the Federation deserved a new beginning.
This story was not written by one person alone. It was written by everyone who chose to place “we” above “I.” That is the true meaning of unity. That is the lasting legacy of those 84 days.
From March 22 to June 14, we proved that when there is vision, trust, honesty, and the willingness to work together, even the deepest divisions can be overcome.
It is my sincere hope that the unity we achieved through so much effort will become the foundation for the Federation’s future, for the benefit of all its member societies and the entire Greek-American community.
I wish the new Board of Directors of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York every success as they undertake the important responsibility of leading our Federation into its next chapter”.
Damianos (Demos ) Siokis
*my apologies for the lengthy article
