Greek Media Club
creative, communicative artisans
in Chicago & beyond...
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Events
- Before replying, please review thoroughly RSVP instructions
- The GMC meets bi-monthly at various venues throughout Chicago's downtown Loop area. Events are held on a Thursday, usually from 7 pm to 11 pm
NEXT GMC EVENT Thursday, June 28, 2012 from 7-11 pm on the rooftop of the National Hellenic Museum in Chicago. Further details T.B.A. in May
LAST EVENT April 19, 2012 At The Mid, 306 N. Halsted St. Owner: Sam Cappas
April 19 co-hosts...
George Bliss geobliss@aol.com
Anthe Mitrakos amitrako@yahoo.com
Terry Poulos terry1email@aol.com
Demetra Markopoulos demetra@carsdiva.com
FOOD SPONSORS
Frank Prokos (Thirsty Whale in Algonquin) and brothers Chuck and Peter Vitogiannis (Mr. Greek Gyros in Greektown)
ARISTON FOUNDATION: Established Greek Independence Day 2011, this not-for-profit organization aims to "promote and appreciate the Hellenic language, history
and culture, through special projects, events and merit
scholarships." The Foundation will be hosting its first birthday and
awards celebration in May, during which a deserving student will be awarded a
merit-based academic scholarship, and Mr. Chris Tomaras of the PanHellenic
Scholarship Foundation will be honored for his support of students of Hellenic
descent. For more information about Ariston Foundation's birthday
and awards event, or to place a supporting ad in their official event program/ad
book, email aristonfoundation@gmail.com
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FEBRUARY 23, 2012 GMC EVENT
FEBRUARY 23, 2012 GMC EVENTThe GMC crowd gathers at Holland & Knight to listen to Endy Zemenides (standing at lectern) speak on behalf of the Hellenic American Leadership Council. Endy addressed the Cyprus situation and also informed of HALC's efforts to recruit young Greek Americans as future leaders. In addition, he enlightened attendees on Greece's contributions both ancient and modern, including the famous battle of Thermopylae in antiquity, how Greece was the first to defy the Axis powers of WWII and delayed Germany from sending troops to the southern Russian flank at a crucial period early in the war, and how today Greece again sided with the powers of the free world
to prevent an alleged aid flotilla from passing its waterways and continuing on toward Israel and the Palestinian occupied territories - stressing how each and every time Greece does the right thing even though its actions may often contrast with its own best interests. An attorney in private practice with Johnston & Greene, Endy currently serves as HALC's executive director. He was previously political director for Illinois Treasurer and US Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias. The GMC event was co-hosted by Holland partners Elias Matsakis and Maria Metropoulos.Opa Oprah! Photo at right (L-R) are John Makris, Andrea Dres (current Harpo Studios associate producer), and former Harpo researcher Christine Makris
GABRIELLA MAKES GMC DEBUT: Our youngest and newest "cousin" joined us Feb. 23!! Three month-old Gabriella Britton Gamberl, daughter of David Gamberl and FOX32's Anna Davlantes, made her GMC debut at Holland & Knight. Pictured at left are Anna and NBC5's Kim Vatis., a former colleague of Anna. In the photo, Anna is snapping a photo of Gabriella to send to her husband (flight delayed due to snowy conditions). A few others who braved the weather to join us were Ioanna Efthymiadou (Consulate General for Greece in Chicago), Niko Franghias(president of Greek Film Fest Chicago), Art "Chat Daddy" Sims (WCIU TV morning host), ESPN1000 radio marketing director Elena Angelos, InTimeTV.com health care roundtable host Kristine Mighion, associate producer Andrea Dres (Harpo Studios), former Harpo stafferChristine Makris, Paul Lillios (Administrative law judge for the federal government), Journal & Topics film critic Mike Poulos, Dean Tsilakis (Chicago City Colleges), Art Andros (City of Chicago architect and part-time radio host), filmmaker Valerie Gobos, Anthe Mitrakos (freelance writer atCrain's Chicago Business), George Nassos (The Greek Press), Zoe Iltopoulos Borys (GM at Fletcher Camera & Lenses), account rep Anna Keys (Chicago magazine), ecruiter Harvey Danielsof the Federal Reserve Bank, DImitris Kostopoulos (Greek Book Store), and George Andrews(former NBA super-agent). Our friendly front desk "cousin" greeters this evening were Anthe and her sister Vasiliki Mitrakos. The event was organized by GMC co-directors George Bliss and Terry Poulos.
(L-R): Holland attorney Maria Metropoulos, Ioanna Efthymiadou (Consulate General for Greece in Chicago), and Holland partner Elias Matsakis. Metropoulos and Matsakis served as the evening's hosts and the event was sponsored by Holland & Knight
Endy Zemenides, executive director of HALC, addresses the crowd. Endy, an attorney, was the chief political adviser to Alexi Giannoulias during Alexi's two runs for Illinois Treasurer and US Senator
(L-R): Maria Metropoulos, Terry Poulos (at lectern), and George Bliss (far right)
HALC prepared an insightful slide-show presentation on Greece, Cyprus, and Hellenism. Attorney Georgia Logothetis, a HALC official, helped put together the presentation
Maria Metropoulos at the lectern. Photo taken from second story balcony at Holland & Knight
Guests sample the buffet at Holland & Knight
(L-R): Anna Davlantes, Gabriella Gamperl, Kim Vatis. Gabriella sure did have the best seat in the house, snug as a bug in a rug
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2011 "COUSINS CHRISTMAS" EVENT COVERAGE...
THE NEW "HUB OF GREEK AMERICA"
About 240 attended the GMC's 5th annual Christmas party on December 15, 2011 at the brand new, state-of-the-art
National Hellenic Museum (NHM) in Greektown Chicago. Coverage and more photos below.GMC Christmas party in the news...
Chicago Sun-Times (Stella Foster column)
Crain's Chicago Business (Shia Kapos column)
John and Stephanie Vlahakis (above). Thanks to you and our sponsors, we were able to raise approximately $3,000, which went directly to the National Hellenic Museum. Special thanks to our sponsors Earth Friendly Products (President/Founder John Vlahakis) and Devanco Foods (principal Peter Bartzis), as well as Sam Napolitano of Arrow Electronics. Additionally, the GMC is grateful to Greektown restaurants the Parthenon, Mr. Greek Gyros, and Artopolis for their in-kind support, and also thanks Stephanie Anton Vlahakis (NHM executive director), Kyriakos Mellos, Toula Georgakopoulos, Zafe Zafer, George Kanavas, Janice Price, George Bliss Jr., Theo McClendon, and Cyndee Kaiser. More event details and photos below...
Newly appointed (2011) Consulate General for Greece in Chicago, Ioanna Efthymiadou (at right), takes the mic
Former Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings receiver Dwayne Bates, with guest
(L-R) Janice Price, Kelly Nottke, Cyndee Kaiser, Kathleen Bliss, June Podagrossi
December 15, 2011 - "Cousins" in the Museum crowd...John Vlahakis, founder/president of Earth Friendly Products, Green Bites author, and eco blogger at EarthyReport.com..Stephanie Anton Vlahakis, NHM Executive Director...Ioanna Efthymiadou, the newly-appointed Consulate General for Greece in Chicago...Dwayne Bates, former Chicago Bears receiver and current Chicago Public Schools teacher and coach...Andrea Darlas, WGN radio newscaster...Andy Gravilos, WGN TV morning news associate producer...Jane Monzures, WLUP radio morning co-host and host of "Living Healthy Chicago" on WGN TV...Irene Michaels, celebrity blogger at "I on the Scene" and former General Hospital actress...Andrea Dres (Harpo Studios associate producer)....Cathy Demetropoulos, Executive Editor of Chicago Bride magazine...Filmmaker Valerie Gobos...WLTH radio host.Theo McClendon...Ann Kostopanagiotou, the current President of the American Marketing Association...Kyriakos Mellos, co-founder of DailyFrappe.com...The Honorable Judge Anthony Kyriakopoulos of the Circuit Court of Cook County...Paul Lillios, Administrative Law Judge for the State of Illinois...Endy Zemenides, public policy attorney and chief political counsel to Alexi Giannoulias...Elias Matsakis, past GMC exclusive event sponsor and partner at the international law firm Holland & Knight...Chicago Film Fest associate Zafe Zafer...Theo McClendon, WLTH radio host (our mixmaster for the night)...Dr. Christine Mighion, chief Comcast Chicago region health consultant for on-air programming and host of the healthcare executive roundtable show on InTimeTv.com...Nikos Franghias (president of the Greek Chicago Film Fest)...Col. Ryan Yantis, retired of the U.S. Army...NHM curator Bethany Flemming, and NHM director of external affairs Toula Georgakopoulos...Special thanks to our friendly front-desk "cousins" Janice Price, Cyndee Kaiser, Kelly Nottke, and George Bliss Jr.
MUSEUM ON WTTW TV: The National Hellenic Museum was
featured on WTTW Channel 11 (Chicago PBS) in December of 2011. Watch this interview
with Stephanie Anton Vlahakis, executive director of the Museum.
MUSEUM ON WGN TV: The Chicago WGN TV Channel 9 morning
news featured the new National Hellenic Museum during the station's "Around
Town" segment on January 6, 2012. If you missed it, view this link WGNTV.com.
Highlighted are the Museum's current exhibit "Gods, Myths and Mortals,"
including the Cyclops Cave, Trojan Horse, and Odysseus' Palace. Our "cousin"
Andy Gavrilos is supervising producer of the show. The Museum's Toula
Georgakopoulos is interviewed by WGN reporter Anna Balaval
Photos below courtesy of John Vlahakis
Three views of and from the new National Hellenic Museum. Top left, the East view (from atop the Museum) looking at the famous Willis Tower (tallest structure) at night. Top right, daytime view from the Museum's rooftop looking Northwest at Halsted Street, Greektown Chicago. At bottom is the facility itself (looking Southeast) in late 2011. The GMC has hosted some great events over the years, but when we return to the Museum this Summer for our first rooftop event at the new facility, this may very well be our finest hour. Send us a brief note about your background in media and/or creative arts - and let's talk!!
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OCTOBER 2011 EVENT HEADLINED BY NFL HALL OF FAME COACH MARV LEVY
Photo at right: Retired NFL coach Marv Levy (right) with Yiannis Valsamis, executive director of the PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation. Thanks to the more than 200 who braved
the rain October 13 to attend our "Sports & Education Night" at Play18
Chicago!! NFL Hall of Fame football coach Marv Levy gave us a primer on his hot new novel Between the
Lies, we were clued in on the efforts of the PanHellenic Scholarship
Foundation by Chairman Chris Tomaras, our "cousin" Anna Davlantes
of FOX32 and her hubby David Gamperl stopped in (w/ their expectant baby
GMCer!!), Chicago Public Schools Executive Director Staci Strategakes
made a surprise announcement (more on that soon), and DJ
John Grammatis took us home until the wee hours. As well, we
entertained our usual assortment of creative communicative artisans. Lastly, the
GMC extends its sincere gratitude to the larger EuroCircle, Hellenic
Professional Society, and Daily Frappe social communities (Maria Dollas,
Demetra Markopoulos, Kyriakos Mellos, respectively), Vivian
Haritos (PHSFoundation), and John Sotos (owner of Play18 Chicago). For a full event photo album, go to PanHellenicScholarships.org. More photos and captions at our "PHOTOS" link.
