The Metropolitan Society of Kardamylians, Inc. is
a not for profit organization based in
Brooklyn,
NY, with members throughout the
United States and
Canada. Its purpose originally was to help the Kardamylian
immigrants to dial with the Immigration and Naturalization and to find them
work. Today the Organization's activities consist of receiving and
collecting funds for charitable and educational purposes and to pass on to
its new young members the traditions, history and customs of the ancestral
home, Kardamyla and assure the continuance of the educational process of the
history of Kardamyla.
During the war, the
Organization helped the war effort by aiding the Red Cross and purchasing US
Government War Bonds.
After the war, the
Organization took part in the re-building of Kardamyla,
Chios, and
Greece in general. The economic support sent to Kardamyla
helped re-build the elementary schools and the
Livanion
High School
there. In 1947, the
Tuberculosis Clinic of Chios, the
Water Pump station of Ano Kardamyla, the
Church of
Holy Cross "Timios Stavros" and others were improved with the generous help
of the Society. Over the years, the Society continued to economically
support Kardamyla by expanding streets in Ano Kardamyla, expanding the
Cemetery of Agios Georgios in Ano
Kardamyla, building public restrooms in Ano and Kato Kardamyla, etc. Most
importantly, it has financially helped and continues to do so up to this day
many Kardamylian families who were in desperate need.
Since
the establishment of the
Chian Federation in 1974, our Society has actively supported its
efforts to improve the image of Hellenism within the American community.
Members of our Society served on the Executive Board of the Chian
Federation. Mr. George Livanos
served as President for ten years and until his death in 1997, he was
Honorary President.
In 1979, our
organization acquired its own building which is located in the center of the
Kardamylian community of Bay Ridge,
Brooklyn at
7919 3rd Avenue. The building is known to all of us as the
"Kardamylitiko Spiti". In 1985,
the organization continued to expand by publishing a book with the addresses
of most of the Kardamylians in the
USA and
Canada.
In 1990 the organization purchased and sent to
the
Municipality of
Kardamyla, a computer system network.
In
1992, the organization established the
Kardamylian Achievement Awards to
recognize successful Kardamylians and friends of Kardamyla. The first
recipient of this Award was the US
Army General William Gus Pagonis whose family originated from Kardamyla.
General Pagonis, led the US Army Supply Command during the Gulf War.
The same year it organized a
youth Dance group wearing our traditional Kardamylian native dress
and performing at our Dinner Dance and festival events.
In 1993, the
Library was established with a rich selection of books. The books
consisted of Kardamylian, Chian, and Greek - American themes varying from
entertainment, history, art, documentaries etc. In 1996, the library
committee organized the library by publishing a catalog with short
descriptions of the books, newspapers, magazines, and other materials
contained in the library. The Library was then opened for public use on
weekly basis and allowed members to borrow books by mail.
In 1996, the
Scholarship program was established. Since 1996 the organization
has awarded over $100,000 to
Kardamylian
College students, to high school
students who have successfully completed Greek Studies programs and
to graduates of the
Livanion
Maritime
High School in
Kardamyla.
In
1998, the organization established a presence on the Internet. Internet
site, www kardamyla.org . contains useful information for its members and
about the organization's history and activities.
In
2000, the organization translated to English and published the book
Kardamyla of
Chios, History – Sites – Travel.
Every summer since 2001 the organization
organizes an event to support the Nursing Home “Agia Marina” in Kardamyla.
We take pride in our organization's history and development over
the years. We currently have a very large membership list and its constantly
growing. We encourage Kardamylians to join and share with us their interests and
concerns for the land that unites us all.We do this by opening our