virtual workshop€¦ · 24/10/2020 · vasilianna fakiris at 917-335-4886. alternative meeting...
TRANSCRIPT
VIRTUAL WORKSHOP
Direct Archdiocesan District Philoptochos Saturday October 24, 2020
Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society PHILOPTOCHOS PRAYER
O Lord Jesus Christ, we bow our heads before You, and with humble hearts we give thanks to You for the abundant blessings, which You have poured forth upon us. We praise You for gathering us together as members of the Ladies Philoptochos Society in the service to Your Holy Church. We bless You for the selfless sacrifice of countless generations of women who have faithfully fulfilled the philanthropic mission entrusted to them. Through Your ineffable wisdom and Your Divine power, You have enabled us to minister to those who are in need of Your love, Your comfort, and Your care. Make us instruments of Your peace and of Your hope, O Lord. Where there is pain and suffering, may we bring Your healing and comfort. Where there is loneliness and isolation, may we bring the fellowship of Your Holy Church. Where there is despair and discouragement, may we inspire hope and faith in You. Where there is hatred and strife, may we be peacemakers producing the fruits of love and reconciliation.
We also ask You, O Lord, to guide our deliberations, our decisions, our fellowship, and all our labors, so that in all we do, or say, we may bring glory to Your Holy Name, of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Welcome Philoptochos
Sisters!
Virtual Meeting Protocol
• Your microphone is muted• Your camera is on • Type your question in the chat
box• We will try to answer all your
questions during the workshop
Zoom Etiquette
Direct Archdiocesan District Philoptochos Updates
◦ Philoptochos Connection-COVID Telephone Helpline
◦ National Philoptochos Board
◦ St. Michael’s Home Expansion
◦ DAD Social Services • How many recipients assisted• Total funds raised from the Chapters, National
Philoptochos & Personal Donations
Workshop
Topics
Virtual Fundraising
Pen Pal Initiative
Alternative Meeting Ideas
Membership Communication
Dealing with Loss
District Wide Diaper Drive
Fundraising Idea #1No Show Gala◦ It’s exactly what the name says, people donate to the cause without
the expense of having to go to the actual event.◦ Your ABSENCE is requested or You are NOT invited!◦ Event chosen due to the COVID-19 Pandemic◦ A Gift Basket/Gift Card may be offered for higher amounts of donations◦ Allows people to give with no need to buy a ticket, purchase a new outfit, have their
hair done, get a babysitter or even leave their home!◦ With no overhead or expenses for the event, 100% of funds raised will go
directly to Philoptochos!
Fundraising Idea #2
◦ Drive by Food Festival◦ Many churches rely on their Festivals for
operational and administrative costs◦ Guests must email or call in their food order
◦ Set up a website/phone line specific to the Food Festival
◦ Set up pick up times and locations ◦ Limit the menu to make the cooking, serving and
clean up as easy as possible◦ St. Barbara’s Church in Orange, CT and Kimisis
Church in Poughkeepsie, NY have recently held very successful events of this type
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
Fundraising Idea #3◦ Virtual Fundraising Companies
◦ Give Smart◦ Bloomerang◦ Give Lively◦ Anybody from anywhere can attend your event, because
it’s virtual◦ Reports are generated for future use, you will know
what raffle produced the most money, etc.◦ You have the donors’ information for future use◦ There are so many ways to set up your virtual fundraiser◦ Company’s are there to help you This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
Fundraising Idea # 4◦ Host a Virtual Event with a Guest Speaker or a How To…….
◦ Charge a fee to attend the event◦ Explain this is for your Philoptochos to raise funds so you
may help those in need◦ Suggest everyone drink a Special Drink----Share the recipe
for the drink, include a mocktail recipe ◦ Share it on Social Media--- Facebook, Instagram◦ Invite friends that are not members of Philoptochos◦ Invite your Parish◦ It’s virtual, so you can all fit !!!!
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
Fundraising Idea # 5
◦ Direct Mail ◦ Very simply you put together a jazzy letter to grab the attention of the
reader◦ State that during Covid-19 we need to raise funds so we may keep
helping those in need◦ Include the ways they can donate check, credit card, etc.◦ Include ways your chapter has helped those in need◦ Mail and email the letter to all on your membership list
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC
Fundraising – 6 Search the topics for more information
Theatrical Performance Using Zoom
Documentary Moving
WatchingVirtual Gala Virtual Online
Shopping Sale Online Auction
Virtual Discussions
Virtual Cooking Lessons
Virtual Open Mic Night
Host a Creative Virtual Marathon
Fundraiser
Angel Giving Tree: Virtual or
In Person
Pen Pal
Initiative
As we all know,The last few months have been challenging for us,
and especially for our seniors.
Sadly, many have not had contact with their family or friends for some time now.
They may be feeling...
confused, sad, or lonely.
How we can brighten their day?We can have our youth send them:
An encouraging letter or card
A simple craft project
A photo
Share a story
Write a poem
We want them ALL to know:We are thinking of them!
They are an important part of our community!
We miss them!
Now, how can you help with this initiative?
● Discuss the Pen Pal Initiative with your parish priest, youth ministries and senior club.
● Share it in your church bulletin and on social media.
● Let the parishioners know they can contact the church office for a mailing address.
Any questions:Please contact:
Kathy Boulukos at 516-868-4092
Vasilianna Fakiris at 917-335-4886
Alternative Meeting Ideas
Membership Communication
◦ Email◦ Church Newsletter◦ Telephone◦ Letter: sending it by email or by snail mail◦ Facebook – Instagram◦ Use young adults to help you with technology
Dealing with Loss
Dr. Claudia Mitzeliotis
Grief today has a different face. Many in our communities lost loved ones and had no time to say good-bye or comfort them.
No funeral or if they had one it was limited in attendance.
During this time being able to reach out to others is so important.
In the past we would visit and bring food to one's home.
We may even take the person out for lunch to keep them occupied and getting them out of the house.
Today with social distancing and isolation this is very difficult.
What can we do to help those in our community?
1. We could still send over a gift basket of food or a tray of food. 2. We could make the time to call them on the phone. 3. We may want to designate a member of our chapter to work
with the priest and reach out to those who suffered a loss. 4. You could organize a ZOOM bereavement group with a
professional or the priest to bring those with a common loss together.
5. I recently purchased a book titled. “When Yiayia Dies” from Amazon. It explains the funeral from the wake to cemetery with church pictures. We have to remember children grieve differently and it depends on their age how they grieve. Young children ages 3-7 do not believe the person is gone and wait for their return, this is normal. They believe Santa comes every year. It is the age of magical thinking. The book is an excellent way of teaching them about loss and how our church celebrates death. It is a celebration since we believe in the resurrection.
Dealing with Loss
What can we do to help
those in our community?
6. Remind them to take time to grieve and look at photos and think about the person who has left them. Yes, they have left you for a short time and as Orthodox Christians we believe in eternal life. We wait for one day to be united. It is when God calls us to join him and those who have departed.
7. It is important to emphasize God calls us home since some may become depressed and want to join their loved one prematurely. Be in tune to these signs and help them get help. If they say they have seen the person this is an indication that they could be suicidal.
8. Set a time to eat, sleep, grieve, laugh and enjoy life since you are among the living.
9. It may be hard to find the words to say but your silence and presence is enough.
10. Offer prayer and an Icon as a gift to help them focus and remember to turn to God for help.
Dealing With Loss • If the bereavement period goes beyond
one year it can turn to depression and this can cause a multitude of problems. It can cause deficits in cognition where the person may appear to be developing memory loss when it is related to untreated depression. • It is so important to reach out and help
those who have lost a loved one.
Direct Archdiocesan DistrictDiaper Drive !!All chapters are invited to collect diapers to give to a local diaper bank or a children’s non-profit in your neighborhood.
Why Diapers?◦ The Direct Archdiocesan District Social
Services Committee realizes that there is a great, great need for diapers
◦ Infants and Toddlers use an average of 2,700diapers per year!
◦ That’s $540/year @ $0.20 per diaper
◦ 1 in 3 families struggle to provide diapers for their children
◦ Diapers are not covered by SNAP benefits.
Diaperso Let’s Collect 10,000 Diapers !!!o From October 25th – December 1st
Diaper Drive ◦ Each Philoptochos chapter determines the best approach
◦ Identify a local recipient organization
◦ Ask the organization for the size(s) of most needed diapers
◦ Options◦ Amazon Wish List◦ Drop off at church◦ Local diaper bank recipient◦ Ship directly to receiving organization or church
◦ Chapters may team up with other nearby chapters and work as a group
◦ Report the number of diapers (not packages) to Christine Balidis by December 1
The Diaper Committee is here to help you!
We need your diaper numbers!!Send diaper counts to:
Christine [email protected]
Questions:◦ Kathy Boulukos
[email protected] 516.868.4092 (Long Island)
◦ Marina Katsoulis◦ [email protected] 516.627.0580◦ (Long Island)
◦ Despina Kartson◦ [email protected] 917.603.7854◦ (Bronx, Westchester, Rockland, Upstate
NY, CT) ◦ Maria Skiadas
◦ [email protected] 718.767.6252◦ (Queens, Brooklyn, NYC, DC)
Our Goal is to Collect 10,000 diapers by December 1, 2020!!
We can do this!
We are #PhiloStrong
Questions & Answers◦ If you have questions, or need to know how to do something, please do not hesitate to contact us
◦ Rose Koulouris: [email protected] 203-417-8450