The Tsintzinian Chronicle
August Newsletter for the Tsintzina Society
Convention 2024 is in the books!
Greetings from your Membership Committee: Kiki Lascaris Georgiou, Kay Zaharis, Helen Hoke Laskaris, Kat Costianis, Alexandra Costianis, and Sarah Tillotson Bosworth!
Approximately 62 members attended the 2024 Tsintzina Jamestown Convention, July 25-26-27-28. We say “approximately” because not everyone checked in with the Membership Committee at the Registration Table.
We apologize if you are missing from the list below. Please contact Kiki Lascaris Georgiou to update our records. Thanks! Kiki’s at kcgscribe@aol.com.
These are the attendees who checked in and a few others who were pointed out to us by some kind souls during dinner:
Noah & Elizabeth Gousettis Blunda, Georgia and Neal Brown (NEW 2024), Eleni Burlotos, James G. Burlotos, Michael Burlotos, Raquel Burlotos Callans, Jim Costas, Tom Costas, Eleni Degelsmith and family, Connie Dusckas, Nancy Dusckas, Duane Ferencz, Fr. Nicholas and Joanna Costianes Ferencz, Justin and DLouisa Ford & children, John and Kiki Lascaris Georgiou, Harry Gousettis, Jacob and Camille Johanssen, Dean and Tina Lascaris Karlaftis, Peter and Amelia Karousis & children, Pia Lascaris, Tedie Lascaris (NEW 2024), Joanna Laskaris, Nick and Maia Laskaris, Karen Dusckas Martin, Michael Mills, John and Stephanie Soutouras Schlick, George Sfikas, Peter and Amanda (Kitty) Sfikas & children, Stamos Sfikas, Hailee Mayls Sfikas, Alexandra K. Slezak, Kathryn N. Slezak and guest, Alexia Zacharias, Socrates Zacharias and family, Kay Zaharis
Honored and Remembered
One of the nicest traditions of the Tsintzina Society is the midnight memorial service for our loved ones who have died.
Joanna Costianes Ferencz has been organizing this lovely tradition since 2008. The process is fairly simple. You (or Joanna) write down the name(s) of those you wish to honor. The cost is $5 for each name. Joanna will write the name on a paper bag and put a candle inside of the bag. The luminaries line the walkway of the clubhouse.
Around 11:45 p.m. on Friday night, the band stops playing. Everyone goes outside where Fr. Nicholas Ferencz leads a short memorial service and the names of the people being honored are recited. It is a beautiful moment of remembrance and gratitude for the people who came before and instilled in all of us the importance of our Greek-American heritage.
Letter from the Convention: Newcomers
Kiki and I are always thrilled to welcome new members and attendees to our annual gathering each year in Jamestown, New York. This year we saw three new faces. Tedie (Theodora) Lascaris came from her current home in Florida. Tedie is from the Albany, NY Lascaris families, first cousin with Kiki Lascaris Georgiou. Her father was George Lascaris and her mother was Elizabeth Magape (from Macedonia) who would travel to Jamestown from Albany each year in the 1920s and 1930s. Tedie has an energetic personality and we hope that she attends again in the future.
Georgia and her husband Neal Brown live in Fairfax, VA but didn't leave Virginia specifically to arrive in Jamestown. Their daughter, who lives in Saugerties, NY, was filming a documentary at the Seneca Indian Nation which they were attending. Georgia happened to be reading about our Society on Facebook and noticed that our reunion was in a few days. They decided to extend their trip and attend the reunion. When they arrived on Friday, July 26, Georgia was thrilled to be there, remembering her parents talking about how they had attended many, many years before, although she had never come to Jamestown. I gave them both a tour of the clubhouse and discussed the weekend’s events. They stayed for dinner and later Georgia was all smiles as she danced many Greek dances with her new acquaintances. She told me that she hadn't danced those dances, or so many, since her high school days. Although I didn't dance, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Georgia enjoy her evening with her new Greek "family." They weren't able to stay for Saturday's or Sunday's activities, but we hope to see Georgia and Neal again next year. We will keep in touch with them so they know that they will always be welcomed.
— Kay Zaharis
Convention Stats!
Oldest - Ellen Youngbluth, 77 years old
Youngest - Maverick Sfikas, 11 months old
Furthest traveled - Jacob Johanssen from Mexico
Poker winner - Peter Sfikas
50/50 winner - Vera Lindemann $220 (donated back)
The Convention’s $50 raffle winners were:
$1000: Laura and George Papageorge (donated back)
$400: Anonymous (donated back)
$300: Joanna & Fr. Nicholas Ferencz
$200: Anna Georgetson
$100: Zoe Costianis
Greetings (again) from your Membership Committee
As of August 26, 2024, there are 83 members in good standing (those that have paid this year’s dues). The collected dues come to $5,930.
We are still accepting monies for 2024 dues through December 31, 2024.
You can pay membership dues ($50 Single Membership / $80 Family Membership / $120 Benefactor) by check or by paying online (TsintzinaSociety.com).
If you choose to pay by check, please make your check payable to the Tsintzina Society and send to Duane Ferencz, 829 Newport Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15234.
To pay online, go to the Membership page, Membership — Tsintzina Society. Choose "Pay Member Dues" under "Existing Members." Follow the instructions; choose "Pay with PayPal." NOTE: Site accepts credit cards, although the screen will say PayPal. When you get to the payment screen, scroll down to see "add debit or credit card."
Thank you for your support and for paying your dues in a timely fashion. The Society has been able to pay all of its bills this year without dipping into the Endowment Fund. We appreciate your thoughtfulness and generous contributions.
We apologize if you paid dues and your name is not included below. Please contact Membership Director Kiki Lascaris Georgiou to update.
Current 2024 members are:
Single Members: Anna Apostolou, Amber Boyce, Neal and Georgia Brown (NEW 2024), Christianos Burlotos, Eleni Burlotos, James G. Burlotos, Michael Burlotos, Christine N. Costianes, Katherine (Kitty) Costianes DeVengencie, Nancy Dusckas, Alexandra (Sandy) Costianes Ellsworth, Duane Ferencz, Pauline Rassogianis Franks, Eugene G. Geracimos, James P. Gianukos, Louise Economakis Gibb, Harry Gousettis, Virginia (Ginny) Voutanesis Greninger, Jeff and Elaine Kreil, Nick Lambros, Sofeya (Pia) Lascaris, Theodora (Tedie) Lascaris (NEW 2024), Johanna Laskaris, Margaret J. Manos, Michael Mills, Georgia Spyridis Polites, Stamos Sfikas, Hailee Mayls Sfikas, John Stratakos, Michael C. Tillotson, Thomas and Magdalene Poolos Yeotis, Alexia Zacharias, Joan Zacharias, Kay Zaharis
Family Members: Damian Allis, Matoula Chelekis Advul, Noah and Elizabeth Gousettis Blunda, Jonathan and Raquel Burlotos Callans, Stephen G. Cannellos, Rick and Maria Moraitis Clark, Leonidas Costianis, Eleni Degelsmith, Fr. Nicholas and Joanna Costianes Ferencz, Justin and DLouisa Kontos Ford, Georgia Georgetson, Michael Georgetson, Debra Ann Hoeg, Jacob and Camille Johanssen, Philip and Jodi Dusckas Kalantgis, Dean and Constance (Tina) Lascaris Karlaftis, Nick Koumoutzis, Alex G. and Sarah Laskaris, Nick and Maia Laskaris, Peter G. and Helen Laskaris, Eldon and Mary J. Gaylord Mack, Karen Dusckas Martin, Alexander and Rachelle Martin, George and Kelly Nohos, Stephanie A. Soutouras and John Schlick, Denise Mitchell Schmittlein, Joan Chelekis Tolla, Socrates Zacharias
Benefactor Members: Leon and Robyn Andris, Kathryn Chelekis Brown, Kirk and Penny Zacharias Burkley, Chris Chelekis, James Costas, Thomas Costas, Constance (Connie) J. Dusckas, John and Angeliki (Kiki) Lascaris Georgiou, Peter (PJ) and Amelia Karousis, Peter G. Macheras, Bill & Paulette Manos, Jacqueline N. Mitchell, George and Laura Papageorge, Cassandra Mihalakos Rinaldi, Mary Anne Nickles Scott, George S. Sfikas, Peter and Amanda (Kitty) Sfikas, Alexandra K. Slezak, Kathryn N. Slezak, Nick S. Stam, Kaleroy A. Zervos
Gifts to the Endowment Fund: Leon and Robyn Andris, Matoula Chelekis Avdul, Penny Zacharias and Kirk Burkley, Kathryn Chelekis Brown, Jim Costas, Alexandra (Sandy) Costianes Ellsworth, Eugene Geracimos, Debra Ann Hoeg, Peter George Macheras, Bill and Paulette Manos, Stephanie Soutouras and John Schlick, Denise Schmittlein, Kathryn N. Slezak, Nick S. Stam, John Stratokos, Michael C. Tillotson, Joan Chelekis Tollas, Tom and Magdalene Poolos Yeotis, Socrates Zacharias, Kay Zaharis, Kaleroy A. Zervos
— Kiki Lascaris Georgiou
Treasurer’s Report
