Daughters of Penelope Organizes Successful
Capitol Hill Days
Leaders hope it will be first
of many more efforts
Daughters
of Penelope Grand President Karen Stamatiades and Hellenic Caucus
Co-Chair, U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney
WASHINGTON
(March 19, 2008) - On March 6, 2008, the Daughters of Penelope (DOP)
embarked on its first journey to Capitol Hill as part of the
organization's newly-instituted "Civic Responsibility Campaign."
"We
believe we had a very successful day on Capitol Hill especially for being
our first effort," said Grand President Karen Stamatiades. "We
are pleased that so many women, from all across the United States, made
the commitment to come to Washington and participate."
A group of
thirty Daughters of Penelope members attended a morning reception with
Hellenic Caucus Co-Chairs, U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Gus
Bilirakis (R-FL); and U.S. Reps. Zachary T. Space, (D-OH), Niki Tsongas
(D-MA), and John P. Sarbanes (D-MD). Peter J. Fotos, policy advisor, U.S.
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) also addressed the group.
U.S.
Rep. Zack Space provided insightful advice and thoughts about the
importance of participating in civic exercises like a Capitol Hill Day
During the
course of the day, each member of the organization had an opportunity to
visit one-on-one with their member of Congress, or congressional staff
person, with goals of creating an awareness of the organization and
specific women's issues that the DOP supports.
"We
have made great strides in educating our members that they do have a voice
in Congress, and that it is possible to make a difference through a grass
roots campaign," said Stamatiades. "We found congressional
offices to respond favorably and take an interest in co-sponsoring and
supporting our issues. We believe the Capitol Hill Day will be the
first of many more similar initiatives in the future."
U.S.
Rep. Tsongas addresses the audience on the significance of being elected a
member of Congress.
Also, the
DOP members joined up with AHEPA for a luncheon reception where U.S.
Senators Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) addressed the
group. U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME) helped make the reception
possible by securing a room.
