""" I had the honor of being one of the members of the seven-member committee, which was formed in order to pave the way so that a Greek Astrological Federation could be established. The committee was elected by secret voting, on the occasion of an historical meeting of 32 Greek astrologers, which took place on May 15th, 2009. I alphabetically mention the members of the committee: Galanou Mary, Gazis Thomas, Konti Vasia, Panayiotopoulos Yianis (John), Rizopoulos Yianis, Sotiraki Smaro, Zachariadou Evita.
A serious health problem presented to me and my forced residence abroad did not allow me to follow all the sessions of this Committee. I communicated to the other members this situation of mine, but they decided to keep me "ad honorem", although I was unable to execute properly any work. I have recently returned to Greece and to my surprise found out - from friends and colleagues - that this crucial committee was actually "dissolved in silence"! It was dissolved soon after my departure abroad, with the members of this committee making no essential effort to accomplish the task they were voted for: to pave the way for the major assembly that would lead to the creation of a Greek Astrological Federation.
Many critical issues arise here:
1. The six remaining members of the committee were not competent - or lacked the experience - to carry out such an important assignment, but they discovered this incompetence of theirs only "a posteriori", afterwards?
2. If any kind of "external factors" intervened - in the name of any third parties interests - and obstructed directly or indirectly the committee's work then why such an intervention was not publicly denounced by the members of the committee?
3. Why was this committee "dissolved in silence" without any public notice, as if it were a mere private matter? Is this "silent dissolution" reflecting the spirit of the members of the Committee and their general idea on how a Greek Astrological Federation should function?
4. Why did the members Zachariadou, Konti, Galanou and Rizopoulos feel the need to replace the member of the committee Thomas Gazis (which in my testimony was the member who worked most of all - especially on the Statute of the Federation - and cooperated fully)? The temporary committee had no jurisdiction to dismiss in such a way a member who was legally elected on the May 15th 2009 meeting.
5. Is it possible that this whole federation initiative was not based on sincere intentions but it was "built" from scratch so as to fail? The May 15th 2009 meeting was attended by many well known to the Greek public astrologers. Most of them had the ability, knowledge and resources to carry out the task of creating a formal Greek Astrological Federation. Is it possible then that these astrologers were in reality reluctant to carry on such a mission because they did not want to lose their "valuable (financially and professionally) time" dedicating it to a purpose that ultimately could deprive them of some of their actual privileges?
6. If we really care for astrology we have to answer these questions - putting aside our personal differences. A formal Greek Astrological Federation should be the "Holy Grail" for all of us who love astrology, even for those people who approached our art from all walks of life and who are claiming today that they are "madly in love with it!"
7. With these questions I am not trying to shy away from my own responsibilities, as many people use to do. I am just stressing the fact that we will never manage to establish an Astrological Federation in Greece unless we have good will, unanimity, an objective assessment of the situations and the sincerity to accept the mistakes of the past. Thus, the anonymous posts in various blogs and sites are not very creative and helpful in this direction. Please use your full name and surname and speak up!
8. If we really want to do something serious in Greece regarding astrology we should be properly organized and united, offering much voluntary work to our common cause and being consistent. Everybody should contribute and the field should be open to all the interested parts, as long as these parts leave behind them their personal differences and "frictions" and put aside for a while their purely individual or "group" interests. All of us we have to value and prioritize the collective interest of the Greek astrologers and astrology, all of us we have to strive in order to draw out of the "gutter" and lift up in Greece the holy, celestial art of Astrology.
Athens, June 6, 2011
John Panayiotopoulos """
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas Gazis note:
Please read my post on The Shenanigans of the Greek Astrological community
It's goog that these things are clarified precisely by the hand of a professional who was a member of this group, where marred the image and person of Thomas Gazis.
ReplyDeleteThe way they have handled things is very typical of those who aspire to positions of importance without the ability needed or the culture, only found in the lush imagination of their minds by appealing to imaginary rights without putting the least personal effort, so when they fail in their attempts, become social malcontents and seek for someone to blame for their abortive efforts, and criticizing unhealthily disqualifying a person, as they have done whit Thomas Gazis. A shame!
Es muy bueno que estas cosas se aclaren justamente de la mano de un profesional que fue integrante de este grupo, donde se malogró la imagen y la persona de Thomas Gazis.
El modo en que han manejado las cosas es muy propio de quienes aspiran a ocupar posiciones de importancia sin tener la capacidad ni la cultura necesaria, solo habita en la frondosa imaginaciòn de sus mentes , apelando a imaginarios derechos sin poner el mínimo esfuerzo personal, por lo tanto al fracasar en sus intentos se convierten en resentidos sociales y buscan un chivo espiatorio para sus malogrados esfuerzos, descalificando y criticando malsanamente a una persona, como lo han hecho con Thomas Gazis. Una verguenza!