Quick Navigation

The 12th General Assembly of the DIAZOMA Association

September 4, 2019

Athens

Dear Members,

We are pleased to inform you that the 12th General Assembly of the DIAZOMA Association, which will take place on the islands of Naxos and Delos from Wednesday, September 18 to Sunday, September 22, 2019, is now upon us.

Moreover, we would like to remind you that this year’s General Assembly has been co-organized in a new way, with the Association’s Sponsors, Regular Members, and DIAZOMA all contributing to it together. Regular Members have contributed the sum of 20,000 euro, the Non-Profit Civil Company AEGEAS, as our regular sponsor, has contributed 20,000 euro, and the Association 30,000 euro. This is both in line with and highlights our culture and values, which are founded on the principle of PARTICIPATION in the entire structure and the actions of our volunteer movement.

With this letter, in accordance with article 14 of the Statutes of the Association, we invite you to the work session and side events  of the General assembly, which will take place on Saturday, September 11, 2019, between 0900 and 1500 at the Naxos Town Hall Amphitheatre with the following agenda:

a) Approve the action report of the Board of Directors for the year 2019.
b) Approve the financial and management report of January 1-August 31, 2019.
c) Approve the financial and management report of January 1-December 31, 2018.
d)Approve the action plan for the year 2020.
e) Approve the budget for the year 2020.
f) Approve the Audit Committee Report for the year 2018.

Please find attached the detailed program of General Assembly speeches of Saturday 21/09 (Attachment 1). 

BEFORE WE SAIL AWAY…

Kindly read the following information regarding your travel and stay:

  • ACCOMMODATION AND FERRY BOAT TICKETS

As you already know, the travel agency SOMEWHERE WE KNOW has been entrusted with organizing DIAZOMA’s 12th General Assembly. The Agency has secured our hotel accommodation on the island and the issuing of ferry boat tickets to and from the island of Naxos (Departure 18/9/19 at 7.25 am, Piraeus to Naxos. Departure 22/09/19 at 6 pm, Naxos to Piraeus), as well as transportation to and from the island of Delos.

Please note that on Wednesday 18/09 you must be at the port of Pireaus at 06.30 am, Gate 7, to board BLUE STAR DELOS (map 1), which departs for Naxos at 7.25 am. For any assistance you may need, a representative of SOMEWHERE WE KNOW (Julia Kourafa &Panagiotis Sparaggis) will be present outside the ship.

IMPORTANT: In case you lose or forget your ferry tickets you will need to purchase new tickets at the Blue Star Ferries Kiosk on the spot if seats for this particular route are still available.

We recommend you use public transport to arrive at the port of Piraeus. Alternately, if you wish to reach the port by car, you can make arrangements with car parks near the port to book your parking spot (e.g. Parkaround.gr, which also provides online booking, tel. 211 234 0024. Piraeus Port Authority car par, tel. 210 451 1775.  Polis Park Aghia Triada, tel. 210 451 880 etc).

Anyone wishing to take a taxi from the Port of Naxos to their accommodation can contact Radio Taxi Naxos on 22850 22444 and 22850 24331.

You are kindly requested to contact the travel agency SOMEWHERE WE KNOW (Panagiotis Sparaggis, tel. 211 411 3224) by Friday, September 13 to pick up your ferry tickets, useful material (maps), and a personal letter with information about your accommodation, bus seat, and the boat to Delos which you will be boarding. The letter will also include the contact details of each bus coordinator. (Ticket and material pickup from the offices of SOMEWHERE WE KNOW, Asklepiou 100, Neapoli Exarcheia, Monday-Friday 10.00 am- 5.00 pm).

The meeting point for our excursion to Delos will be the Chora central square (Mandilara Square). We will then be boarding three vessels to Delos. Boat seats will be allocated per the buses taken the previous day. You will receive your boarding passes on board.

3

 

 

  • SCHEDULE/ TRANSPORTATION

Following numerous consultations and meetings with local authorities and agencies, the final schedule for the five days of our 12th General Assembly (Attachment 2) has been concluded.

The departure point of all our travels will be the central square at the Chora port (Mandilara Square). Buses will depart from the port car park at the Chora of Naxos, which is close to the square.

As we will be staying at numerous different hotels, you are kindly requested to board the bus with the number listed in the accommodation package you will have received and remain on the same bus and same bus seat for the duration of our stay for the General Assembly. Those using private transportation will also have the option of using the buses provided by DIAZOMA.

4

As you already know, Professor Vassilis Lambrinoudakis will be instructing us about the great monuments of Naxos and Delos, and self-guided tours will follow, assisted by a wealth of informative material included in your package. Moreover, on the island of Delos, researcher Mr. Kostas Zambas will present the restoration study for the theatre of Delos, while a representative of the NEON Foundation will introduce us to the exhibition of British sculptor Antony Gormley.

We would like to draw your attention to Sunday’s schedule, which has been modified as follows, to facilitate our transportation to Apollona:

9.30- 10.50: Board buses. Talk by Professor Vassilis Lambrinoudakis* on the ancient quarries of Naxos and the statue of Dionysus at the Apollona quarry. Buses will depart in succession, every ten minutes, towards Apollona. (Bus 1 departs at 9.30. Bus 2 departs at 9.40. Bus 3 departs at 9.50. Bus 4 departs at 10.00. Bus 5 departs at 10.10. Bus 6 departs at 10.20. Bus 7 departs at 10.30. Bus 8 departs at 10.40. Bus 9 departs at 10.50)

11.00-12.30: Successive arrival of buses at Apollona. Self-guided tour at the quarry and the statue of Dionysus.

11.30 -13.00: Successive departure of buses to the village of Apriranthos.

12.30-16.00: Unscheduled time for visit and meal at Apeiranthos.

16.00: Board buses

16.00-17.00: Return to Naxos

18.00: Departure for Pireaus

23.00 Arrival at Pireaus

* Professor Vassilis Lambrinoudakis will give his talk on each bus separately.

The successive departure of each bus on a ten-minute schedule affects morning departure times from hotels and arrival times at Apeiranthos. “Early birds” will be rewarded, gaining more time to visit Apeiranthos.

Our meeting point for Sunday only, after we have checked out from our hotels and taken our luggage with us, will be the car park at the port of Naxos’ Chora, from where the buses will successively depart .

Given the wealth of visits in our schedule this year too, which moreover include transportation by boat with inflexible departure times, you are kindly requested to contribute to the success of our stay by observing the planned times, so that we can all share and enjoy five days filled with events and surprises.

Please note that for the duration of the General Assembly, Diazoma volunteers will be present to assist you with anything you may need.

6l

  • MEALS and DINNERS

We would like to inform those of you staying in accommodation that does not provide breakfast that we have agreed with the bakery-patisserie Rendez-vous, which is situated close to Mandilara Square (map 2), for a communal breakfast to be offered before tour departure times, between 7.00 and 9.00 am. Rendez-vous will provide a continental breakfast and anyone wishing to order anything else a la carte will enjoy a 15% discount on menu prices. You will receive the relevant coupon at the travel agency along with your tickets.

As you already know, DIAZOMA will provide a small snack of local delicacies during our visits to Sagri, Apollona, and Delos.

Moreover, the Municipality of Naxos and Small Cyclades in collaboration with local agencies will cater the work session of our General Assembly, providing coffee and refreshments followed by a wide variety of local produce.

Finally, the remaining meals-dinners will be unscheduled time at any restaurant of your choice. We have attached a sample list of restaurants where we have secured a 15% discount upon display of the relevant coupons which you will find in your package. (See attachment, restaurants).

Throughout our journey, (bus rides, archaeological sites, etc.) water will be provided by VIKOS S.A., a corporate member of DIAZOMA, to whom we extend our warmest thanks for their constant support.

  • ACCOMPANYING EVENTS

On Thursday, the Greek Youth Symphony Orchestra will enchant us with a wonderful musical event, which will take place at the Sanctuary of Yria. Music critic and member of Diazoma Mr. Giorgos Monemvasitis will address a foreword before the event.

Finally, do not forget that the Municipality of Naxos and Small Cyclades has prepared an afternoon of folk music, songs and dances for us, to take place on Saturday at the port of Naxos’ Chora (Mandilara Square).

  • NECESSARY SUPPLIES

We would like to remind you not to forget an essential accessory needed for our hikes, particularly around the archaeological site of Delos: sports shoes! Also, do not forget to bring a jacket with you, just in case!

 

  • MATERIALS- GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACCREDIATION

All our members will find a package in their rooms containing the materials needed for the general assembly. All members who are not in arrears will find their accreditation in their package; the remaining members can receive their accreditation on Saturday before the start of the work session of the General Assembly. The package will include information materials as well as small surprises. Please note that accreditation will be needed for Saturday’s ceremonial and work sessions of our General Assembly.

  • PARTICIPATING IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

We kindly ask those of you who are unable to attend the General Assembly to nominate another member of your choice to represent you both at the verification of the quorum and during the voting sessions to follow.

 In closing, we would like to warmly thank you for participating in our General Assembly and the high quality of our cooperation which implements in an exemplary manner the culture of volunteerism, participation, and solidarity. Special thanks are also due to AEGEAS NPC for their essential contribution to the co-organization of our Association’s General Assembly.

Finally, DIAZOMA members and volunteers (Tel: 210 82 54256-7) are at your disposal for any other information you may need.

 

Looking forward to our next meeting,

 

Yours sincerely,

Stavros Benos