Απάντηση της Κοινότητας Ανατ. Βανκούβερ, στην επιτολή του Πατάρων Αθηναγόρα, για την είσπραξη $73.000 (φορο)Λογίας, από την Αρχιεπισκοπή.!!!

 

Στη συνέχεια της επιστολής του Πατάρων Αθηναγόρα, προς την Κοινότητα του Αγ. Νικολάου – Δημητρίου, του Αν. Βανκούβερ, έπεσε στα χέρια μας και η απάντηση του π. προέδρου της Ελληνικής Κοινότητας Ανατ. Βανκούβερ, κ. Κωνσταντίνου Νικολάου, στην επιστολή της Αρχιεπισκοπής Καναδά, μέσω της οποίας απαιτούνται οι $73.000, ως (φορο)Λογία για τα έτη 2020 και 2021.!!! Παρακολουθήστε, λοιπόν, όσοι ενδιαφέρεστε για τα έργα και τις ημέρες του Σωτηρίου και των επισκόπων – βοηθών του, κι τα ξαναλέμε.:

 February 3rd, 2022

His Eminence Auxiliary Bishop Athenagoras of Patara . The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada

I would like to confirm receipt of your letter dated February 3, 2022 and hope this reply finds you well and you receive it in the spirit it’s intended – which is to covey that we wish continue to work with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada in a harmonious and unified relationship – as we have done so in excess of 42 years. I am certain you will appreciate that we address your letter in the forefront of this correspondence so we can get the subject matter out of the way. Perhaps your point relating to percentages and payments issued by us to the Archdiocese (for 2020 and 2021) was not well thought out when you committed it to paper. I am certain you are aware of the global crisis and the sacrifices that we as administrators of our (and probably other Communities) have necessitated to enact. 1-As a start, we have had to lay off staff, and cut back on varied expenses due to lack of donation revenue streams, lack in (and restricted) attendance, and an overall cancelation or significant change to our fundraising events. While we have not had to resort to paying our people 8% of their wages, some have seen a change to their hours and others have had their jobs eliminated for the time being. 2-I feel it’s necessary to point out that this Global Pandemic and the affect it has had on us a community - in terms of survival - has only been possible by utilizing understanding, compassion, and sympathy – not only by us as a Council but as a Greek Orthodox Community as a whole. This has included accepting that some people will not be able to afford their annual membership, necessitating leniency on school and other fees and patience on collections. We found that not insulting people when they are down is perhaps a very Christian thing to do, and hope that when they are up on their feet, they will remember our patience. 3-We have modeled ourselves after the multitude of business owners in our community who have taken rent-cuts on their properties, offered discounts for their services, and necessitated to tighten their belts in order to survive. This has yielded a closer Christian Community and Membership that I am certain you will appreciate – as we strive for this in the name and grace of God. 4-Since 2011 ( I cannot speak to “before that era”, since I was not a Director), we have been moving forward with the Archdiocese in a non-confrontational manner with respect to our Community Contributions. I hope that any change in authority structure at the Archdiocese does not translate to insulting chains of correspondence, for up until yesterday, every letter received from your office was non debatable in its respect and its spirit of unification and understanding. 5) On the matter of our Community Contributions At our meeting on February 2nd , 2022 – we discussed our former offer to the Archdiocese – which by relay of Father Tim – was rejected. We respectfully acknowledge the Archdiocese of Canada’s request for payment of Community Contributions. Upon examination of our current financial status and reviewing the income and expenditures for the periods of 2020 and 2021, we cannot meet the obligation as requested. In addition to what was paid in the early part of 2020, we would like to supplement that by $10,000.00 immediately upon acceptance by your office, after which that point, we hope the Archdiocese would consider the obligation for 2020 and 2021 complete. Further, we would like to also offer an immediate $3000 in 3 x $1000 postdated payments ( January to March 2022) towards our 2022 contribution. We also commit to examine our income forecast in March of 2022 and assess what further additional payment we can direct towards our Community Contribution obligations for the balance of the year.

 I believe we are not in a unique fiscal challenge, for as stated before, the period after January 2020 our revenue streams were affected by the restricted attendance mandates, closures, and cancelled fundraising events We are also feeling the impact of the efforts to complete our new School Building – and while when it will be operational, we do not foresee any revenue issues, we are in fact currently dealing with less than expected donations to the point that we need to govern our available capital reserves in a manner that doesn’t hamper the project completion. 6) As a point of formality, please be advised that the formal name of our Church is “Saints Nicholas & Dimitrios Greek Orthodox Church” . I have noticed in the past few pieces of correspondence your office has neglected inclusion of Saint Dimitrios in the address, and believe you are interested in ensuring that our Churches complete name is included in future correspondence. In closing, I make myself available to have a telephone or video conference with you if it assists in resolving this matter with the Contributions. To be honest, we were waiting for His Eminence Archbishop Sotirios to visit with us this past week and looking forward to discussing this and other matters in hopes of finding resolution. Beyond this we hope that you understand our situation and look forward to your expediated reply.