10. WEST COAST: In the West Coast of the United States, there is a crying
need for an independent Greek-American TV station, with frequent programming
relevant to Hellenic Culture. This will probably be the most powerful tool,
especially for teaching the Language to young children right at home. Other
minority groups enjoy extensive programs designed for their communities.
Additionally, satellite transmissions from Greece can be very valuable, with
good programming for the young. Another crying need within the San Francisco
Bay Area is a Hellenic Cultural Center (HCC). For reasons that are not
clear, such a project has never been actively pursued in this area and many
people attribute the lack of impetus for a Cultural Center, to poor
understanding of its huge potential for young people, in our Community.
A modern HCC in the San Francisco Bay Area is long overdue, and there is
nothing else at present to take its place. The HCC is envisaged as a Center
for Cultural, Theatrical, Musical, Educational (Lectures, Seminars, and
Conferences on Hellenic Issues) Artistic, Scientific, and Archeological
events (e.g. exhibits of antiquities from Greece), for fund raising, and
other Community activities. Most of these events cannot be hosted at
Churches and Cathedrals due to their non-profit, tax-exempt status. An HCC
will be of enormous value to the Greek-American youth in the Bay area.
11. NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS: With a few striking exceptions, there are
a number of rather anemic newspapers and periodicals in America, devoted to
Hellenic-American issues. We need improvement both in quality and quantity.
Our Community has shown a low degree of support for Greek-American Mass
Communication Media. This attitude must change. We urgently need a first
class, National bilingual Daily Newspaper, which will cover both United
States and Canada. Its beneficial impact on the Greek-American community,
from coast to coast, will be crucial, with the 21st century just around the
corner. Moreover, the use of personal Computers, of e-mail and the Internet,
can do wonders in promoting Cultural, Educational, career related and other
initiatives. The information revolution is upon us and it belongs mainly to
the young.
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