OCEAN, NJ (March 28, 2026) — The Daughters of Penelope (DOP) Grand Lodge hosted a Zone I East Coast Leadership Conference for Daughters of Penelope Districts 3-9 on March 21, 2026.
The conference began with a welcome by Grand President Antoinette Marousis Zachariades.
Conference Presentations and Messages
The first half of the Daughters of Penelope Zone Conference started with remarks and presentations by Grand President Antoinette Marousis Zachariades, Grand Secretary Patty Didik, Grand Treasurer Effie Kirkiles, Grand Governor Lainie Damaskos Christou, and Grand Governor Christina Vlahopoulos. A team building exercise followed which included DOP vision boards followed by a presentation on the upcoming Salute to Women honoring Journalist, Professor, and Photographer Dody Tsiantar by Past Grand President & Salute Co-Chair Georgette Boulegeris, a presentation on Building Blocks for a Chapter by District 6 Governor Marina Patelos and District 7 Governor Marcella Calagias, and a presentation on DOP National Project Penelope’s Place by Penelope’s Place Committee Chair Tina Niedbala.
The second half of the conference included team building exercises by Grand President Antoinette Marousis Zachariades and Grand Treasurer Effie Kirkiles, a presentation on Succession Planning by District 4 Governor Georgia Chletcos and District Governor 8 Sophia Koziski, a presentation on Building and Connecting Bridges in the Chapter by District 5 Athena Borzeka and Lt. Governor Viveca Sulich, a Q&A Session with the Grand Lodge and Daughters of Penelope Executive Director Elena Saviolakis, and closing remarks by Grand Secretary Patty Didik and Grand Treasurer Effie Kirkiles to close out the conference.
Spirit of Penelope Award
At the conference, Grand President Antoinette Marousis Zachariades had the pleasure of presenting the Daughters of Penelope Spirit of Penelope Award to acclaimed writer and director Christina Eliopoulos. Eliopoulos has directed and produced several notable feature films including Here’s Yianni, Demon on Wheels, and Greetings from Asbury Park, which have screened on PBS and streaming platforms.
The Daughters of Penelope Spirit of Penelope award was established in 2023 and is given to women who exemplify dignity, perseverance, creativity, and inspire and empower women.
About the Daughters of Penelope
Founded in San Francisco in 1929, the Daughters of Penelope (DOP) is the first women’s organization of its kind established in the United States. It is an affiliate organization of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (Order of AHEPA).
The mission of the DOP is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of Hellenism, Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence.
For more information about the DOP, or any of its programs or projects, please visit www.daughtersofpenelope.org.
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