Goya September 2011 Voice Article
On Sunday, September 11th, 2011, we are starting our year off with our first GOYA meeting after church services, Artoklasia and the Installation of our new Officers. We want to welcome old and new GOYA members and we are looking forward to a great new year. At our first meeting we will have our Registration and sign-ups for our annual Kick-Off dance and the Mr. and Miss Goya Pageant. We will also be talking about our junior boys’ basketball practices, girls’ volleyball practices, the senior boys’ basketball practices, and the Goya’s dance practices.
On September 18th, we will be celebrating Holy Cross day at Asbury Park. Every year, four Goyans from each church, dive for the cross after church services. Dean Rexines, Katherine Robles, George Exarchakis and Joanna Kantilierakis will be representing St. George. We wish all four of our Goyans Good Luck!
This year the Kick-off dance will be held at Tenafly’s church on September 23rd. Last year, we hosted this dance and it was a great success. We are looking forward to this year’s also. The Kick-off dance is a great way for the newer Goyans from all churches to get together and meet one another.
September 25th will be our first Gyro sale. Our Goyans will be helping with cooking, preparing, and selling Gyros as a fundraiser for our events. This helps not only with our funds, but also getting to know and work with one another. We would like to thank everyone at St. George for always supporting us by buying our Gyros!
On Sunday, October 2nd, 2011 we will be having our second Goya meeting. This is also the date for the “Walk for the Cure” at Six Flags. For the past few years our church has been represented by a big group of adults, goyans and younger children showing their support in the fight against breast cancer.
On October 8th, the Mr. and Miss Goya Pageant’s interviews will be held at Holmdel church. Then the actual pageant will be on October 9th at the Pines Manor. Katina Kontos and Andreas Savva will represent St. George Piscataway. The money collected as this event goes to the Goya Scholarship Fund that goyans are awarded at the end of every year. Good Luck to all Contestants!
Practices are beginning soon. Every week each team meets up and gets into shape for their games! Every athlete comes together to show their potential in each sport, and the coaches help enhance their individual talents. Our first home game will be on October 23rd.
Something to look forward to: Our 9th Annual Taverna Night will be on Saturday, December 3rd. All proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit “The Lakeview School” Cerebral Palsy Association of Middlesex County.
We have a very busy schedule this year and we all look forward to the next few months.
Respectfully submitted,
Ekaterini Robles
GOYA Historian
Goya June 2011 Voice Article
On Saturday, May 14 the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival Metropolis level was held at St. George in Clifton. George Stavrianidis and Zoe Makropoulos both represented our church and did a phenomenal job. This was the first time that participants in both divisions came from Piscataway. George received 2nd place for the junior division and Zoe received ‘Honorable Mention’. We are very proud of both of you.
As many of us know (and attended), the St. George Greek Orthodox 38th annual Greek festival was held from May 13- May 15. The GOYA did a great job dancing, and helping out anywhere necessary. Overall, the weekend was a huge success as always and tons of fun for all who attended. Thank you to any who volunteered!
The GOYA is also selling T-shirts to raise money for (Jr Olympics?) The “Greek Boys are Cute” and “Greek Girls are Cute” t-shirts are back, as well as the new “Being Greek, Priceless” design. Each shirt is worth $10, and the donations are greatly appreciated!
On Memorial Day weekend, nearly 40 Goyans bussed off to Monmouth College, for the annual Junior Olympics competition. There the P-Way GOYA did a great job representing the church in sports such as swimming, track and volleyball. We are extremely proud of the great sportsmanship that was seen throughout the weekend. Congratulations to all who participated!
On Saturday, June 4th a van full of Goyans attended the annual METS game, honoring the Greek Children’s Fund. The Goyans were able to dance and later enjoy the game. It was a fantastic day for all who attended.
This year the annual GOYA awards luncheon was held, on Sunday June 5th. This is the time where all Goyans are recognized for their achievements throughout the year, as well as the final farewell to all the graduating seniors. We wish them all the best of luck and hope to see them soon!
The same day as the awards luncheon, was the final Goya meeting of the 2010-2011 year. This was the day for the new board to be elected and is always an exciting day for many. We wish the 2011-2012 board good luck and great success!!
Finally, several of the high school Goyans travelled up to Garrison, NY to St. Basil’s Academy. This was the 3rd time the GOYA has gone on this trip and is one of the favorite trips of the year. From June 23rd-25th the GOYA spent the days at the Academy renovating wherever the school needed help. It’s a great opportunity for Goyans to spend time with the kids at the academy and give back to the Greek community. We are proud of all the work our Goyans have done.
We hope everybody enjoys their summer and returns back to GOYA refreshed and excited for the year to come! May God bless you all!
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Moutafis and Zoe Makropoulos
Co-GOYA historians