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Eastern
Orthodox
Committee on
Scouting
In Collaboration with
The ORTHODOX YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT MINISTRIES
Serving our youth since 1960
Kyriako Bournis
National Chairman
Kyriako has been actively involved in the Boy Scout program of St. Demetrios Cathedral in Astoria NY – Troop 23 as Troop Committee Chairman and was the Scoutmaster for over a decade. He also served on the parish council of the Hellenic Orthodox Community of Astoria – St. Demetrios for two terms. He has received his Alpha Omega, Eagle Scout (class of '91) , Prophet Elias Award and received the District Award of Merit in June of 2024.
Kyriako has been running the EOCS website and Facebook page for over 28 years and has served on the EOCS board as Secretary and committee member.
In 2017 Kyriako was elected to serve as the National Chairman of the EOCS. Kyriako also serves on the Boy Scouts of America on the National Level Religious Relationships Committee.
Sokratis Galitsis
Vice Chairman
Sokratis Galitsis started his scouting career at Troop 23 in Astoria. Having been a scout there and eventually Scoutmaster and Troop Committee Chairman, he moved to Bayside Queens where he joined Troop 268 St Nicholas Flushing. There he served as Cubmaster and eventually Troop Committee Chairman.
Sok has been an active member of the EOCS board for the past 30 years and has been the Camporee chairman multiple times. Sok serves on the GNYC (Greater New York Council) BSA, Religious Relationship Committee and has been awarded the Silver Beaver. He is also a recipient of the Prophet Elias award.
Van Christakos
Treasurer
Van is a former Parish Council President of The Hellenic Orthodox Community of Astoria - St. Demetrios Cathedral. He is also a member of the school board at St. Demetrios Greek American School.
He has served as Cubmaster for the past 31 years of Pack 23, St. Demetrios and is also a Committee Member of Troop 23. Van has received his Prophet Elias Award.
Dr. Peter Hilaris
Secretary
Peter has served the Community of St. John the Theologian since 1994. He has held various positions
such as Committee Chair, Cubmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster and is the current Scoutmaster of Troop 25.
He earned his Eagle as a member of Troop 25 in 1976. He served on his Parish Council for 24 years and
is the vice president of the Bergen Knights #285 AHEPA chapter. He has been serving as EOCS Secretary
for the past many years and helping to chair the EOCS Religious Retreats.
Gregory Gounardes, M.Div.
Board Member, Liasson to DESMOS & OYM
Gregory is a lifelong Scout and Scouter of Pack & Troop 715 of the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Brooklyn, NY. He is a recipient of the Chi-Rho and Alpha-Omega Awards. Gregory earned the rank of Eagle Scout on April 18, 2008, and became a Vigil Honor Member of the Order of the Arrow in 2009. He is a 2017 Graduate of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, and has been working at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in the Office of the Chancellor since then.
Dr. Miriam Kotsonis, M. Div
Scholarship Chair
A recent addition to our board. Miriam has a doctorate of Theology and is currently our Scholarship chair.
John Christakos
Board Memeber
John Christakos is the current Scoutmaster of Troop 23 in Astoria. He has been an active member of the EOCS for the past twenty years. He has earned his Prophet Elias award.
Lou Leopold
Board Member
Lou has been actively involved in Scouting as a youth and adult for over 45 years serving at just about every Boy Scout leadership position as a youth and serving as a Cubmaster, assistant Scoutmaster, committee chair, chartered organization representative, district commissioner, council advancement chair and presently, council commissioner, as an adult. He served as trainer at Philmont for the “Mechanics of Advancement” and “Advancement Issues and Solutions” sessions for a few years as well as numerous Pow-Wows, University of Scouting, College of Commissioner Science and position-specific trainings.
He is an Arrow of Light recipient, Eagle Scout, life member of the National Eagle Scout Association, Vigil Honor member in the Order of the Arrow, and has been honored with a number of awards and recognitions for his service at the unit, district, council, and national levels, including the District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver, and the NESA National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award. He earned his Wood Badge beads from Wood Badge Course W4-57-99 and “used to be a staffer” for WE4-57-03 and WE4-57-19
George Boulukos
Immediate Past Chairman
George N. Boulukos passed away January 23, 2021. He was a wonderful person, an avid sailor, and dedicated to the Boy Scouts, the church and his family and friends. George was involved in the Boy scouts for over 80 years. He was involved and chaired many local and national committees. He chaired the EOCS for over 25 years and started the EOCS scholarship fund. George was one of only a handful of people to ever receive the Silver Buffalo Award for Distinguished Service. This award is the highest recognition given by the Boy Scouts o America for dedication and service.
Previous Chairman
Starting from 1960 in chronological order
Anthony Panuthos - Demetiros Haralambatos - Anthony Bridges - James Padakis - Andrew Yiannakos
George N Boulukos
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