About The Pan-Icarians
The membership of the Pan-Icarian Brotherhood is open to anyone over 18 years of age (or their spouse) whose ancestry can be traced to the eastern Aegean Greek islands of Icaria or Fournoi. There are approximately 1800 dues paying members among the 21 chapters in the United States and Canada. The annual convention of the Pan-Icarian Brotherhood is held every Labor Day weekend and can attract several thousand participants.
In 1961 a tax exempt “Pan-Icarian Foundation” was established to administer the philanthropic endeavors of the Pan-Icarian Brotherhood. Since its inception the Foundation has distributed hundreds of thousands of dollars for medical aid, scholarships, disaster relief, and other charitable causes in North America and Greece. The Foundation is currently headed by Gus Stefandis (Clearwater, Florida).
The official publication of the Pan-Icarian Brotherhood and the Pan-Icarian Foundation is IKARIA magazine. It is published quarterly in Dunedin, Florida under the guidance of its editor Niki Plutis.
Icarians through out the world celebrate July 17 or Saint Marina Day as Icarian Independence Day. On this date in 1912 the Icarians freed themselves of Turkish rule in a brief revolution with only one fatality. The island was technically an independent nation (with its own flag and national anthem) until union with Greece in November of that year. July 17 is commemorated by the Icarian diaspora of North America with picnics and parties.
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