The Daughters of Penelope (DOP) and Lysippi Chapter No. 418 of Kefalonia, Greece, co-hosted the 2026 Greece and Cyprus Chapter Leadership Conference at the Municipal Theater in Kefalonia on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
The conference opened with a vibrant performance of traditional island music. Following the musical welcome, Lysippi Kefalonia Chapter President Eirini Stefatou greeted the assembly, alongside Grand President Antoinette Marousis Zachariades and Region Governor of Greece Maria Sofianou. Distingished guests also included Ms. Eleonora Meleti, Member of European Parliament, Mr. Sotiris Kouris, Deputy Regional Governor, Mr. Theofilos Mixalatos, Mayor of Argostoli, Mrs. Evropi Moscona Maragkaki, Lykeio Ellinidion President, and Region Governor of Cyprus Margaret Pitiris.
Video greetings were given by AHEPA Supreme President Chris Kaitson, AHEPA President of Canada Tasos Moussas, Mr. Ioannis Loverdos, Greece Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Her Excellency Ambassador Gerda Vogl, and Ms. Maira Mirogianni, Secretary General for Greeks Abroad for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece.
Conference Presentations and Messages
Reports were given by almost all 22 Daughters of Penelope Chapter Presidents of Greece & Cyprus in addition to a Headquarters Presentation by Daughters of Penelope Executive Director Elena Saviolakis, a presentation on undergraduate and graduate scholarships provided by the DOP Foundation, Inc. by Robbie Jackson, DOP Foundation, Inc. President, and a presentation on how to start a Maids of Athena (youth organization of the DOP) Chapter by Maids of Athena Advisory Board Member Anna Goritsa. Daughters of Penelope chapter reports and presentations were given by Karyatides Chapter No. 271 President Dora Spachi of Athens, Hesperus Chapter No. 359 President Anna Goritsa of Athens, Sparta Chapter No. 406 President Ms. Georgia Zaharaki of Sparti, Lysippi Chapter No. 418 President Eirini Stefatou of Kefalonia, Niriides Chapter No. 423 President Smaroula Konstantinidou of Komotini, Atrytone Chapter No. 426 Member Stella Stoikou on behalf of Atrytone President Stavroula Avramidou of Serres, Evridiki Chapter No. 427 President Stavroula Bitsiou of Alexandroupolis, Ypatia Chapter No. 443 President Athina Poziou of Pireaus, Olympiades Chapter No. 446 Maria Apostolopoulou of Patras, Promeniea Chapter No. 448 President Popi Zavakopoulou of Ioannina, Aglaoniki Chapter No. 458 Roumpini Leontari of Larissa, Alia-Rodi Chapter No. 464 President Chrysanthi Pappou of Rodos, and Amazones Chapter No. 453 President Angela Hatjicosta of Nicosia Cyprus.
A beautiful and heartfelt tribute video was also presented by the chapters in Greece and Cyprus to Daughters of Penelope Executive Director Elena Saviolakis for her service and dedication to the Daughters of Penelope.
Empowerment Experiential Workshop
After an initiation of new members into the Daughters of Penelope, the conference attendees had the opportunity to engage in a creative workshop designed to motivate and empower each other. The workshop was hosted by Amazones Cyprus Chapter President Angela Hadjicosta (HRDA Certified Trainer-Soft Skills & Workplace Well-being, ACC Coach, Certified Health Coach) and Ypatia Athens Member Maria Papazoglou (Global Career Coach, Executive Coach, Corporate Trainer, and NLP Master Practitioner).
Organizational Awards
Grand President Antoinette Marousis Zachariades had the pleasure of presenting awards at the 2026 Daughters of Penelope Greece and Cyprus Leadership Conference.
The 2026 Daughters of Penelope Service Award was presented to Lysippi Chapter No. 418 of Kefalonia in recognition of serving as the official Host Chapter of the 2026 Greece and Cyprus Leadership Conference and for their distinguished service to the Daughters of Penelope.
The 2026 Daughters of Penelope Youth Membership Award was presented to Ypatia Chapter No. 443 of Piraeus, Athens, in recognition of the successful reactivation of the first Maids of Athena Chapter in Greece.
The 2026 Daughters of Penelope Membership Award was presented prior to the conference to Athinaides Chapter 430 of Athens, Greece, as the Largest Chapter in Greece for the year 2025.
Thank you to the Municipal Theater of Kefalonia for the beautiful and significant collaboration as the official venue host of the conference. Thank you to Chapter President and Chapter Officers, and Daughter of Penelope and Maids of Athena Sisters who came from near and far to be with us and to participate in the conference.
Special thanks to the Municipal Theater of Kefalonia for the beautiful and significant collaboration as the official venue host of the conference. Specials thanks also to Chapter President and Chapter Officers, and Daughter of Penelope and Maids of Athena Sisters who came from near and far to be with us and to participate in the conference.
Heartfelt thanks to Region Governor of Greece Maria Sofianou, Lysippi Chapter President Eirini Stefatou, Lysippi Chapter Vice President Alexandra Marinou, Lysippi Chapter Secretaries Maria Evangelatou and Eugenia Kalogira, Lysippi Chapter Treasurer Marietta Kotsorou, and the Lysippi Sisters of Kefalonia for not only their hard work to make the weekend and conference a success but also for their wonderful hospitality as the official host chapter of the conference.
“It was an honor to be with the leadership in Greece and Cyprus to discuss our goals and projects and to engage in thought-provoking dialogue about how we can further empower and inspire women to become future leaders via our mission statement,” said Grand President Marousis Zachariades.”
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.
Photo: Conference Venue – Municipal Theater of Kefalonia
