STM Honors its Volunteers and Welcomes Volunteer Associations

With great success, took place on Sunday, December 5, 2010, at 6:00 p.m., in the crowded auditorium of the Science and Technology Museum of the University of Patras, the event to celebrate International Volunteer Day "STM Honors its Volunteers and Welcomes Volunteer Associations".

The event was opened by the Rector of the University of Patras, Prof. G. Panagiotakis, emphasizing the great importance of volunteering for the University of Patras. Then the Dean of the School of Natural Sciences and acting Director of the STM, Prof. C. Kordoulis stressed the importance of volunteering in the development of the STM.

Mr. G. Dimaras, greeted for the first time as the new Mayor of Patras, emphasized the role of volunteers for the new Municipal Authority and the importance of the connection of the Municipality of Patras with the University of Patras. This was followed by greetings from D. Papageorgiou, Spokesman of the Eminent Bishop of Patras Mr. Chrysostomos, the Deputy Mayor of Health Mr. G. Fesian and the Director of Secondary Education Mrs. E. Pierri, while greetings were sent by the Member of the Parliament for Achaia Mr. A. Triantaphyllopoulos.

Representatives of the following organizations also greeted: Hellenic Red Cross, The Educational Association of Ladies of Patras, Proposal-Move for Another Lifestyle, Hellenic Association for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis, Association of Blood Donors of Chalandritsa, Hellenic Association of Geriatrics and Gerontology of Greece, Association for the Protection of the Unborn Child, Anti-Smoking Association, Hellenic Association of Clubs for Families with Alcohol Problems (ESKOPA), Association for the Protection of Health and Environment Chalandritsa, The Ecological Movement of Patras (OIKIPA), The Smile of the Child, The Greek Guiding Association, Patras Amateur Theatrical Team "Refene" Non-Profit Organization Group 94, Mr. Lefteris Polykretis, Member of the National Blood Donation Center and Representative of the Karamandanio Children’s Hospital "Ag. Stylianos" spoke about the “Idea of ​​Volunteering”.

In the end, Mrs. P. Theologi-Gouti Architect Mech- Ethnologist, Curator of the STM, presented the "Role of Volunteers and Sponsors in the Development of the STM", while the Dean of the School of Natural Sciences, Prof. C. Kordoulis awarded honorary distinctions to the volunteers and sponsors of the STM. Honored:

• The five faculty members of the Working Team for the Organization and Operation of the Exhibition "Telecommunications in our lives", T. Deligiannis, Emeritus. Prof. Department of Physics, S. Kotsopoulos and D. Lymperopoulos, Profs. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, E. Vitoratos and C. Krontiras, Profs. Department of Physics for their scientific contribution to the development and operation of the STM.

• Three other members of the University Community: N. Avouris, Prof. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, for his contribution to the development of interactive exhibits, S. Koutsouvelis, Laboratory Teaching staff of the Department of Physics for his contribution to the construction and support of experiments and D. Tsolis, PhD. Department of Computer Engineering and Informatics, for the development of interactive exhibits.

• Mr. K. Bourdoulis, former technician Employee of OTE and Director of OTE Schools, Municipal Councilor of the Municipality of Rio and newly elected Municipal Councilor of the Municipality of Patras, for the Study & Coordination of the Installation and Activation of the ATZ-65 Call Center, as well as:

• the former OTE Technical Officers K. Kaipanos, A. Economopoulos and L. Raptis for the Installation and Activation and M. Revelas, for the technical assistance in the Installation and Activation of the Call Center ATZ-65 and

• the current Tech. OTE employees K. Dimitrakas and A. Angelopoulos for the Installation & Activation of power supply (E / M) of Call Center ATΖ-65.

• 11 Students of the Department of Physics A. Apostolopoulou, E. Guinness, S. Delis, D. Karageorgopoulos, K. Kasoumi, G. Lambrakos, O. Panagopoulos, C. Papadimitropoulou, D. Stamoulis, E. Taktikou, G. Tomara, for their participation in the demonstrations of Physics experiments.

• The students V. Vlachokyriakos (University of Peloponnese), for his contribution to the development of an interactive exhibit and Io Papadimitriou postgraduate student, Department of Educational Sciences and Early Childhood Education & C. Sintoris postgraduate student of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering for their contribution to the development of interactive exhibits.

• Sissy Stergiaki - Verroiou, for her participation in the documentation of museum material. 

• The STM Sponsors.

• VODAFONE-PANAFON Hellenic Telecommunications Company, (major sponsor), for support through sponsorship (financial support & donation of interactive exhibits).

• COSMOTE-Mobile Telecommunications for support through sponsorship.

• Intracom-Telecom for the material & moral support in the Installation and Activation of Call Center ATZ-65 and 

• OTE S.A. Telecommunications Region of Southern & D Western Greece for the support through sponsorship & the material and moral support in the installation and activation of Call Center ATZ-65.

The event continued with a Concert, courtesy of the Philippos Nakas Conservatory. The Guitar Class with Supervisor musician D. Makris, and his students O. Darla, S. Bonano, T. Gortsa, P. Gourdoupi, T. Tsolaki, presented exceptional, well-known works of guitar repertoire.

The event closed with the opening of the exhibition "LOTTE REINIGER: Her life and work" by the Director of Strategic Research Planning and Development, Prof. D. Kalpaxis and the Consul General of Germany Mr. G. Abatzis. Mrs. F. Apatangelou of the Goethe Center of Patras, presented the work of LOTTE REINIGER.

The event was also attended by former Mayor of Patras Mr. A. Karavolas, the Mayor of Rio K. Mitroulias, the head of the Department of Supervision of Secondary Education Ms. E. Kroupi, the Director of Secondary Education of the Prefecture of Ilia, Ms. K. Gerolymatou, a large number of representatives of voluntary organizations and many people. Attendees were given a tour of the exhibition and the STM, while the organizations distributed their leaflets.