A World A'Fair -- Honorary Chair Person


		2005 Honorary Chairperson John Pappas John was born in a Slavic village in Northern Greece just prior to World War II. Having survived the atrocities of that war, his family escaped the atrocities of the civil war in Greece shortly afterward by immigrating to the United States. Here, John benefited from this great country by graduating from the University of Toledo with a degree in electrical engineering, serving in the armed forces as a lieutenant in the artillery branch of the army, and finally retiring as an aerospace engineer after 37 years at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. John was always interested in social ethnic folk dancing. His family attended many ethnic picnics, dances, weddings, etc where dancing was an integral part of the proceedings. In Dayton, he was active in the Miami Valley Folk Dancers and served in most capacities of leadership in that organization. In 1974, members of the Yugoslav dancers asked John and Carole, his wife, to join them in performing at the international festival "A World A'Fair". So started a long association with this organization currently known as the South Slavic Club. John has served in many positions of leadership in this organization from DIFI representative to President. However, his primary focus has been in ethnic folk dancing and choreography. He has appeared in all Zivio (the performing arm of the South Slavic club) performances since 1974 and has choreographed many suites for this group. Besides international folk dancing, John has an ancillary interest in digitizing the analog folk recordings that appeared in LP, 45, and 78 rpm shellac format. He has also been very active in Toastmasters International and rose to the rank of district 40 governor (Southern Ohio, parts of Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia). It was while serving as a DIFI representative that John became involved in the workings of the Dayton International Festival Incorporated. He was the chairman of the committee that wrote the constitution of DIFI. When DIFI separated from the Council on World Affairs of Dayton, John was the first president of DIFI as an independent organization. He has been the chairman of DIFI entertainment since 1997. John and Carole have four sons and eight grandchildren. One son, David, who lives in Troy, Ohio dances with Zivio. His wife Becky, who also dances with Zivio, is the chairperson of the Troy International Festival. While foreign travel has been important to John and Carole, it was while touring the former Yugoslavia with Zivio at the invitation of the Yugoslav government that has broadened his appreciation of other cultures. So far, the couple has visited 45 countries and still counting. Travel has also made him realize how fortunate he is to be living in the USA, and how important the American dream is to world citizens. This year the DIFI membership chose to recognize John for the many years of dedication at critical times to the Dayton International Festival by selecting him to be the Honorary Chairperson of this year's "A World A'Fair". Previous Honorary Chairpersons 2004 Anna R. Ctvrtnicek 2003 Richard A. Zimmer, City Commissioner 2002 Don and Sunny Hickey 2001 Karen Sitzman 2000 Marilyn Knight 1999 Wendy Cole 1998 Carl Day, WDTN Channel 2 1997 Sam and Ann Ballinger 1996 Joseph P. Whalen 1995 Jeannine Newhouse 1994 Jerry Schenking 1993 John Cole 1992 Glen E. Compton 1991 Richard B. Metzger 1990 Charles and Terry Eyman 1989 Maryan Caplan 1988 William A. Ademu-John 1987 Elinor Ambrose Sluzas 1986 Thomas F. Folino 1985 Aldona Ryan 1983 Grace Wolff 1982 Ed Hamlyn, WDTN Channel 2 1981 Jack Wymer, WING radio 1980 Lou Emm, WHIO 1979 Fr. Gabriel J. Rus, S.M.