To the FDF Board of Trustees and Metropolis Council,

Since the late 1970s, FDF has been a beloved cornerstone for our youth, families, and parishes—a generational tradition where many of us forged lifelong friendships, met our spouses, and now watch our children—and in some cases grandchildren—share the same experience we’ve cherished for years. We’re grateful for the volunteers who make it all possible, and we look forward to creating new memories together each year.

What’s not working 

• Hotel rooming remains chaotic.
• The weekend’s value does not match the price. 
• Participant voices lack a reliable forum and follow-through. 
• Transparency around finances and procedures is limited. 

What we’re asking for 
We recognize it’s too late to change most of this season’s operations; however, FDF can demonstrate good faith at this year’s festival by clearly signaling the path forward—and by making any feasible adjustments now as a meaningful sign of respect for participants.

• Announce the 2027 host city at this year’s banquet, as in past years.
• Improve food quality.
• Restore a single-room awards banquet with dinner.
• Reestablish a consistent feedback loop via quarterly Zoom town halls and/or an annual survey with published follow-ups.
• Provide high-level financial summaries and relevant operating procedures, printed in the OLI Mazi annual magazine.
• Reinstate day/competition-only passes at a reasonable price point (about $30–$40).
• Move the early-bird registration deadline to the end of the calendar year to ease holiday budgeting.

2027 and Beyond: Expectations & Accountability

#1 Priority — The host hotel(s) must provide sufficient room inventory for all registered participants and families. Room blocks cannot sell out in minutes; the allocation process must be fair, predictable, and accessible.

To move forward, we are requesting visible, time-bound commitments—not just assurances. Chief among the requests already listed above, FDF must publish public plan for FDF 2027 before summer 2026 (ideally by late May), since many families travel to Greece starting in June. This plan must first and foremost name the 2027 location and clearly spell out milestones, firm dates for hotel-block and registration openings, and a scheduled forum for open communication.

Why This Matters — Expectations & Accountability

FDF is where people of all ages deepen faith and culture, strengthen friendships, and reconnect with family and friends.  Yet communities are out of patience: this year’s registration and hotel process was the straw that broke the camel’s back. If the event consistently ran well, some hurdles might be tolerable—but there are now too many areas that don’t meet expectations. Families feel taken for granted; the weekend’s value no longer matches the cost, and it appears leadership assumes everyone will attend regardless. That’s no longer the case. Parishes are actively weighing alternatives for 2027 because prices keep rising while the participant experience falls short. We’re asking for clear value, transparency, and respect for the communities that make FDF possible. If FDF leadership and the Metropolis deliver on the requests above—before summer 2026 for the 2027 season—it will begin to rebuild trust by showing that participant concerns are heard and acted upon. These steps are reasonable, achievable, and overdue.

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We, the undersigned—parents, directors, dancers, and supporters—urge FDF leadership to take these steps now so FDF can truly match the commitment our communities invest all year long.