In September, State Senator Ed Kennedy was invited to join a seven-member delegation that traveled to Kalamata, Greece for a sister City signing ceremony and a series of meetings on education, tourism and other topics. The seven-member delegation included State Senator Kennedy, Lowell Mayor Sokhary Chau, former Mayor Bill Samaras, UMass-Lowell Associate Vice Chancellor Arlene Parquette, Middlesex Community College Dean Judith Hogan, Federation of Hellenic-American Societies Board Member Dimitrios Mattheos, Federation of Hellenic-American Societies President Bill Kafkas.
Last April, the City of Kalamata sent a six-person delegation to Lowell to sign Sister City documents and visit Lowell. The New England Federation of Hellenic-American Societies sponsored several events during their visit.
Upon returning from Kalamata, State Senator Ed Kennedy stated that “The Federation of Hellenic-American Societies put together a rigorous schedule of working meetings during the visit to Greece and those meetings spawned several ideas for ways in which Lowell and Kalamata may develop their relationship for the mutual benefit of both cities”.
State Senator Ed Kennedy addresses the audience at the Sister City signing ceremony in Kalamata, Greece on September 23. 
State Senator Ed Kennedy presents Kalamata Mayor Athanasios P. Vasilopoulos with a citation from the Massachusetts State Senate at the Sister City signing ceremony in Kalamata on September 23 as Lowell Mayor Sokhary Chau and former Mayor Bill Samaras look on. 
State Senator Ed Kennedy presents Kalamata Mayor Athanasios P. Vasilopoulos with a flag of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts during the Sister City signing ceremony in Kalamata on September 23 as Lowell Mayor Sokhary Chau and former Mayor Bill Samaras look on. The flag was a gift from Federation Board Member Dimitris Mattheos. 
State Senator Ed Kennedy, along with Federation of Hellenic-American Societies President Bill Kafkas, Federation Board Member Dimitris Mattheos, Lowell Mayor Sokhary Chau and former Mayor Bill Samaras participate in a round table discussion on “Entrepreneurship & Tourism” at the Messinian Chamber of Commerce in Kalamata on September 24. 
State Senator Ed Kennedy presents a Silver Diploma to the coaches of the Corala de Fete “Ciprian Porumbescu” youth choral group of Romania at the closing ceremonies of the Kalamata International Choir Competition & Festival on September 25. 
Federation of Hellenic-American Societies President Bill Kafkas, State Senator Ed Kennedy, and a Peloponnese University faculty member during the Lowell delegation’s visit to Peloponnese University on September 25. 
Gathering outside the Hellenic Parliamentary Dining Room after lunch, from left to right: Former Mayor William Samaras, UMass-Lowell Associate Vice Chancellor Arlene Parquette, Middlesex Community College Dean Judith Hogan, Federation of Hellenic-American Societies Board Member Dimitrios Mattheos, Federation of Hellenic-American Societies President Bill Kafkas, Hellenic Parliament Member Dionysia Avgerinopoulou, Massachusetts State Senator Ed Kennedy, and Lowell Mayor Sokhary Chau. 
Gathering at the Ambassador’s Residence in Athens, Greece are from left to right: Former Mayor William Samaras, UMass-Lowell Associate Vice Chancellor Arlene Parquette, Massachusetts State Senator Ed Kennedy, Lowell Mayor Sokhary Chau, U.S. Ambassador George Tsunis, Federation of Hellenic-American Societies President Bill Kafkas, Middlesex Community College Dean Judith Hogan and Federation of Hellenic-American Societies Board Member Dimitrios Mattheos.