Basil's Blog
Daily Posts from the 86th Annual AHEPA Supreme Convention in Greece!
Dear Brothers, Sisters and Friends: The 86th AHEPA Supreme Convention is off to a feverish start, and I'm excited to report to you about some of the special and unique events that are occurring during this week. Stay tuned for daily posts featured here on Basil's Blog!
Sunday, July 6
The 86th Athens Supreme Convention came to a conclusion today with elections, installations of officers, and an event with President of Parliament Dimitris Sioufas.
President of Parliament Dimitris Sioufas
Presents Gift to AHEPA Supreme President Ike Gulas
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Mr. Sioufas welcomed the AHEPA leaders (see related article), thanked AHEPA for choosing Athens as the site of the 86th Supreme Convention, and presented Supreme President Ike Gulas with a gift. The Supreme President invited Mr. Sioufas, who became an AHEPA member, to the 2009 Supreme Convention in San Francisco.
Supreme President Gulas, and most of his Supreme Lodge, were re-elected to serve a second term.
The 2008-09 Supreme Lodge will be: - Supreme President Ike Gulas
- Supreme Vice President Nicholas Karacostas
- Canadian President Nick Aroutzidis
- Supreme Secretary Dr. John Grossomanides, Jr.
- Supreme Treasurer Anthony Kouzounis
- Supreme Counselor John Galanis
- Supreme Governors: Charles Stamoulis, Tom Gober, Pete Kaldis, John Mesogitis, Louis Arvanitis, Connie Calliontzis, Philip Giavasis, Nick Perdaris
- Supreme Athletic Director: Dr. Monthe N. Kofos
Elected to the Board of Trustees were Past Supreme President James Scofield and former Chairman of the Board Lee Millas. Vasilios Albanos, Ph.D., was elected to the Board of Auditors
San Francisco - Site of the 87th Supreme Convention
click here for full sized image Congratulations to everyone! Thank you all who helped make the 86th Supreme Convention a tremendous success, and we'll see you next year in San Francisco!
Saturday, July 5
Today, the business sessions were coming to an end-an indication that we were soon coming to the end of a very special convention.
But the cultural and social activities were ongoing. Many members were treated to a tour and lecture at the New Acropolis Museum. The issue of the return of the Parthenon Marbles will always resonate with Hellenes across the globe as was evidenced by those who participated at today event.
His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
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The day culminated with the 86th Grand Banquet that featured remarks by the Deputy Chief of Mission of the American Embassy in Athens, Mr. Tom Countryman, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Deputy Culture Minister & Minister of Sport Yiannis Ioannidis, and the international AHEPA family leadership. Supreme President Ike Gulas offered an emotional closing response.
Metropolitan New York Archdiocese Youth Choir
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Supreme President Ike Gulas
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Past Supreme President and Convention General Chairman A. Steve Betzelos received the AHEPA Lifetime Achievement Award, and Past Supreme President Dr. James F. Dimitriou was recognized for his hard work and dedication to the successful revival of the Journey to Greece Program. We were all treated to angelic singing by the Metropolitan New York Archdiocese Youth Choir. The gala affair was truly the pinnacle event of the week. (see related VOA coverage)
Friday, July 4
On July 4th, Deputy Minister Ioannis Ioannidis hosted a party for the AHEPA Family in conjunction with AHEPA chapter HJ2 of Glyfada. Over 1200 people were in attendance, including various members of the American Embassy and other US citizens. The party continued all night with dancing and food.
Thursday, July 3
The AHEPA All Star Basketball Team in Action!
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In my opinion, it was as close as AHEPA could get to something out of the movie "Hoosiers." The AHEPA All Star Basketball Team defeated the Greek Junior National Basketball Team, 75-65, at OAKA Stadium! Determined and hungry, the AHEPA team led after every quarter. Steve Panos (Weber State University) led the team with 23 points and Mike Bramos (University of Miami (OH)) tallied 17 points. Despite a shorter team bench, an all-around solid team effort led to this upset witnessed by many AHEPA conventioneers and AHEPA Journey to Greece participants.
Coach Lappas at his best during a timeout
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Supreme President Ike Gulas and the AHEPA All Star Basketball Team
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It was really a thrill to see these two teams compete and the sportsmanship shown was fantastic. Supreme President Gulas participated in the ceremonial tip-off. Head Coaches Steve Lappas and Stan Spiro along with organizers Nick Tsiotos, Gregory Stamos, John Tanionos, and AHEPA National Basketball Director Costa Papademetriou are all to be congratulated for preparing these outstanding Greek-American athletes for competition in such a short period of time. The team met and practiced for the first time last Sunday! Our sincere thanks also goes to Deputy Culture Minister & Minister of Sport Ioannidis and his advisor Peter Dadiotis for helping to make this tremendous event possible.
Wednesday, July 2
The 86th Annual Athens Supreme Convention continues to provide us with vivid moments that we will remember for years to come.
The AHEPA All Star Basketball Team with AHEPA Family Dignitaries
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Today's Athletic Luncheon was truly a special one. We recognized each member of the "AHEPA All-Star" Basketball Team and its coaches and organizers. Former Villanova University and University of Massachusetts Head Coach, now commentator, Steve Lappas was passionate about his love for his Hellenic roots, recounting stories from his childhood. He also emphasized the importance of the experience the young men he was coaching this week were having.
Former Villanova Univ. and Univ. of Massachusetts Head Coach Steve Lappas
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Deputy Minister of Culture & Minister of Sport Yiannis Ioannidis, a former professional basketball player and head coach, also addressed the audience. The pleasure we have had in rooting for our AHEPA basketball team is made possible through the minister's vision. Also, the ministry generously sponsored the luncheon. Master of Ceremonies Nick Tsiotos and Supreme President Ike Gulas presented Minister Ioannidis with a lithograph of Harry Agganis, "The Golden Greek," and who is considered one of the greatest athletes to have lived.
Minister Ioannidis receiving Harry Agganis lithograph
from Emcee Nick Tsiotos and Supreme President Ike Gulas
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Supreme President Gulas announced the establishment of the "Stylianos Kyriakides Award" that will be given to Greek citizens who excel in athletics. Kyriakides' daughter and son-in-law were in the audience and were recognized. Kyriakides was the winner of the 50th Boston Marathon in 1946, and his emotional victory is credited for raising awareness of war-torn post World War II Greece.
A special presentation was also made by Ms. Despotopoulou, president of the Special Olympics in Greece.
The "Glendi" at Gouli Olympic Park
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In the evening, lots of fun and food was had by all at a "Glendi" at Goudi Olympic Park -- one of the many unique venues which Athens has provided us for events this year! Conventioneers danced the night away poolside where only four years ago Olympians competed for Gold.
Tuesday, July 1
What a magical night for AHEPA, and more importantly what a glorious evening for Hellenism. Opening Ceremonies were held at the uniquely beautiful Zappieon venue where an international AHEPA Family, spanning the globe from North America to Australasia to the Eastern Mediterranean was welcomed to Athens for the start of the 86th Annual Supreme Convention. More than 600 persons attended a jam-packed Zappeion Hall to receive warm greetings from the President of Greek Parliament Dimitrios Sioufas and His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios. Upon concluding that he would strive to become an AHEPA member, Supreme President Ike Gulas immediately presented Mr. Sioufas with a membership pin thereby inducting him into the Order. The AHEPA Family Convention also received remarks from AHEPA Family Leaders from around the globe, including Australasia and Canada.
 The evening reached its pinnacle as the Opening Ceremonies moved into the inspirational and breath-taking open atrium of the Zappeion where Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis greeted and welcomed the AHEPA Family to Athens. The evening, and reception that followed, was made possible through the kind generosity of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Supreme President Gulas offered remarks, and we were joined there by Archbishop Demetrios and Ambassador Daniel Speckhard. Words cannot do justice for this event that is truly one of the most memorable ones in AHEPA history.
Monday, June 30
The morning saw the AHEPA Family participate in "AHEPA Honors"-a series of wreath-laying ceremonies paying homage to Greece's and the United States' fallen heroes and leaders. Wreaths were laid at the Tomb of the Unknown, the Truman Statue, the Marshall Statue, the American Philhellene Monument (a tribute to Americans who perished in the Greek War of Independence), and the OSS Battalion Memorial. All were tremendously moving ceremonies. We were honored to be accompanied by American Embassy officials at the ceremonies; especially American Ambassador Daniel Speckhard who joined us at the Marshall Statue ceremony. The ambassador hosted the AHEPA Family at his residence for refreshments before continuing on with the wreath-laying ceremonies. Related: US Embassy in Athens: A Memorial to Marshall
AHEPA held a press conference in early afternoon. There, Deputy Minister of Culture & Minister of Sport Yiannis Ioannidis, Parliamentary President of the Committee for Greeks Abroad Nikos Tsatsionis, and American Embassy Spokesperson Carol Kalin all welcomed the AHEPA Family to Greece for the convention. Supreme President Gulas provided remarks that touched upon the significance of AHEPA's historic return to Greece.
The Second Session of the AHEPA Journey to Greece Program commenced today. Supreme President Gulas and Supreme Vice President Nick Karacostas met the students at the base of the Acropolis and welcomed them to Greece. Again, as with the members of the AHEPA All-Star Basketball Team, many of these students are visiting Greece for the first time. It was truly fantastic to see the excitement in the eyes of all these students! Related: Journey to Greece BLOG 2008 The evening was capped-off by Ambassador Speckhard's keynote address on foreign policy to the Greek-American community delivered at a Welcome Reception. Greece's Minister of Finance Yiorgos Alogoskoufis also addressed the audience. An insightful roundtable discussion on Role of Hellenism in the 21st Century followed.
Sunday, June 29
Supreme President Ike Gulas visited the first practice of the "AHEPA All-Star" Basketball Team comprised of collegiate and high school Greek-American players where he welcomed them to Greece (many for the first time) and gave a brief pep-talk. The team will be coached by former Villanova University and University of Massachusetts Head Coach Steve Lappas and Stan Spirou, head coach at Southern New Hampshire University. Chaperones and Coordinators John Tanionos, Gregory Stamos, Nick Tsiotos, and AHEPA National Basketball Director Costa Papademetriou all accompanied the team to Greece. The team will see its first action on Tuesday, playing a double-header before playing its marquee match-up on Thursday against the Greek National Team.
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