Vol.1, Issue 5 - Monday, September 24, 2007

A Message from the Supreme President

A Very Successful Week for AHEPA!
Last week I flew to Washington to meet with the AHEPA staff, Members of Congress, Embassy officials, and governmental leaders. It was an incredibly busy and productive week. Aside from addressing AHEPA's agenda for the year, it was crucial for us to work with these leaders to explore long term solutions in providing relief to the fire devastated portions of Greece.

We have many friends in Washington and their committment to working on these shared goals was heartening. There are too many people to thank in a short message, but if you read the News from AHEPA release below, you'll see the listing of offices and officials we have to thank.

AHEPA Headquarters - Care Packages I also got to see first hand the overwhelming success of our care package drive. Boxes and boxes of care packages are stacked to the ceiling throughout AHEPA Headquarters. Each package is a physical sign of the love and generosity inside AHEPA; and this relief effort was only successful because of you!

Help us Push Over the Top!
As you can see by the thermometer to the right, we're so close to reaching our initial goal of sending with the care packages $100,000 in direct financial relief to the fire victims in Greece. Can you help us reach the goal this week? If you haven't yet given, please make a contribution now. If you have already given and could possibly give a little more, it would help. If you know of friends or family who could contribute, please forward this appeal to them. It's going to take each of us to make this happen, and I know we can!

Ike Gulas,
AHEPA Supreme President

We Need Your Help to Reach The Goal!

Contribute to the AHEPA Emergency Greek Fire Relief Fund!
Contribute directly to the relief efforts in Greece through AHEPA's secure online contribution form. 100% of your tax deductible contribution goes directly to the local relief efforts in Greece. Please Give Generously!
Send a Care Package!
AHEPA is working to coordinate the shipment of care packages to Greece. Items needed range from clothes to tooth brushes. Get the Care Package Checklist & Instructions!
Help Spread the Word!
The fastest way to help spread the word is by forwarding this email to your friends and family. For those not yet online, simply download, print out and distribute these 4x6" Palm Cards, at your church or upcoming festival. It's a fun way to meet new people and show that you care! Find Out More!

News From Greece, Cyprus and the Patriarchate

Soldiers carry charred tree trunks across the burnt Hill of Cronus.

PM tours burned areas, pledges to push regeneration: Foreign investors considering tourism projects at Ancient Olympia, Kaiafas
Ancient Olympia, Greece (Kathimerini) -- September 24, 2007 -- Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Saturday toured areas ravaged by last month�s deadly fires, reiterating pledges to speed up regeneration efforts and protect burned forest land from development. ... read more.

New Acropolis Museum to open in stages in 2008
Athens, Greece (Athens News Agency) -- September 24, 2007 -- The transfer of artifacts from the old Acropolis Museum -- which stands atop the historic hill itself -- to the new ultra-modern and spacious museum will begin on Oct.14, Greek Culture Minister Mihalis Liapis announced on Monday during a tour of the under-construction new venue, which is in the final stages of completion. ... read more.

Cypriot President Papadopoulos Meets With United Nations Chief
Cyprus (Cyprus News Agency) -- September 24, 2007 -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his support to the 8 July 2006 agreement reached between the two sides in Cyprus, in the presence of UN Undersecretary for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari. This was stated by Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos after a 20-minute meeting with the UN Chief at UN Headquarters. The Cypriot President is in New York for the UN General Assembly. ...read more.

U.S. State Department Assures Patriarch Support for Halki School
Istanbul, Turkey (AsiaNews) -- September 21, 2007 -- Support for the re-opening of the Halki School of theology and appreciation expressed for the Patriarchates commitment to peaceful coexistence and environmental protection. These were the comments expressed by the deputy secretary of state Nicolas Burns following his meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew. ...read more.

News From AHEPA

AHEPA 2008 Supreme Convention in Athens, Greece!
The dates to remember for the 2008 Supreme Convention in Athens, Greece, are July 1-12, 2008. The AHEPA Convention Committee has been working hard to prepare a wonderful getaway for the entire AHEPA community. The AHEPA from Australiasia, Canada, Greece and Cyprus will be attending our event in Athens, Greece. Thousands of Ahepans, Daughters, Sons and Maids will work together for this family reunion. For more information, or to register for the 2008 Supreme Convention, go to ahepa2008.com.

AHEPA Formulates Agenda, Assistance to Greece
Washington, DC (AHEPA News) -- September 24, 2007 -- National President Ike Gulas returned to Washington, DC this week to meet with numerous government officials. ...read more.

Greeks of the Week

The Brothers of AHEPA Marathon Chapter 2 and 155
Along with the generous online contributions still coming in for the AHEPA Emergency Greek Fire Relief Fund, AHEPA also has our hard working network of AHEPA Chapters raising money in the local community. This week two very energetic chapters in AHEPA District 3 stand out:

Marathon Chapter 2 in Charlotte, North Carolina
Steve Kolidakis Chapter 155 in Hopewell, Virginia

These chapters hit the ground running and quickly raised $5,000 each for the fire victims in Greece. For this, and for the amazing work they do year round, the brothers of Chapters 2 and 155 are AHEPA's Greeks of the Week. Join us in thanking them!