Vol.1, Issue 9 - Friday, October 26, 2007

A Message from The Supreme President

Condolences to the Fire Victims in California
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who are affected by this horrific and devastating catastrophe. Through our chapters in Southern California, we are making inquiries as to how we can send them immediate assistance or supplies. We are hopeful that the heroic men and women fighting this blaze will have it contained and extinguished soon.

AHEPA Membership Caravan 2007 - II Membership Caravan 2007 - Part II Update
Supreme President Ike Gulas and Executive Director Basil Mossaidis are currently on their second road trip this year, helping chapters around the country build membership. This week they've visited portions of Districts 1, 4, 11, 12 & 13. This weekend they will be in:

Canton, OH - Friday, October 26
Pittsburgh, PA - Saturday, October 27
Cincinnati, OH - Sunday, October 28

The programs will include brief motivational speeches on AHEPA, initiations in certain cities and fellowship. Any and all brothers are invited to attend and to assist. Check with your local chapter to find an event near you. Come one and come all!

Fundraising Goal Tops 150%! Fundraising Goal Surpassed by 150%
Just one month ago, I was excited to report that thanks to your generous support, AHEPA had reached 70% of its $100,000 goal for the Emergency Greek Fire Relief Fund. Today I stand in complete awe of your generosity and charity, and am proud to announce that not only have we met that initial goal, but surpassed it by 50% ... raising a total of $150,000 for relief efforts in Greece.

A special thank you goes to all of the District Governors and Chapter Presidents who responded to our national challenge. I also want to thank each of you who donated to the Emergency Relief Fund through our secure online contribution page. Remember, 100% of the tax deductible contributions go directly to the fire victims in Greece. If you haven't contributed to the Relief Fund, it's not too late. Click here to donate online!

On behalf of the fire victims in Greece, The Supreme Lodge, and AHEPA Headquarters, once again, our sincere thanks!

Sincerely,

Ike Gulas, Supreme President

News From Greece, Cyprus and the Patriarchate

AFP/File Photo: A view of the almost destroyed village of Rafti in the western Peloponnese in Greece

Greece Lagging Behind in Reforesting Burnt Areas
ATHENS (AFP) -- October 23, 2007 -- Two months after one of Greece's worst fire disasters which consumed more than 150,000 hectares of forest, the agriculture ministry admitted Tuesday that reforestation efforts had still not taken off. ... read more.

Archbishop Due in Greece Soon
ATHENS (ERT.gr) -- October 23, 2007 -- Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and all of Greece is expected to return to Greece at the end of the week, provided that he responds to the treatment, believed to start as of Tuesday. The Prelate of the Church of Greece voiced his wish to return home and go on with his work, as he claimed. In the meantime, in his letter to Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Zakynthos, Christodoulos thanked him for wishing him a happy nameday and a speedy recovery. The Archbishop also said that he is enduring his ordeal and praying for a miracle. ... read more.

Provocative Plan on Cyprus Issue
CYPRUS (ERT.gr) -- October 24, 2007 -- EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn called on Turkey to speed up its reform policy and establish stronger civilian control over the army. He also urged the Turks to smooth out their relations with Cyprus and open their ports to Cypriot ships. But while Olli Rehn was addressing the European Parliament, the Prime Ministers of Britain and Turkey, Gordon Brown and Recep Tayyip Erdogan respectively, were signing a strategic partnership plan, referring to the occupied part of Cyprus as Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, triggering Athens and Nicosia�s reactions. ...read more.

EU Commission announces Cyprus Civil Society Program
NICOSIA (Embassy News) -- October 24, 2007 -- The European Commission has announced the launch of the Cypriot Civil Society in Action Program. The primary goal of the Program is to support partnership projects. The grant scheme is to accept proposals in a variety of areas involving Turkish Cypriot civil society organizations in partnership with Greek Cypriot civil society organizations regarding, but not limited to, culture, economic development, social inclusion, social dialogue and academic research. ...read more.

EU Report to Crtiticise Turkey
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -- October 25, 2007 -- A keenly awaited European Union report will criticise EU candidate Turkey in November on human rights, the role of the military and its failure to open its ports to Cyprus, a draft showed. ...read more.

When the Pope Comes to Party
ROME (Time) -- October 19, 2007 -- It's hard not to notice when the Pope shows up. And you can sometimes say the same when he doesn't. Last fall, Pope Benedict XVI was a notable no-show at a September ceremony to mark 20 years since John Paul II had hosted a groundbreaking gathering of world religious leaders in Assisi, Italy. Some viewed the Pope's absence as a slap to those working for inter-faith dialogue, both inside and outside the Catholic Church. On Sunday, however, Benedict will be center stage at the most lavish, and well-attended, inter-religious ceremony of his papacy, organized by the same Sant'Egidio community that helped launch Assisi. ...read more.

News From AHEPA

AHEPA Headquarters Seeks Office Assistant
The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), the world's largest Greek heritage organization, seeks full time office assistant. Candidate must be reliable, friendly, outgoing, detail oriented, and have a strong interest in Greek and Hellenic heritage. Greek language preferred but not required.

Job: full time staff
Hours: M-F, 9 - 5
Employer: not-for-profit organization
Location: Washington, DC - Dupont Circle
Compensation: commensurate with experience
Contact: Email resume to ahepa@ahepa.org
NO PHONE CALLS - Only shortlist candidates will be contacted for interviews

Chapter Membership Drive
It's October, and for AHEPA, that means RUSH season. Supreme President Ike Gulas, in an effort to assist all chapters, has waived all chapter initiation & reinstatement fees for the balance of 2007! AHEPA Headquarters wants to remind you, in addition to submitting chapter dues as quickly as possible, we hope you'll use the incredible charitable work we do as an inspiration to friends and family to join your chapter. AHEPA Headquarters has new 2007 Membership Brochures for you and your chapter to use in your membership drives.

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 Family 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.

Important Notice: Supreme Convention Registration & Pricing Brochure
Within the next few weeks, AHEPA Headquarters will be mailing Supreme Convention registration and pricing brochures to all current AHEPA members. If you are not a current member of AHEPA, please JOIN TODAY!

Greeks of the Week!

The Papas Sisters of GREEKTOWN Detroit
The Mosaic Restaurant and Lounge is one of the most celebrated dining establishments in the GREEKTOWN section of Detroit MI. Athina, Maria, and Stella Papas, in honor of their father Jim Papas, a loyal Ahepan and founder of the original restaurant Pegasus, turned their restaurant and lounge into a fundraising machine to help the fire victims in Greece.

The online contribution from the Mosaic event helped make AHEPA's $150,000 fundraising announcement this week possible! For creativity in using their professional skills to help better the lives of others, and for their generous contribution, please join us in thanking the Papas sisters and the patrons of the Mosaic Restaurant and Lounge as this week's Greeks of the Week!

Who's Your Greek of the Week?
There are many heroes in our community who often sadly go unrecognized. You can help. Nominate someone to be AHEPA's Greek of the Week!. Simply email a short, detailed nomination, along with a digital photo of them to webmaster@ahepa.org.