Vol.1 Issue 14 - Friday, November 30, 2007

A Message from the Supreme President

AHEPA Joins US Congressional Delegation to Greece
Due to travel circumstances beyond my control, I was unable to accompany the Congressional Delegation on their current visit to Greece. Fortunately, AHEPA was well represented. AHEPA Executive Director Basil Mossaidis led the AHEPA Delegation, consisting of Daughters of Penelope Grand President Karen Stamatiades; Sons of Pericles President Rick Pecka; Maids of Athena President Stephanie Maniatis; Past Supreme President and Greece Convention 2008 Chariman Steve Betzelos and other representatives of the Order of AHEPA, from both the United States and Greece. Our delegation was there to ensure AHEPA demonstrates its commitment to stronger US-Greek relations and to fulfill our pledge to assist Greece rebuild after the devastating fires this past August.

Yesterday, representatives from AHEPA planted trees at Olympia and today they leave for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in Turkey, to meet with His All Holiness Bartholomew I. Of the many issues Executive Director Mossaidis will address for me while in Greece, preparations for our 86th Annual Supreme Convention is a top priority. I remain confident that the upcoming Supreme Convention in Athens will be an historic occasion attended by many AHEPA family members looking to a rebirth of our Hellenic heritage.

Please join me in thanking the US Congressional and AHEPA delegations for its hard work on this trip, and wish them great success as we make plans for the upcoming year.

Sincerely

Ike Gulas, Supreme President

News From Greece, Cyprus and the Patriarchate

Greek Delegation in the Annapolis Meeting
ANNAPOLIS (ERT.gr) -- November 28, 2007 -- With 49 nations participating, including 16 Arab ones and Greece, the first international meeting on Middle East peace wrapped up its works in Annapolis, US. The venture, which is considered to be the last act of George Bush's term, is not believed to make any difference. ... read more.

Charges are Dropped in Getty Case
ATHENS (Los Angeles Times) -- November 27, 2007 -- A Greek criminal court on Tuesday dismissed charges against former J. Paul Getty Museum antiquities curator Marion True for her role in the purchase of an illegally excavated golden funerary wreath. ... read more.

Cyprus Continues to Remain Divided 33 Years After Turkish Invasion
NICOSIA (ANI) -- November 28, 2007 -- he UN General Assembly and Security Council, along with several other international organizations, have adopted a series of resolutions condemning Turkey's aggression against Cyprus, as the latter remains divided even 33 years after the former invaded it. ...read more.

Greece Says Divided Cyprus Needs Confidence-Building Measures
ATHENS (EARTHtimes.org) -- November 22, 2007 -- Greece on Tuesday said the two divided ethnic communities on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus must implement confidence-building measures in a bid to restart stalled reunification talks. "There is only one road for a solution: In order for negotiations to proceed the decision of July 2006 must first be implemented," Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said following talks with Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis. ...read more.

Cypriot President Pledges Fire-ravaged Greek village Will be Rebuilt in a Year
ARTEMIDA (Embassy News) -- November 28, 2007 -- Residents and local authorities of the southern Greek village of Artemida warmly welcomed Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos during his visit to the area on Wednesday. This Greek community was badly hit during this summer's catastrophic forest fires and the Cypriot government has undertaken to rebuild it. ...read more.

Lutheran-Orthodox Commission Members Prepare for 2008 Plenary Meeting
JOENSUU (Lutheran World News) -- November 28, 2007 -- The preparatory meeting for the 14th Session of the Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission was held from 3 to 8 October in Joensuu, eastern Finland, hosted by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. ...read more.

The MECC General Assembly Started its Meeting
PAPHOS (Worldwide Faith News) -- November 28, 2007 -- On November 27, 2007 and in the presence of around one hundred Heads of Churches, Church leaders, bishops, church delegates and guests, the MECC opened its 9th General Assembly with an ecumenical worship at St. Georgios Orthodox Church in Paphos/Cyprus. ...read more.

News From AHEPA

38th Biennial Banquet Save the Date Card

Save The Date!
WASHINGTON (AHEPA News) -- November 27, 2007 -- The AHEPA 38th Biennial Banquet set for Friday, March 7, 2008 at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. Save the date and make your hotel reservations today! ...find out more.

AHEPA Welcomes Congressional Delegation in Athens
WASHINGTON (AHEPA News) -- November 28, 2007 -- The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), the leading association for the nation's 1.3 million American citizens of Greek ancestry, and Philhellenes, welcomed a six- member Congressional Delegation (CODEL) at a luncheon in Athens, Greece, on Tuesday November 27. ...read more.

AHEPA & Olympic Airlines Partner for
Successful AHEPA Convention in Athens, Greece!
Supreme President Ike Gulas is pleased to announce that AHEPA and Olympic Airlines have forged a partnership to help bring Ahepans to Greece. The AHEPA is hosting the 2008 AHEPA Family Supreme Convention in Athens, Greece and Olympic Airlines has agreed to extend an AHEPA Only Price* for all Ahepans who attend the conference. The AHEPA Only Price will be the lowest available price, on Olympic Airlines flights, from New York to Greece. If you are a member of AHEPA take advantage of this fantastic offer and come join us in Greece, July 1 -12, 2008.

Important: The special AHEPA Only Price can be obtained by using the AHEPA Promotion Code and your unique AHEPA Membership ID Number*

AHEPA Promotion Code: CFR087
Call Olympic Airlines at 1-800-223-1226 and make your reservation today.

*Pricing is based on availability and dates.
*Only current active paid member ID numbers are valid. Not a Member? JOIN TODAY!

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.

Greek of the Week!

Brother John Siolas of AHEPA's HERMES Chapter in New York
Dr. John G. Siolas is an Associate Professor of Education, Graduate Division, School of Education and Psychology at New York City's Touro College. Brother John has been involved in the instruction of applied linguistics and bilingual/multi-cultural education at Touro College for the past five years. He is also Part Time Faculty at St. John's University, School of Education, since 1985.

This year Dr. Siolas was selected by the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation as a visiting professor for the Spring 2007 semester (Session II, May - June) at the Department of Linguistics of the University of Athens. The University of Athens, also known as, Kapodistrian University celebrated its 170th anniversary this year. For his dedication to preserving Greek language and Greek heritage, please join us in celebrating Brother John G. Siolas as AHEPA's Greek 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.