Vol.1 Issue 15 - Friday, December 7, 2007

A Message from the Supreme President

A Week of Celebration - A Week of Sadness
The AHEPA Delegation returned to the US this week with reports of great success. It was my plan to highlight our achievements, in this issue of the newsletter, however, we received the news of sadness in the loss of two great Ahepans, Supreme Governor George T. Pantazelos and George E. Paraskevaides, O.B.E.

Next week I'll give you a full report on the delegation to Greece, but in advance please know that it was a huge success.

These excursions, or trips and visitations and the growth of our Order is successful because of the individual members who care and make a difference. Sadly, this week we lost two champions of these efforts, brothers Pantazelos and Paraskevaides. Brother George Paraskevaides was a longtime friend of AHEPA and one of Cyprus's most philanthropic leaders in industry. Brother Paraskevaides generously contributed to our charitable work as well and, in 2006, AHEPA awarded him with the George E. Paraskevaides Philanthropic Award. Brother George Pantazelos was one our Supreme Lodge's youngest and most enthusiastic Supreme Governors. His spirit and voice will be deeply missed as we move our Order further into the new century. May their memories be eternal.

Sincerely

Ike Gulas, Supreme President

News From Greece, Cyprus and the Patriarchate

Greece, FYR Macedonia to Hold Fresh Talks on Country Name Dispute
ATHENS (Thomson Financial) -- December 5, 2007 -- Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) have agreed to hold a new round of talks on their 14-year dispute on the latter's official name, the UN mediator said. ... read more.

New Confidence Building Measures
ATHENS (ERT.gr) -- December 4, 2007 -- The talks between Turkey's Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, who is on an official visit to Athens, and his Greek counterpart Dora Bakoyannis were held in a rather cordial climate. Exiting their meeting, the two ministers announced they agreed to adopt a new package of confidence building measures. Bakoyannis confirmed that the Greek-Turkish relations are on a good track, aiming at shaping a better future. She noted, however, that painstaking efforts are required to achieve that goal. She also reiterated that Turkey's EU bid has Greece's backing, since, as she claimed, it is to signal a new era not only for the neighbouring nation, but also for the wider region. ... read more.

Engonopoulos Work Auctioned off in Thessaloniki
THESSALONIKI (ANI) -- December 6, 2007 -- One of the hard to find works by poet and painter Nikos Engonopoulos (1907-1985) was sold for 29,000 euros at an auction held Monday in Thessaloniki organized by "Hellenic Auctions" in cooperation with the "Thermaides" NGO Thessaloniki branch. ...read more.

Merkel Re-states Opposition to EU Membership for Turkey
HANOVER (EUbusiness) -- December 4, 2007 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel reiterated on Monday that she and her conservative party were opposed to Turkey being granted full membership of the European Union. ...read more.

Battle Over Cypriot Coins Heads to U.S. Courts
WASHINGTON (Seattle Times) -- December 6, 2007 -- Wayne Sayles, a conservative Republican from Missouri who twice voted for President Bush, is none too pleased with the Bush administration these days. In fact, he says it's trying to put him out of business. Sayles has been collecting and selling ancient coins since 1967, and on Nov. 15, a group he heads sued the State Department, charging that its decision to restrict imports of ancient coins from the Mediterranean island of Cyprus is "a major offensive" against coin collectors that threatens his hobby....read more.

In Cyprus, An Ancient Dwarf Hippo Mystery
AYIA NAPA (USA Today) -- December 6, 2007 -- An abattoir used by early Cypriots, a cemetery where animals went to die, or simple a shelter that ultimately proved a death trap? Cypriot and Greek scientists are trying to unravel the riddle of a collapsed cave brimming with the fossilized remains of extinct dwarf hippopotamuses that were descendants of a group believed to have migrated here as far back as a quarter million years ago. ...read more.

Bartholomew I's Letter to Vatican Delegation
ISTANBUL (Zenit.org) -- November 30, 2007 -- Here is the text of the address made by the Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I to a delegation of the Holy See on Nov. 30, the feast of St. Andrew, patron of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. ...read more.

Orthodox Church Celebrates the 'Real' St. Nicholas
LOS ANGELES (Biserica.org) -- December 6, 2007 -- Fr. Nick Kasemeotes of Holy Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church tells a bit of the history of St. Nicholas. As Father Nicholas Kasemeotes gestured toward the iconography on the sanctuary wall of Holy Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church, a slight smile crossed his face when he came to the image of a bearded old man in a robe. ...read more.

News From AHEPA

38th Biennial Banquet Save the Date Card

Save The Date!
WASHINGTON (AHEPA News) -- December 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 & 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!

Supreme Governor George Pantazelos
The tragic news of Brother Pantazelos's death has left us all speechless. Just four months ago, he was elected to the Supreme Lodge and we began planning ways to continue AHEPA's successes and accomplishments, across the country and abroad. His involvement and crucial role in District 13, will leave us with a positive reminder of how Brother Pantazelos lived his life, always thinking of ways to improve AHEPA and its image. Brother George is an Ahepan we should all emulate and never forget.

View the Chicago Tribune obituary View/Sign Guestbook

Please join us in celebrating the life of Brother Pantazelos by honoring him 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.