This Week For Greeks! - Vol.2 Issue 1 - Friday, January 4, 2008

A Message from the Supreme President

2008: A Great Year Ahead for AHEPA!
Happy New Year! AHEPA has before us, one of the most exciting and important years. Already, Headquarters and our network of chapters is buzzing with plans for this year's Biennial Banquet in Washington and the Supreme Convention in Greece. We're also looking at a year of great opportunity for policy and diplomatic advancements on behalf of Greek American relations.

38th Biennial Banquet Save the Date Card The Biennial Banquet is set for March 7, at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. The theme of this year's banquet is "AHEPA Salutes Public Service." We hope you will join us in celebrating the contributions of Greek Americans serving in public office at the federal, state and local level. As you can imagine, the attendance list for this event will be a virtual "Who's Who" for the Greek American community. Find out more through AHEPA Events and call (202) 347-3000 to reserve your seat today!

86th Annual AHEPA Supreme Convention In July, we are all headed to Greece for the Supreme Convention and a family trip of a lifetime. The package Headquarters has put together for this year's convention provides a once in a lifetime opportunity for you to pass on your pride in Greek Heritage to your children, while being an important part of AHEPA's future. Each day offers morning tours of important Greek landmarks, afternoon business meetings, and evening food and entertainment events - all specially designed and built for AHEPA! Following the convention, we hope you'll stay in Greece with us for a week-long special cruise of the Greek Islands, again created just for AHEPA! Don't miss out on this. Download the Convention Brochure today!

Capitol of the United States In addition, AHEPA has an important role in Greek American affairs and policy. In 2008, policy makers will be addressing foreign policy and domestic issues that affect our community's interests. This being an election year, there will be many opportunities to interject Greek American policy interests into the public dialogue. AHEPA's promise to you is to keep you informed on upcoming policy opportunities, but we'll need your help in exercising your duty as a citizen to make sure your voice is heard. Together we'll make a powerful team!

We're very excited about the year ahead, and hope you'll be a vital part of our journey ahead in 2008!

Fraternally,

Ike Gulas, Supreme President

News From Greece, Cyprus and the Patriarchate

Simon Davies, Director of London-based Privacy International

Greece, Romania and Canada Top Index of Online Privacy, While US Near Bottom
LONDON (Star Tribune) -- January 2, 2008 -- Individual privacy is under threat around the world as governments continue introducing surveillance and information-gathering measures, according to an international rights group. ... read more.

PM Due in Turkey Late this Month
ATHENS (Kathimerini) -- January 3, 2008 -- Imia Fishing Dispute Simmers -- Government aides yesterday discussed the details of a planned visit to Turkey later this month by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis as a fishing dispute in the Aegean threatened to heighten tensions between Athens and Ankara. ... read more.

St. Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos Live Like a Monk on Greece's Mount Athos to Avoid Cancer
ATHENS (EARTHtimes.org) -- January 3, 2008 -- Living like a monk may have the spiritual benefit of saving one's soul, a recent study into one of the world's most isolated monastic communities revealed as their dietary and healthy living habits have resulted in lower cancer rates. ... read more.

AFP Photo: Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos takes the first euro banknotes from an ATM machine. Cyprus and Malta Ease into the Euro
NICOSIA (AFP) -- January 1, 2008 -- The Mediterranean island states of Cyprus and Malta welcomed in the new year on Tuesday with the adoption of the euro, taking the number of countries now using the single European currency to 15. ... read more.

Nuclear Symbol NNSA Opens Nuke Check Monitor in Cyprus
WASHINGTON (UPI) -- January 2, 2008 -- The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration has helped install a nuclear security monitor in a port on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. "The monitor will help detect the illicit smuggling of nuclear and radiological materials in cargo containers passing through the port," the NNSA said. ... read more.

REUTERS/Mian Khursheed: Turkish President Abdullah Gul pictured in Rawalpindi December 2, 2007 Turkey to Urge U.N. to Revive Cyprus Peace Bid
ANKARA (Reuters UK) -- January 3, 2008 -- Turkey's president said on Thursday he would urge U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to revive the stalled Cyprus peace process in talks next week. Diplomatic efforts to end the decades-old partition of Cyprus have been largely on hold since Greek Cypriots rejected a U.N. blueprint in 2004 to reunite the Mediterranean island.... read more.

This is a copy of the icon set to return to St. Michael's Church after a flight aboard a space shuttle. Church to Get Religious Icon Brought Back from Space
BINGHAMTON (Press & Sun-Bulletin) -- December 30, 2007 -- JC Link to NASA Key to Gift -- The Archangel Michael will return to Binghamton today following a flight through the heavens with the crew of NASA's space shuttle Discovery. The angel, represented by a photograph of an icon celebrating the 100th anniversary of St. Michael's Greek Orthodox Church, will be accompanied by Dr. Joseph Dervay, a NASA flight surgeon in Houston. ... read more.

Billboard in Turkey for TV Series Valley of the Wolves Man Arrested Over Plot to Kill Turkish Priest
INSTANBUL (Christian Post) -- January 1, 2008 -- Turkish police have uncovered a plot to murder a priest, throwing the spotlight once again on religious freedom and security for Christians in the predominantly-Muslim yet secular country. ... read more.

News From AHEPA

The 2008 Supreme Convention Brochures Are In!
WASHINGTON (AHEPA Convention) -- The 2008 AHEPA Supreme Convention brochures are in! This year's Supreme Convention in Athens will be the trip of a lifetime for you and your entire family. If you're a current AHEPA member, you will be receiving the brochure in the mail soon, but if you're eager to find out more about the fantastic travel packages available, you can download the brochure online. Click Here to get download the brochure now!

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.

38th Biennial Banquet Save the Date Card AHEPA 38th Biennial Banquet -- Save The Date!
WASHINGTON (AHEPA Events) -- 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.

Golf Ball Upcoming Golf Tournaments!
WASHINGTON (AHEPA Athletics) -- AHEPA invites you find out more and join us for these three fantastic upcoming golf events:

2008 Citrus Distict 2 Epiphany Golf Tournament (January 5, 2008)
35th Annual Southeast Regional Golf Tournament (February 17, 2008)
Dr. Monthe Kofos 46th Annual AHEPA National Golf Tournament (April 6-12, 2008)

Greek Heritage Spotlight

Epiphany: The Feast of the Holy Theophany
The Feast of the Holy Theophany (Epiphany) of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ is celebrated each year on January 6. The Feast commemorates the Baptism of Christ and the divine revelation of the Holy Trinity. At the Baptism of Christ, the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) were made manifest. Thus, the name of the Feast is Epiphany, meaning manifestation, or Theophany, meaning manifestation of God.

Harrison Ginis, 16, holds the silver cross he retrieved from Yarra Bay in Australia during the Greek Orthodox Church's Epiphany celebrations. Today, Greeks celebrate the Epiphany through a variety of blessings involving water. Greeks gather for public blessings, which take place in rivers, lakes and pools in all corners of the world. After the Divine Liturgy, a procession takes place and the priest will cast a golden cross into the sea. Young boys dive into the water retrieve it. The one to do so gains the blessing of a fortunate year for his entire family.

Read More About The Feast of The Epiphany!

Greeks of the Week!

Ohio State's Kosta Koufos shoots over Florida's Chandler Parsons during the second half of the Florida-Ohio State game

College Basketball Stars Nick Calathes and Kosta Koufos
Please join AHEPA in a salute to two fantastic young Greek athletes, University of Florida freshman Nick Calathes and Ohio State University freshman Kosta Koufos. On December 22nd, these two promising athletes squared off as the Gators played the Buckeyes in Ohio and Greeks and Philhellenes nationwide were torn between which to root for. AHEPA, of course, rooted for both, as they represent the very best in talent and sportsmanship.

University of Florida freshman Nick Calathes #33 Nick Calathes plays Shooting Guard for the University of Florida Gators and is one of the most decorated high school players in Florida basketball history! A McDonald's All-American, a Parade All-American, Jordan All-American, the Gatorade Player of the Year and the two-time Mr. Basketball for the state of Florida, he became only the third player to ever win the Mr. Basketball award for the state of Florida twice. Calathes finished his high school career at Lake Howell High School in Winter Park, FL, as the leading scoring in Seminole County History.

Ohio State University freshman Kosta Koufos #31 Kosta Koufos plays Forward Center for the Ohio State Buckeyes! He came to the Buckeyes from Glen Oak High School in Canton, OH, where he played on their Division 1 team. Over the Summer Kosta participated in the Under-18 European championships in Madrid, Spain, for the Greek team. He is the son of Katerina and the late Alex Koufos. Kosta has one brother, Vasilios and a sister Maria. After graduation, Kosta plans to work in the business world or play professionally.

Please join us in celebrating these two promising college athletes as AHEPA'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.