This Week For Greeks! - Vol.2 Issue 7 - Friday, February 15, 2008

News From AHEPA

Supreme President Ike Gulas and Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyiannis

AHEPA Discusses Visa Waiver with Greek Foreign Minister
WASHINGTON (AHEPA News) -- Supreme President Ike Gulas, this Wednesday, raised the issue of Greece's entry into the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) at a forum hosted by the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, featuring Her Excellency Dora Bakoyiannis, Foreign Minister of Greece. ...find out more.

Related Article: Voice of America Interview - Featuring Supreme President Ike Gulas

Representative Tom Lantos Passes Away:
Please Cease H.Res 365 Campaign Until Further Notice
WASHINGTON (AHEPA News) -- We are saddened to learn of the passing of Rep. Tom Lantos, who was the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, from complications associated with esophageal cancer. At this time we are asking all Ahepans to cease from sending any future correspondence to the Committee on Foreign Affairs until further notice. ...find out more.

Journey to Greece Participants Journey To Greece Application Deadline: March 31, 2008
WASHINGTON (Journey To Greece) -- The deadline for applications for the 2008 Journey to Greece program is March 31, 2008. The AHEPA Journey to Greece Program is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to earn college credit while learning about ancient and modern Greece. ...find out more.

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

Register Online! (advance ticket purchasing ends February 16th)
Register Offline (download the registration form - includes program ad purchasing)
Reserve Your Hotel Room at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel
View the Special Flash Invitation Video!

The AHEPAN Magazine - Winter 2007 AHEPAN (2008 Spring) - Article Deadline
WASHINGTON (AHEPAN Magazine) -- The deadline for submitting articles for the Spring 2008 issue of The AHEPAN Magazine is March 6, 2008. In the event your submission is received after the deadline or it does not appear in the Spring 2008 issue, please note that it will be the first considered for our Summer 2008 issue. Please submit all materials^* to:

michael@ahepa.org

The AHEPAN
c/o Michael Zachariades
1909 Q Street, NW Suite 500
Washington, DC 20009

* All material submitted become the property of The AHEPAN and may not be returned.

Annapolis Fishing Docks 77th Annual AHEPA Capital District 3 Convention
(AHEPA Events) -- The AHEPA Capital District 3 77th Annual Convention is set for May 2-4, in Annapolis, Maryland. Save the date and make your reservations today! ... find out more.

Lake Superior 76th Annual AHEPA Grainfield District 14 Convention
(AHEPA Events) -- The AHEPA Grainfield District 14 76th Annual Convention is set for May 16-18, in Duluth, MN. Save the date and make your reservations today! ... find out more.

AHEPA Canada Beaver District 23 73rd Annual Convention
(AHEPA Events) -- The AHEPA Canada Beaver District 23 73rd Annual Convention is set for May 16-18, in London Ontario. Save the date and make your reservations today! ... find out more.

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

35th Annual Southeast Regional Golf Tournament (February 17)
7th Annual AHEPA of Fort Lauderdale Golf Classic (March 1)
Dr. Monthe Kofos 46th Annual AHEPA National Golf Tournament (April 6-12)

A Message from the Supreme President

Supreme President Ike Gulas and Rep. Nikki Tsongas

This past week, AHEPA was once again on the move.
I flew to Washington last week to visit Headquarters and make additional preparations for the Biennial banquet on March 7. I also spent the afternoon meeting with Representative Niki Tsongas (pictured with me here). I wanted to be sure to personally congratulate her and discuss the upcoming Biennial banquet. After my meetings with headquarters staff and the hotel, I along with Executive Director Basil N. Mossaidis then drove to Albany, New York. We attended, at the invitation of the Sons and Maids Presidents, their annual Valentines party. At the event, we also had the privilege to meet with Past Supreme Governor Peter Baltis and many other Ahepans. It was encouraging to see so many young people because these are the events that need to have our continued support and participation. Congratulations to all who attended.

The following day, together with Brother Baltis and his wife, we traveled to Montreal to attend the annual St. Valentines Ball for the Shriner's Hospital. I was very pleased to be in attendance and assist in presenting a check for $55,000 to the Shriner's Hospital. This year's donation will make the total contribution to date to exceed $250,000. It was a pleasure to visit with the Canadian AHEPA Family and special thanks go to President Frank Antoniou of Canada and Brother George Vassilas for their hard work.

On returning to New York, we attended the funeral ceremonies for Past Supreme President Gus Cherevas. Over 100 people attended the event and it was nice to see so many AHEPA brothers come pay last respects to a great Ahepan.

Fraternally,

Ike Gulas, Supreme President

Greek American Weekly News Digest

Strong Quake Hits Methoni
ATHENS (ERT.gr) -- February 14, 2008 -- The aftershock sequence after the two quakes that hit the Peloponnese and were felt in most parts of Greece has been described normal. A strong seaquake of 6,5 magnitude was registered after 12:00, Thursday 30 kilometers off south Methoni in western Greece and about 225 kilometers from Athens. ... read more.

Watch the related AP video.

Other Greek American News Headlines

NY Times - February 14, 2008
Strike Disrupts Greece as Workers Seek to Protect Their Pensions
Angus Reid Global Monitor - February 11, 2008
Greek Cyprus Ballot Remains Too Close to Call
People's Daily - February 12, 2008
Cyprus Will Never Recognize Unilaterally Declared Independence of Kosovo
AFP - February 15, 2008
Cyprus Takes Legal Action Against EU Over Aid To North
Action Institute- February 13, 2008
A Patriarch in Dire Straits
ERT.gr - February 11, 2008
Ieronymos First Contact with MM
Christian Today - February 10, 2008
World Council of Churches Welcomes New Head of Greek Church

Supreme Convention Spotlight

AHEPA Family Leaders Planting Olive Trees in Greece

Plant an Olive Tree to Help Restore Greece!
One of the day trips AHEPA has organized during this year's Supreme Convention in Athens is a tour of the Greek countryside, recently devastated by wildfires. The tour will include an opportunity for your family to physically help bring life back to these areas, by planting a very special olive tree. This tree will live on in Greece long after we've left, and will be something, decades from now, and your children will be able to bring their children back to visit.

The 2008 Supreme Convention Brochures Are In!
WASHINGTON (AHEPA Convention) -- Each day, during the Supreme Convention in Greece, AHEPA will be offering cultural and historical tours, exclusively set up for AHEPA. These events will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for you to share your Greek Heritage with 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.