News From AHEPA

Journey to Greece & AHEPAcademy New Deadlines Approaching!
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AHEPA Education) -- March 17, 2008 -- This year, both the AHEPA Journey to Greece and the AHEPAcademy have pushed back their application deadlines to April 1, 2008. These are both fantastic programs for High School and College aged students. If young members of your family have not yet filled out and turned in their applications, please have them do so immediately. Follow these links for more information and to download the applications:

• March 31, 2008: 2008 AHEPA Journey to Greece application deadline
• April 1, 2008: 2008 AHEPAcademy application deadline

AHEPA 2008 Winter/Spring Calendar

MARCH
    01     7th Annual AHEPA of Fort Lauderdale Golf Classic
    06     Capitol Hill Day - Washington, DC
    06     AHEPAN Magazine Spring 2008 Article Submission Deadline
    07     38th Annual Biennial Banquet - Washington, DC
    07     Supreme Lodge Meeting - Washington, DC
    23     Easter - American celebration
    25     Greek Independence Day
    29     2008 District 13 Bowling Tournament - Deerfield, IL
    29     Greek Independence Day Parade - San Francisco
    31     2008 Journey to Greece Application Deadline
    31     Full payment due to FREI Travel Agency for the 86th AHEPA Supreme Convention

APRIL
    01     2008 AHEPAcademy Application Deadline
    06     Greek Independence Day Parade - New York
    6-12   Dr. Monthe Kofos 46th Annual AHEPA National Golf Tournament
    23     Easter - Greek celebration
    30     Greek Independence Day Parade - Baltimore

MAY
    03     District Conventions: Dist 3
    17     District Conventions: Dist 14, Dist 23 and Dist 25
    30     District Conventions: Dist 5, Dist 7, Dist 8, Dist 20, Dist 21, Dist 22, and Dist 24

JUNE
    07     District Conventions: Dist 1, Dist 6, Dist 9, Dist 10, and Dist 15
    13     District Conventions: Dist 2, Dist 4, Dist 11, Dist 12, Dist 13, and Dist 17
    20     District Conventions: Dist 16

JULY
    1-6    86th Annual Supreme Convention - Athens, Greece

A Message from the Executive Director

Dear Brothers,

Headquarters has been working diligently these past few weeks and I am happy to report we hosted a very successful 38th Biennial Banquet on March 7. I would like to thank all the people who worked so hard to assure a successful event. First, I would like to thank the Banquet Emcee, U.S. Representative Zack Space; Chairman of the Banquet John Grossomanides; sponsors, Philip Christopher, Peter Papanicolaou, Nikos Mouyiris and our Supreme President Ike Gulas, and Vice President Nick Karacostas. Additionally, special thanks to the hard working staff of AHEPA Headquarters for their sacrifice and hard work.

However, as quickly as that has come and gone, we are now focused on the 86th AHEPA Supreme convention in Greece, and at the direction of Supreme President Ike Gulas, I am extending an invitation to all AHEPA family members to join AHEPA for a historic and eventful convention in Greece. See last week's important Suprmeme Convention Update for more deatils or visit the Suprememe Convention section of AHEPA.org.

The Supreme President is continuing to fulfill his duties and commitments which were made at the Denver Convention. To date he has traveled over 15,000 miles, driving and flying to reach out to the membership and touching communities which have been ignored in years past. On that note, Ike has committed to visiting the Western districts later this spring. The Supreme Lodge met last week, and together with the President, are actively working to fulfill their obligations in reference to the visitations to the respective District for the District Convention scheduled in May and June. On Sunday March 23 the Supreme President will be in Toms River, NJ where a donation for Cooley's Anemia will be presented from St. Barbara's Greek Orthodox Church . On March 25 the Supreme President has been asked to attend a formal White House function by the President of the United States in recognition of Greek Independence Day.

AHEPA has turned a very important corner this year. We brought in close to 2,000 members this year, and we are looking to the future for more interest and more members. AHEPA is an organization that lives and breaths due to the hard work of our Chapters. For over 86 years, AHEPA has shown brightly in the sky as a beacon for all Greek Americans to emulate. Other organizations have come and gone, but our chapters and our members are the hardest working patriots and committed to the mission. AHEPA's mission is to promote Hellenism in America, by promoting our youth, sustaining our elders in section 202 housing, by prompting the endurance of our Greek language and by running soup kitchens to help the poor, to list just a few. All our efforts are prompting the ideals of our great order. Our brotherhood has done and continues to do great things. The Supreme President charges all of us to find it within ourselves to work for the betterment of our great organization.

In closing, all of us are very proud our Supreme President for being named as the "Person of the Year" by NEO magazine. This is a unique and proud distinction for our President and AHEPA should be proud that our brother, friend, and President was named as person of the year. It proves that the energy and direction AHEPA has taken is one which deserves accolades. Congratulations Ike, and Axios AHEPA! NEO magazine can be viewed at www.NEO.com and also be viewed on our recent press release about NEO at www.ahepa.org.

Fraternally,


Basil Mossaidis, Executive Director

Greek American Weekly News Digest

Flame Ceremony to be 'Immaculate'
ATHENS (AP) -- March 15, 2008 -- Greek Olympic officials promised the flame-lighting ceremony for the Beijing Games would be held with full splendor in Ancient Olympia, an area ravaged by wildfires last year. ... read more.

Other Greek American News Headlines

• Associated Press - March 15, 2008
  Greece Hopes New Museum will Help Win Back Elgin Marbles
  
• Financial Times - March 16, 2008
  Macedonia Ready to Bend on Name Dispute
  
• ERT - March 14, 2008
  Karamanlis on Kosovo
  
• TheParliament.com - March 14, 2008
  EU Urges Both Sides to Commit to Cyprus Talks
  
• United Press International - March 14, 2008
  Cyprus Leader Warns Against U.N. Plan
  
• Embassy News - March 13, 2008
  Significant Progress on Opening of Ledra Street
  
• Ecumenical News International - March 17, 2008
  Plea for Recognition of Orthodox Christians in China
  
• The Daily News - March 15, 2008
  In the Spirit: Lent and the Orthodox
  

Supreme Convention Spotlight

Olympic Airlines & Delta Become Official AHEPA Partners

WASHINGTON (AHEPA Convention) -- AHPEA is proud to announce that our two airlines partners are currently swamped with questions regarding flights to Greece for the 86th AHEPA Supreme Convention. Olympic Airlines, our international partner and Delta our domestic partner are both selling seats for flights to Greece.

Delta Air Lines is offering discounts on eligible published fares to all members of AHEPA for meetings and individual travel in conjunction with AHEPA related business and activities. To make reservations, click on the Delta logo found on the AHEPA website at www.ahepa.org. Click on the Supreme Convention icon and then simply click the Delta logo and you will be routed directly to the AHEPA website for the Greece convention tickets.

NO MEETING OR RESERVATION CODE NEEDED. Realize the following additional benefits:

• No service fees
• Check-in online within 24 hours prior to departure
• Special AHEPA rate ONLY offered through the Delta.com link on the AHEPA website!

Greeks of the Week!

Asteris Fanikos of AHEPA District 5
Please join AHEPA in celebrating Brother Asteris Fanikos of District 5 for his outstanding efforts coordinating AHEPA's Emergency Greek Fire Relief efforts. Brother Fanikos serves as Vice President of the AHEPA Trenton Chapter and is the Sons' Advisor for District 5. He is also on the Parish Council and is the youth advisor for the St. George Parish in Trenton and is an assistant inspector general for the State of New Jersey.

Brother Asteris turned AHEPA's call to help the fire victims in Greece into a district wide community service project, pairing the local Parish youth with the AHEPA chapters in Trenton, Cherry Hill, Vineland, Wilmington, Paramus, and Newark. He coordinated the assembly, packing and shipping of over 200 care boxes and raised direct funds through car washes and bake sales with the youth to help those in need in Greece. Along with his beautiful wife of six years, Dina, he serves as a great role model for the next generation of Ahepans and our future leaders!

For this, and for his service to AHEPA in the years to come, we celebrate Asteris Fanikos as our 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.

This Week for Greeks is an electronic news service of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association.
For more information visit the AHEPA Online Headquarters at www.ahepa.org.
1909 Q Street, NW     Washington, DC 20009     Tel: 202-232-6300     Fax: 202-232-2140     Email: ahepa@ahepa.org