This Week For Greeks! - Vol.2 Issue 12 - Monday, March 24, 2008

A Message from the Supreme President

Dear Brothers,

This week, we will celebrate the 187th Anniversary of Greece's Independence from the Ottoman Empire. It is a time to reflect upon the democratic values and ideals conceived by the ancient Greeks that inspired America's Forefathers to liberty and the leaders of Greek Independence who founded the modern Greek state.

Greek Independence Day Parade I wish to commend all our members who will be helping to commemorate a salient moment in our Hellenic heritage by marching in parades throughout major cities around the globe; hoisting Greek flags over state capitols or municipal buildings, or organizing youth programs in your local communities where plays will be performed or poem recited by our younger generations. .

White House Seal I look forward to celebrating Greek Independence Day with President George W. Bush, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, AHEPA family leaders, and dignitaries of the Greek-American community at The White House on Tuesday. Our sincere gratitude is extended to President Bush for issuing a proclamation to recognize the day, and to Congress, for passing two resolutions calling for "Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy."

Finally, I look forward to celebrating the glory and significance of our Hellenic heritage with each of you this July in Athens, for the 86th Supreme Convention.

Fraternally,

Ike Gulas, Supreme President

News From AHEPA

Apply Today for your New AHEPA VISA Affinity Card!
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AHEPA Promotion) -- AHEPA is proud to announce, through our partnership with Bank of America, an offer you literally can't afford to pass by! The New AHEPA VISA Affinity Card offers you, not only the lowest APR available, but at a fixed rate that won't change after the card has been activated -- and a chance to help AHEPA at the same time! Please check out the offer online and appply for your new card today!

AHEPA's Journey to Greece Journey to Greece & AHEPAcademy New Deadlines Approaching!
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AHEPA Education) -- March is the last month to apply, without late fees or penalties, for this year's Journey to Greece and AHEPAcademy programs. 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

Note: Applications for the 2008 Journey to Greece program submitted on or after April 1 will be accepted with a tuition increase of $150.

Greek Orthodox Cross Ahepans In Memoriam
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AHEPA In Memoriam) -- Please join AHEPA in honoring brothers who have passed on. If a brother in your chapter or district has recently died, please inform Headquarters. If you would like to have his obituary listed in our AHEPA In Memoriam section, please send the obituary to our webmaster at webmaster@ahepa.org.

AHEPA 2008 Winter/Spring Calendar

MARCH
    25     Greek Independence Day
    29     2008 District 13 Bowling Tournament - Deerfield, IL
    29     Greek Independence Day Parade - San Francisco
    30     Greek Independence Day Parade - Baltimore
    30     Greek Independence Day Parade - Chicago
    30     Greek Independence Day Parade - Philadelphia
    30     Greek Independence Day Parade - Tarpon Springs
    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 - Detroit
    06     Greek Independence Day Parade - New York
    6-12 Dr. Monthe Kofos 46th Annual AHEPA National Golf Tournament
    23     Easter - Greek celebration

MAY
    2-4    Van Nomikos National AHEPA Invitational Basketball Tournament
    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
1-12 86th Annual Supreme Convention - Athens, Greece

Greek American Weekly News Digest

Greek actress Maria Nafpliotou, playing the role of a high priestess, holds up the Olympic flame lit with a concave mirror near the Temple of Hera in Ancient Olympia where the Olympics were born in 776 B.C. on Monday March 24, 2008. AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris

Protesters Disrupt Olympic Torch Ceremony
ANCIENT OLYMPIA (CBS/AP) -- March 24, 2008 -- Press freedom and pro-Tibet protesters disrupted Monday's flame-lighting ceremony for the Beijing Games and the early stages of the torch relay. Police said four people had been detained, a Tibetan woman and three members of the Paris-based group Reporters Without Borders. ... read more.

Other Greek American News Headlines

B92 - March 24, 2008
Appeal to Greece Not to Recognize Kosovo
NET - March 24, 2008
Fresh Negotiations on FYROM
Associated Press - March 23, 2008
New Museum in Greece Hopes to Someday House Elgin Marbles
BBC News - March 21, 2008
Cyprus Peace Back on the Agenda
EarthTimes - March 25, 2008
Opening of Crossing Point in Cyprus Faces Setback from Turkish Army
Business Today - March 2008
Small Island With Big Ideas

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!

The special Olympic/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.

Greeks of the Week!

GOYA Member Mia Xyloportas presents $5,000 check to AHEPA Supreme Vice President Nicholas Karacostas

Mia Xyloportas & GOYA of St. Barbara's Church - Toms River, NJ
Please join AHEPA in celebrating the inspiring work of Mia Xyloportas and her fellow members of GOYA at St. Barbara's parish in Toms River, New Jersey. Supreme Vice President Nick Karacostas recently visited former AHEPA Supreme Governor Father Paul Pappas at St. Barbara's and was honored to accept from Mia and GOYA a $5000 check for the AHEPA Cooley's Anemia Foundation. Mia and her younger brother both suffered from Cooley's Anemia and were both cured by a bone marrow transplant from their middle sibling.

We congratulate Mia and the members of GOYA for reminding each of us the importance of giving back to our community. Join AHEPA in celebrating them 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.