This Week For Greeks! - Vol.2 Issue 13 - Wednesday, April 9, 2008

A Message from the Supreme President

Supreme President Ike Gulas and Supreme Vice President Nick Karacostas at the NYC Greek Independence Day Parade

Dear Brothers,

Spring is upon us and it has been an eventful time for Hellenism.

During the past few weekends, many Greek Independence Day parades and celebrations were organized in our cities and metropolitan areas. I commend everyone who helped organize or participated in these uplifting events that celebrate our Hellenic heritage and history (view WWOR-TV Interview - requires Windows Media Player). It was an honor to march down Fifth Avenue in New York City, and it was a moment I will never forget. Also, I had the pleasure of being in Annapolis for the commemoration of Greek Independence in Maryland. Finally, equally impressive and memorable was the celebration held at The White House, with President George W. Bush and Archbishop Demetrios, on March 25.

Defaced Billboard in Skope (FYROM) The FYROM name-recognition issue reached a pivotal point last week when Greece rightfully vetoed FYROM's entry into NATO. I am proud that we were swift and visible in our support of Greece's decision and in our condemnation of the use of hate propaganda in Skopje that the FYROM government condones and turns a blind-eye to. We urge you to support our "Stop Hate" campaign that is ongoing. Please join with us.

Supreme President Ike Gulas shakes hands with President of Parliament of Greece, Dimitris Sioufas While in New York last weekend, I'm pleased to report that we were received very favorably. I met privately with the President of Greek Parliament, Mr. Dimitris Sioufas, and his colleagues in Parliament, to discuss the Athens Supreme Convention and Hellenic issues. Moreover, I had the pleasure of addressing the Cyprus Federation of America's annual convention.

Finally, please keep the Athens Supreme Convention high on your list of agenda items. The excitement and enthusiasm I have received ranging from government officials in New York to the chapter member and his family in Maryland, has been exceptional. Please visit our Web site, AHEPA.ORG/convention for information. I look forward to seeing you in Athens!

Fraternally,

Ike Gulas, Supreme President

News From AHEPA

Private Meeting between AHEPA and President of Parliament of Greece, Dimitris Sioufas

Supreme President, Parliament President Discuss Recent Developments
NEW YORK (AHEPA News) -- The President of Parliament of Greece, Dimitris Sioufas, and several members of parliament hosted a private meeting for Supreme President Ike Gulas Saturday on the sidelines of events surrounding the celebration of Greek Independence Day in New York City at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. The parliament members represented a diversity of political parties in Greece. ... read more.

A Greek Cypriot woman celebrates crossing the Ledra street after its opening in divided Nicosia, Cyprus, Thursday. AP/Petros Karadjias AHEPA Applauds Opening of Ledra Street Crossing in Nicosia
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AHEPA News) -- The membership of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) applauds the opening of the Ledra Street crossing in Nicosia, the last divided capital in Europe, announced National President Ike Gulas. ... read more.

NATO Logo AHEPA Supports Greece's Decision to Exercise Veto
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AHEPA News) -- The membership of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) supports Greece's decision to veto Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (FYROM) bid to join NATO, announced National President Ike Gulas. ... read more.

Defaced Billboard in Skope (FYROM) STOP HATE: Greek Flag Desecrated
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AHEPA News) -- Greek Flag Desecrated: Cross Replaced by Nazi Swastika -- On March 30, 2008, billboards displayed in Skopje displayed a defaced Greek flag, having replaced the Cross that appears in the upper left-hand corner of the flag with a Nazi swastika. ... read more.

Members of the Maryland House of Delegates, Karolos Gadis of the Greek Embassy, with Mayor of Baltimore and Supreme President Ike Gulas AHEPA Celebrates Greek Independence Day!
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AHEPA News) -- March 25th was celebrated today in Washington, DC at the White House. Supreme President Ike Gulas led the AHEPA delegation to the White House. Joining the Supreme President was Supreme Vice President Nick Karacostas, Chairman of the AHEPA Trustees Tom Owens, Grand President of the Daughters Karen Stamatiades, Sons of Pericles Supreme President Rick Pecka, and Grand President of the Maids of Athena Stephanie Maniatis. ... read more.

AHEPA's Journey to Greece Still Time to Apply for Journey to Greece & AHEPAcademy
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AHEPA Education) -- Applications are still being accepted for both the AHEPA Journey to Greece and the AHEPAcademy student 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 Journey to Greece early application rate deadline
April 15, 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.

AHEPA's New VISA Affinity Card 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!

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

APRIL
    06     Greek Independence Day Parade - Boston
    06     Greek Independence Day Parade - Detroit
    06     Greek Independence Day Parade - New York
    6-12 Dr. Monthe Kofos 46th Annual AHEPA National Golf Tournament
    12     DOP Districts 20, 21, 22 Tri-District Sisterhood Conference
    13     District 8 Bowling Tournament
    15     2008 AHEPAcademy Application Deadline
    23     Easter - Greek celebration

MAY
    2-4    Van Nomikos National AHEPA Invitational Basketball Tournament
    2-4    District 8 and SOP 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 20, Dist 21, Dist 22, and Dist 24
    31     District Conventions: Dist 8

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

71-year-old Elias Spyrocoulos, co-owner of Executive Dineris, looking to sell. He is not the only one. Photo: Joyce Dopkeen/The New York Times

Diners in Changing Hands; Greek Ownership on the Wane
YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, N.Y (New York Times) -- March 16, 2008 -- Nick Karkambasis arrived in New York City from Sparta, Greece, on Dec. 22, 1968, when he was 16 years old. By Dec. 24 he was working as a dishwasher at his uncle's Delta Diner in Massapequa on Long Island. ... read more.

Other Greek American News Headlines

Associated Press - April 7, 2008
20,000 People Crossed at Ledra Over the Weekend
Atlanta Journal-Constitution - March 27, 2008
Descendants of Greek Immigrants Aren't Pining for Pita
WebMD Medical News - April 1, 2008
Olive Oil Eases Ride for Bypass Patients

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.

Greek of the Week!

Dr. Thimios Zaharopoulos - Sunflower Chapter in Lenexa Kansas
Please join AHEPA in celebrating the inspiring work of Dr. Thimios Zaharopoulos, past president of AHEPA Sunflower Chapter in Lenexa Kansas. Brother Zaharopoulos, recently spearheaded the fund drive that allowed the 25 member Sunflower Chapter to contribute over $5000 to the AHEPA Emergency Greek Fire Relief Fund. Most recently, he arranged a visit by Anastassios Petrovas, Consul General of Greece to Chicago to Overland Park in March 2008, the first time the community has been visited by an ambassador in more than 40 years.

Brother Zaharopoulos currently serves as the Dean of the College of Arts and Science at Park University in Parkville Missouri, and in addition to promoting AHEPA events, has many professional credits to his name. He has also taught or served as an administrator at Washburn University, Pittsburg State University, The American College of Greece and Southern Illinois University. In addition to Zaharopoulos' college teaching duties, he has also worked on two Greek television programs. He is the author of one book, numerous book chapters, 17 published articles in scholarly journals, and has made more than 35 presentations at national or international conferences.

Thimios and his wife Dr. Julie Crain, principal of Broadmoor Techincal Center, a High School in the Shawnee Mission School District, have two sons Alex and Victor.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.