A Message from the Supreme President

Dear Brothers,

I bring warm greetings as we are about to enter Holy Week. I wish you and your family a joyous Pascha.

We are preparing for a very busy few months that will culminate with our historic 86th Annual Supreme Convention in Athens. Right now, our headquarters staff is consumed with processing the high volume of AHEPA national scholarship and Journey to Greece applications we have received from many outstanding young persons. I'm pleased to report these two educational initiatives are flourishing, and I wish the applicants the best of luck.

Moreover, we are blessed and fortunate that Archbishop Demetrios will commemorate AHEPA Day on Sunday, May 18 as is tradition on the third Sunday of May. Please take this opportunity to sponsor a coffee hour or to host an event in your Church hall that creates awareness about AHEPA, our mission, and our successful programs in the community. It is an excellent opportunity to ask someone to join.

Our Supreme Lodge, and I, look forward to visiting your District Conventions in May and June. These conclaves are important and crucial to the success of our organization as I have often felt that districts are the "keystone" of AHEPA.

Finally, please keep the Supreme Convention in Athens as a priority on your agendas. We are excited with the level of participation we are receiving from folks across the globe. We will continue to provide you with updates as they develop. I guarantee you and your entire family will not want to miss this convention!

"This Week for Greeks" will return to its regular Monday distribution cycle following Easter.

Kalo Pascha!

Fraternally,

Ike Gulas, Supreme President

News From AHEPA

Help Bestow Congress' Greatest Honor on Our Capitol's Artist
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AHEPA Action) -- Please join AHEPA, the Daughters of Penelope, and the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) in recognizing the contributions of a great American of Hellenic and Italian descent, Constantino Brumidi, by educating your U.S. Representative about legislation (H.R. 1609) to award a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to the artisan of our nation's Capitol. ... read more.

AHEPA Testifies To Restore VOA Greek Service Funding to House Panel
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AHEPA News) -- AHEPA submitted written testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, State, and Related Programs, requesting the federal government to restore $480,000 in funding for the Voice of America Greek Service for Fiscal Year 2009. ... read more.

The AHEPA Road to Hellenism Continues
NEW YORK, NY (AHEPA eNews) -- Please enjoy this photo and video journal recap of Supreme President Ike Gulas's recent trip to promote Hellenism. Click on any of these thumbnail versions of the photos to view the original high resolution image. ... read more.

STOP HATE: Greek Flag Desecrated
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AHEPA Action) -- 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.

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

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 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
    27     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
    18     AHEPA Day!
    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

Secretary of State Rice Speaks to the American-Turkish Council
WASHINGTON, DC (State Department News) -- April 15, 2008 -- Secretary of State Condeleza Rice addressed the American Turkish Council Luncheon at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, D.C. The full text and a video of her remarks are available on the State Department's website ... read more.

U.S. Official Losing Temper, Supports ''Macedonian'' Ethnicity and Language
WASHINGTON, DC (Greek News) -- April 14, 2008 -- Matthew Nimetz, the UN Secretary General's mediator, will be visiting Skopje (in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - FYROM) on Thursday and on the next day he will be in Athens to reactivate the process regarding the issue of the neighbouring country's name. ... read more.

Other Greek American News Headlines

• Kathimerini - April 18, 2008
  FYROM hints at compromise
  
• GOArch.org - April 18, 2008
  Journey to Pascha: A Daily Guide Through Holy Week
  
• COSMOworlds - April 15, 2008
  Athens Xclusive Designers Week 2008
  

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!

Holy Week Spotlight

The Great and Holy Feast of Pascha
On the Great and Holy Feast of Pascha, Orthodox Christians celebrate the life-giving Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This feast of feasts is the most significant day in the life of the Church. It is a celebration of the defeat of death, as neither death itself nor the power of the grave could hold our Savior captive. In this victory that came through the Cross, Christ broke the bondage of sin, and through faith offers us restoration, transformation, and eternal life.

To Learn More:

• GOArch.org: The Holy Feast of Pascha!
• About.com: Greek Orthodox Easter: Food and Traditions
• CHIFF.com: Greek Easter Traditions & Recipes

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