A Message from the Supreme President

On The Road for the AHEPA Western Caravan!

Dear Brothers,

I'm excited to once again, be on the road, visiting with the AHEPA Family. This time our AHEPA Caravan is making its way through our Western Districts and Chapters.

Our trip officially began Sunday night in Las Vegas, NV -- meeting with AHEPA Chapter 314. The event was held at a great restaurant, The Fat Greek. The turnout was great! Close to a hundred members of AHEPA and the Daughters of Penelope met with us. We discussed the state of AHEPA, our exciting Supreme Convention in Greece this June and the possibility of having Las Vegas host one of our future Supreme Conventions.

Prior to the Sunday night kick-off event for the caravan, I was able to meet in Las Vegas with entertainment legend Tony Orlando (a Greek American) and discussed his recent Aristotle Award from AHEPA in March. We also discussed working together to promote a new joint AHEPA project. I will keep you posted as that develops.

The AHEPA Western Caravan continues ...

Please look at the AHEPA calendar below to see which dates the Caravan will be visiting your city and chapter, as AHEPA makes its way though Nevada, California and Arizona.

Fraternally,

Ike Gulas, Supreme President

News From AHEPA

The AHEPA Western Caravan is Coming to Town!
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AHEPA News) -- Join AHEPA Supreme President Ike Gulas when he visits your Western District chapter, May 4-10. Contact your local chapter leadership to find out where in your city Western Caravan events will be taking place. This is a great opportunity to meet Supreme President Gulas and discuss ways we can all build the strength of our Order.

Supreme Convention Schedule of Events
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Supreme Convention) -- The schedule of events for this year's Supreme Convention in Greece, because of the setting, are unique and exciting. Many venues will be held outdoors. We will not be staying indoors for meetings the entire time we are in Athens. We will be visiting many sites and having many of our events outdoors, so be prepared to have fun and enjoy time with your family! ... download the draft schedule of events

Note: All events and times are tentative and subject to change.

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.

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.

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 Spring Calendar

MAY
    2-4    Van Nomikos National AHEPA Basketball Tournament
    2-4    District 8 and SOP Basketball Tournament
    03     District Conventions: Dist 3
    4-10 Supreme President Western Caravan!
            04     Las Vegas Visitation
            05     San Diego Visitation
            06     Torrance, CA Visitation: Anaheim, Long Beach, San Pedro & Redondo Beach
            07     Encino, CA Visitation: Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Lancaster,
                       San Fernando Valley, Hollywood & Pasadena
            08     Arizona Visitation - Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson & Chandler
            9-10   San Francisco Visitation
    17     District Conventions: Dist 14, Dist 23 and Dist 25
    18     AHEPA Day!
    22     PESKA Dinner Honoring AHEPA - Washington, DC
    24     Rick Peka Testimonial - Waterbury, CT
    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
    21     District Conventions: Dist 19

JULY
    1-12    86th Annual Supreme Convention - Athens, Greece

Greek American Weekly News Digest

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Recognized by Time Magazine Among World's Most Influential People
NEW YORK (GOAarch.org) -- May 2, 2008 -- His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of 250 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, has been recognized by Time Magazine as one of the world's most influential people. This is the fifth annual list compiled by the magazine. In an article included with the selection and written by the Archbishop of Canterbury and head of the Anglican Church, Rowan Williams, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is honored for his clear moral and spiritual vision and for his concern for the environment. ... read more.

Condoleezza Rice to Be Honored at the 24th PSEKA Conference
NEW YORK (GreekNews) -- May 5, 2008 -- U.S. State Legislatures Continue to Pass Religious Freedom Resolutions for the Ecumenical U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be the honoree of the 24th Annual Cyprus, Hellenic and Orthodox Issues Conference in Washington, D.C., from May 21-23, 2008, hosted by the International Coordinating Committee "Justice for Cyprus" (PSEKA) and the Coordinated Effort of Hellenes (CEH) The ceremony will take place during PSEKA Conference’s dinner on May 22. ... read more.

Other Greek American News Headlines

• Greek News - May 5, 2008
  Another Unsuccessful Round of Talks over the Name Issue
  
• Fort Wayne Journal Gazette - April 23, 2008
  Anti-Greek Propaganda Must Stop
  
• Greek News - May 5, 2008
  The Greek Press Office Presents an Anthology of Greek-American Poetry
  

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!

The Brothers, Daughters, Maids and Sons of AHEPA Districts 20 & 21
From the beginning planning for The AHEPA Western Caravan, it was clear this was going to be an outstanding outreach effort. Coordinating events between more than twelve chapters in two districts, over the course of only six days requires leadership, teamwork and passion. AHEPA Districts 20 and 21 this month have shown excellence in each of these categories. For this and for their work, year round, please join AHEPA in saluting AHEPA Districts 20 and 21 as this week's 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