A Message from the Supreme President

Brothers,

I hope everyone had a successful AHEPA Day. My day was spent with the Brothers of Chapter No. 5 in Savannah, Georgia at St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church. The chapter was recognized for its contributions to the parish and hosted a coffee hour. We've also taken a moment to spotlight one of our many success stories from AHEPA Sunday in this edition of our E-newsletter. If you have an uplifting story to share from your chapter's AHEPA Day, please forward it to our Webmaster at webmaster@ahepa.org.

It is the time of year when many of our District Conventions are being held throughout the AHEPA Domain (see calendar below). Along with my Supreme Lodge, we look forward to traveling and being with you during these important events. We extend our appreciation to our outgoing District Governors, and their District Lodges, for their efforts, helping to make the 2007-08 administrative year a productive one. We hope that your convention deliberations are fruitful.

Finally, we are closing in on our historic 86th Supreme Convention. The steady volume of pre-registered delegates coming into Headquarters is exciting to see, and we thank all the chapters who have submitted Commemorative Album advertisements. Please visit http://www.ahepa.org/convention to make hotel arrangements, pre-register, or obtain an album ad form ... it's not too late! I look forward to seeing you in Athens this July.

Fraternally,

Ike Gulas, Supreme President

News From AHEPA

Greek Association Dedicates Housing Project for Seniors
NEW YORK (Pensacola News Journal) -- May 15, 2008 -- After years of labor, residents and community leaders celebrated the ceremonial opening of a new area housing project Wednesday. The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association hosted a ribbon-cutting Wednesday for the housing project, AHEPA 296 Apartments on Creighton Road, which serves low-income senior citizens. Roadblocks over the years — including three hurricanes — slowed construction. ... read more.

AHEPA 95 Greek Concert a Huge Success
WILMINGTON (Hellenic News) -- May 15, 2008 -- On Sunday afternoon, May 4, 2008, close to 300 people gathered to the Baby Grant Theater in Wilmington, DE, to be entertained by the performers Kostis Kritsotakis, Dimitris Marinos and the Children Chorus of the Odyssey Charter School. Kostis is the talented piano player and Music Teacher from Greece at Odyssey; and Dimitris Marinos is a star mandolin bouzouki and vocal performer from Greece in Chicago. ... read more.

Help AHEPA Widen Our Scope of Disaster Relief Efforts!
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AHEPA Relief) -- Recently our nation and world have faced a series of natural disasters which, as Ahepans we can not turn a blinds eye. After the enormous success of our efforts to provide relief to the wild fire victims in Greece, AHEPA asks each of you to join us now, in helping disaster victims, many of whom have been left homeless and severely injured. ... please give generously.

Supreme Convention Schedule of Events
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Supreme Convention) -- The schedule of events for this year's Supreme Convention in Greece is exciting because of the uniqueness of the setting. Many venues will allow for outdoor activities at historic sites. We will not be staying indoors for meetings the entire time we are in Athens. In fact, tours, beach parties and performances will be just some of the activities held 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.

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, and Dist 15
    13     District Conventions: Dist 2, Dist 4, Dist 10, 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

Offensive Language Removed from Senate Draft Resolution on NATO Expansion
ASTORIA, NY (Greek News) -- May 19, 2008 -- Senator Robert Menendez was known as a strong supporter of Human Rights and the Rule of Law well before his election to the U.S. Senate, representing the State of New Jersey, home of many Greek Americans, who saw in him a good friend an supporter on the issues of Cyprus, Macedonia and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. ... read more.

Turkish Govt Provokes Greece with Website While Two Nations Cooperate on Earthquake Relief
NEW YORK (GreekNewsBlog.com) -- May 15, 2008 -- Turkish foreign ministry site blatantly distorts Hellenic issues -- A new Turkish foreign ministry website has aroused indignation in Greece, claiming, among other things, that Greece is trying to destabilize Turkey. Greece has protested the matter to Turkey. Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis has termed several of the claims on the site "absolutely groundless" and summoned the Turkish ambassador for a clarification, adding, "We expect a correction." ... read more.

CSIS Statesmen's Forum: George Alogoskoufis,
Greek Minister of Finance and Economy
WASHINGTON, DC (CSIS.org) -- May 15, 2008 -- The Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) hosted a Statesmen's Forum with The Honorable George Alogoskoufis, Greece's Minister of Finance and Economy, to discuss development in Southeastern Europe. Minister Alogoskoufis delivered remarks and took questions from the audience. ... read the prepared remarks (pdf).

           Video (wmv)

           Audio(mp3)

Other Greek American News Headlines

• AP - May 19, 2008
  'Disaster Fatigue' Leads to Drop in Giving
  
• LA Times- May 18, 2008
  Freemasons in Midst of Popularity, Membership Boom
  
• Greek News - May 19, 2008
  Faithful Urged to Attend 39th Clergy-Laity Congress
  

AHEPA Day Spotlight

Arlington Chapter Helps New Local Parish Build a Home!

AHEPA Day in Northern Virginia this year involved events spanning the entire day. The morning celebration began with a church service at the area's newest Greek Orthodox parish, the Greek Orthodox Parish of Loudoun County, Virginia. The service was highlighted with the presentation by Peter N. Derzis Chapter Number 438 Vice President Vasilis Fotopoulos of a check for $8,500.00 to the Parish Council President Michael Koutsourais towards the building of the permanent church.

AHEPA Supreme Governor Nicholas Vamvakias honored the parish with his laudatory words and wished the parish and its interim priest, Rev (Chaplain) John Kalantzis, every success in the enormous task of growing an Orthodox community and building a permanent new Byzantine-style church in Loudoun County. The Parish is temporarily housed in a converted warehouse, but with community support they will see their new home soon!

The day concluded with Chapter 438, along with the Daughters of Penelope, holding their 39th Annual Awards Dinner.

Among those sharing in the event were Past Supreme Governor Col. Nicholas P. Vamvakias and his wife, Event Chair Georgia Higley, Ms. Mary Gerghiou, DOP Past Grand President Mary Filoue, Past District Governor Daphne Hallas and her husband Bill. Special guests included Constantinos Alexandris, Consul to the Ambassador of Greece and guest speaker Aris Melissaratos, Senior Advisor to the President of Johns Hopkins University.

Twenty nine students received $35,000 in scholarships. These young men and women are some of the country's highest qualified students in Scholarship, Extra Curricular Activities, and Community Service.

Greek of the Week!

Past Supreme President Frank Manios
Each year, the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) presents the Ellis Island Medal of Honor to American citizens of diverse origins for their outstanding contributions to their communities, their nation and the world. This is a distinguished honor as past Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipients include six Presidents of the United States, Nobel Prize winners, athletes, leaders of industry, artists and others whose work has made a lasting impact on humanity.

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