This Week For Greeks! - Vol.2 Issue 24 - Monday, June 28, 2008

A Message from the Supreme President

Brothers, Sisters and Friends:

After a brief hiatus during the 86th Supreme Convention in Athens, we proudly resume our second year of publishing This Week for Greeks!, which has been well-received. We appreciated your feedback during the past year, and we continue to look for ways to improve our outreach to you.

2008 AHEPA Supreme Convention - A Celebration of Greek Heritage During our break, we hope that Basil's Blog kept everyone updated on the latest news and exciting events that transpired during the convention. The Supreme Convention was a tremendous success thanks in large part to the support you, your chapter, or district provided. Whether you attended, purchased an ad, or encouraged family members and friends to go, everyone contributed to a memorable and historic gathering for the ages. We exceeded our expectations for attendance and I am confident everyone had a fun and enjoyable experience in Athens.

Supreme President Ike Gulas and His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I I would like to sincerely thank the delegates of the convention for affording me the opportunity to serve a second term as Supreme President. I look forward to leading AHEPA into the next year, and pursuing many projects and issues that require our attention. In that vein, immediately following the convention, we met with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to discuss the troubling challenges facing the Ecumenical Patriarchate. We can-and must-do more. In addition, we met with Minister of Health Dimitris Avramopoulos to explore worthy projects in the healthcare sector that can benefit from the funds we raised for Greek wildfire relief. I will share our findings with the Supreme Lodge during our next conference call.

Supreme President Ike Gulas visits the AHEPA Wing of the Evangelismos Hospital Moreover, I took a moment to visit Evangelismos Hospital and the AHEPA wing there. I had the pleasure of meeting the hospital's director, who is greatly appreciative of our support. Finally, I had the pleasure of meeting U.S. Ambassador-designate to Cyprus Frank C. Urbancic at a dinner hosted by Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus Andreas Kakouris on July 23. The event was timely as we recently observed the 34th "black anniversary" of the invasion and occupation of Cyprus on July 20th. We look forward to working with the new American ambassador.

In closing, I look forward to seeing many of you on our journeys this year, and working with you to help us fulfill our mission in the community.

Fraternally,

Ike Gulas, Supreme President

News From AHEPA

Cyprus AHEPA Observes 34th Anniversary of the Invasion, Occupation of Cyprus
WASHINGTON (AHEPA News) -- Supreme President Ike Gulas issues a strong statement following statement on the 34th anniversary of the illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus that occurred July 20, 1974. ... read more.

Supreme President Ike Gulas and His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I Supreme President Gulas, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Discuss Key Issues
WASHINGTON (AHEPA News) -- Supreme President Ike Gulas made the first official visitation of his second term to the Ecumenical Patriarchate where he renewed the commitment of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) to issues affecting the Ecumenical Patriarchate in a private three-hour audience with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on Wednesday, July 16, 2008. ... read more.

Supreme President Ike Gulas Supreme President being sworn in for a second term at the 2008 Supreme Convention in Greece AHEPA Re-elects Ike Gulas Supreme President
WASHINGTON (AHEPA News) -- The delegates of the AHEPA re-elected Supreme President Ike Gulas at its 86th Annual Supreme Convention in Athens. Gulas ran unopposed in an election that was held Sunday, July 6 ... read more.

Journey to Greece Class of 2008 Trace The Steps of This Year's Journey to Greece!
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Journey to Greece) -- The 2008 AHEPA Journey to Greece Program came to a close this week. Trace the steps of this year's class though their online bulletins and through the 2008 Journey to Greece Blog. AHEPA would like to especially commend the hard work and organization of Past Supreme President Dr. James F. Dimitriou and his staff of volunteers who have helped make this the most successful Journey ever. ... find out more.

AHEPA Disaster Relief 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.

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 American Weekly News Digest

Zappion Event at AHEPA's 2008 Supreme Convention

AHEPA's Historic Supreme Convention Receives Historic News Coverage
ATHENS (Various News Sources) -- July 28, 2008 -- The 2008 AHEPA Supreme Convention received front page coverage not only in the Greek-American press, but major daily newspapers in Greece and the US. Following is a reflection of the coverage from this historic event:

Athens News Agency: AHEPA convention in Athens
New Haven Registrar: Stamos Assumes Bench Role with Greek Stars
Express.gr: US envoy to Greece details positions on FYROM, Cyprus at AHEPA convention
Express.gr: FM Bakoyannis addresses AHEPA Congress
Voice of America: The AHEPA Returns to Athens with Brilliant Reviews
Greek News: AHEPA Re-elects Ike Gulas Supreme President

Demetris Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat shaking hands at meeting. September 3 2008 Date Set For Start of Full-Fledged Negotiations
NICOSIA (Embassy News) -- July 25, 2008 -- The President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat met today and announced that full-fledged negotiations will begin on September 3, 2008, under the good offices mission of the United Nations Secretary General. ... read more.

Other Greek American News Headlines

Reuters - June 24, 2008
Greek Songbird Mouskouri Bids Farewell After 50 Years
Bleacher Report - July 24, 2008
Going Greek: How Josh Childress Leaving the Hawks Impacts the NBA and NCAA
BBC - July 23, 2008
On This Day in 1974: Greek Military Rule Gives in to Democracy
Reuters - July 21, 2008
Oldest New Testament Bible Heads into Cyberspace

Greeks of the Week!

2008 Ahepan of the Year Brother Nicholas Krial
After being awarded as Ahepan of the Year, it may seem anticlimactic or a step down to be recognized as our "Greek of the Week" but we hope this year's and week's recepient of both these accolades, Brother Nicholas Krial, will see behind each AHEPA's gratitude for his years of service and brotherhood in our Order.

Brother Nick is a lifelong Ahepan, who hails from the Worthington, AHEPA 30 Chapter in Baltimore, Maryland, was selected from a pool of amazing nominees for this honor and represents the very best in public service and fraternity. Please join AHEPA in honoring our 2008 Ahepan of the Year, Brother Nicholas Krial 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.