This Week For Greeks! - Vol.2 Issue 31 - Tuesday, October 7, 2008

A Message from the Supreme President

Brothers, Sisters and Friends:

It has been my steadfast belief that we should serve the purpose of informing our members, and those interested in our mission, of events pertaining to our community. That is why this weekly electronic newsletter was founded and why I believe it has been widely accepted. As many of you know, the Order of AHEPA has worked steadfastly over the past several years to facilitate Greece's acceptance into the United States Visa Waiver Program. To that end, we were extremely optimistic when the US Department of State nominated Greece in September 2007. It was our hope that Greece would join its EU counterparts as a member of the VWP by the end of this year.

Yesterday, I travelled to Washington to meet with Ambassador Alexandros Mallias of Greece and officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to learn how AHEPA could assist in moving the application of Greece forward. My meeting with the Ambassador was most informative. However, during my meeting with DHS, I was appalled upon hearing directly that Greece's application was being held up by the Executive Branch, due to "political reasons." This retaliatory action is being taken because Greece exercised its veto authority to prevent FYROM's bid to join NATO this past April.

As president of AHEPA, but more importantly, a Greek American, I was outraged at this declaration. As a result, today I issued a letter to President George W. Bush expressing our discontent with this inexcusable policy. In addition, we are asking all AHEPA family members, and the Greek American community, to unite and let the White House know that we find this act unacceptable, and furthermore, respectfully request that Greece be allowed to continue on its rightful path to become a visa waiver nation.

Fraternally,

Ike Gulas, Supreme President

News From AHEPA

Supreme President Ike Gulas and Rep. Carolyn Maloney

Supreme President Travel Log
WASHINGTON (AHEPA eNews) -- This weekend AHEPA Supreme President Ike Gulas traveled to New York to attend events involving the Visa waiver program, the National Herald and honoring Rep. Carolyn Maloney and IL State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulis. ... read more.

AHEPA Vote 2008 AHEPA Initiates Voter Registration, Education Campaigns
WASHINGTON (AHEPA News) -- AHEPA has launched a voter registration and education campaign in preparation for Election Day 2008, announced Supreme President Ike Gulas. ... read more.

The AHEPAN Magazine - Summer 2008 Hot Off The Press: The AHEPAN Summer 2008 Issue
WASHINGTON (AHEPAN Magazine) -- Can't wait for your copy to come in the mail? Burning to find out more about the historic Supreme Convention in Athens, the unstopable AHEPA All-star Basketball Team -- or to find out what's going on in chapters across the country? Well, suffer no more!
Download the Summer 2008 issue online!

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!

AHEPA 2008 Calendar

OCTOBER
    3-4    Western Regional Leadership Conference - Reno, NV
    04     Cyprus Federation Dinner at Terrace on the Park - Flushing, NY
    05     AHEPA Voter Registration Sunday! - Nationwide
    11     Albany Chapter 140 Honors Rep. McNulty - Albany, NY
    24     Supreme President Gulas Visits His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios - New York, NY
    25     ARCHON's Dinner - New York, NY
    25     Sons of Pericles Volley Ball Tournament - Wykoff, NJ
    25     Albany Sons of Pericles Haunted House Fundraiser - Albany, NY
    28     OXI Day - Greece

NOVEMBER
    01     Sons of Pericles Halloween Party - Paramus, NJ
    04     Election Day - Nationwide
    05     Supreme President Visitation - Akron, OH
    11     Veterans Day - Nationwide

DECEMBER
    03     Supreme President Speaks at Hellenic College at Holy Cross Church - Brookline, MA
    05     Supreme President Visitation | Makaronada Night - Montvale, NJ
    06     AHEPA Evzone Chapter 105 Initiation and Installation - Westchester, NY
    25     Holy Nativity (Christmas)
    31     AHEPA Annual Chapter Dues Deadline

Greek American Weekly News Digest

Nimetz: ''Take It or Leave It''
UNITED NATIONS (Greek News) -- September 29, 2008 -- McCain Foreign Policy Advisor Blames Greece for Vetoing Skopje, While an Obama Advisor Suggests US Remain Neutral -- UN Secretary General's special envoy on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) "name issue", Matthew Nimetz will be meeting here on Tuesday, October 7, the delegations of Greece and FYROM in the framework of UN-sponsored talks over solving the issue. ... read more.

Chicago Philanthropist Gifts $1 Million to St. Iakovos Retreat Center
CHICAGO (Greek News) -- October 6, 2008 -- Chris P. Tomaras, a well-known Chicago businessman, community leader, churchman and philanthropist, announced the fulfillment of a $1 million gift to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago�s St. Iakovos Retreat Center at a challenge dinner on September 23, 2008. ... read more.

Other Greek American News Headlines

Kathimerini - October 6, 2008
Premier Rallies Party, Urges Team Spirit
Washington Times - October 6, 2008
MENENDEZ/SNOWE: Macedonian Quandary
Greek News - October 6, 2008
Profile of a Librarian: Pitsa Tsakonas of the Benaki Museum

AHEPA District Spotlight

AHEPA District 2 Governor Michael M. Pantel

AHEPA Citrus District 2
District Governor Michael M. Pantel
Citrus District 2 encompasses the State of Florida and the Bahamas. It includes a total of 22 chapters within the state of Florida with approximately 900 members. In June of 2008 a new chapter was formed in Naples, FL (Chapter # 533) Additionally, the chapter in Tallahassee, FL was reinstated and reactivated.

Recently District 2 received a donation of $25,000 from Brother Angelo Langadas of Boca Raton, FL (Chapter # 487) to their District Scholarship Foundation. Brother Langadas was honored at the District 2 Convention held in Orlando, Florida and was chosen as the District "Ahepan of the Year" for his dedication and philanthropic accomplishments.

AHEPA Citrus District 2 invites you to participate in thier upcoming Epiphany events in January. For a listing of these events, please see the AHEPA National Events Calendar.