This Week For Greeks! - Vol.2 Issue 32 - Tuesday, October 13, 2008

A Message from the Supreme President

Brothers, Sisters and Friends:

Last week, AHEPA played a crucial role working to remove an ill-advised "political hold" by our executive branch on Greece's path to become a visa waiver nation, and to jump-start negotiations between the two longtime NATO allies. Greece's inclusion in the United States' Visa Waiver Program would greatly impact the American Hellenic community for the better, strengthening social, cultural, and educational ties; and fostering increased commerce and tourism for the United States. I want to thank all of you who took a moment to write to President Bush on this important issue. I would also like to thank Grand President Barbara Stavis Wolf, and the Daughters of Penelope, for joining in this effort. If you have not participated, there is still time to have your voice heard. Please reference our Action Alert for details. Any success we realize is incumbent upon the support of the American Hellenic community.

We are pleased to announce the release of our 2008 AHEPA Congressional Scorecard for the 110th Congress. The scorecard serves a vital educational and informational tool for the community to utilize. It is accompanied by a legislative key to explain the various forms of legislative initiatives that were spearheaded in the 110th Congress. Please take a moment to review the scorecard and forward it to colleagues, family, and friends. For future reference, the scorecard can be found at www.ahepa.org/vote."

Finally, as we make our way through Autumn, please keep in mind our end-of-the-year drive to increase membership. AHEPA is an organization that offers a variety of programs in education, philanthropy, athletics, and community service. For information about how to join, or to find a local AHEPA contact, please contact membership@ahepa.org. Thank you.

Fraternally,

Ike Gulas, Supreme President

News From AHEPA

URGENT ACTION ALERT: Visa Waiver Program
WASHINGTON (AHEPA Public Policy) -- AHEPA needs your help to right a wrong: Demand Greece's path to become a visa waiver nation receives a "green light" from the Bush Administration. Contact the White House today! ... read more.

AHEPA Congressional Scorecard AHEPA Releases Congressional Scorecard for the 110th Congress
WASHINGTON (AHEPA News) -- Before making your choices at the ballot box, it's important to know where your elected officials stand on the issues. AHEPA has evaluated Members of Congress on their support for Greek-American issues. Find out how your Senators and Respresentative rate and how you can contact them in Washington. ... download the scorecard

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
    11     District 7 Fall Conference - New Haven, CT
    11     District 3 Workshop - Fayetteville, NC
    18     District 21 Fall Conference - Oakland, CA
    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
    15     District 12 Fall Workshop - Hammond, IN

DECEMBER
    03     Supreme President Speaks at Hellenic College at Holy Cross Church - Brookline, MA
    05     District 5 Initiation - Montvale, NJ
    05     Supreme President Visitation | Makaronada Night - Montvale, NJ
    06     AHEPA Evzone Chapter 405 Ritual Initiation and Awards Luncheon - Westchester, NY
    25     Holy Nativity (Christmas)
    31     AHEPA Annual Chapter Dues Deadline

Greek American Weekly News Digest

President Bush, Secretary Rice and Secretary Paulson

U.S. Excludes Greece from the Visa Waiver Program
WASHINGTON (Greek News) -- October 13, 2008 -- A decision by the White House to give a red light to Greece's path to become a visa waiver nation, due to a "political issue" has angered AHEPA and many other major Greek American organizations, that call upon the community to protest this decision with President Bush. ... read more.

FM on Visa Waiver Program
ATHENS (ANA-MPA) -- October 13, 2008 -- Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis touched on a handful of foreign policy issues in a published interview on Sunday, including the recently resurfaced issue of Greece's inclusion in the US visa waiver program -- a development that has still not been pushed forth by the Bush administration despite previous assurances to the Greek government. ... read more.

Other Greek American News Headlines

ANA-MPA - October 13, 2008
AHEPA Raps Visa Program Delay
Kathimerini - October 13, 2008
Name Proposal Lacks Support
Greek News - October 13, 2008
Carter, Peacemakers See Cyprus Peace Deal Near
AFP - October 12, 2008
Cyprus History Book Rewrites Spark Outcry

AHEPA District Spotlight

AHEPA District 1 Governor J. Patrick Garland

AHEPA District 1
District Governor J. Patrick Garland
AHEPA District 1 is proud to be the home district of our Supreme President, Brother Ike Gulas, who hails from District #1's Birmingham Chapter #3. AHEPA was founded by eight Greek Americans in Atlanta, GA in 1922. District 1 is the home of AHEPA's Mother Lodge Chapter One. Mother Lodge District 1 consists of five states: GA, AL, SC, TN, MS and one chapter in Pensacola, FL.

AHEPA District 1 is responsible for spearheading many of the national projects AHEPA is proud of, including the sculpture tribute in Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park for the 1996 Olympics, as well as playing a key role in creating the Phalanx 500 fundraising program. District 1 leads our Order in housing projects, building and managing over 25% of AHEPA's 86 total projects world-wide. The District 1 Scholarship Foundation this year awarded $30,000 to thirty three students.

AHEPA District 1 invites you to visit their website (ahepadistrict1.org) and to attend their upcoming Mid-Winter Convention in February, and the Mother Lodge District One Convention, May 28 - 31 in Birmingham, AL. For a full listing of events, please see the AHEPA National Events Calendar.

Greeks of the Week!

The Greek-American Press
Greek-American media outlets were instrumental in helping AHEPA communicate its message about recent developments with Greece's bid to join the United States' visa waiver program. Because of the media's effectiveness, we proudly salute them 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.