This Week For Greeks! - Vol.2 Issue 33 - Monday, October 20, 2008

A Message from the Supreme President

Brothers, Sisters and Friends:

We were all disappointed with the news that Greece was not one of the countries admitted in the United States' Visa Waiver Program on Friday. With your help, the Greek-American community has made its position clear to the Executive Branch. We are grateful to each and every one who took the time to contact the Bush administration. As a result, the encouraging news is that the United States and Greece have resumed negotiations on the issue. We will continue to monitor and report developments as they occur. With progress, we remain hopeful that Greece can be included before the end of the calendar year.

We have received resounding feedback on the AHEPA Congressional Scorecard. It is an educational tool that we proudly offer to the community as a public service. Please take a moment to share it with your family, friends, and colleagues. Moreover, please feel free to share it with your members of Congress. The scorecard can be a vehicle through which dialogue can be opened with your legislators in the congressional district.

Please be on the lookout for a very exciting announcement soon. AHEPA will look to enhance your ability to find discounted travel rates with the launch of AHEPAtravel.com. Also, we are exploring health insurance benefits to maximize the value of your AHEPA membership. All of this is in an effort to increase our membership as we approach the December 31st deadline. Remember, 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.

Fraternally,

Ike Gulas, Supreme President

News From AHEPA

AHEPA Expresses Disappointment of Greece's Exclusion from Visa Waiver Program
WASHINGTON (AHEPA News) -- Supreme President Ike Gulas issued the following statement on Friday's announcement by President George W. Bush that the Visa Waiver Program has expanded to include seven nations, but not Greece: ... 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     Ike 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     Ike Gulas visits Hellenic College / Holy Cross Church - Brookline, MA
    05     District 5 Initiation - Montvale, NJ
    05     Supreme President Visitation | Makaronada Night - Montvale, NJ
    06     AHEPA Chapter 405 Ritual Initiation and Awards Luncheon - Westchester, NY
    25     Holy Nativity (Christmas)
    31     AHEPA Annual Chapter Dues Deadline

Greek American Weekly News Digest

Wall Street Week Ahead - Not So Happy Anniversary
NEW YORK (WallStreetGreek.com) -- October 20, 2008 -- As if substantive data was not enough, now superstition threatens the stock market. October 19, you see, marks the 21st anniversary of Black Monday, the infamous day the Dow Jones Index collapsed 22.6%. ... read more.

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and heads of Orthodox churches from around the world celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by N. Manginas) Orthodox Christian Leaders Meet at the Ecumenical Patriarchate
ISTANBUL (Archon News) -- October 15, 2008 -- Patriarchs, primates and representatives of all the Patriarchal and Autochephalous Orthodox Churches recommitted themselves to overcome intra-Orthodox conflicts as well as to continue theological dialogues with Christians from other confessions at a 10-12 October meeting in Istanbul, Turkey. ... read more.

Other Greek American News Headlines

Greek News - October 20, 2008
Greek Envoy Expresses Displeasure at Oval Office
AP - October 17, 2008
Sources: US to Waive Visa Rules for 7 Countries
Greek News - October 20, 2008
Classified Document Reveals Secret Cooperation between US - FYROM

AHEPA District Spotlight

AHEPA Capital District 3
District Governor Pete Chambers
Capital District No. 3, the home of AHEPA National Headquarters, is located in the Mid-Atlantic and is one of AHEPA's largest districts, consisting of 28 active chapters in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. Lodge members hail from all parts of the district and Lodge officers visit their chapters several times during the year. Their diverse Lodge ranges in age from members with several decades of experience as AHEPANs to young leaders, as young as 21 years of age, serving as their Athletic Director.

District 3 is moving forward by implementing new initiatives to strengthen the members in their chapters:

The "WE" initiative was introduced in 2007 to help the Chapters share their success by writing a detailed description (recipe for success) that is published on the District web site.
This year they are introducing the "GOTO" (Good of the Order) initiative which lays out a plan to retain new members and inspire existing ones through mentorship. This too is available on their web site.

AHEPA District 3 invites you to visit their website (district3ahepa.com) and to take part in many of the upcoming events you find listed there and on the AHEPA National Events Calendar.

Greek of the Week!

Rhode Island State Senator Leonidas 'Lou' Raptakis
Last week, when AHEPA sent out the action alert, asking our Family and friends to contact President Bush, urging for the inclusion of Greece in the Visa Waiver Program, we received an outrcy of responses, including this one from loyal Ahepan and Rhode Island State Senator Leonidas 'Lou' Raptakis.

Brother Raptakis hails from AHEPA Sophocles Chapter 106 in District 7, and for the past 14 years has served the people of Rhode Island as a state Representative and Senator. Brother Lou understands the importance of community service and civic participation -- and the importance of standing up and speaking out on important issues facing the Greek-American Community.

For serving as a role model for our youth, and a strong voice in our community, please join AHEPA in honoring Brother Lou Raptakis as this week's Greek 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.