This Week For Greeks! - Vol.2 Issue 34 - Monday, October 27, 2008

A Message from the Supreme President

Brothers, Sisters and Friends:

With the election right around the corner, it is important to remember the members of the Greek-American community who are running for Congress. Regardless of party affiliation, they are deserving of your encouragement and support because of their pursuit of a noble cause-public service-in addition to our need to augment the voice of the Greek-American community on Capitol Hill.

AHEPA Vote 2008 Five incumbents of Greek heritage are up for re-election in the U.S. House of Representatives: Shelley Berkley, Gus Bilirakis, John Sarbanes, Zack Space, and Niki Tsongas. These five members have formulated a formidable nucleus on Capitol Hill, along with our greatest Philhellene, Carolyn Maloney, as leaders of the Hellenic Caucus. They have successfully and effectively raised awareness of, and advocated for, the community's issues to their colleagues and the administration. Moreover, three Greek-Americans aspire to join them: Jane Mitakides and Jim Trakas (a member of AHEPA), both of Ohio; and Dina Titus of Nevada.

As we did in March at our Biennial Banquet, we salute all of these individuals, including those pursuing public office at the state and local levels of government, for their aspiration and desire to serve the community as public servants. A commitment to civic responsibility is an important facet of our mission. All of these upstanding members of the community should be applauded for their commitment to it as well.

As a reminder, please remember to vote on November 4. And if you are able, please help others who need assistance getting to the polls. You will be doing your part to uphold our commitment to civic responsibility. In addition, the AHEPA Congressional Scorecard is available online as an educational tool for the community to utilize. Please feel free to share it with family, friends, and colleagues.

Fraternally,

Ike Gulas, Supreme President

News From AHEPA

AHEPA OBSERVES OXI DAY
WASHINGTON (AHEPA News) -- FDR'S Words About Greece's Heroic Stand Remembered -- Supreme President Ike Gulas issued the following statement on the 68th anniversary of "OXI Day": ... read more.

McNulty Tribute AHEPA Pays Tribute to Congressman Michael R. McNulty
WASHINGTON (AHEPA eNews) -- Supreme Secretary Dr. John G. Grossomanides, presented retiring Congressman and proud AHEPA member Congressman Michael R. McNulty (D - NY), the Albany chapter #140 Periclean Award. ... 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

Forget Expedia ... AHEPA Launches Travel Website
NEW YORK (NY Greek Reporter) -- October 24, 2008 -- AHEPA now has its own travel website at: www.ahepatravel.com. AHEPAtravel.com is powered by the same websites you normally use to book travel - Travelocity.com, Hotels.com and Cheaptickets.com - giving you the same great features and low prices! ... read more.

Director of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff Europe's Stance Alarms Chertoff
WASHINGTON (Financial Times) -- October 27, 2008 -- Michael Chertoff, the US homeland security secretary, has expressed surprise at European resistance to a programme that requires visitors to the US to provide personal information online before travelling. ... read more.

Other Greek American News Headlines

ANA-MPA - October 27, 2008
Greek Stocks Jump 4.04 pct
Kathimerini - October 27, 2008
PM Wants to Ride Out the Storm
GOARCH.org - October 24, 2008
Archbishop Demetrios Welcomes Cypriot President Demetris Christofias

AHEPA District Spotlight

AHEPA District 4 Governor Isaak V. Sotolidis

AHEPA Power District 4
District Governor Isaak V. Sotolidis
Power District No. 4, comprises the entire state of Pennsylvania and is home to over 20 Chapters and 1,100 members. District 4 is also the home of four Past Supreme Presidents: Past Supreme Presidents Peter Paulus, Peter Cardiges, Louis Manesiotis and George Gabriel. District Governor Isaak Sotolidis is especially proud that District 4 awards 50 scholorships, as well as 2 Holy Cross Seminary Scholarships, each year.

District 4 is active in its support for AHEPA's national projects and holds special pride in their own Camp at Mount Tabor Charitable Project. This annual summer camp promises to nuture our youth into well ballanced Christians, Hellenes and Americans. produces a quarterly newsletter called "Powerline" which they feature online, keeping their membership and the rest of the AHEPA Family informed and engaged.

AHEPA District 4 invites you to visit their website (http://www.ahepapowerdistrict4.org/) and to take part in many of the upcoming events you find listed there and on the AHEPA National Events Calendar.

Greeks of the Week!

Greek-Americans Running for Elected Office
It takes courage and passion and a strong committment to civic duty, to run for elected office. AHEPA salutes all the candidates in this election year who are following in the great Greek tradition called Democracy. We want to especially applaud our Brothers, Family, and Philhellenes on the campaign trail. These proud individuals span all political parties, and are competing in races on the federal, state and local level.

The list includes: Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD), Congressman Zack Space (D-OH), Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (D-MA), Jane Mitakides (D-OH), Dina Titus (D-NV) & Jim Trakas (R-OH).

For serving as role models for our youth, and strong voices in our community, please join AHEPA in honoring these proud Greek-Americans, running for elected office, 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.