This Week For Greeks! - Vol.2 Issue 39 - Monday, December 8, 2008

A Message from the Supreme President

Brothers, Sisters and Friends:

Tis the Season ... to remember your fellow Man. I was touched and I am deeply appreciative of the generosity of our Brother and friend, Basile the Comedian for thinking of the AHEPA Cooley's Anemia Foundation this Christmas. Basile is donating 10 percent of his holiday sales to the Foundation. I urge everyone to follow Basile's example this Holiday Season and remember the Cooley's Anemia Foundation in your charitable giving as the year comes to its conclusion. I'm reminded of a saying, "You make a living with what you get, but you make a difference with what you give." Any amount you can contribute is welcomed and helps us with our mission to find a cure for this disease.

Chapter 405 Initiation Last week, we received a message from Supreme Vice President Nicholas Karacostas on the timely topic of membership and many chapters and districts have responded. For example, over the weekend, District No. 5, consisting of New Jersey and Delaware held a successful mass initiation ceremony. Nearly 40 new members were inducted. Moreover, Chapter No. 405, New Rochelle, N.Y., spearheaded a similar effort, initiating close to 20 new members. (see Travel Log) I would like to thank Supreme Vice President Karacostas, Supreme Secretary Dr. John Grossomanides, Jr., Supreme Treasurer Anthony Kouzounis, and Supreme Governor Lou Arvanitis for overseeing and conducting these two ceremonies. I pledged our Supreme Lodge would assist when and wherever possible, and I commend them for their leadership.

Please Take the Time to Send in your Dues! Although we welcome the great news of these two fine efforts, there is still plenty of work to do throughout the AHEPA Domain in the coming weeks before the New Year. If your chapter is planning a Christmas Dinner, please take the initiative to invite prospective members. A Christmas Dinner presents a wonderful opportunity to introduce prospective members to our Order. Also, if you are a Chapter Secretary, please be aware that your chapter's billing has been mailed by Headquarters. Please remember to remit your chapter's dues to be postmarked by December 31, 2008 in order to count toward your delegate strength at the 2009 Supreme Convention in San Francisco.

Finally, the latest issue of The AHEPAN is available online. Our issue is themed "Focus on Education," and we believe you will find the impact AHEPA has had on our youth to be uplifting.

Thank you all for your efforts during this very busy time of year. I wish everyone well as we approach the Holidays!

Fraternally,

Ike Gulas, Supreme President

News From AHEPA

Hot Off The Press: The AHEPAN Fall 2008 Issue
WASHINGTON (AHEPAN Magazine) -- Education is a major part of AHEPA's mission and the focus of the Fall 2008 issue of The AHEPAN Magazine. This issue goes into detail on the many Educational programs AHEPA fosters and includes applications for admission for the upcoming year's classes. This is a must read for your high school and college aged family members! Download the Fall 2008 issue online today.

AHEPAacademy AHEPAcademy Now Taking Applications for the 2009 Session
WASHINGTON (AHEPAcademy) -- Attention High School Juniors: you have the opportunity to be one of a small, select group of Greek-American high school students selected from all over the country to participate in AHEPAcademy, an interactive leadership and networking seminar to be held on the campus of George Mason University outside Washington, DC from June 21-27, 2009. ... download your application today!

AHEPA Journey to Greece Class of 2008 2009 AHEPA Journey to Greece Application now Online!
WASHINGTON (Journey to Greece) -- The AHEPA Journey to Greece Program is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to earn college credit while learning about ancient and modern Greece. Plans for the 2009 Program are well underway. Download the prospectus and fill out your application today! ... read 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!

AHEPA Calendar

DECEMBER 2008
    01     Hellenism in the 21st Century Event - Indianapolis, IN
    03     Ike Gulas visits Hellenic College / Holy Cross - Brookline, MA
    04     Ike Gulas visits Connecticut Chapter 110 - Norwich, CT
    05     District 5 Initiation - Montvale, NJ
    05     Supreme President Visitation | Makaronada Night - Montvale, NJ
    06     Chapter 405 Ritual Initiation and Awards Luncheon - Westchester, NY
    06     District 7 Family Christmas Party - Waterbury, CT
    07     District 6 Family Christmas Party - Brooklyn, NY
    13     Albany Family Christmas Party - Albany, NY
    25     Holy Nativity (Christmas)
    31     AHEPA & SOP New Year's Eve Party - Albany, NY
    31     AHEPA Annual Chapter Dues Deadline

JANUARY 2009
    02     AHEPA Family Leadership Conference Welcome - Tarpon Springs, FL
    03     AHEPA Family Leadership Conference - Tarpon Springs, FL
    04     Supreme Lodge Meeting - Tarpon Springs, FL
    04     Epiphany Golf Tournament - Tarpon Springs, FL
    05     AHEPA Epiphany Banquet - Spartan Manor - New Port Richey,FL
    06     Epiphany - Worldwide
    06     Epiphany Liturgy at St. Nicholas Cathedral - Tarpon Springs, FL
    06     Cross Diving Ceremony in Spring Bayou - Tarpon Springs, FL
    06     Glendi at St. Nicholas Community Center - Tarpon Springs, FL
    07     Dr. Monthe Kofos Tribute - Tarpon Springs, FL
    16-19 SOP W. Coast Greek Wknd & Regional Basketball Tourn. - LA, CA

FEBRUARY 2009
    06-08 Sons & Maids Mid-Year Conference - Albany, NY
    07     Albany Sons & Maids Annual Valentine's Day Dance - Albany, NY
    13-14 District 1 Midwinter Conference - Nashville, TN

MARCH 2009
12-15 AHEPA Marrow Basketball Tournament - Chicago, IL
29 AHEPA Suffolk County Half Marathon & 5k Race - Selden, NY

MAY 2009
14-17 District 3 Convention - Washington, DC

JUNE 2009
    06     District 5 Convention - Washington, DC
    05-07 New England (Districts 7, 8 & 9) Regional Conference - Mansfield, MA
    18-20 District 16 Convention - New Orleans, LA
    19-21 District 21 Convention - Santa Clara, CA
    29-30 AHEPA Supreme Convention 2009 - San Francisco, CA

JULY 2009
01-05 AHEPA Supreme Convention 2009 - San Francisco, CA

Greek American Weekly News Digest

Greek Cities Hit by Fresh Rioting
ATHENS (BBC News) -- December 7, 2008 -- Fresh clashes have broken out between police and protesters across Greece for a third day, after the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old by police on Saturday. Hundreds of students battled police in Thessaloniki, while protests also turned violent in Trikala, the port of Piraeus, and on the island of Corfu. ... read more.

Karamanlis, Obama Hold Telephone Conversation
WASHINGTON (ANA-MPA) -- December 5, 2008 -- Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis held a telephone conversation with U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on Wednesday night, congratulating him on his election, wishing him success in tackling the challenges that he will be facing in the years to come and stressing that he is looking forward to meeting him in the near future. ... read more.

Other Greek American News Headlines

Greek News - December 8, 2008
Greek-Americans ask Governor Paterson to Appoint Congresswoman Maloney to the Senate
Greek News - December 8, 2008
Orthodoxy is Alive and Growing in Guatemala
Archon News - December 2, 2008
Pope Greets Ecumenical Patriarch on Feast of Saint Andrew the First Called

Greek of the Week!

Greek-American Comedian Basile Katsikis
Over the years, our brother, Basile Katsikis, has entertained millions of comedy fans in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Africa. Basile's diversity in entertainment continues as he stars in his critically acclaimed series, "Growing Up Greek in America." This series is spoken in Greek and English and to date has sold over a quarter of a million copies and is distributed worldwide.

Throughout his career, Brother Basile has kept strong his ties to AHEPA, always willing to jump in and help with events and philanthropic work. His most recent effort is assisting our fundraising efforts for the Cooley's Anemia Foundation, pledging ten percent of all gift purchases from our membership directly to the Fund. For his years of service to the AHEPA Family, and most importantly, for making us laugh, please join us in saluting brother Basile Katsikis 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.

Please Take the Time to Send in your Dues!