This Week For Greeks! - Vol.2 Issue 40 - Monday, December 15, 2008

A Message from the Supreme President

Brothers, Sisters and Friends:

I have asked Executive Director Basil Mossaidis to send the following message to all our members regarding the upcoming December dues deadline and AHEPA's ongoing charitable efforts.

Fraternally,

Ike Gulas, Supreme President

A Message from the Executive Director

Brothers, Sisters and Friends:

The end of the year is always a busy time for AHEPA headquarters. A snapshot of a late December day includes the efficient processing of dues that we have been receiving in significant volumes and making corrections to membership rosters so they are accurate as possible for 2009. Under the leadership of Supreme President Ike Gulas, AHEPA has exerted great effort to elevate our presence in the community and create awareness of our philanthropic and charitable works. AHEPA is striving to become a 21st century organization, and in the process, we have attracted many new members.

It is true that for years our demographic has been increasing in age. However, for the first time in a decade, we saw hundreds of new members under the age of 35 join AHEPA. Our national membership (members at-large) is steadily climbing and now numbers more than 400 members. I am confident this membership category will exceed 1,000 members by 2010.

Please Take the Time to Send in your Dues! In September, AHEPA's leadership met and discussed attaining new membership totals, setting anambitious goal of a 10 percent increase.". I am proud to state that as of today we have initiated and reinstated more than 1,200 members. Our stated objective was to get at least 1,500 of these members into AHEPA by December 31. Won't you help us reach our goal?

Finally, philanthropy is by nature a very important part of our mission. It is a fundamental principle of all organizations like AHEPA. In these challenging times, we realize it is hard to make charitable contributions. However, all of us at headquarters are asking you to remember our worthy projects. Cooley's Anemia, the Bone Marrow Registry, the Educational Foundation and our Charitable Foundation always welcome additional donations. Each chapter should donate a part of its treasury toward our national programs.

Again, thank you to all those members who try to make a difference by finding new members, calling the older ones, driving someone to a meeting, or simply not forgetting to praise AHEPA for all its hard work. AHEPA stands ready to assist all. Merry Christmas and Happy and Healthy 2009!

Fraternally,

Basil Mossaidis,
AHEPA Executive Director

News From AHEPA

AHEPA Announces New Group Health Care Plan
WASHINGTON (AHEPAN Health) -- AHEPA is pleased to announce that we now offer affordable healthcare plans to our members. These insurance plans are through Essential Care/Rx Plan, Inc. who is the leader in providing healthcare plans nationwide to small businesses, independent contractors, part-time employees, distributors, and agents. ... read more.

Former Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos AHEPA Mourns Passing of Former Cypriot President
WASHINGTON (AHEPAN News) -- Supreme President Ike Gulas issued the following statement on the passing of Former President of the Republic of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos after receiving a phone call from His Excellency Andreas Kakouris, ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the United States, who delivered the news: ... read more.

The AHEPAN Magazine - Fall 2008 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
    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
    21     AHEPA Canada Roast & Toast - Montreal
    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

How Police Shooting of Teen Boy Rallied the '€700 Generation'
ATHENS (The Guardian UK) -- December 13, 2008 -- Thousands of protesters hurled stones and Molotov cocktails at police yesterday, as Greek police reportedly began to run out of teargas after a week of riots that have seen the streets of major cities turned into virtual war zones. ... read more.

Former Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos Greek Americans Mourn Death of Former Cypriot President
NEW YORK (Greek News) -- December 15, 2008 -- The Greek American community has expressed sorrow at the death of the late Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, who died here on Friday of lung cancer, at the age of 74. ... read more.

Other Greek American News Headlines

Wall Street Journal - December 15, 2008
Greek Power Plant to Use New Solar Technology
Greek News - December 8, 2008
Archdiocese Launches Free Online Bookstore Program for Parishes
Amazon.com - December 15, 2008
Author Michael Petridis Releases "Fighter Pilot Follies"

Greek of the Week!

Peter Wilkins, Ph.D.
This week, the AHEPA Journey to Program was finalized. A copy of it can be found in a new brochure at www.ahepa.org/journey. The man behind putting the program together, on location at the University of Indianapolis-Athens Campus, is Brother Peter Wilkins, Ph.D.

Dr. Wilkins is the vice chancellor of institutional advancement at the university. For Brother Wilkins, assembling a program that has such a significant impact on the lives of our youth has become a labor of love. It is an awesome responsibility and Brother Wilkins truly goes beyond the call of duty, to work with Program Director Dr. James Dimitriou, to see that a top-notch program is offered. If you have read excerpts from the students' experiences from the Program in the recent issue of The AHEPAN, you will glean just what this program means to our youth.

For his commitment to education and our youth, please join us in saluting Brother Peter Wilkins, Ph.D., 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!