This Week For Greeks! - Vol.3 Issue 16 - Monday, May 4, 2009

A Message from the Supreme President

Brothers, Sisters and Friends:

As AHEPA Day approaches and each chapter is finalizing plans for celebrating our continued and cherished relationship with the Greek Orthodox Church, I hope you will remember in your plans recognition for our Brethren who have passed, and look forward to all those who we have yet to call Brother. This special day is a wonderful time to show pride in AHEPA's accomplishments, both past and present, and to inspire others in our communities to join.

In addition to the traditional church related activities, AHEPA is using the Internet to reach out to new and younger members, by building out the celebration into a weekend of online activities, focusing on younger candidates for brotherhood. The weekend starts off online on Friday with AHEPA Spring Rush, where we encourage everyone to use their online social networks to recruit new members. This is followed by our first ever online HUG A GREEK Day! This event costs nothing except a hug and a smile, and it's open to the world to join in.

If, at the last minute, you're still looking for ways to celebrate AHEPA Day, don't panic. The AHEPA Day Plan Book, available on the AHEPA website, is full of creative ideas for you to choose from.

Finally, the 87th AHEPA Supreme Convention, June 29 to July 5, in beautiful San Francisco is right around the corner! The Daughters of Penelope will be celebrating its 80th anniversary and Actor Michael Pappajohn will be our Master of Ceremonies for our Grand Banquet. There are great registration packages available to AHEPA family members and guests. Please visit our Web site to register and www.ahepatravel.com to plan your travel arrangements.

Fraternally,

Ike Gulas, Supreme President

News From AHEPA

NEW YORK (AHEPA News) -- His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios has proclaimed Sunday, May 17, 2009 as "AHEPA Sunday" in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Each year, in parishes across the country, the Archbishop's encyclical honoring the work of AHEPA will be read to hundreds of thousands of Greek Orthodox Americans ... read the Encyclical.

Online Registration Available for the Supreme Convention in San Francisco
WASHINGTON (AHEPA Convention) -- Online registration for Delegates, Guests and Daughters is now available for this year's fun-filled Supreme Convention, June 29 - July 5, in San Francisco? Download our handy checklist of helpful travel information, and go to our website, www.ahepa.org/convention, to register, book your flights or reserve your hotel room!

Applications Still Accepted for AHEPA Journey to Greece
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. Early application deadline ended April 30, but there's still time to download the prospectus and fill out your application for this year's class! ... find out more.

National Herald Now Free for AHEPA Members
WASHINGTON (AHEPA News) -- The National Herald, the nation's largest Greek-American Newspaper is available free in electronic format to AHEPA members. Though This Week For Greeks, you will be able to read the full version of each week's National Herald issue. ... read Issue 603.

AHEPA Supports the Hellenic American Veterans Memorial
CHICAGO (AHEPA News) -- The Hellenic American Veterans Memorial Monument Committee of The American Legion, Hellenic Post No. 343 requests your assistance in gathering Veterans names. Begin by registering Veterans in your family, in your Post, then Veterans in your community. Encourage family members and Veterans to spead the word. To find out more or to register Veterans, go to the official website: www.hellenicpost343.org.

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 2009 Upcoming Events Calendar

MAY
    08     Far Western Regional Golf Tournament - Pasadena, CA
    08-10 Sons 4th Annual E.Coast BBall Tournament - Wyckoff, NJ
    15-17 District 3 Convention - Silver Spring, MD
    15     AHEPA's 1st Annual Spring Rush - Facebook
    16     AHEPA's 1st Annual Official Hug-A-Greek Day - Facebook
    17     AHEPA Day - Global
    30-31 District 6 Convention - LaGuardia, NY
    30-31 District 17 Convention - Colorado

JUNE
    03     Mid-Western Regional Golf Tournament - Lake Geneva, WI
    04-06 District 2 Convention - Boca Raton, FL
    05-07 District 1 Convention - Birmingham, AL
    05-07 District 5 Convention - Trenton, NJ
    05-07 New England (Districts 7, 8 & 9) Regional Convention - Mansfield, MA
    05-07 District 10 Convention - Michigan
    05-07 Districts 12 & 13 Convention - Orland Park, IL
    12-14 District 14 Convention - Sioux Falls, SD
    12-14 District 20 Convention - Anaheim, CA
    18-20 District 16 Convention - New Orleans, LA
    19-21 District 11 Convention - Canton, OH
    19-21 District 15 Convention - Kansas City, MO
    19-21 District 21 Convention - Santa Clara, CA
    29-30 AHEPA Supreme Convention - San Francisco, CA

JULY
    01-05 AHEPA Supreme Convention - San Francisco, CA
    02     Convention City Tennis Tournament - San Francisco, CA
    02     Convention City Golf Tournament - San Francisco, CA
    13     Mid-Central Regional Golf Tourn. - Akron, OH
    22     Mile High Regional Golf Tourn. - Englewood, CO

Greek American Weekly News Digest

Concern Over Property for Sale in Turkish Occupied Cyprus
WASHINGTON (House.gov) -- April 29, 2009 -- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., along with Hellenic Caucus Co-Chairs, U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Gus Bilirakis issued the following statement today regarding their concern over the sale of a piece of property in the Turkish occupied portion of the Republic of Cyprus. ... read more.

Greek MPs Vote to Fend Off Snap Election
ATHENS (Reuters) -- May 4, 2009 -- Greek parliament voted on Monday not to send a former minister to a special court over a bribery scandal, fending off the prospect of imminent snap elections. Ruling New Democracy deputies took the party line and supported their fellow MP but a number of blank votes showed cracks in the government's solidarity, complicating its efforts to cope with a slowing economy and social unrest. ... read more.

Radical Shiite Cleric Makes Rare Appearance in Turkey
ISTANBUL (AP) -- May 4, 2009 -- Muqtada al-Sadr meets with other Iraqi Shiites and PM Erdogan in Istanbul -- An Iraqi cleric who led bloody rebellions against US troops but stayed out of public view in the last two years made an unusually visible appearance in Turkey, which is raising its own profile as a mediator in the region. ... read more.

Rachel Dratch's Greek Movie
TRIBECA (CBS) -- May 3, 2009 -- New York's Tribeca Film Festival often serves as a fitting venue for international filmmakers and dramatic actors who wish to showcase and address sobering issues. But, aside from the standard and serious independent film niche, there are exceptions to the rule, with comedic stars such as the likes of Rachel Dratch in attendance this year. ... read more.

Other Greek American News Headlines

• Kathimerini - May 4, 2009
  Another Greek Ship Hijacked
  
• USA Today - May 4, 2009
  Traveling with the Stars: Melina Kanakaredes
  
• AP - May 1, 2009
  Greek-Born Nazi Camp Survivor Dies at 86
  

Greek of the Week!

Tony Award Nominee Constantine Maroulis
Many of us fell in love with Constantine Maroulis when he first appeared on the national spotlight as a finalist on American Idol, and we were crushed when he lost in the final rounds. But all of us knew this talented performer's career was just beginning. We are proud to learn that he has just been nominated for a Tony Award for his lead role on Broadway in Rock of Ages.

Maroulis is truly a "Greek-American Idol." Both his maternal and his paternal grandparents emigrated from Greece to the United States in the 1920s. Constintine was born in Brooklyn, New York, to James Constantine Maroulis and Constance P. Maroulis. His family is involved in both AHEPA and in the Greek Orthodox Church, and raised him to speak Greek and English.

We hope you will join AHEPA in rooting on Greek-American Idol and Broadway star Constantine Maroulis during the June 7 broadcast of the Tony Awards; and furthermore, join with us in honoring him 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.

This Week for Greeks is an electronic news service of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association.
For more information visit the AHEPA Online Headquarters at www.ahepa.org.
1909 Q Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 Tel: 202-232-6300 Fax: 202-232-2140 Email: ahepa@ahepa.org