AHEPA's e-News will take a hiatus for the holidays.

AHEPA's e-News will take a hiatus for the holidays.  We will return Wednesday, January 9, 2019. We're grateful to our readers!  Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! Supreme President Loucas Concludes Overseas Visit Supreme President George E. Loucas led a successful overseas visit to Athens and Jerusalem. In Greece, Loucas oversaw the establishment of a new chapter, Phalereus Chapter HJ-38, Palaio Faliro, and he addressed a workshop on "Geopolitical and Geostrategic Developments in the Wider Region of the Southeastern Mediterranean" organized by Cleisthenes Chapter HJ-35, Kifissia, in collaboration with the Hellenic National Defense College at the Hellenic Armed Forces Officers' Club. Themistocles Chapter HJ-9 and DOP Chapter 443, Piraeus, hosted a gala dinner. During their time in Greece, Chapter Chapter HJ-33, Rhodes, announced a $20,000 (Euro) donation of computer and medical equipment for the Oncology Department of the General Hospital of Rhodes. The hospital's Oncology Department will named after AHEPA. Moreover, Athens Airport Icarus Chapter HJ-36, Rafina, cleaned-up the Theseus monument which had been vandalized with graffiti.  In Jerusalem, Supreme President Loucas provided a welcome address at an international conference titled, "New Realities in the Eastern Mediterranean" and met with His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem and All Palestine.  Canadian President Christos Airgiriou, Supreme Secretary George Horiates and Executive Director Basil Mossaidis accompanied the supreme president to Athens and Jerusalem. Supreme Governor Region 10 Phanos Pitiris assisted in Athens. AHEPA Happenings | Spreading Christmas Cheer The AHEPA family spread Christmas cheer at Saint Basil Academy, Dec. 15. The Sons of Pericles donated $12,500 to the Academy. SOP Supreme President Gregory Vourloumis presented the donation. Daughters of Penelope Grand President Demi Thomas and several DOP members, including & DOP PGP and Academy Board President Evellyn Tsiadis, participated. The AHEPA family's history of support for the Academy dates back to the 1960s. Learn more about the Academy The Greek Connection, Then and Now The Order of AHEPA pleased is to share with its audience a column authored by B'nai B'rith International Vice President and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin titled, "The Greek Connection, Then and Now." The column appears in the winter 2018 edition of B'nai B'rith Magazine. Mariaschin's column highlights the "excellent working relationships" B'nai B'rith International enjoys with AHEPA and the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) amid the backdrop of the burgeoning Greece-Cyprus-Israel trilateral partnership. We thank Mariaschin for referencing a resolution Ahepans passed at the 1938 Supreme Convention that condemned the persecution of the Jewish people and for sharing B'nai B'rith's history in Greece that culminated recently with a successful event, "Sparta-Israel Conference: Renewing an Ancient Friendship." AHEPA on Twitter | Bomb Attack on Greek Press Offices Condemned AHEPA strongly condemned Monday's bomb attack on Skai headquarters, which also houses the offices of Kathimerini.  National Herald coverage "Invite 1" Membership Campaign Underway As our year-end membership deadline looms, Supreme President George E. Loucas calls on Ahepans to "Invite 1" to join the Order. Season of Giving | Celebrate the Holidays with a Gift that Makes a Difference During this Season of Giving, the Order of AHEPA invites the community to give a gift that will help to make a difference in people's lives -- with a gift to one of AHEPA's charitable giving entities.  They help AHEPA meet its commitment to philanthropy, a facet of the Order's mission. Over the decades, AHEPA has provided millions of dollars in disaster relief, has supported America's military service members through organizations such as the USO, and has backed researchers searching for a cure to deadly diseases, among many other worthy causes. Recently, AHEPA has administered humanitarian aid to the people of Greece, including public health assistance, through the AHEPA Charitable Foundation. Take Action. Make an online tax-deductible donation today Don't forget to follow AHEPA on social media:

Join AHEPA Today! In Our Own Words. What AHEPA means to us. Join AHEPA Now Upcoming Events & Deadlines   December  31 | Membership submission year-end deadline January 4-6 | Epiphany events, Tarpon Springs, Fla. February  1 | Deadline for the spring 2019 issue of The Ahepan Greek American News Digest   Editor's Note: Editorials, Commentaries, and Opinion pieces are shared for information purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the Order of AHEPA, its affiliated organizations, and members.     Bomb explodes outside private Greek TV station, no one hurt Associated Press (Dec. 17)    A powerful bomb exploded early Monday outside the southern Athens headquarters of Greece's private Skai broadcaster, which has been strongly critical of government policies, damaging the glass-fronted building but causing no injuries.  There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing, which resembled attacks by domestic extreme left-wing and anarchist groups, whose past targets have included media groups.  read more  New York Times coverage   US official sends clear message to Turkey over Cyprus drilling Ekathimerini (Dec.16)      In an exclusive interview with Kathimerini's Sunday edition, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Wess Mitchell has sent a clear message to Ankara not to obstruct drilling for hydrocarbons that is under way in Cyprus's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), while hailing Greece as a "fantastic ally" to the United States in the region.  read more     Greece, Cyprus, Israel to discuss gas exports to Europe New Europe (Dec. 14)   A trilateral Greece-Cyprus-Israel summit will take place in Beersheba on December 20 where host Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras, and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades are expected to boost cooperation between the three Mediterranean countries, especially energy.  read more  Commentary | 'Populism finished with tears' in Greece and UK, says LSE's Kevin Featherstone  Ekathimerini (Dec. 17) Kevin Featherstone, Eleftherios Venizelos professor of Contemporary Greek Studies at the London School of Economics, expressed sharp criticism about the uncontrollable populism in Greece and the UK in an interview with Kathimerini.  read more How The Mines Of Laurion Saved Ancient Greece And Made Western Civilization Possible Forbes (Dec. 17) In 480 BCE, the Persian army defeated the Greek forces at the Battle of Thermopylae and invaded parts of Greece. When all seemed lost, a young Athenian politician named Themistocles proposed an unusual plan: the Greeks should not face the Persian soldiers on a battlefield, but rather invest in a fleet. In the naval battle of Salamis, the newly-built ships managed to destroy the Persian fleet...The ships that helped to win the battle of Salamis were paid for with silver from the mines of Laurion.  read more   The Greek-American R&B Legend Who Passed as Black   zocalopublicsquare.org (Dec. 17)   If a role exists in black music that Johnny Otis couldn't play, it would be hard to find. Known as the godfather of rhythm and blues, Otis was a bandleader, talent scout, singer, drummer, minister, journalist and television show host. Between 1950 and 1952, Johnny and his band recorded 15 top 40 R&B blues hits. He discovered, produced and promoted a roster of stars, including Etta James, Little Esther, and Jackie Wilson.  read more    Bethesda Interview: The Cava Guys Bethesda Magazine (Nov. 26)   The founders of CAVA are having coffee at their original fast-casual restaurant on Bethesda Row, chatting about the changes to the eatery since it opened in 2011. Ted Xenohristos notes that they've added salad bins, Ike Grigoropoulos says the menu has grown, and Executive Chef Dimitri Moshovitis offers details-they started with three proteins and three dressings, and now there are six of each, plus a seasonal roasted vegetable.  read more