AHEPA E-News Volume 16, Issue 18 | Wednesday, May 4, 2022 American Hellenic, American Jewish Leadership Mission Concludes Visit to Israel, Wraps Up Meetings in Athens Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas is leading an AHEPA delegation as part of the 2022 Biennial Leadership Mission with American Hellenic and American Jewish organizations to Cyprus, Israel, and Greece.  The mission concluded a visit to Israel on Monday. The delegation attended a series of meetings that included President of Israel Isaac Herzog, Israeli Foreign Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid, and Minister of Justice Gideon Sa’ar, among other government officials. They also met with Israeli military officials at military installations. Productive discussions were held to bolster critically important Greece-Cyprus-Israel-U.S. relations. The mission's itinerary concludes today as it wraps up a series of meetings in Athens, Greece that included Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias. Its first stop was in Cyprus, April 26 and 27 (see coverage). In addition to AHEPA, leaders from the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), B'nai B'rith International, and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, are participating on the mission. This is the fifth three-country Leadership Mission since its landmark inception in 2014. The four participating organizations will build on the work of previous missions, which were widely recognized and praised as contributing to intergroup and international cooperation and friendship. The mission's purpose is to explore the major political, economic and security developments underway in the eastern Mediterranean and to advance the interests of the United States in the region.  Top: The Leadership Mission delegation with Israeli President Herzog (Photo credit: Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO). Top Right: The delegation with Greek Foreign Minister Dendias. AHEPA Congratulates DOP Grand President Bizoukas on Award The Order of AHEPA congratulates Daughters of Penelope Grand President Kathy Bizoukas for her recognition by Hellenic News of America with the publication's Philotimo Award. She received the award for her dedication and contributions to Hellenism at HNA's 35th annual gala held in Old Bridge, N.J., May 1, 2022. Chairman of the Board Nicholas A. Karacostas, PSP; and Vice Chairman of the Board George G. Horiates, PSP, were on-hand to congratulate Grand President Bizoukas. more here Congressional Push to Boost U.S.-Greece Relations Applauded AHEPA applauds bipartisan congressional action to urge appropriators to boost funding for Greece's International Military Education and Training (IMET) program and to provide funding for the 3+1 Cooperation Interparliamentary Group, announced Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas. U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) led the letter in cooperation with Hellenic Caucus Co-Chairs U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL). A total of 31 U.S. representatives signed the letter submitted to the heads of House Appropriations Committee, seeking $1.8 million for Greece's IMET program and $100,000 for the Cyprus, Greece, Israel and U.S. 3+1 Interparliamentary Group for FY2023.  “A strong and sustained IMET program with Greece will ensure relationships are cultivated and enhanced, and further, it will have a lasting beneficial impact toward the strengthening of United States-Greece military-to-military relations among longstanding NATO allies,” Kokotas said. “In addition, the introduction of funding for the Interparliamentary Group speaks to the elevated level of importance the United States places on the 3+1 framework. Taken together, they contribute to the groundwork for a more enduring, lasting U.S. partnership in the eastern Mediterranean.” "We sincerely thank Congressman Pappas, Hellenic Caucus Co-Chairs Maloney and Bilirakis, and the legislators who provided bipartisan support for meaningful funding for our community's foreign policy priorities," Kokotas added. The IMET program advances the professional military education of the Greek Armed Forces. It also contributes toward the strengthening of United States security interests in an increasingly important part of the world. Several organizations backed the letter, including AHEPA and the Daughters of Penelope. read the letter Hellenic History Tournament Held in Ottawa, $26K Donated to McGill University Team Melissopetra, sponsored by the Hellenic Community of Ottawa, captured first place and a $3,000 prize at the Hellenic History Tournament held at Ashbury College in Ottawa, Ont. The Fates, representing Toronto and sponsored by the Hellenic Canadian Community of York Region, placed second and won a $1,500 prize. Both teams are invited to compete at the national competition to be held at the 2022 AHEPA Supreme Convention.  Fourteen teams competed representing parts of Canada, including Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and Hamilton. Ambassador of Greece to Canada Konstantina Athanassiadou, Member of Parliament Annie Koutrakis, Ashbury College Head of School Norman Southworth, and Canadian President Emmanuel Constas, addressed the teams. Separately, Mount Royal Chapter CJ-7 donated $26,000 to McGill University to establish the Montreal AHEPA Prize for Hellenic Studies at McGill. It will support the work of the Papachristidis Chair of Hellenic and Modern Greek Studies at McGill, headed by Professor Tassos Anastassiadis. Past Canadian President Dr. Kenneth Matziorinis led the initiative which was supported by Beaver District 23 and Chapter CJ-7 Dedication of FDR "War President" Bust Anniversary Remembered In commemoration of AHEPA's centennial, Delphi Chapter 25, Manhattan, N.Y., paid homage to one of the AHEPA's most prominent members, and one of its own, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, on the momentous occasion of the 75th anniversary of the presentation of the FDR "War President" bust by the Order of AHEPA. The commemoration occurred at the FDR Presidential Library and Home in Hyde Park, N.Y., April 30, 2022. It was originally scheduled for 2020, but was delayed due to the pandemic.  AHEPA unveiled the FDR "War President" bust on October 28, 1945, six months after his death. His widow, former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt attended and wrote," The bust is a fine one, I think, and I like the simple inscription, "The War President." In 1943, the AHEPA Supreme Lodge presented President Roosevelt with a miniature replica of the bust in the Oval Office of the White House.  The National Herald Board of Trustees Officer Geourntas Leads Kalamata Mayor on Boston City Hall Tour AHEPA Board of Trustees Secretary Alex Geourntas, who serves as Boston’s Assistant City clerk, led a tour of the Mayor’s Office and the City Council Chambers at Boston City Hall for Mayor of Kalamata Athanasios Vasilopoulos, April 29, 2022. The city officials also showed the mayor a model of the downtown area of Boston depicting the skyline that is on display on the 9th floor of City Hall. The mayor presented a commemorative medallion of the Independence of Kalamata in 1821 to Brother Geourntas and provided one for Mayor Michelle Wu. Ahepans Participate at Boston Greek Independence Day Parade The annual Boston Greek Independence Day Parade took place May 1, 2022. Several AHEPA districts and chapters representing areas of New England participated. Pictured are Yankee District 7 Governor Demetrius E. Tasoulas and  Sophocles Chapter 106 President Lakis Andriotis, Providence, R.I., on the Boston Common for the celebration. Appeal for Ukraine Humanitarian Aid Since opening the Emergency Relief Fund to collect donations for Ukrainian aid, AHEPA Global Headquarters is proud to report that our chapters continue to answer the call, and we encourage all chapters to keep raising funds for this worthy cause. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the people of Ukraine as they bravely defend their country from a brutal, devastating, and unprovoked invasion by Russia. We hail the Ukrainians’ defense of democracy and freedom. The humanitarian ruin and loss of life has been catastrophic. Five million refugees have fled Ukraine since the start of Russia's invasion. These are staggering numbers not seen since World War II. The Order of AHEPA stands in solidary with Ukrainian refugees and families. The AHEPA Emergency Relief Fund is open to receive donations for humanitarian aid to assist the people affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. read our appeal Supreme Convention Pre-Registration Form Released The 2022 Supreme Convention pre-registration form is available from AHEPA Global Headquarters. Please note that in order to register as a Delegate or Alternate, your chapter must report you as one. If you have not been reported as a Delegate or Alternate, you will be charged the guest price, so please coordinate with your chapters early. Download Registration Form Learn More Download Agenda AHEPA 100th Anniversary Virtual 5K Celebrate AHEPA's centennial anniversary by participating in a Virtual 5K! This race is ideal for walkers or runners! Safely complete the challenge your way and at your pace. Even on a treadmill. And you decide when and where anytime until June 15, 2022. Participate in this event as an individual, a small group, or as a chapter and earn an AHEPA 5K Medal featuring all four AHEPA Family Orders (pictured). Proceeds go to the AHEPA 501(c)3 Foundation. more info Sign Up Upcoming Events & Deadlines May 15 | AHEPA Sunday 16 | Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to meet President Joe Biden at White House 22 | Greek Independence Day Parade, Chicago June 1 | Deadline: AHEPA Centennial Supreme Convention pre-registration 5 | Greek Independence Day Parade, New York City 10| Greeks in New York | Become a Sponsor! 23 - 26 | AHEPA Centennial Celebration, Atlanta Greek American News Digest  Editor's Note: Editorials, commentaries, opinion pieces, and articles 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  Mitsotakis to address US Congress May 17 Ekathimerini (April 28) US House of Representative Speaker Nancy Pelosi has sent a letter to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis inviting him, on behalf of the bipartisan Congressional leadership, to address a Joint Meeting of Congress on May 17, at 11 a.m. local time (6 p.m. Athens time), her official site has announced. read more Alexandroupolis FSRU critical to SE European security, US Amb. Pyatt tells ANA-MPA ANA-MPA (May 3) The new Floating Storage & Regasification Unit (FSRU) in the city of Alexandroupolis is a project "critical to the security of all countries in Southeastern Europe," outgoing US Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt told Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA) on Tuesday. read more Greece, Bulgaria say new LNG terminal will help cut reliance on Russia (Reuters)   New gas pipeline boosts Europe’s bid to ease Russian supply Associated Press (April 29) Mountainous and remote, the Greek-Bulgaria border once formed the southern corner of the Iron Curtain. Today, it’s where the European Union is redrawing the region’s energy map to ease its heavy reliance on Russian natural gas. read more The Symposium on the Parthenon Marbles Case and the Universal Museum Myth