AHEPA E-News Volume 16, Issue 30 | Wednesday, July 27, 2022 Editor's Note: AHEPA E-news will be taking a summer hiatus and will return after Labor Day! Kokotas Reelected Supreme President in Orlando The delegates of the Centennial Supreme Convention reelected Jimmy Kokotas as Supreme President for the 2022-23 administrative year. A majority of the Supreme Lodge executive officers also will be returning to serve with him: Supreme Vice President Lou Atsaves, Canadian President Emmanuel Constas, Supreme Secretary Savas Tsivicos, and Supreme Treasurer Emmanuel Kaitson. Themistocles Frangos has been elected Supreme Counselor. The AHEPA family of organizations also held elections. Georgette Boulegeris was elected Daughters of Penelope Grand President, Ryan Marinos was elected Sons of Pericles Supreme President, and Maria Ana Pantelous was reelected Maids of Athena Grand President.  Congratulations to all newly elected and reelected officers! Centennial Grand Banquet Inspires, Moves Audience AHEPA's Centennial Grand Banquet, complete with a Disney-inspired 100-year anniversary cake, did not disappoint. The recipient of the 2022 AHEPA Socrates Award, Panos Panay (pictured above, middle), who is the chief product officer for Microsoft, delivered an inspirational acceptance speech that visibly moved the audience. He remarked, "But in the words of Shakespeare, 'what's in a name?' It turns out, not much. What matters is what is in the heart. The mind. The soul." Guest speakers included U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, who co-chairs the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, Greece's Minister of National Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos, and His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, who remarked, "You should take such great pride in the founding principles of this sacred brotherhood; for you uphold the traditions of what is best in Hellas, and what is best in America." Ambassador of Greece to the U.S. Alexandra Papadopoulos, Ambassador of Cyprus to the U.S. Marios Lysiotis, and Leadership 100 Executive Director Paulette Poulos delivered congratulatory remarks. Special thanks to Mike Emanuel, Fox News Chief Washington correspondent, who served as the banquet program's master of ceremonies.  Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas delivered a passionate response. Then-Daughters of Penelope Grand President Kathy Bizoukas, then-Sons of Pericles Supreme President Timothy Noitsis, Maids of Athena Grand President Maria Ana Pantelous, Board of Trustees Vice Chair George Horiates, PSP; and newly elected AHEPA National Housing Corporation President Ike Gulas, PSP, also addressed the audience of the July 21 gala. Special presentations included a commemorative 100-year pinning ceremony to Supreme Presidents in the audience by Executive Director Basil Mossaidis, the AHEPA Lifetime Achievement Award to Past Supreme President Anthony Kouzounis and former Board of Trustees Officer Lee Millas, and Ahepan of the Year to Brother Dimitrios Matthaiou. U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, co-chair and co-founder of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus; and U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, submitted video presentations. Special audience guests included former NBA Player and Human Rights Activist Enes Kanter Freedom and NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center Dr. Janet E. Petro, the recipient of the 2022 Daughters of Penelope "Salute to Women" Award. Basil's Blogs | Centennial Supreme Convention Highlights Miss any of the Centennial Supreme Convention's early action?  Revisit highlights and check out pictures from all the fun-filled and exciting events held at unique Disney venues! Basil's Blog: Centennial Convention in Full Gear Basil's Blog: An Epic Evening at EPCOT! Take Action! Help Advance the AHEPA Centennial Resolution U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced a resolution commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Order of AHEPA’s founding on June 15, 2022. The resolution, S.Res.675, rests with the Senate Judiciary Committee (committee members).  Help us gain support for the resolution. Ensure your U.S. senators become co-sponsors, especially if your senator(s) serves on the Judiciary Committee.  Ask them to co-sponsor S.Res.675! Resolution text Find/Contact Your U.S. Senators While It Lasts! Get Your AHEPA Centennial Merch Get it while it lasts! AHEPA centennial commemorative merchandise is available that includes a commemorative coin and stand and decanter set. Years of service and chapter officer pins, award plaques, and AHEPA t-shirts, watches, patches, and more!  Check it all out in the AHEPA Marketplace catalog. Upcoming Events & Deadlines August 12 | Deadline: The Ahepan Fall 2022  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  Fire damages homes in southern Greece; more blazes active Associated Press (July 24) Α major fire has broken out in southern Greece, burning homes in villages not far from the famous archaeological site of Ancient Olympia and prompting the evacuations of six villages. read more Firebreaks halt blaze on Greek island, homes saved (AP July 25) Giannis Antetokounmpo to play for Greece in Eurobasket NBCSports (July 22) For the first time since the 2019 FIBA World Cup, Giannis Antetokounmpo will pull a Greece jersey over his head and play for the country where he grew up. read more Greece Unveils Plan to Split Surging Gas Costs From Power Prices Bloomberg (July 26) Greece has laid out proposals to reduce the influence of surging natural gas costs on electricity prices. read more Greece, Saudi Arabia to sign energy deal, crown prince says Reuters (July 26) Greece and Saudi Arabia will sign a deal in renewable energy and discuss other investments and security, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Tuesday in a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens. read more Cyprus Gas Discoveries Boosted by EU’s Shift From Russia Supplies Bloomberg (July 25) The European Union’s drive to slash reliance on Russian natural gas is boosting the strategic importance of finds in Cyprus, the country’s energy minister said. read more Now Available!