AHEPA Western Region Hosts Centennial Celebration

 

AHEPA E-News Volume 16, Issue 33 | Wednesday, September 21, 2022

AHEPA Western Region Hosts Centennial Celebration

AHEPA's Western Region hosted a Centennial Celebration where the Order honored California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis with the AHEPA Socrates Award, and the Very Reverend John S. Bakas, dean of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, with the AHEPA Archbishop Iakovos Humanitarian Award. Approximately 200 people attended the event which was held at the Cathedral in Los Angeles, Sept. 17. Event sponsor and Ahepan George Marcus introduced Lt. Governor Kounalakis. In acceptance of AHEPA's highest honor, Kounalakis spoke about the impact of the AHEPA family on society, and her father, Angelo Tsakopoulos' lifelong participation in AHEPA. She also spoke with pride about her Daughters of Penelope membership and her public service as California's lieutenant governor and as a former American ambassador to Hungary. Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas introduced Very Rev. Bakas, who is retiring. In acceptance remarks, Father Bakas recalled the contributions of Ahepans to Hellenic causes who worshiped at the Cathedral, including the late Spyros Skouras, who contributed greatly during the Greek War Relief effort.  In addition to Supreme President Kokotas and Daughters of Penelope Grand President Georgette Boulegeris, the speaking program included His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, Consul General of Greece in Los Angeles Ioannis Stamatekos, and AHEPA District 20 Governor Donald Marudas. The celebration featured a historical display curated by Past Supreme President Dr. James F. Dimitriou in honor of the centennial. Kokotas and Executive Director Basil Mossaidis presented Dr. Dimitriou with a Past Supreme President's pin, newly minted for the centennial. Mossaidis also spoke about AHEPA's history of leaders who hailed from the Western Region. Board of Trustees Vice Chair George Horiates, PSP, served as Master of Ceremonies. AHEPA family national officers in attendance included: Daughters of Penelope Grand Vice President Marianthi Treppiedi, Supreme Treasurer Emmanuel Kaitson, Supreme Counselor Themistocles Frangos, Supreme Governor Region 7 Marshall Monsell III, and Supreme Governor Region 8 Alexander Mallas.  AHEPA's Western Region 8 encompasses California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, and Nevada. Photo Credit: Allen Altchech Photography

Photo Gallery

Supreme President Kokotas Visits with Phoenix Ahepans

Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas kicked off his West Coast trip in the desert with a visit to AHEPA Chapter 219, Phoenix, Arizona, Sept. 16. More than 50 brothers attended the meeting. They engaged in a Q&A session with Supreme President Kokotas that focused on AHEPA's programs and initiatives.

Major U.S. Defense Policy Shift toward Cyprus Applauded

Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas issued a September 17 statement applauding the United States' full lifting of its arms sales prohibition on the Republic of Cyprus. “We applaud the Biden administration’s decision yesterday to lift fully the limitations placed on the transfer of defense articles to Cyprus in accordance with compliance on an annual basis under law," Kokotas said. read entire statement

In Remembrance Events of September 1922, 1955

During September, AHEPA reflects and remembers the catastrophic events of September 1922 (the Smyrna Catastrophe) and September 1955 (the Istanbul Pogrom) and shares the following articles, journal pieces, and other resources with our audience for a more in-depth historical perspective and additional insight: Papers International Association of Genocide Scholars: The Istanbul Pogrom of 6-7 September 1955 in the Light of International Law Articles & Blog Posts September 6-7, 1955: Krystallnacht in Constantinople (The Pappas Post) Locals commemorate pogrom against Greeks and Jews in Turkey in 1955 (The Jerusalem Post) September 10, 1922: The Martyrdom of Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Smyrna (The Pappas Post) New York Times Recounts 'Turkish Atrocities' in Smyrna 1922; Testimony Based on American Doctor's Account (The Pappas Post) The Horror on the Smyrna Quay: Testimony of Dr. Esther Lovejoy (The Pappas Post) America and the Asia Minor Refugees (The National Herald) Must Read Books The Mechanism of Catastrophe: The Turkish Pogrom Of September 6 - 7, 1955, And The Destruction Of The Greek Community Of Istanbul by Speros Vryonis, Jr., Ph.D. The Blight of Asia by former U.S. Consul General to Smyrna George Horton Harper Collins Book About An American Minister Who Saved 250,000 Greeks from Smyrna Fire in 1922 (on Amazon)  Current Events Screening of “Smyrni Mou Agapimeni” Film in Cleveland October 2 (The Pappas Post) Remember September: A Centennial Memorial Runs through September 25 (The National Herald) Exhibition on 1922 refugee sanctuaries (Ekathimerini)

ICYMI | Centennial Supreme Convention Photo Gallery

Did you miss the AHEPA Centennial Supreme Convention or want to recapture a fun or memorable moment? Our convention photo gallery is up! take a look

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

October 14 | AHEPA Region 3 Centennial Anniversary Banquet, Queens, New York 24 | Deadline: Winter 2022 The Ahepan magazine

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  Cyprus hails US decision to fully lift weapons embargo Associated Press (Sept. 17) Cyprus on Saturday hailed the full lifting of a U.S. arms embargo on the ethnically divided island nation as a milestone reaffirming increasingly tighter bilateral bonds that serve to bolster stability in the turbulent east Mediterranean region. read more Direct flights from US to Greece being extended into winter Ekathimerini (Sept. 20) Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias has underlined the deepening strategic relationship with the United States, whose culmination, he told the Travel Leaders forum at Lagonisi, eastern Attica, was the establishment of nine direct flights a day between Greece and America’s largest airports, corresponding to 63 flights per week. read more President Sakellaropoulou represents Greece at Queen’s funeral New Kosmos (Sept. 20) Dignitaries from around the world were among the approximately 2,000 guests at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in London on Monday. Representing Greece was the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, who also attended an official lunch held by the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom James Cleverly right after the service. read more MET Opera’s New Season a Tribute to Maria Callas The National Herald (Sept. 17) The Metropolitan Opera will open its new season on Sept. 27 with a lavish production of “Medea,” the signature role of Maria Callas, as the world begins a year-long celebration of the centennial of the incandescent Greek-American diva who transformed opera. read more Irene Papas, Actress in ‘Zorba,’ ‘Z’ and Greek Tragedies, Is Dead at 96 New York Times (Sept. 14) She was best known for commanding movie roles in the 1960s but received the greatest plaudits for playing heroines of the ancient stage. read more Undiscovered Greece: exploring Epirus National Geographic (Sept. 20) Hidden in the country’s northwestern corner, Epirus is a region where adventure meets nature with an almost mythical reverence. read more