AHEPA E-News

 

AHEPA E-News Volume 17, Issue 11 | Wednesday, March 15, 2023

District 11 Raises Money for Train Crash Victims

On February 3rd, a Norfolk and Southern freight train transporting toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, resulting in a spill that contaminated both the air and water. Citizens of East Palestine were ordered to evacuate, and the village was virtually shut down. In an effort to assist these unfortunate citizens, AHEPA Buckeye District 11 has established a relief fund. The Buckeye District 11 Lodge is asking all districts and chapters of our AHEPA Family to come together and support our effort with a generous contribution, so that we may help these people in their time of need. All funds received will be donated to assist the unfortunate citizens of this devastated area and help them get their lives back to normal.

Donate!

It's a New Congress! Help Grow the Hellenic Caucus

The 118th Congress is underway. AHEPA congratulates the newly established leadership of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues: U.S. Reps. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL) and Chris Pappas (D-NH), who will serve as co-chairs. We are also excited to see the Caucus establish vice chair positions and congratulate U.S. Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV) and Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), who will serve in that role. We look forward to working with the Caucus’s leadership, and the entire Caucus body, to help it meet its goals and objectives for the 118th Congress.   The AHEPA family can assist the Hellenic Caucus by helping it to grow. Membership stands at 88 U.S. representatives. View the Caucus membership list  Please review the list. If you do not see your U.S. representative listed, reach out to ahepa@ahepa.org to learn how to contact your U.S. representative and to ask them to join. Thank you.

AHEPA Athletics Scholarship Application Available

Our Athletic Scholarships and Scholar-Athlete Awards applications are now online! AHEPA has a proud history of awarding scholarships to a number of deserving scholar-athletes competing at the high school and college levels. These scholarships are funded through the generosity of Ahepan(s) and or their families, often in honor of an active and committed Brother or in the memory of a deceased Brother. The grants recognize and reward the accomplishments, academic and athletic, of young Greek Americans who will be the community’s future leader(s)! An applicant must be nominated by a member of the AHEPA family. Please download the 2023 scholar-athlete / scholarship application forms The deadline for submission is March 15th, 2023. Any and all questions should be forwarded to the chairman of the Scholars-Athlete Selection Committee, James Rigopoulos, email: Jamur10@yahoo.com. Any Ahepan interested in funding a scholarship also should contact James Rigopoulos.

AHEPA Athletics Scholarship Application

Additionally, AHEPA Athletics is accepting nominations for the 2023 AHEPA Athletics Hall of Fame. In 1975, at the suggestion of Past Supreme President, Louis Manesiotis, and through the leadership of then, Supreme Athletic Director Dr. Monthe N. Kofos, the Order of AHEPA established the AHEPA Hellenic Athletic Hall of Fame to honor outstanding Hellenic athletes and sports personages. Today, over 150 members have been inducted! Please find the nomination form linked below.

AHEPA Hall of Fame Application

AEF Scholarship Deadline Approaches

The AHEPA Educational Foundation scholarship deadline is coming up! A reminder, if you or a student in your life is planning on applying for the 2023 AEF Scholarship, you must do so by March 31, 2023. Apply for the scholarship at the link below.

AHEPA Educational Foundation Scholarship Application

AHEPA invites you to the City of Brotherly Love

Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas invites every Hellene and Philhellene to join us at the Philadelphia Greek Independence Day Parade! The parade is scheduled for Sunday, April 2, 2023 and will be a historic event. Come celebrate with the parade's honored guests and the AHEPA family!

Last Chance for AHEPA Centennial Album

Brother Dean Vonetes is heading up the 100th Anniversary commemorative book which was being developed for our 100th celebration. There is still time to purchase your place in history. This book is being designed to tell the story of AHEPA. Dean is trying to assemble information from every chapter and every District in the AHEPA Domain.    Advertisers from last year’s convention ad book (those who paid over $1000 per ad) are included. Make sure your family history, your relatives, deceased members, veterans or anyone you want to memorialize is also included.   Dean has created several different categories to tell your stories. Please reach out to him at DAVonetes@aol.com or DeanVonetes.AhepaAlbum.@gmail.com   If you would like to download a rate card, contract or watch the video which outlines what is happening, please visit www.ahepaalbum.com.   We are trying to get this printed for the 2023 Supreme Convention in Vegas, so please reach out and make this work for AHEPA’s historical record.    Any questions, comments or concerns, please reach out to Dean Vonetes at the email above. Don’t miss your opportunity to be in the Century of Service historical record of AHEPA.

AHEPA Family Call to Action

As the death toll continues to rise in Türkiye and Syria, AHEPA is looking to our chapters to support the endeavor of our brothers in AHEPA Chapter No. 601 in Constantinople. Since 1922, the Order of AHEPA has been a generous, philanthropic organization who digs down deep to help people in need. Today is such a day. The Supreme President, Jimmy Kokotas, has asked the entire Ahepa family to collect funds and send them to our chapter in Constantinople as we have since we were first made aware of this tragic event. The magnitude and scope of this natural disaster has not been properly conveyed to our chapters and our members. For those of you who wish to make personal donations, please feel free to do so through the AHEPA website by clicking on the charitable foundation link on the donation page. The funds collected during the months of February and March will go to efforts to assist people in need of food, water, blankets, and other necessities. Chapter 601 has visited the effected area, and the region is devastated. As a philanthropic organization, it is our duty to assist if we can. Donate online at ahepa.org/donate or send a check to AHEPA headquarters. God bless the first responders from all over the world who are on site helping save peoples lives.

AHEPA 2023 Supreme Convention - Save the Date!

Book Your Hotel Room Now!

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

March 15 | AHEPA Athletics Scholarship & Hall of Fame Nominations Due 31 | AEF Scholarship Application Deadline

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 No plans to return Parthenon marbles to Greece, says Rishi Sunak Guardian (March 13) Rishi Sunak has vowed to protect the Parthenon marbles from being returned to Greece, saying they remain a “huge asset” to the UK. The prime minister stuck by commitments made by his predecessors Liz Truss and Boris Johnson to safeguard the treasures at the British Museum in London. read more Calm after quake: Greek PM says tension with Turkey easing AP (March 13) Greece’s prime minister Monday said a massive earthquake in Turkey and deadly rail disaster in northern Greece have helped de-escalate tension between the two neighbors, driven by a popular feeling of solidarity. read more Cypriot president pledges 2% of GDP on defense spending AP (March 10) Cyprus will earmark 2% of gross domestic product to defense spending in line with other European Union member states as a means to strengthen the east Mediterranean island nation’s foreign policy bargaining power, the new Cypriot president said Friday. read more Greek city Elefsina dreams of revival through European Capital of Culture status Euro News (March 14) Walking along the waterfront of Elefsina, 20 kilometres north-west of Athens, it is hard to believe that this city of 30,000 inhabitants was once one of the most important sacred sites in ancient Greece. Now, the horizon is filled with merchant ships and factory chimneys, while the sound of seagulls mingles with that of trucks unloading goods. read more Wealthy Americans Lining Up for Greece’s Golden Visas, EU Passports The National Herald (March 12) While other European Union countries are ending Golden Visa programs due to concerns about money laundering and criminal activity, Greece is continuing with the scheme. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ New Democracy government remains committed to the program, despite doubling the minimum investment in property purchases to €500,000 ($532,325) for most parts of the country. read more Now Available!