AHEPA newest

American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association

For Immediate Release | May 16, 2023

Contact: AHEPA Headquarters Phone: 202.232.6300 E-mail: ahepa@ahepa.org Archbishop Elpidophoros Proclaims May 21 as AHEPA Sunday

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WASHINGTON, DC --  His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America has proclaimed May 21, 2023, as "AHEPA Sunday" in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The Encyclical, issued by Archbishop Elpidophoros, states:  "The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America celebrates the achievements and goals of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association. Therefore, we enjoin this annual observance of AHEPA Sunday, a true cultural partner to the Church for over one hundred years. As is well known, both the Archdiocese and AHEPA were founded in 1922, and have grown up together in the American milieu working for many common purposes. "I hope that every parish across our Nation will take time to honor their local AHEPA chapter. Together, we are one Church, one Omogeneia, one family. AHEPA is a true partner with the national and local Church, and they are our brothers and sisters in the risen Christ. "Therefore, I encourage every parish to celebrate with all worthiness AHEPA Sunday, and to recognize the amazing work and accomplishments that the AHEPA family has wrought for our community. We bless their endeavors and wish them much success in all their undertakings, which greatly benefit the Omogeneia and the Church." Encyclical (English) Encyclical (Greek) "We also sincerely appreciate the blessings Archbishop Elpidophoros has bestowed upon the AHEPA family and our members for today, AHEPA Sunday," Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas said. "The AHEPA family cherishes the close ties and shared history it has with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. From Saint Photios National Shrine, Saint Basil Academy, and Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine; to scholarships for seminarians and groundbreaking memberships in Leadership 100 and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation; to the support of parishes, including their establishments, by local AHEPA chapters dating to the 1920s, we are proud to have walked together, side-by-side, for a century.

 

American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association

Brothers:   AHEPA Day is ALWAYS the third Sunday of May. This year AHEPA Day is May 21, 2023. I have linked the AHEPA Day Plan book link HERE for your use and send it to all of your chapters so they can plan something for the Day! Every chapter should try to host a coffee hour at your local church and try to recruit new members.    Every chapter should try to host a memorial service for those brothers who have passed away at church. Every chapter should try to promote what AHEPA does in their community. Back in 2020 AHEPA sent this video message to all our chapters which were in pandemic lock down, enjoy

We are less than 30 days away from our June 1, 2023 deadline for the reporting of all chapter delegates and alternates for the national convention. To date we have received about 20 forms, we need all of our officers to reach out to their chapters and get the forms filled out and sent to HQ by June 1. We accept, fax, email, or regular mail, ALL POSTMARKED by midnight June 1, 2023. If you need a form for your chapter, please contact Rory at Headquarters via email at rory@ahepa.org or at 202-232-6300, extension 102.   Reservations for the AHEPA Las Vegas Convention are quickly being sold. Several nights of our stay are already sold out of the $69 rate, this will not get better, so reserve today. Click the button below to make your reservations!

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Here is a link to the tentative agenda. Please keep in mind that this schedule is TENTATIVE and events are subject to change.   Brothers, we surpassed our century celebrations and now we need to focus on our next 100 years, lets get the word out and get our members active. Go find new and old members and get them reconnected and working.    Fraternally, Basil

### Founded in 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia, on the principles that undergirded its fight for civil rights and against discrimination, bigotry, and hatred felt at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan, AHEPA is the largest and oldest grassroots association of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes with more than 400 chapters across the United States, Canada, and Europe.    AHEPA's mission is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence through community service and volunteerism.    For more information, please visit www.ahepa.org.

AHEPA E-News Volume 17, Issue 20 | Wednesday, May 17, 2023 AHEPA Sunday is Coming! AHEPA Day as observed in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is ALWAYS the third Sunday of May. This year, it falls on May 21, 2023, as proclaimed by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. We've got you covered: The AHEPA Day Plan book is HERE. Share it with chapters and Brother Ahepans so they can plan something for the day!  For example, every chapter should try to host a coffee hour at your local church and try to recruit new members.  Every chapter should try to host a memorial service for those brothers who have passed away.  Every chapter should try to promote what AHEPA does in their community. For example, use the day to announce or present scholarships to recipients. Encyclical issued by Archbishop Elpidophoros (English | Greek) Back in 2020 AHEPA sent this video message to all our chapters which were in pandemic lock down: To learn more about what your chapter can do for AHEPA Sunday, visit the link below! Get Ready for AHEPA Sunday! AHEPA on Capitol Hill for Annual PSEKA Conference Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas and Supreme Secretary Savas Tsivikos, accompanied by Chairman of the Board Nicholas Karacostas, PSP, presented U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) with the 2023 Barbed Wire Award at the annual 38th Annual Cyprus & Hellenic Leadership Conference hosted by the International Coordinating Committee - Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA), May 10, 2023. AHEPA supported the conference as a sponsor. The presentation took place on Capitol Hill, where Ahepans joined with community leaders to promote Greek American policy issues, particularly the illegal occupation of Cyprus. "It was great to be in the presence of fellow Ahepans Phil Christopher, Dennis Mehiel, and Congressmen Gus Bilirakis, and John Sarbanes, and so many others during the course of the conference," Supreme President Kokotas said. "Congratulations to PSKEA, and its president, Phil Christopher, for organizing a successful event. We were proud to be a sponsor." AHEPA Partners with IOCC to Rebuild Houses AHEPA and the IOCC have a longstanding history of partnering together for humanitarian causes, most notably, shipping medical supplies to Greece valued at millions of dollars. AHEPA has partnered with the IOCC again to help rebuild communities across America that have sustained damage from natural disasters. Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas asks that every chapter try to coordinate with the IOCC to assist in this rewarding community service program. Mark Your Calendars! Capitol Hill Day Returns Save the date! We will walk the halls of Congress once again for AHEPA Family Capitol Hill Day 2023!  Thursday, June 15, 2023   Kick-off Reception   8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.   Location: Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2043   Meetings with Legislators and their Staffs Educate Legislators about Issues of Importance to the American Hellenic Community Help Build the Hellenic Caucus Walk the Halls of Congress with Fellow Advocates from Across the U.S.! MOA & SOP Scholarships Available The scholarship application process for AHEPA's youth organizations, the Sons of Pericles and Maids of Athena, has opened! Members in good standing of each organization are eligible to apply. Applications for the MOA Scholarship must be postmarked by May 31, 2023. Applications for the SOP Scholarship must be postmarked by June 16, 2023. APPLY FOR THE MOA SCHOLARSHIP APPLY FOR THE SOP SCHOLARSHIP Mavroyannis Scholarship Application Opens AHEPA Educational Foundation Chairman George Vorkas, on behalf of Supreme President Kokotas, is pleased to announce its continued partnership with the Mavroyannis Family to offer the Constantine and Patricia Mavroyannis Scholarship. The Constantine and Patricia Mavroyannis Scholarship is open to graduate students who are either Greek or of Greek heritage and are enrolled in a PhD program in either theoretical physics or physical chemistry in the Faculty of Science at a North American university. The scholarship is in the amount of $5,000 and will be awarded in the fall semester. Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Constantine and Mrs. Patricia Mavroyannis, this scholarship recognizes scholastic achievement and an interest and commitment to studying theoretical physics or physical chemistry by providing financial assistance to Hellenic graduate students to pursue their studies in these fields. Learn More & Apply Here! Help Us Grow the Congressional Hellenic Caucus! The 118th Congress is well 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 are serving 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 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 91 U.S. representatives. View the Caucus membership list (Updated 5/8/23)  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 2023 Supreme Convention   Book Your Hotel Room Now! Registration Form Sponsorship - Chapters Sponsorship - Corporate 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 May 18-21 | District 16 Convention 19 | Journey to Greece Applications Due 26-28 | District 23 Convention 31 | MOA Scholarship Deadline June  2-4 | District 3 Convention District 4 Convention District 5 Convention 3 | District 10 Convention June 15 | AHEPA Family Capitol Hill Day 15-18 | District 2 Convention District 16 Convention 16 | SOP Scholarship Due 17 | District 6 Convention 23-24 | District 14 Convention  23-25 | District 11 Convention 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 Once Europe's Headache, Greece Finds Its Feet Wall Street Journal (May 13) Greece’s economy nearly broke the euro last decade. Now it is one of the fastest-growing in Europe’s common-currency zone. Nobody frets about Grexit any more in Greece’s once-again bustling capital city. In streets that were previously blighted by closed storefronts, locals complain about rising rents and the spread of Airbnb apartments. read more Ethnic Greek candidate detained on vote-buying charges wins mayoral election in Albania AP (May 15) Preliminary results of Albania’s municipal elections on Monday showed that a mayoral candidate from the Greek minority has won the post while he is in detention for alleged vote-buying. Friday’s arrest of Dhionisios Alfred Beleri, a candidate for mayor of the Albanian city of Himare — a town located in the Albanian Riviera 240 kilometers (150 miles) south of the capital, Tirana, that has a Greek minority presence — raised tensions between the two neighbors. read more Burundi-born ex-policeman seeks to become Greece’s first Black MP Aljazeera (May 16) In working-class neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Athens, Spiros Richard Hagabimana is going door to door in an election campaign that could see him become Greece’s first Black politician. It is a remarkable journey for Hagabimana, who just eight years ago was jailed in his native Burundi for refusing to open fire on anti-government protesters as a high-ranking officer of the National Police. read more  Cyprus, Israel working on deal for natural gas pipeline, processing plant in Cyprus AP (May 15) Cyprus and Israel are working on a deal to build a pipeline that will convey natural gas from both countries to the east Mediterranean island nation, where it will be liquefied for export by ship to Europe and potentially elsewhere, the Cypriot energy minister said Monday. Minister Giorgos Papanastasiou said Monday he would soon visit Israel to hammer out a formal agreement. Once the deal is signed, the pipeline could be completed in 18 months. read more Can an earthquake once again improve relations between Turkey and Greece? Euronews (May 16) The devastating earthquakes in Turkey in February have fueled an improvement in relations between NATO allies Greece and Turkey after several years of high tensions in the Aegean region. But before the disaster in Turkey, analysts were already predicting a period of calm before the Turkish and Greek elections. read more Now Available! Celebrating 101 Years of Brotherhood