AHEPA E-News Volume 18, Issue 20 | Wednesday, May 15, 2024

District 28 Sends €30,000 Worth of Aid to Volunteer Firefighters

Nikolaos Michos, President of Johann Wolfgang Goethe Chapter 617 in Frankfurt, Germany, proudly reported that in conjunction with Lucas Miltiades Miller Chapter 611 in Wiesbaden, members have collected firefighting equipment to support volunteer firefighting organizations in Greece. Their efforts have been supported by brothers in neighboring Chapters in Frankfurt, Paris, and Rotterdam, where brothers have also contributed funds to support the purchase of equipment. In total, about 40 boxes of equipment were packed and shipped to volunteer teams in Larissa, with a total value of more than €30,000; the rest will be sent to volunteer regions in Megara, Agios Evstratios, Thessaloniki and other regions where there is a need. This joint effort between District 28's Chapters was a response to Supreme President Savas C. Tsivicos' call for assistance to victims of devastating wildfires and floods that affected Greece. Michos also credits District 28 Governor Dimosthenis Mammonas for helping to organize cooperation throughout the district.

Karlaftis to be Honored at Congressional Banquet

Next week, Kansas City Chiefs Defensive End and two time Superbowl Champion George Karlaftis will be honored with the Harry Agganis Hellenic Award by AHEPA at the 46th Biennial Congressional Banquet. A proud Hellene, Karlaftis earned the 2020 AHEPA-William Chirgotis Outstanding College Athlete award as a standout during his playing time at Purdue University (watch video). Kansas City selected him with the 30th pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Entry Draft. In addition to Karlaftis, Congressman John Sarbanes will be honored with the AHEPA Socrates Award and Senator Richard Blumenthal, Senator Marco Rubio, Congressman Chris Pappas, and Congresswomen Nicole Malliotakis will be honored with the AHEPA Pericles Award at Wednesday's Banquet.

AHEPA National Publications Competition

The National Publications committee will solicit Districts and Chapters to present their publications for competition for awards at the Supreme Convention. The deadline is May 31, 2024. This year, a questionnaire must accompany each presentation. Please request a copy via email to: john.melonopoulos@comcast.net. Once you receive it, it must be returned with a copy of your publication. Awards offered are for: District email publications - 1st & 2nd Place District hardcopy publications - 1st & 2nd Place Chapter email publications - 1st & 2nd Place Chapter hardcopy publications - 1st & 2nd Place Email submissions to: john.melonopoulos@comcast.net Mail hard copy submissions to: AHEPA Publications Committee 14-B Hartung Place Old Lyme, CT 06371-2230 Awards will be announced at the Supreme Convention!

AHEPA Day Is Coming!

AHEPA Sunday is right around the corner! As always, AHEPA Sunday will be celebrated on the third Sunday in May. Has your AHEPA Chapter planned something to celebrate yet? AHEPA Sunday is the perfect time to share with your community the benefits of being a member of the AHEPA Family! Make sure you let us know what you do to celebrate and submit your pictures and news blurbs to ahepasocial@gmail.com!

Hot Off the Electronic Press!

Hot off the electronic press, the Spring Issue of the AHEPAN is now available to read online! Check it out now before the issue hits your mailbox! Read the Spring AHEPAN Online!

Supreme Convention Headquarters!

Everything you need to know about the AHEPA Supreme Convention in Larnaca! Starting with our current tentative schedule, and our newest hotel reservation form for our overflow hotel! Tentative Schedule Overflow Hotel Reservation Form

Come Play Golf With Us!

Join us at the beautiful Aphrodite Hills PGA National Golf Course on July 23, 2024 for the AHEPA Supreme Convention Golf Tournament! Your $200 Fee Includes: Round Trip Bus Transportation from Radisson Beach Hotel 1 Round of Golf on PGA National Course 1 Club Rental per player Motorized Golf Cart Refreshments on the Turn Luncheon at the end of the Round Prizes Sign up and send your fees to AHEPA Headquarters before June 30, 2024 if you want to play!

Play in the Supreme Convention Golf Tournament

Early Bird Online Registration

Are you planning on joining us in Cyprus this summer for our Supreme Convention? If so, get a head start and register for your delegate, alternate or guest package from now to take advantage of early bird pricing, available from now until June 1! Early Bird AHEPA Delegate & Alternate Packages are priced at $410, and Early Bird Non-Delegate/Alternate & Guest packages are priced at $485. Both of these prices include the $10 credit card processing fee. On site pricing will be significantly higher, so take advantage of these reduced package prices now! Early Bird Package Registration

Sponsorship Resources

Want to become a convention sponsor and advertise your business? Maybe you just want to send a message of support from yourself or your chapter. Put YOUR name on the AHEPA Supreme Convention by becoming one of our Partners! Multiple level partnerships are available on our website or by clicking the links below!

Supreme Convention Tier 1 Sponsorship

Supreme Convention Tier 2 Sponsorship

Supreme Convention Tier 3 Sponsorship

Passport Check!

Planning on joining us this summer in Cyprus? Make sure your passport is up to date! If it expires soon, renew it NOW! Passport renewal takes time and you don't want to miss out because you waited too long! Add this to your to-do list today!

Renew U.S. Passports Renew Canadian Passports Renew Greek Passports

Learn more about the 2024 AHEPA Supreme Convention

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 19 | AHEPA Sunday 22 | AHEPA 46th Biennial Congressional Banquet, Mayflower Hotel, Washington DC 23 | AHEPA Family Capitol Hill Day 31 | Deadline for AHEPA Publications Committee Competition Submissions June 1 | Deadline for Supreme Convention Early Bird Registration 16 | Journey to Greece Program Commences 30 | Deadline for Supreme Convention Golf Tournament Sign Up July 10-14 | SOP & MOA Stateside Convention, Nashville, TN 21-27 | AHEPA Supreme Convention, Larnaca, Cyprus

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 North Macedonia’s new president reignites a spat with Greece at her inauguration ceremony Associated Press (May 12) Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova was sworn as the first female president of North Macedonia on Sunday and immediately reignited a diplomatic spat with neighboring Greece. At the ceremony in the country’s parliament, Siljanovska-Davkova referred to her country as “Macedonia,” rather than the constitutional name “North Macedonia.” read more Costa Rica, Greece and 42 other countries with a digital nomad visa—the U.S. isn’t one of them CNBC (May 14) The U.S. job market has cooled off significantly since the “great resignation” brought on by the pandemic, but is in a relatively good place, according to recent reports. Still, it is harder for workers to find new jobs, which could be especially tough on recent college graduates.  read more Archaeologists uncover Alexander the Great’s bathroom in Greece WION (May 14) Archaeologists claim to have uncovered Alexander the Great's bathing quarters and combat gymnasium at the Aigai Palace in the northern part of Greece.The discovery was first revealed in the conclusive episode of the Channel 4 series “Bettany Hughes’ Treasures of the World.” read more Greece's prime minister in Turkey for talks as the regional rivals seek to improve relations Voice of America (May 13) Greece's leader arrived in Turkey's capital on Monday for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as both countries pursue a normalization program and seek to put aside decades-old disputes. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was welcomed by Erdogan and a military guard of honor at the presidential palace in Ankara before the leaders' fourth meeting over the past year. They are expected to hold two hours of discussions followed by a news conference. read more Greece Remains a Top Destination for American Travelers in 2024 Greek City Times (May 15) Greece remains one of the most popular European destinations for travelers from the United States in 2024, as confirmed at the American Leisure Lifestyle Awards 2024. Greece won top honors at these awards. read more Greece to bring in Egyptian farm workers amid labour shortage Reuters (May 10) Greece will start bringing in workers from Egypt this summer to take on temporary farming jobs under a deal between the countries to tackle a labour shortage, the migration ministry said on Friday. After a decade of pain, the Greek economy is forecast to grow nearly 3% this year, far outpacing the euro zone average of 0.8%.