AHEPA E-News Volume 19, Issue 5 | Wednesday, February 5, 2025 Cherry Hill AHEPA Ch. 69 Celebrates 100 Years! Supreme Vice President Chris Kaitson had the opportunity to visit Camden Chapter 69 of Cherry Hill, NJ as they celebrated their Centennial Anniversary along with their sister Chapter, DOP Nike Chapter 230’s 75th Anniversary Jubilee. The Black Tie Gala celebration was held at Adelphia’s Grand Banquet Hall in Deptford, NJ. The capacity crowd was treated to an appearance, blessings and remarks by His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey, who remarked on the crucial role the AHEPA Family has played in the Metropolis through their assistance and support. Members of the AHEPA Family from Districts 3, 4, 6 and 28 were in attendance in addition to District 5’s natives and representatives from the National Lodges.   Keynote Addresses were provided by both AHEPA Supreme Vice President Chris Kaitson and Daughters of Penelope Grand Vice President Antoinette Zachariades-Marousis, presenting the respective chapters special commemorative certificates to honor the occasion. Chapter member Past Supreme Governor Chris Diamantoukos also presented the Supreme Vice President with a donation of $5,000 for the AHEPA Emergency Relief Fund to assist in relief for the California wildfires. AHEPA Past Supreme President Andrew C. Zachariades, AHEPA Supreme Secretary Zenon Christodoulou and Supreme Governor Dean Moskos were recognized and assisted with the evening presentations. Additionally, AHEPA Board of Trustees Vice Chair George G. Horiates presented Executive Director Basil Mossaidis with a donation of $10,000 to the AHEPA Century Fund on behalf of Chapter 69.    Remarks were also made by Sons of Pericles Supreme Governor George T. Horiates and Maids of Athena Past Grand President Maria Ana Pantelous, in addition to local SOP and MOA presidents, who gave special thanks to both chapters for helping the Junior orders thrive. The overwhelming presence of Sons of Pericles and Maids of Athena at the event attested to the efforts of these chapters specifically.  Congratulations to the entire Cherry Hill AHEPA Family! Supreme President helps initiate Brothers in NYC Supreme President Savas C. Tsivicos joined the Brothers of Delphi Chapter 25 of Manhattan, NY at their annual mass initiation event at Gallagher's steakhouse. The Supreme President helped initiate over twenty members into AHEPA, and oversaw the initiation of three brothers into the Sons of Pericles New Renaissance Chapter 5, one of which will be a dual member in AHEPA Ch. 25 as he is over 18. AHEPA Chairman of the Board Nicholas A. Karacostas, PSP, Supreme Secretary Zenon Christodoulou, Supreme Governor Dean Moskos, and many members of the Empire District 6 Lodge were in attendance at the event. Chapter President Andreas E. Christou, SOP PSP, was proud to welcome so many new brothers into the chapter. Congratulations on a successful event! Sons of Pericles announce SOP 100 Centennial Campaign On February 3, 2025, the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Sons of Pericles, the organization announced an international campaign, “SOP 100,” to celebrate the upcoming centennial in February 2026. SOP 100 will focus on collecting and recording the organization’s history, growing and re-invigorating the SOP membership, and fundraising for several educational and philanthropic initiatives, setting a goal of raising $100,000 for the 100th anniversary.  Celebrations will include events throughout the year and limited edition commemorative merchandise, culminating in a “Preserving the Past” weekend directly before the centennial anniversary on January 30 - February 1, 2026, in Manchester, New Hampshire, the birthplace of the Order of the Sons of Pericles. The SOP invites its distinguished members and alumni, AHEPA Family members, and supporters from across the international Hellenic community to attend for an eventful weekend of reunions, tributes to the organization’s history, and unveiling of SOP historical exhibits to commemorate the centennial. To learn more about SOP 100 and to become a sponsor, please visit the link below. Click to learn more about SOP 100! Save the Date for AHEPA's National Banquet! Join the AHEPA Family in Washington, DC on May 21, 2025 for our 2025 AHEPA National Banquet, to be held at the historic Mayflower Hotel! This event will be held in conjunction with AHEPA Capitol Hill day, which is scheduled for May 22, 2025 at 10am. Invited Honorees Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-FL) Rep. Ryan MacKenzie (R-PA) Stavros Anthony Lieutenant Governor State of Nevada General Andrew P. Poppas Commanding General of the United States Army Forces Command AHEPA is currently selling tickets by way of full table sponsorships. Each table seats ten individuals. For more information about available sponsorships, ticketing, and reserving your hotel room at the Mayflower, visit the link below! Click Here for more Banquet Information! AHEPA Athletics Nomination Applications for 2025 Hellenic Hall of Fame Available Now! The Order of AHEPA Hellenic Athletic Hall of Fame was founded in 1974 and now includes nearly 200 inductees. Annually, candidates are nominated by members of AHEPA, and after a thorough vetting process are selected by 20 Hall of Fame Selection Committee members, who encompass a broad cross-section of engaged voters, geographically and experience-wise. While selection recognizes and stresses athletic accomplishments, it also acknowledges personal character and civic and community service. The HOF honors the most outstanding Hellenic athletes and sports industry leaders, including greats such as Harry Agganis, Alex Karras, Milt Pappas, Pete Sampras, Eric Karros, Gene Rossides, Steve Lappas, Bob Costas, Nick Markakis, and Greg Louganis! An applicant must be nominated by a member of the AHEPA family, by use of the attached 2025 Hall of Fame Application.  Submissions to the AHEPA Hellenic Athletic Hall of Fame should be directed to: Gregory J. Stamos, Chairman, AHEPA Hellenic Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee Address: 241 Main Street, Ansonia, CT 06401 Phone: (203)735-9293 Fax: (203)734-5065 Email: greg@stamoslaw.net  Click the button below to download the 2025 AHEPA Hellenic Athletic Hall of Fame nomination forms to print, and submit!  Submissions MUST be received by March 31, 2025 Download the 2025 Hellenic Athletic HOF Application! National Publications Awards Program The National Publications Committee has opened submissions for the National Publications Competition, which awards District and Chapter publications throughout the AHEPA domain. The awards will be distributed at the 2025 AHEPA Family Supreme Convention, July 21-26, 2025, in Orlando, Florida. If your District or your local Chapter wishes to have their publication considered, please email Brother John Melonopoulos to request a questionnaire. Once received, applicants will have until March 30, 2025 to submit the properly executed questionnaire as well as two copies of the newsletter they would like considered. Email electronic copies to john.melonopoulos@comcast.net Mail hard copies to: John Melonopoulos, PDG 88 Scott Swamp Road, Unit 328 Farmington, CT 06032 Awards will be given in the following categories: District Publications Newspaper/Magazine Electronic Version Newspaper/Magazine Hardcopy Version Chapter Publications Newspaper/Magazine Electronic Version Newspaper/Magazine Hardcopy Version A winner’s representative must be present at the Supreme Convention to accept and receive the award. Should more information be required you may call 860-938-6262 or email: john.melonopoulos@comcast.net E-Mail John Melonopoulos 2025 AEF Scholarship Application Available! Since its establishment, AHEPA, the largest and oldest Greek American Organization in the U.S., has consistently dedicated itself to advancing education for the next generation. Through our financial support in the form of scholarships, we aim to alleviate the significant burden faced by today's students. The cost of education should not act as a barrier but rather mirror a student's aspiration to achieve scholastic enrichment in their young lives. Therefore, we are delighted to declare the commencement of the 2025 AHEPA National Scholarship season today. Download the application below, or visit our website for more details and to access to the application. Download the 2025 Application! Click to learn more! The Winter 2024 AHEPAN is Here! Hot off the electronic press! The Winter 2024 issue of The AHEPAN is here! Read the latest issue of The AHEPAN today! Read the Issue! Reminder! 2025 Journey to Greece Application Available Now Just in case you forgot, we're reminding you that the applications for the 2025 AHEPA Journey to Greece Program are now available on our website! See what all the hype is about and make sure the student in your life doesn't miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity! Click to learn more about and apply to Journey to Greece! Save the Date! Supreme Convention 2025 Dust off your Mickey ears, The Order of AHEPA is going back to the happiest place on earth, the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida! We’ve got a week full of fun for the whole family that you’re not going to want to miss out on! Join us once again at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, where we’ve secured a special convention rate for our attendees starting at $199/night plus tax. You know the deal, these rooms are going to sell out quickly, so book now! Click to Book Your Hotel Room! Click to Book Your Airport Shuttle! Click to Visit the Supreme Convention Page! Click for Discounted Park Tickets! Publicize Your Chapter & District Events! Is your Chapter or District hosting an event you want publicized on a National Level? Starting this week, you can submit your event to have it posted on the AHEPA Website! Fill out the form linked below with your event information to have it publicized. Remember that this information will be public on our website, so keep that in mind before you submit personal phone numbers or home addresses. We recommend listing an email address as a point of contact rather than a telephone number. Submit Your Events! Upcoming Events & Deadlines February 14 | Montreal AHEPA Family St. Valentine's Ball, Montreal, Quebec March 30 | National Publications Committee Awards Submission Deadline 31 | AEF Scholarship Submission Deadline 31 | AHEPA Athletics Hall of Fame Nomination Application Submission Deadline April 30 | AHEPA Journey to Greece Program Application Deadline 30 | Sons of Pericles 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 Hundreds flee Santorini as quakes disrupt life Reuters (Feburary 4) Hundreds of people left Santorini on ferries and planes on Tuesday to reach safety in Athens as a series of quakes kept shaking the famous Greek tourist island. Hundreds of quakes have been registered every few minutes in the sea between the volcanic islands of Santorini and Amorgos, in the Aegean Sea, in recent days, prompting authorities to shut schools in Santorini and the small nearby islands of Ios, Amorgos and Anafi until Friday. read more Hatzidakis: Everyone loses in a trade war, Greece would only have an indirect effect Ekathimerini (February 4) Greece may have an indirect impact from a trade confrontation between he US and the European Union, said the Minister of National Economy and Finance Kostis Hatzidakis on Tuesday. Speaking on Skai Radio on the possibility of tariffs on European products from the US and the impact on the Greek economy, Hatzidakis clarified that “since 90% of our exports go to EU member countries, we will not be directly affected, but if there is an impact on the eurozone and the global economy, there will be an impact on us as well.” read more Hidden portrait found under Titian masterpiece in Cyprus Reuters (February 4) Researchers in Cyprus have discovered a hidden portrait that lay undetected for centuries beneath a 1570 oil painting by Renaissance master Titian, a rendering of which is now on display in the city of Limassol. The newly discovered work shows a unidentified man with a thin moustache, quill in hand, standing next to a stack of papers or books - a prosaic image compared to the scene of Jesus Christ, bound and wearing a crown of thorns, that Titian later painted over it. read more Gerapetritis: We remain committed to the Greece, Cyprus, Jordan Trilateral Cooperation Scheme Hellenic News of America (February 4) “We remain committed to the Greece-Cyprus-Jordan Trilateral Cooperation Scheme, which constitutes an important achievement in our relations,” underlined Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis on Tuesday in Amman, after the end of his meeting with Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Al Safadi. As he underlined, bilateral relations between Greece and Jordan are excellent and “we are determined to further strengthen our cooperation in the economy, trade, defence, energy, tourism and culture”. read more Deportation Orders Issued for 211 Greeks in the U.S.; Nearly 1.5 Million Immigrants on ICE’s List National Herald (February 4) Two hundred eleven Greek nationals are among the individuals listed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as having received final deportation orders but are not currently in detention. This list includes a total of 1,445,549 foreign nationals who have received final court orders for deportation, with decisions finalized by November 24, 2024. read more This "Laptop" Spotted In An Ancient Greek Statue Is Riling Up Time Travel Theorists TheTravel (February 4) Every year, millions of people from all corners of the globe travel to Greece to marvel at the many ancient wonders and natural beauty that grace this magnificent country. History envelops you with nearly every step you take in Greece, from the white sand beaches of Rhodes to the ancient site of the first Olympic games, which continues to attract tourists today. read more Click the link above for the latest in Greek American Sports News! This is an electronic news service of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association. For more information visit AHEPA's official website, www.ahepa.org. 1909 Q Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 Tel: 202-232-6300 Fax: 202-232-2140 Email: ahepa@ahepa.org Celebrating 100+ Years of Brotherhood

AHEPA | 1909 Q Street, NW Suite 500 | Washington, DC 20009 US