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Volume 20, Issue 4 | Wednesday, February 18, 2026 Kaitson completes extensive tour of Citrus District AHEPA Supreme President Chris Kaitson recently concluded an extensive official visitation tour throughout Florida’s District 2, traveling more than 1,200 miles and engaging with over 200 members across numerous local chapters. Joined throughout much of the journey by District 2 Governor Bill Paul, the Supreme President met with chapter leaders and members to review annual plans, strengthen fraternal bonds, and promote key national initiatives. The tour included visits to the Jacksonville AHEPA Chapter, where Supreme President Kaitson reviewed the chapter’s yearly plan and encouraged strong participation in upcoming AHEPA programs and events. He also met with members of the Daytona Speedway Chapter 410 before continuing to New Smyrna Beach to visit the New Smyrna Beach AHEPA Memorial. In Winter Haven, he met with the Prometheus Chapter 464 to discuss preparations for the upcoming District 2 Convention, while in Melbourne he addressed members of the Space Coast Chapter 401 during a regular meeting and presented an update on the organization’s current state of affairs. Additional stops included West Palm Beach, Boca Raton (Chapter 487, joined by officers from Chapters 18 and 394), Ft. Lauderdale, Naples, and Sarasota, where the tour concluded. At each location, members gathered in strong numbers to share reports, discuss local initiatives, and demonstrate their commitment to the Order’s mission. In Orlando, members of the AHEPA family convened for a dinner in honor of the Supreme President, where he outlined programs and projects planned for the remainder of the year. Throughout the visitation, Supreme President Kaitson emphasized the importance of national events, including the AHEPA Congressional Banquet on May 13, Capitol Hill Day on May 14, and the 104th AHEPA Supreme Convention, scheduled for July 26–31, 2026, in Philadelphia. The 2026 convention will coincide with celebrations marking America’s 250th Anniversary, making it a historic gathering for the Order. Expressing appreciation for the hospitality and camaraderie extended by the Brothers of District 2, Supreme President Kaitson commended the chapters for their active engagement and local accomplishments. The successful completion of this intensive tour underscores the strength and unity of AHEPA in Florida and the organization’s continued dedication to Hellenism, philanthropy, and community service nationwide. AHEPA Leadership Participates in 44th Annual St. Photios Celebration in St. Augustine Supreme President Kaitson and other members of AHEPA leadership were honored to participate in the 44th Annual Celebration of the St. Photios National Shrine in St. Augustine, FL. The Shrine, a sacred site honoring the first colony of Greek settlers in America (1768), once again served as a gathering place for members of the AHEPA family and the faithful from across the region. Supreme President Kaitson, who serves on the Shrine’s Board of Trustees, participated in the weekend’s events alongside several Past Supreme Presidents, including Dr. John Grossomanides, Andrew Zachariades, and Carl Hollister, who now serves as Executive Director of the Shrine. Additional dignitaries in attendance included DOP Grand President Antoinette Marousis Zachariades and Past Grand Presidents Anna Helene Grossomanides and Connie Pilallis, as well as many District and Chapter officers of both organizations. A highlight of this year’s celebration was the unveiling of a special Mount Athos photo display, presented to those in attendance and warmly received by the faithful. The event, sponsored by the AHEPA Foundation, drew strong participation from members of the AHEPA family and underscored the organization’s enduring commitment to faith, heritage, and Hellenism. AHEPA’s historic support of the Shrine was also recognized during the celebration. In 1984, AHEPA assured the retirement of the Shrine’s mortgage through a $1 million donation, solidifying its long-standing role in preserving and promoting this important landmark of Greek American history. The annual celebration once again reflected the close partnership between the AHEPA Family and the St. Photios National Shrine—an enduring testament to shared values of faith, service, and cultural preservation. Montreal AHEPA Family Celebrates Valentine's Day On Saturday, February 14th, the AHEPA Family of Montreal, QC, in collaboration with the AHEPA Family Charitable Foundation of Canada, hosted their annual Saint Valentine's Ball at the Embassy Plaza reception hall in Laval. The event was attended by many from across Canada and the United States, including AHEPA Canada President Anastasios Moussas, AHEPA PSP Andrew C. Zachariades, DOP Grand President Antoinette Marousis-Zachariades, MOA Grand President Stephanie Owens, and SOP Supreme President Basilios Ronstadt, as well as other officers of the AHEPA Family on a National, District, and Chapter level. This year, the Montreal AHEPA Family chose to continue their support of the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation, focusing this year's campaign on the Pediatric Neoromodulation Program. This program encompasses a variety of technologies and tools designed for children suffering from drug-resistant epilepsy. The fundraising focus has on Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a non-surgical treatment that uses magnetic currents to regulate brain functions in order to reduce seizures. In the past two years, the Saint Valentine's Ball campaign has raised $94,000 towards the innovative TMS technology. This year, they were able to add an additional $45,000 to their endeavor! We congratulate the Montreal AHEPA Family on a successful event! 100 Years in Greater Philadelphia! Supreme President Kaitson, accompanied by Supreme Vice President Christodoulou and Supreme Secretary Frangos, attended a centennial dinner in honor of AHEPA Hercules-Spartan Chapter 26 of Greater Philadelphia. The evening's program, hosted by Master of Ceremonies and Chapter President Paul Kotrotsios, featured remarks and presentations by several honored guests, including His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey, Past Supreme President George G. Horiates, and Power District 4 Governor Tim Vlassopoulos. Congratulations Brothers on a century of service to our Order! AHEPA Athletics open for Scholar-Athlete Scholarship Applications The AHEPA Athletics program is excited to announce that the Scholar-Athlete scholarship season is now open! This selection not only recognizes athletic achievements but also values personal character and contributions to civic and community service. The AHEPA Athletics program honors the most outstanding Hellenic scholar-athletes from high school seniors to college-level competitors. The scholarships aim to help alleviate the financial burden of college, allowing student-athletes to focus on both their sports and their academic pursuits. All submissions must be received by April 15, 2026. Please direct submissions for the AHEPA Athletics Scholar-Athlete Scholarships to: James Rigopoulos  Scholarship Committee Chairman  Email: Jamur10@yahoo.com   Athletic Hall of Fame Nomination Form AHEPA Scholar Athlete Scholarship Form Click to Book Your Hotel Room! Click Here to Order Tickets Click Here to Become a Sponsor Sign Up for 2026 Capitol Hill Day! The AHEPA Family returns to Capitol Hill this year on May 14, 2026! If you plan on joining the AHEPA Family at this annual event, please visit the link below and fill out the form. Sign up for Capitol Hill Day! The Winter AHEPAN is Here! The Winter 2025 issue of The AHEPAN has arrived! Get a sneak peek of it at the link below! Read the Winter AHEPAN Attention Chapters & Districts with Publications! The AHEPA Publications committee is now accepting submissions for the annual publications competition, in which District or Chapter publications (newsletters etc.) are eligible to win awards at the 2026 AHEPA Supreme Convention in Philadelphia, PA. If your Chapter or District wishes to have a publication considered, please contact committee chair John Melonopoulos via email to john.melonopoulos@comcast.net in order to request a questionnaire. The deadline for competition submissions is April 30, 2026. Applicants must submit two copies of their publication with a properly completed questionnaire. 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. Upcoming Events & Deadlines April 15 | AHEPA Athletics Scholar-Athlete Scholarship Nomination Deadline 17-19 | Sons of Pericles Greeks in Atlanta Basketball Tournament 30 | AHEPA Publications Committee Submission Deadline May 13 | AHEPA 47th Biennial Congressional Banquet 14 | AHEPA Capitol Hill Day July 26 - 31 | AHEPA Supreme Convention, Philadelphia, PA Submit Your Events! 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 Chevron-led consortium signs contracts for gas exploration off Greece Reuters (February 16) A consortium led by U.S. oil major Chevron signed exclusive lease agreements on Monday to look for natural gas off southern Greece, expanding the United States' presence in the eastern Mediterranean. The deal doubles the amount of Greek maritime acreage available for exploration and is the second in months involving a U.S. energy major as the European Union seeks to phase out supplies from Russia and the U.S. seeks to replace them. read more Greece will seek to obtain Nazi execution photos offered for sale online Associated Press (February 16) Greece said Monday it will try to obtain photos that appear to show the final moments of 200 Greeks who were executed by a Nazi firing squad in Athens during World War II, after the previously unknown pictures appeared on an online sale site. The images that appeared on eBay over the weekend allegedly show the men being led to their deaths on May 1, 1944, at a shooting range in the Kaisariani suburb of the Greek capital. Although the executions were well known, there were no known photos or film documentation of the event. read more Greece attending Board of Peace meeting as observer Ekathimerini (Feburary 17) Greece will participate as an observer in a Board of Peace meeting on Gaza convened by US President Donald Trump on February 19 in Washington, the government said. Deputy Foreign Minister Haris Theoharis will represent Greece at the session. A senior government source said Theoharis, whose portfolio includes economic diplomacy and extroversion, “is the most competent official for issues related to the reconstruction of Gaza,” noting that other European Union countries will also attend as observers without top-level representation. read more Greek Ginnis says bittersweet goodbye with gentle slide down Olympic slalom course Reuters (February 16) When AJ Ginnis stood at the start gate of the Olympic slalom race on Monday, he knew it would be a bittersweet moment ahead of a run that would mark both his Games debut and the end of his career. The 31-year-old Greek, who won a slalom silver at the 2023 World Championships in Courchevel, France, has failed to get back to peak fitness following his latest injury. read more Schools Join Forces at Greek Consulate to Celebrate World Greek Language Day National Herald (February 16) In honor of World Greek Language Day, six Greek schools in New York came together for an event to celebrate the Greek language and its rich history and culture at the Consulate General of Greece in New York. Taking place for its first time since being officially recognized by UNESCO in 2025, World Greek Language Day was held on February 9, and highlighted the special contributions of the Greek language today. read more 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

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