The Ahepan Fall 2017 - 4

PRESIDENTS' MESSAGES

Our Fraternal Bonds Will Unify
Us in Service to the Community

Supreme President
Carl R. Hollister

THE AHEPAN · Fall 2017

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your AHEPA Supreme President for the 2017-18 administrative year. My sincere gratitude is conveyed to the entire Brotherhood for the faith and
confidence it has placed in my abilities to serve the Order at the highest level. I look forward to
working with everyone as together we strive to meet and fulfill our worthy mission.
As we embark on the Order's 95th year, AHEPA and the community face significant challenges. Starting with the former, I believe we must place renewed emphasis on the fact that we
are a Brotherhood. The fraternal bonds that make the Order of AHEPA a unique organization also
unify us. Those of us who have been entrusted with positions of leadership must bear in mind
that with these positions comes great responsibility. Wear the jewels of your office with great
pride, but be reminded, they have been loaned to you by Brothers who have afforded you the
privilege to lead them. We are responsible for building, protecting and maintaining the AHEPA
brand. Just as Nike, Coca-Cola and IBM are brands known throughout the world, AHEPA is the
brand the world looks to in the promotion of Hellenism, civic duty, scholarship, philanthropy
and affordable housing for the elderly. No doubt exists in my mind that if we stand united
through our fraternal bonds that not only will AHEPA prosper, but indeed, the entire community
will benefit through our shared commitment to Hellenic ideals and community service.
Second, my aim is to focus on our youth. The Sons of Pericles and Maids of Athena must
have our unwavering support and attention. I am convinced that future generations of Greek
Americans-the third and fourth generations-want to identify with their great-grandparents'
journey toward the American Dream, their culture, and their heritage. We must work to mentor
and bring them together. There is not a better Hellenic heritage organization to achieve this
important, awesome task than the AHEPA family. We've seen the fruits of this labor pay off as
many of our immediate past national leaders learned to lead and serve as members of the Sons
of Pericles. We must continue to make this investment in our future-together as an AHEPA
family.
AHEPA must remain steadfast in its service to the community and in its noble efforts to help
those individuals in need. Throughout my travels as a Supreme Lodge officer over the years, I
have marveled at the tremendous amount of charitable work AHEPA chapters provide to their
respective communities. I have already seen this continue in my early visitations as Supreme
President, especially in the aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. I encourage all AHEPA
chapters to contribute to our Emergency Relief Fund. Always remember there is someone, or
somebody, in the community who is counting on us in times of need. It could be an older adult in
need of affordable, dignified housing; a promising student looking to fulfill an academic dream,
a veteran suffering from PTSD, or a victim of a natural disaster. AHEPA must be there for them.
Finally, we had a truly magical time at Walt Disney World Resort in celebration of our 95th
anniversary. No quantity of images or length of copy could capture all the memorable moments.
However, we hope the feature spread in this issue recalls joyous memories for those who
attended and shares our favorite moments with our Brothers and Sisters who could not attend.
Thank you, again, for the honor to serve as Supreme President. I look forward to seeing and
meeting the Brethren on my travels throughout the year.

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Ahepan Fall 2017