The AHEPAN - Fall 2010 - (Page 7)

ahePa family news Greek Americans to Port Authority: Cut the Red Tape on St. Nicholas! AHEPA has requested the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to resume negotiations with the representatives of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in an effort to rebuild the church destroyed at Ground Zero on September 11 at 130 Liberty Street, announced Supreme President Nicholas A. Karacostas. “The Greek American community is displeased and angered that Port Authority officials have declared that a deal to rebuild St. Nicholas is dead,” Karacostas said. “We view the church to be of national significance given the circumstances of its fate; a fate that has all but been forgotten by officials. We urge the Port Authority to honor its commitment and resume negotiations to rebuild the church at its rightful place at Ground Zero.” Karacostas expressed the organization’s disappointment in a letter sent August 18, 2010 to Mr. Christopher Ward, executive director, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He added AHEPA will not tolerate additional bureaucratic stall tactics in the effort to rebuild the church, which has served the community at large since 1916. plan. In addition, the web page allows the visitor to download a “Cut the Red Tape” tool kit that assists with community mobilization. “We encourage everyone to add their voice to urge the port authority to remove its bureaucratic roadblocks and to support the rebuilding of St. Nicholas by resuming negotiations with the appropriate representatives of the church,” Karacostas said. “Let’s send a strong message that the community stands for principle and for what is right, and it will not tolerate failure to honor one’s commitment.” In addition, Supreme President Karacostas has requested meetings with Governors David Paterson of New York, and Chris Christie of New Jersey, to discuss how negotiations can be restarted. Join the Cut the Red Tape Campaign! The web page, www.ahepa.org/ CutTheRedTape, allows visitors to sign an online petition to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey that calls on the port authority to remove any bureaucratic roadblocks in the reconstruction of the church at 130 Liberty Street, which is the location agreed upon in the Ground Zero master Deputy Foreign Minister Visits AHEPA Headquarters Greece’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Spyros Kouvelis, visited AHEPA Headquarters on Friday, July 9, 2010 to meet with AHEPA officials. The current state of Greece’s economy was the main topic of discussion with AHEPA Supreme Treasurer Col. Nick Vamvakias and Executive Director Basil Mossaidis, both of who also conveyed the personal greetings of Supreme President Nicholas A. Karacostas. The meeting participants discussed ways that AHEPA could possibly assist Greece to promote increased tourism or business investment. “Greece is Open for Business” is the main theme that must be conveyed. Also discussed were AHEPA-coordinated initiatives, such as seminars or conferences, to help bring business people together for networking opportunities or for their mutual benefit. “We had an excellent meeting with Deputy Minister Kouvelis,” Col. Vamvakias said. “We look forward to following-up on the ideas we discussed with Greece’s investment team in an effort to help out however possible.” The deputy foreign minister was joined by his colleagues in the foreign ministry and embassy officials. Deputy Foreign Minister Kouvelis and a colleague from the ministry (center) met with Executive Director Mossaidis (left) and Supreme Treasurer Vamvakias (right) at AHEPA Headquarters. www.ahepa.org Fall 2010 the ahepan 7 http://www.ahepa.org/CutTheRedTape http://www.ahepa.org/CutTheRedTape http://www.ahepa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The AHEPAN - Fall 2010

The AHEPAN - Fall 2010
Contents
Supreme President’s Message
Daughters of Penelope President’s Message
Sons and Maids Presidents’ Messages
AHEPA Family News
AHEPA Journey to Greece Program Successfully Completes Fifth Season
Montreal’s Charm Energizes the AHEPA Family
From The Heart: ThanksUSA
Ahepan Captures Historic Liturgy on Film
Housing
Book Review
Athletics
AHEPA Family Chapter News
The Periclean

The AHEPAN - Fall 2010