The AHEPAN - Spring 2012 - (Page 4)

messAge FRom DR. JohN gRossomANiDes AhepA supReme pResiDeNt answering the call at home and abroad As AHEPA approaches its 90-year anniversary it continues to be as active and vibrant as ever throughout all parts of the globe. Our organization has stood the test of time, and it is thriving better than ever. When the U.S. Treasury Department needed to sell War Bonds—AHEPA was there; when St. Basil Academy needed additional facilities—AHEPA acted; when the Statue of Liberty needed restoration—AHEPA mobilized; and when Greece experienced devastating wildfires in 2007—again, AHEPA provided relief. Today, of paramount importance to AHEPA is our collective campaign to help the people of Greece. An unprecedented financial crisis has led to a tremendous need to provide food for the needy and medical supplies to hospitals, which are seeing a dramatic increase in admissions amid significant budget cuts that will only continue as Dr. John Grossomanides austerity measures are implemented. The AHEPA family leadership had the opportunity to witness the need on the ground when we visited Athens and Thessaloniki during our annual excursion to Greece in April. There, we received information about the crisis from Greek and American government officials and shared ideas about how to best go about providing assistance going forward. We also presented a donation to a food mission that provided 400 food kits to families in need. Overall, our campaign has exceeded $125,000, and we continue to explore ways that will allow us to maximize our assistance to the people of Greece. Please visit www.ahepa.org and click “Contribute” to make a tax-deductible donation. In addition to Greece, the excursion also took us to Cyprus, Jerusalem and the Ecumenical Patriarchate where we held fruitful meetings with key government and religious officials and visited important sites such as the Imprisoned Graves of Nicosia and the Theological Seminary at Halki. I was extremely humbled to be inducted into the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle and made an Archon by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew during our visit to the Patriarchate where we also attended Easter services. Moreover, in a first for AHEPA, we met with the President of Turkey to continue our dialogue on issues of importance to our community, chief of which is religious freedom for the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Full details about the excursion are presented in this issue. In March, we commemorated the 191st anniversary of Greek Independence throughout the Greek Diaspora. I commend the AHEPA districts, chapters, and members who took the time to organize or participate in activities to celebrate the anniversary. In addition, I was especially thrilled to be an Honorary Marshal at the Philadelphia Greek Independence Parade and an Honored Guest at the New York City Greek Independence Parade and to share those experiences with our members. However, equally exciting was celebrating Greek Independence at the White House with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in attendance. The AHEPA family was extremely well-represented at the event, which was a true celebration of the shared values between the United States and Greece. It is encouraging to see our Capitol Hill Day become a consistent, annual event since we first attempted it in 2006. Every year, participation has remained steady and in some cases has grown. This year, I’m proud that we had representation from 18 states and more than 70 meetings with congressional offices were held. I’d like to once again thank everyone who took time away from their businesses and families to participate. In just one day we made a difference. Imagine if we could coordinate more than one Capitol Hill Day a year or organize similar style events within our congressional districts? Our effectiveness as a community would increase immensely. Moreover, AHEPA was proud to honor four outstanding individuals that evening at our “Salute to Civic Responsibility” dinner. As of this printing, my goal of visiting each of our 28 districts is close to completion. I have visited 26 districts, 31 States, three Canadian Provinces, five countries, and most importantly, 77 chapters. Thank you to everyone who has hosted me. Finally, as we head toward the celebration of our 90th anniversary on July 26 in Las Vegas, we encourage you to please make your plans to share the special occasion with us. A convention registration form is included in this issue and additional information can be found at www.ahepa.org. I look forward to seeing you there! 4 the ahepan Spring 2012 www.ahepa.org http://www.ahepa.org http://www.ahepa.org http://www.ahepa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The AHEPAN - Spring 2012

The AHEPAN - Spring 2012
Supreme President’s Message
AHEPA Family News
Mailbag
Answering the Call
AHEPA Family’s Capitol Hill Day Brings Foreign, Domestic Issues to Legislators
Excursion Leaves Lasting Impressions
Convention Form
Civic Responsibility
The Periclean
Housing
AHEPA Family Chapter News

The AHEPAN - Spring 2012