The AHEPAN - Summer/Fall 2012 - (Page 18)

Civic Responsibility AHEPA Sends Policy Questionnaire to Presidential Candidates AHEPA sent its 2012 Presidential Policy Questionnaire to the two main presidential candidates, President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney, on August 28, 2012, announced Supreme President Dr. John Grossomanides. “We are providing both candidates with an opportunity to convey to the Greek American community and to Philhellenes where they stand on issues of importance to AHEPA,” Dr. Grossomanides said. “In addition to being concerned about United States relations with Greece and Cyprus, our constituents are interested in domestic policy areas that impact the philanthropic, civic, and community service-based programs in which they are involved. We look forward to their replies.” Policy Questionnaire Submitted by the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) Domestic Policy 1. The Section 202 Program at the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, which provides dignified, affordable housing for low-income senior citizens, has undergone reforms. As our nation’s elderly population will increase significantly in the coming years, would your administration support greater use of tax credit funding or a return to the grant program to fund nonprofit senior housing sponsors? 2. 90% of likely voters say it is important for candidates to address medical research this year, according to a Research!America poll. NIH funding has failed to keep up with biomedical inflation in recent years. In addition, it is a fact that NIH research drives the economy, creates job, and innovates (a typical NIH grant supports seven jobs). With sequestration looming, how does your administration plan to preserve and sustain investment in NIH research (of specific interest to the Greek American community are thalassemia-related programs at NIH such as NHLBI’s Blood Diseases Program and NDDIK’s Kidney, Urologic, & Hematologic Diseases Program)? AHEPA Thanks Congressmen Turner, Michaud for Joining Hellenic Caucus AHEPA welcomed news that U.S. Reps. Robert Turner (R-NY) and Michael Michaud (D-ME) have joined the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, announced Supreme President Dr. John Grossomanides. “We thank the congressmen for joining the Hellenic Caucus,” said Dr. Grossomanides. “We look forward to working with them and their staffs on issues of importance to the Greek American community. I also commend the grassroots effort of Supreme Governor Jimmy Kokotas, who met with the congressman and asked him to join during AHEPA’s annual Capitol Hill Day, and Supreme Governor John Tanionos, who has worked diligently in New England to grow the caucus.” 3. Many Greek Americans are small-business owners and greatly embrace entrepreneurship in the pursuit of fulfilling the American Dream. What are your initiatives to help small business owners/entrepreneurial development? 4. Voice of America’s Greece Service has been the target of elimination in the federal budget. The VOA Greece Service is a vital instrument for AHEPA, and other Greek American organizations, to communicate messages accurately overseas. What is your position on funding the VOA Greek Service at $500,000 annually? Dr. Grossomanides added he invited the candidates to meet with a cross-section of leaders from the Greek American community to discuss the issues. To download the policy questionnaire, please visit www.ahepa.org. AHEPA Family Attends Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony for Brumidi Constantino Brumidi (1805-1880), the “Michelangelo of the U.S. Capitol,” who was of Italian-Greek heritage, was presented posthumously with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor the U.S. Congress can bestow, on July 11, 2012. Brumidi’s most famous work is the “Apotheosis of Washington” in the Capitol Rotunda. U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), the lead sponsor of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, recognized AHEPA’s work that helped to make the Congressional Gold Medal a reality for Brumidi, whose father immigrated to Italy from Greece. AHEPA Executive Director Basil Mossaidis and Daughters of Penelope Executive House Foreign Affairs Chair’s Call for Troop Removal Applauded AHEPA applauded House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen’s (R-FL) call for Turkey to withdraw its troops from the Republic of Cyprus in an op-ed published in The Washington Times on June 15, 2012, announced Supreme President Dr. John Grossomanides. “Chairman Ros-Lehtinen is to be commended for her thorough commentary and call for Turkey to remove its troops from Cyprus and end its illegal immigration to Cyprus policy,” said Dr. Grossomanides. “We urge her colleagues in Congress to echo her call and act accordingly.” Proudly posing with Brumidi’s Congressional Gold Medal are (l-r): AHEPA Executive Director Mossaidis, U.S. Rep. Pascrell, and DOP Executive Director Saviolakis Director Elena Saviolakis attended the ceremony. Also present were U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and John Sarbanes (D-MD). The Congressional Gold Medal bill became law on July 1, 2008. 18 The AhepAN Summer/Fall 2012 www.ahepa.org http://www.ahepa.org http://www.ahepa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The AHEPAN - Summer/Fall 2012

The AHEPAN - Summer/Fall 2012
Contents
Presidents’ Messages
AHEPA Family News
The Periclean
Literary Corner
Viva Las Vegas: Unopposed, Grossomanides Wins Reelection
Civic Responsibility
PAC Update
Housing
Athletics
AHEPA Family Chapter News
In Memoriam

The AHEPAN - Summer/Fall 2012