The AHEPAN - Winter 2011-12 - (Page 6)

AhepA FAmily News The Red Tape Has Been Cut! AHEPA Praises Agreement to Rebuild St. Nicholas at Ground Zero AHEPA praised an agreement reached between the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America regarding the rebuilding of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, which was destroyed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, announced Supreme President Dr. John Grossomanides. According to a statement issued October 14, 2011 by the Port Authority, St. Nicholas will be rebuilt at 130 Liberty Street. “This agreement marks a historic moment for the Greek American community, which worked so diligently and with great passion to cut the red tape of bureaucracy and clear a path for St. Nicholas to be rebuilt,” Dr. Grossomanides said. “We are grateful for the efforts of Governor Andrew Cuomo, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, and the local, state, and federal officials past and present who shared our voice. We also commend all parties for coming together to reach an agreement that ends a decade of frustration and begins a future of revital- ized hope that St. Nicholas will provide to all Americans.” In support of the effort to rebuild St. Nicholas at 130 Liberty Street, a site chosen by the Port Authority, AHEPA held a Ground Zero rally on June 26, 2011. The organization also submitted more than 20,000 signatures collected via electronic petition to Port Authority Executive Director Christopher Ward that went unanswered. Archbishop Demetrios: Profound Gratitude to AHEPA Family In a November 4, 2011 letter addressed to Supreme President Dr. Grossomanides and all members of the AHEPA family, His Eminence A r c h b i s h o p D e m e t r i o s expressed “the profound gratitude of the Greek Orthodox faithful” to the AHEPA family for “marshaling the resources and advocacy necessary to secure the right to resurrect the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church on Liberty Street.” On September 6, 2011, Dr. Grossomanides met with His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios to discuss St. Nicholas as well as other issues of mutual concern to the community. Shriners Hospital Names Educational Center after AHEPA Family Supreme President Dr. Grossomanides, Archbishop Demetrios and Executive Director Mossaidis following a meeting at the Archdiocese. The Shriners Hospital of Canada for Children in Montreal presented a plaque in honor of the AHEPA family of Montreal at an event celebrating the completion of the AHEPA family’s $250,000 six-year pledge to the hospital. At the event, held Nov. 16, 2011, the hospital’s board of directors announced the educational center associated with the hospital will be named “The AHEPA Family Educational Center at the Shriners Hospital.” The initiative by the Montreal AHEPA family was inspired by similar charitable campaigns for the AHEPA Hospital in Thessaloniki and the AHEPA wing of Evangelismos Hospital in Athens. “We would like to thank the many mem- The Montreal AHEPA family with representatives from the bers of the AHEPA and Shriners Hospital following the plaque presentation. Daughters of Penelope located in North America who contributed to these efforts,” said AHEPA Canadian President George Vassilas. “All of your donations and words of encouragement were truly appreciated.” The Shriners hospitals offer a wide range of services free of charge to children from around the world and many Hellenes from Greece and Montreal have benefitted from it. Among the dignitaries in attendance at the ceremony were AHEPA Canadian President George Vassilas, Consul General of Greece in Montreal Thanos Kafopoulos, Montreal AHEPA family officers, and several past Canadian presidents of the AHEPA family. 6 the ahepan Winter 2011-12 www.ahepa.org http://www.ahepa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The AHEPAN - Winter 2011-12

The AHEPAN - Winter 2011-12
Contents
Supreme President’s Message
Thank You
AHEPA Family News
Mailbag
Literary Corner
AHEPA Continues on Path of Rapprochement
Celebrate AHEPA’s 90th Anniversary
Reading Program Helps Deployed Troops Stay in Touch
Civic Responsibility
PAC Update
The Periclean
Housing
Athletics
AHEPA Family Chapter News
In Memoriam

The AHEPAN - Winter 2011-12