AHEPA e-News! - Vol. 09 Issue 41 - Wednesday, October 14, 2015


AHEPA Tours Saint Nicholas Construction Site
Ahepans toured the Saint Nicholas National Shrine at World Trade Center construction site, Oct. 10. AHEPA Chairman of the Board Nicholas A. Karacostas, PSP, who also chairs the AHEPA-St. Nicholas Capital Campaign Drive; and Supreme Vice President Andy Zachariades, a September 11 survivor, were among the 15 Ahepans invited to tour the site.  Joining them were Ahepans Congressman Gus Bilirakis and Basile the Comedian along with Liz Hittos, who is Congressman Bilirakis' chief of staff, and several Ahepans from the tri-state New York metropolitan area, including National Sons Advisor Jimmy Kokotas, National Board of Auditor Member Michael Papaphotes, and District 6 Governor Peter Vasilakos.

"We were grateful for the opportunity to tour the site," Karacostas said. "It really meant a lot to us to see, firsthand, the hard work and progress being made to rebuild Saint Nicholas. We are doubly inspired to meet our fundraising goal."

TAKE ACTION. DONATE TODAY.


AHEPA Holds Successful Leadership Conference in Europe
Supreme President John W. Galanis participated at a leadership conference of AHEPA's European chapters held in Stuttgart, Germany, Oct. 9 and 10. In addition to addressing how AHEPA can grow and expand in Europe, the conference explored ways in which further
SP Galanis addresses the conference.
assistance can be provided to Greece, which is enduring two crises, economic and migratory. AHEPA Friedrich Schiller Chapter 607 , Stuttgart (Baden-W�rttemberg), hosted the conference.

"Congratulations to our European Brothers for coming together to organize a meaningful and productive leadership conference," Galanis said. "I thank them for their participation and enthusiasm.  Excellent ideas were raised for discussion, and we must work together to explore them."
WASHINGTON UPDATE

U.S.-Cyprus Bilateral Dialogue Held Last Week
According to a Department of State media note, on October 7, the United States and the Republic of Cyprus held a bilateral economic dialogue.

Following a breakfast meeting hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with American companies interested in Cyprus and the region, officials held discussions on a range of economic topics, including economic and public administration reform, attracting investment, educational exchanges, energy security, and commercial diplomacy.
Hellenic Caucus Membership at 130. Help It Grow.













ACTION ITEM: Help Us Grow the Hellenic Caucus!
AHEPA asks that you help us to grow the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues.  The Hellenic Caucus has been an active, bipartisan group in Congress since its founding in 1995.  It is co-chaired by U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY).
  
Membership in the Hellenic Caucus stands at 130.
REBUILD SAINT NICHOLAS SHRINE CAMPAIGN


 
THANK YOU!

Ahepans recently toured the Saint Nicholas construction site (l-r): National Sons Advisor Jimmy Kokotas, Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Supreme Vice President Andy Zachariades, and Chairman of the Board Nicholas Karacostas, PSP.

AHEPA is gearing up to meet its Saint Nicholas Capital Campaign fund raising goal. The administrative year has just started and we are already beginning to see donations being presented for AHEPA's #RebuildStNicholas capital campaign.

We are excited about a few upcoming donation announcements that will be made during the next four to six weeks! We cannot wait to share them with you!

Our #RebuildStNicholas campaign webpage has been updated to reflect the many generous donations we received over the summer.
 
TAKE ACTION

Has your district or chapter organized a fundraiser for the campaign to #RebuildStNicholas?  Take action and support AHEPA's campaign today!  Please tweet about your fundraising activity by using #RebuildStNicholas to share your work with the broader community!
 


PROJECT UPDATE

Thanks to a live webcam, you can watch progress being made with a first-hand look at the site where Saint Nicholas National Shrine will be build.

The Ahepan

NEW! Want a sneak peek of the fall issue of The Ahepan before it hits mailboxes? Recap the Supreme Convention and catch the latest on how AHEPA chapters give back to the community.

Click on the magazine icon to check it out!

Upcoming Events
 

October
16-17 - Supreme President to attend Archon event, New York City
18 - Supreme President to visit Chapter 72, District 5, Trenton, N.J.

November
6 - Northeast Regional Banquet, Boston, Mass.
9- Supreme President visit Houston Area Chapters
14 - Supreme President visits Atlanta for Leadership Conference in
       Region 1
14 - The 7th Annual Yankee District 7 Hellenic History Tournament,    
       Orange, Conn.

17-21 - TBA National AHEPA Golf Tournament, Reunion, Fla.

December
5 - Supreme President visit Evzone AHEPA Chapter Initiation/Installation, West Chester, N.Y.
12 - Supreme President visits St. Basil's Academy for Christmas Party
13 - Supreme President visits Archangel Michael event in Port Washington, N.Y.

January
6, 2016 - Epiphany Celebrations, Tarpon Springs, Fla.
Greek American  
News Digest

Draghi says reform implementation must come before debt restructuring  Ekathimerini (Oct. 11) -- The Greek government must focus on ownership of its bailout program and then seek debt relief, which is also necessary for the country, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi has told Sunday's Kathimerini. In an interview, Draghi said that "strong ownership" of the program, Greece's third since May 2010, and "determination" to implement it on the part of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his two-party coalition will be vital in the months ahead. Draghi said that implementing the structural reforms that Greece's lenders have asked for would lead the country's economy back to growth  Read more


EU migrant arrivals 170,000 in September, says Frontex  EKathimerini (Oct. 13) -- Some 170,000 irregular migrants entered the European Union in September, the bloc's border agency Frontex said on Tuesday, taking the total for the year so far to 710,000.  Read more


Tax hike on humble Greek drink threatens town's future
Ekathimerini (Oct. 7) -- At Statiris Tavern, the patrons' faces are hardened from a life of hard work - truck drivers, builders, and farmers who've just ended their grueling grape harvest. There's little talk of difficulties at work or the country's financial crisis. This is a place where friends wander in to share a joke, or snack on a plate of fries and octopus with a late afternoon glass of tsipouro, the potent local spirit.
A close relative of the Greek spirit ouzo, tsipouro has become increasingly popular during the recession as an affordable alternative to imported drinks, but is now facing a tax increase under European Union rules that could almost double its price.  Read more

Greek people are yearning for opportunity: George Logothetis Yahoo! Finance (Oct. 8) -- The 5th annual Concordia Summit in New York City took place Oct. 1-2. It brought together over 600 leaders from the public, private and non-profit sectors to examine some of the world's most pressing challenges, including mental health, youth unemployment and global food security. Guest speakers included thought-leaders in business and politics, including Vice President Joe Biden. George Logothetis, Chairman on the Leadership Council of Concordia and CEO of the Libra Group says, "Concordia acts as a convener to bring people together because ultimately, if you bring people together, ideas get exchanged and actions get taken." One action the Libra Group has taken is helping today's youth find meaningful employment.  Read more


Greece rolls out driverless bus pilot program. Is it a viable option?  Christian Science Monitor (Oct. 9) -- A town in Greece is being afforded a possible glimpse into the future: driverless buses.
The pilot program, using French-built CityMobil2 buses, is being tested in Trikala, a tiny town north of Athens.  Read more


Tiny houses for Raleigh's homeless: Greek firm offers winning design  The News & Observer (Oct. 10) -- With its Tiny Home Community Ideas Competition, members of AIA North Carolina's Activate14 committee reached out to the Raleigh/Wake Partnership to End and Prevent Homelessness. They then contacted designers around the world, asking them to design tiny houses for those who have no home at all. The winner of the Activate14 competition was a small firm composed of three 30-somethings from Athens, Greece. The winning entry by riza3architects is poised, graceful and well-proportioned.  Read more

Greek lesson to banking world  The Star Online (Oct. 10) -- 
SISYPHUS, the king of Ephyra (now Corinth), was condemned by the Greek gods to push a boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll down again and again, experiencing an eternity of futility and endless effort.
Mimicking the Greek gods, European leaders seem to want to condemn Greece to the same fate, with their never-ending negotiations, bureaucratic wrangling and half measures to address that country's longstanding debt crisis. Read more




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This is an electronic news service of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association.
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