AHEPA Condemns Terrorist Attacks in Brussels, Belgium
Supreme President John W. Galanis issued the following statement on the terrorist attacks that occurred March 22, 2016, in Brussels, Belgium:
“The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association condemns the terrorist attacks that took place in Brussels, Belgium. Our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies are with the families of the victims and all those who have been affected by this deplorable and heinous act of terror. The American Hellenic community stands with the people of Belgium during this most difficult time.”
State Proclamations for Greek Independence Day Secured
AHEPA continues its tradition of working to secure State proclamations that commemorate the anniversary of Greek Independence. This year,
 proclamations have been issued to mark the 195th Anniversary of Greek Independence from the following states: Indiana, Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Missouri, Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio. More states are expected to issue proclamations in the coming days. In addition, many cities and local municipalities have issued, or will issue, proclamations.
AHEPA congratulates the efforts of its districts and chapters to ensure Greek Independence Day is recognized. A special “tip of Fez” in appreciation to Past Supreme Governor Nick Kavadas for spearheading this year’s effort.
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Tarpon Springs Mayor Chris Alahouzos. (Photo via The Pappas Post)
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Ahepan is First Greek-born Mayor of Tarpon Springs, Fla.
AHEPA congratulates Chrysostomos “Chris” Alahouzos, who became the first Greek-born mayor of Tarpon Springs, Fla., March 15, 2016. Alahouzos is a six-year member of AHEPA George Washington Chapter 16, Tarpon Springs. Brother Alahouzos won with 58 percent of the vote.
“AHEPA strives to recognize the importance of public service and commend all those who choose to pursue it because it is a noble profession,” Supreme President John Galanis said. “We congratulate Brother Alahouzos on his well-deserved and historic victory, and we wish him all the best.”
Deadline Extended | AHEPA Journey to Greece Program
AHEPA and Webster University are teaming-up once again to offer college students the opportunity to study abroad in Athens, Greece this summer and earn college credit through the AHEPA Journey to Greece program. Journey to Greece, a program which has been a fixture in the community for decades, will be held June 23 to July 23, 2016. The deadline to apply for the 2016 session has been extended to April 30. Call for Applications: 2016 AHEPAcademy Session
High School Juniors: Join a select group of Greek American students from across the country for AHEPAcademy, from June 26 – July 2, 2016 at  George Mason University, outside Washington, DC. AHEPAcademy is a leadership and professional development program that identifies, educates, inspires, mentors, advances, and networks exceptional Greek-American high school students as they progress through their high school, college, graduate and professional careers. AHEPAcademy is looking for exceptional Greek American high school juniors during the 2015-2016 school year with top grades (minimum 3.5/4.0 GPA or equivalent, or Top 10% of Class), who exemplify scholarship, leadership, character, participation in extracurricular activities, community service, and involvement in the Greek American community to apply for selection to this summer’s AHEPAcademy on Campus program.
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WASHINGTON UPDATE
AHEPA Welcomes Rep. MacArthur to the Hellenic Caucus
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Rep. MacArthur
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AHEPA welcomes news that U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-NJ) has joined the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, announced Supreme President John W. Galanis. Congressman MacArthur, who is in his first term, represents New Jersey’s Third Congressional District, which includes Burlington and Ocean Counties.
Membership in the Hellenic Caucus now stands at 135.
“We sincerely thank Congressman MacArthur for joining the Caucus,” Galanis said. “We look forward to working with him, and his staff, on issues of importance to the American Hellenic community.”
Supreme Vice President Andrew Zachariades, who met with Congressman MacArthur’s staff on Jan. 13, is a constituent.
Rep. MacArthur and his wife, Debbie, created the St. Peter’s Sandy Relief Fund and administer a family foundation that provides disaster relief, assists wounded warriors, and supports AIDS work in Africa.
Hellenic Caucus Membership at 135. Help It Grow.
 
ACTION ITEM | Help Us Grow the Hellenic Caucus!
Congress has returned to Washington to commence the Second Session of the 114th Congress. AHEPA asks that you help us to grow the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues to newer heights. 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 135.
Save the Date! | 2016 AHEPA Family Capitol Hill Day
Wednesday, May 25
Capitol Hill Day Kick-off Reception
8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Cannon House Office Building – Room 340
Meetings with Your Legislators
and their Staffs Will Follow
Educate Your Legislators about
Help Build the Hellenic Caucus
Walk the Halls of Congress with Fellow Advocates from
Make Plans to Attend Today!
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REBUILD SAINT NICHOLAS SHRINE CAMPAIGN
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Ahepans tour the Saint Nicholas construction site.
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AHEPA is determined to meet its Saint Nicholas Capital Campaign fund raising goal. The administrative year is well underway and donations–large and small–are pouring in for AHEPA’s #RebuildStNicholas capital campaign.
Our #RebuildStNicholas campaig n webpage has been updated to reflect the many generous donations we received over the summer.
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.
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The Ahepan
The winter issue of The Ahepan is out! Share it with family and friends by forwarding this electronic version.
Read about how AHEPA honored excellence in the Boston community and maintained its commitment to education through its National Educational Foundation. Also, check out the latest on how AHEPA chapters give back to the community.
Click on the magazine icon to read it today!
Summer 2016 Deadline: May 6, 2016
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Upcoming Events
April
May
25 | Capitol Hill Day
July
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Greek American News Digest
EU, Turkey seal deal to return migrants, but is it legal? Or doable? Reuters (Mar. 20) The European Union sealed a controversial deal with Turkey on Friday intended to halt illegal migration flows to Europe in return for financial and political rewards for Ankara. The accord aims to close the main route by which a million migrants and refugees poured across the Aegean Sea to Greece in the last year before marching north to Germany and Sweden. But deep doubts remain about whether it is legal or workable, a point acknowledged even by German Chancellor Angela Merkel who has been the key driving force behind the agreement. read more
Anastasiades ‘fully satisfied’ Cyprus Mail (Mar. 18) President Nicos Anastasiades expressed his “full satisfaction” with the outcome of the “very crucial” EU-Turkey summit on the migrant crisis on Friday. Anastasiades had made it clear on several occasions during the two-day summit that he was ready to use Cyprus’ veto if Turkey pushed for the opening of any of the five chapters frozen by Cyprus until Ankara allows Cypriot traffic to its sea and airports – a result of a refusal to recognise the Republic. read more
Migrant crisis: Turkish monitors on Greek islands for EU deal BBC News (Mar. 21) Turkish observers have arrived on the Greek islands of Lesbos and Chios to oversee an EU deal on sending migrants back to Turkey. Some 50,000 migrants are now in Greece and more arrivals have been reported. The agreement between the EU and Turkey is aimed at halting the influx of more than a million “irregular migrants” through Greece since January last year. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has said Greece faces an “uphill effort” in implementing the deal. Boats are continuing to arrive from Turkey. More than 1,600 new migrants have reached the islands in the 36 hours since the measures came into effect on Sunday, officials say. “If there is no reduction in the flow [of refugees], we will not be able to evacuate the islands successfully so the deal can start to be fully implemented,” Mr. Tsipras warned. read more
Athens mayor signs anti-semitism declaration Ekathimerini(Mar. 19) Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis on Saturday signed up to a campaign launched by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) to fight anti-semitism. Kaminis, who met with a 15-member delegation of the AJC, signed the declaration of Mayors United Against Anti-Semitism and stressed the commitment of the city’s authorities to combat racism and xenophobia. read more
Roupakias released from custody Ekathimerini (Mar. 18) Giorgos Roupakias, charged with the murder of leftist rapper Pavlos Fyssas in September 2013, has been released from custody after completing the maximum of 18 months in pretrial detention. The release Friday of Roupakias, a self-confessed member of Greece’s neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party, came after a ruling by a council of appeals court judges last month. Supreme Court president Vassiliki Thanou recently criticized the Athens Bar Association (DSA) and the Justice Ministry for failing to take action to ensure the trial of Roupakias and other Golden Dawn members was completed before their pretrial detention ended. read more
Jolie promises to come back to Lesvos Ekathimerini (Mar. 17) Actress and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie has reportedly pledged to return to Lesvos after visiting the eastern Aegean island on Thursday as part of a trip to see the impact of the refugee crisis. Jolie traveled to Lesvos after visiting the refugee center at Piraeus port on Wednesday, when she also met with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. read more
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