AHEPA e-News! | Vol. 12 Issue 1

AHEPA e-News! - Vol. 12 Issue 1 - Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Sad News | AHEPA Mourns Passing of PSP Gus J. James

AHEPA mourns the passing of Past Supreme President Gus J. James, II, Virginia Beach, Va. Brother James, a Life Member of AHEPA Chapter 122, Norfolk, Va., with 54 years of service, passed away January 1, 2018. He was 79. Brother James served two terms as Supreme President (2005-2007). He also served in other national offices, including Supreme Counselor and as member of the Board of Trustees. In 2015, Brother James was presented with the AHEPA Lifetime Achievement Award at the 41st Biennial Congressional Banquet.

James was born in the Cypriot village of Koma Yialou and left Cyprus with his two sisters at the age of seven. An attorney, James retired from Kaufman & Canoles, the largest law firm in southeastern Virginia, after serving as the firm's Chairman of the Board, President, and Managing Partner.

"Brother James will be remembered as a strong, brilliant, and inspirational leader, who left a legacy at each level of office in which he served the Order," Supreme President Carl R. Hollister said. "An outstanding Ahepan, and stalwart of the southeastern Virginia community, Brother James served on the boards of several public and private institutions and was a tremendous advocate for Hellenic ideals and Orthodoxy. He truly will be missed. Our deepest sympathies and condolences are with his wife, Helen, and his family. May his memory be eternal."

AHEPA Happenings | Over the Holidays...

A HEPA Chapter 78 's "Santa's Helpers" distributed gifts at the Salvation Army in Gary, Ind., for the Angel Tree Program. For nine years the chapter has supported the Angel Tree Program, donating more than $18,000 for Christmas gifts for approximately 450 children. The chapter also hosted a Christmas Party for residents of its affordable housing for low-income and disabled elderly property.

The Brothers of Mother Lodge Chapter 1, Atlanta, with help from Atlanta's Sons of Pericles chapter, cooked for 650 young people in town for the Winter Youth Rally. Six meals were prepared and served to help make the event fun and affordable for the participants. Also for the holidays, Chapter 1 helped Junior ROTC cadets in their efforts to collect money for the Empty Stocking Fund.

Program Announcement | 2018 National Scholarship Application Available

The AHEPA National Educational Foundation announced its 2018 scholarship application is available. The deadline to apply for an AHEPA National Educational Foundation scholarship is March 31, 2018. Become one of many students who received a national AHEPA scholarship since the foundation's inception. Apply Today!

New Media Share | Be Part of the Legacy

Our latest media share, "Be Part of the Legacy" is out! Check it out and share it with friends, family, and potential new members!

Have You Listened to AHEPA Radio?

Don't forget to check out our podcast, AHEPA Radio. Get caught-up on AHEPA service programs! Do wnload AHEPA Radio podcasts from our iTunes or Podbean (Android) audio vaults. Share our short video clip.

And don't forget to follow AHEPA on social media:

Upcoming Events & Deadlines

January

5 | AHEPA Epiphany Dinner, Tarpon Springs, Fla.

12 - 21 | 3rd Leadership Mission to Greece, Cyprus, Israel

27 | AHEPA Regional Banquet, Dallas, Texas

February

5 | Spring 2018 Deadline for The Ahepan magazine

March

3 | AHEPA Regional Banquet, Columbus, Ohio

31 | AHEPA National Educational Foundation Scholarship Deadline

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In Our Own Words. What AHEPA means to us.

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Greek American News Digest

Editor's Note :

Editorials, Commentaries, and Opinion pieces are shared for information purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the Order of AHEPA, its affiliated organizations, and members.

Greeks Lean Heavily on Grandparents' Pensions

The Wall Street Journal (Jan. 2)

Two years ago, Lumbi Nychas, 33, moved back into his childhood bedroom after sales at his jewelry store shrank drastically. A few months later his sister followed, along with her husband and daughter. Today they all depend largely on the state pension of the siblings' retired 67-year-old father. Mr. Nychas and his sister use his bedroom as their workshop and sell their handmade jewelry online. "What I miss most is my serenity, the opportunity to just be alone and relax," said Mr. Nychas, who would like to earn enough. read more

Trilateral summit between Cyprus, Greece and Israel postponed

Ekathimerini (Jan. 2)

The trilateral summit between between Cyprus, Greece and Israel that was scheduled for January 8 was postponed on Tuesday. read more

Greece on Turkey asylum row: democracies cannot threaten or be threatened

Reuters (Dec. 31)

Greece dismissed Turkish anger on Sunday over its decision to grant asylum to a soldier who Ankara accuses of involvement in the abortive coup against President Tayyip Erdogan in July 2016. read more

Research ship harassed by Turkish coast guard

Ekathimerini (Dec. 29)

The Meteor, a research ship conducting research on behalf of the University of Heidelberg in Germany in the sea between Samothrace and Limnos in the eastern Aegean, was harassed on Friday by Turkish coast guard officers who warned the captain to leave, saying the vessel was in Turkish waters. The Meteor had in fact been granted all the necessary permits from the Greek Foreign and Defense ministries, according to Greek military officials who referred to the standard Turkish tactics of questioning Greek sovereign rights in the Aegean. read more

Acropolis Museum digital project gets go-ahead
Ekathimerini (Dec. 27)

Plans for a new digital development project for the capital's Acropolis Museum received the green light from the Attica Regional Authority on Wednesday and will be funded via the European Union's 2014-20 Partnership Agreement for the Development Framework, known in Greece as ESPA. The 1.7-million-euro project foresees the development of digital media that will allow visitors to design a virtual tour of the museum's collections, a library of its collection of 10,000 exhibits and a section for children with fun educational games, among much more. read more

Greek-American Olive Oil Importer Jimmy Pappas Talks to TNH

The National Herald (Dec. 30)

Greek immigrant businessman Jimmy Pappas used to give away extra virgin olive oil from the olive trees in his hometown of Metamorfosi, Laconia as a gift to his friends and colleagues, noting the health benefits and healing properties of the olive oil. He decided recently to produce his own brand of extra virgin olive oil and import it for the U.S. market, calling it My Greek Orchard. The local newspaper in Tupelo, the Daily Journal wrote about Mr. Pappas in an article entitled, My Greek Orchard: Longtime Tupelo Businessman Jimmy Pappas Begins Importing Olive Oil. read more

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

For more information visit AHEPA's official website, www.ahepa.org .

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