25 Mar 1999
Dear brothers:
I hope this update finds everyone in good health and
doing well. Instead of giving you a membership update I would like to give
you an update on Ahepa's recent activity concerning Hellenic Issues. The
Cyprus and Hellenic Affairs Committee has been working very hard this year
to reestablish many of our worthwhile Hellenic Affairs projects some of which
include: Congressional Report Card, Grass Root Networking and finally
raising a substantial amount of money to help fund these projects. I encourage
all of you to help in these endeavors.
In this update I will bring to everyone's attention
some of the recent activity here in Washington, DC. A few weeks ago our executive
director Tim Maniatis and I were invited with other leaders to attend a briefing
by the United States Ambassador to Greece Nicholas Burns. A variety of topics
were discussed, the Ahepa was recognized for its Plant Your Roots in Greece
Program.
On March 9th the Ahepa hosted a dinner in honor of
Kostas Karamanlis President of the New Democracy Party of Greece. In attendance
were Ambassador of Greece to the United States Alexander Philon, Ambassador
of Cyprus to the United States, Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis and representatives
from the US Department of State. The leaders of the American Hellenic Institute
as well as the Western Policy Center were also in attendance.
On March 12 our Supreme President Lee Rallis, Executive
Director and I had a meeting at the State Department with Mr. James Gadsen
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs. We were updated
on the current situation in the Aegean immediately after the Ocalan
affair.
In addition to these meetings, our Executive Director
and I attended a reception at the Greek Embassy in honor of Mr. Kostas
Karamanlis. This past Wednesday, March 24 we attended a dinner at the Greek
Embassy in honor of Grigoris Niotis Deputy Foreign Minister of
Greece.
This morning I had the honor of representing our Supreme
President at the White House for a proclamation as well as a short meeting
with the President of the United States Bill Clinton. Members of the delegation
included: His Eminence Archbishop Spyridon, Deputy Foreign Minister Grigoris
Niotis as well as Ambassador Philon. Other Greek American leaders in attendance
included: John Brademas, Andrew A. Athens, John Catsimatidis and Andrew Manatos.
Besides myself the Ahepa Family was also represented by Cathy Ferguson
DOP Grand President, Dino Kostaridis SOP Supreme President and Laura Kartasis
MOA Grand President. Immediately following the White House visit we all attended
a reception hosted by Ambassador Philon in honor of Greek Independence
Day.
All the government officials as well as the clergy
and leaders of other Greek American organizations have stressed the importance
of the Order of Ahepa. We are the only Greek American(Canadian) organization
with a true grass roots network. I could continue with some of the remarks
but already this message is extremely long. Please check our webpage for
recently released and posted press releases. Andrew Kaffes has been hired
to help us with some of press releases, etc. Thank you for taking the time
to read this update, please contact me with any questions.
George Dariotis
AHEPA SVP (1998-1999)
The
Odyssey Charter School![[Under Construction]](images/undercon.gif)
AHEPA Hellenic
Affairs Update