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AHEPA INTERNATIONAL VISIT TO SYDNEY 13 - 20 April 2003 AHEPA International met in Sydney from Sunday 13 April to 20 April 2003. The International. Chairman Ptolemeos Kotzambakis from Tucson Arizona USA. Lee Rallis Chairman, Board of Directors Ahepa USA.E.John Rumpakis Committee member, USA, together with the Australian members Helen Katsaros SP. Chairman Aust., T.Vanos SC., Christine Lynch SS. Z. Vachlas PSP member visited the Discobolus. The site has been enhanced with more marble fragments and three new commerative panels containing all the names that are on the discus. The first crop of olives was picked.
N E W S R E L E A S E FOCUSES ON RETURN OF
PARTHENON MARBLES, Washington - Entering its second year, AHEPA International, a cooperative committee comprised of leaders from AHEPA, representing the United States, Canada, and Greece, and AHEPA Australasia, representing Australia and New Zealand, met November 11 - 18, 2000, in Sydney, Australia, to implement common worldwide goals and objectives benefiting Hellenism, announced Supreme President Johnny N. Economy. According to Economy, the committee will primarily focus its unified global efforts toward the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece and toward the organization of volunteers to assist with the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Other initiatives, including a true AHEPA International Convention in Athens and possible expansion into South America, South Africa, and Great Britain are planned for the future, added the supreme president. "I am pleased with the progress made by AHEPA International in this the first meeting since its inaugural meeting last year," said Economy. "The committee has identified two immediate areas of importance that require our help as a global community of Hellenes." Past Supreme President Steve A. Manta, Chairman, AHEPA International, was present in Sydney. According to Manta, AHEPA Australasia Past Supreme President and committee member Emanuel J. Comino presented a substantive report on the status of the return of the Parthenon Marbles, including three conditions suggested by the Greek Government. Comino stated these conditions were: * a purpose-built museum to house the Parthenon Marbles, * for Greece to bear all costs for the transportation of the Marbles to Greece and a full set of replicas for the British Museum to retain, and * for Greece to make no further claims to any museum in the United Kingdom. "The AHEPA family will work to return the Parthenon Marbles before the 2004 Olympic Games by continuing to educate our community about the issue, by heightening awareness within the U.S. Congress and the new Executive Branch, and by working with organizations whose purpose is to see that the Marbles be returned to Athens," said Manta. "Together, with AHEPA Australasia, we will make this a unified effort." AHEPA International endorsed the role of AHEPA for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and specifically its organization of volunteer Hellenes throughout the Diaspora to assist with the Games. "This is a wonderful opportunity for AHEPA to make a truly worthwhile contribution to the organizing of the 2004 Olympics," said AHEPA Australasia Past Supreme President and committee member Tasha Vanos. Supreme President Economy will be in Athens, Dec. 1 - 5, to further pursue the role of AHEPA in the Olympics Games with members of the Greek government and officials of the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee. According to Manta, AHEPA International expressed great enthusiasm for a true International AHEPA Convention in Athens whereby AHEPA and AHEPA Australasia would hold a joint convention. "This will further consolidate the strengthening of the ties between AHEPA and AHEPA Australasia which started five years ago with delegations attending each other's national conventions," said Manta. Convention business meetings would be held separately but social functions would be held jointly, added Manta. Also in attendance at the AHEPA International meeting were Daughters of Penelope Grand President Betty Benjou and AHEPA Australasia Supreme President George Genimahaliotis. AHEPA Australasia was founded August 15, 1934 in the small country town of Werris Creek, NSW. Currently, there are approximately 3,000 members in 28 chapters throughout Australia, New Zealand and Athens, Greece, which comprise AHEPA Australasia. AHEPA is the largest Greek-American association in the world with chapters in the United States, Canada, and Greece and sister chapters in Australia. It was established in 1922 by visionary Greek-Americans to protect Hellenes from prejudice originating from the KKK, and in its history, AHEPA has joined with the NAACP and B'nai B'rith to fight discrimination. The mission of the AHEPA family is to promote the ideals of Hellenism, education, philanthropy, civic responsibility and family and individual excellence. The AHEPA family consists of four organizations: AHEPA, Daughters of Penelope, Sons of Pericles and Maids of Athena. For more information about the AHEPA family, or how to join, please contact AHEPA Headquarters, 202/232-6300. For instant information visit www.ahepa.org Andrew G. Kaffes
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