According to Supreme President Ike Gulas, there will be two themes for this annual gathering, which is one of the largest of Hellenes and Philhellenes in North America. "We're excited to return to the West Coast for our Supreme Convention where we will reaffirm our commitment to community service in step with President Barack Obama’s ‘Year of Community Service’ initiative," said Gulas. "In addition, San Francisco is a poignant location for the Daughters of Penelope which was founded there 80 years ago.”

He added, “We believe we have a wonderful program for the entire family to enjoy, including a gala affair honoring a distinguished group of Hellenes."

Honorees attending the 87th AHEPA Grand Banquet on Friday, July 3, include: Her Excellency Dora Bakoyannis, foreign minister, Hellenic Republic, who will receive the AHEPA Pericles Award; Mr. George M. Marcus, chairman, The Marcus & Millichap Company, who will receive the AHEPA Archbishop Iakovos Humanitarian Award; and Mr. Basile Z Katsikis, comedian, who will receive the AHEPA Aristotle Award. Actor Michael Papajohn will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

The Grand Banquet program will also feature remarks from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos, and His Excellency Andreas Kakouris, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the U.S. Moreover, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, intends to be a part of the banquet program.

“We are thrilled and honored to have such distinguished leaders, representing all facets of society, participate at the convention,” said AHEPA Executive Director Basil Mossaidis.

In addition, the convention program will consist of: educational and policy symposia, athletic events, business sessions, and social affairs hosted by the San Francisco AHEPA Family.

The policy symposia will include a policy speech by Foreign Minister Bakoyannis to the entire community on Saturday morning, July 4. Supreme President Gulas will also follow-through with the concept of hosting a “Unity Forum” with leaders of other Hellenic organizations from across the country on Saturday afternoon.

“This will be the first of what we hope will be a series of similar events to address and examine issues pertaining to the role of American Hellenic organizations in society,” said Gulas. “We aspire to provide an open forum for this initial Unity Forum, discussing our mutual goals, challenges and concerns that we face as a community. What are our realistic expectations from the Obama Administration and Congress? What are our assets and liabilities as a community? How can we get more Hellenic Americans working in government or involved in advocacy? These are just some of the questions that we seek to answer. Our ultimate vision is for our community to speak with one voice when addressing these questions.”

In addition, the AHEPA Cyprus and Hellenic Affairs Committee will host a panel discussion with Ambassador Kakouris on Friday morning, July 3. Its purpose is to brief the community on developments pertaining to the Cyprus question, what current challenges are being faced, and what the future may hold for a solution.

The Daughters
of Penelope
Celebrate 80 Years

The Daughters of Penelope, an affiliate organization of AHEPA, will be celebrating its 80th anniversary in the city of its founding.

“We dedicate our 2009 Supreme Convention to our Founder, Alexandra Apostolides Sonenfeld and the founding of the Daughters of Penelope 80 years ago,” said Daughters of Penelope Grand President Barbara Stavis Wolf. “We will celebrate and pay tribute to Alexandra and those members who ventured forward to join together to form a women's organization that would work to ensure a more progressive role for women in their communities and that would give the Greek American woman the opportunity to make significant contributions to both her Hellenic and her American communities.”

One popular misconception is that the AHEPA Supreme Convention is open to members only. Not true according to Executive Director Mossaidis. "Everyone is welcome to attend the convention," he said. "One can register as a guest, or non-AHEPA family member; although a registration discount is offered to non-members who join."

The social functions are open to all willing to pay a small entrance fee. The educational and policy symposia are free as a public service to the community. “We’re looking forward to a productive week of events that will enlighten and entertain the community while the AHEPA Family goes about with its administrative business,” said Mossaidis.

The AHEPA Family will hold its elections for new officers, and make legislative amendments to its governing constitution and bylaws, as is customary at each annual Supreme Convention. For more information about the 87th AHEPA Supreme Convention, please visit www.ahepa.org/convention.