We did it! We put together a magnificent float for the Tournament of Roses® Parade, and it was a prize winner. We won the Queen’s Trophy for the best use of roses. This is indeed an honor, to win a trophy in our first year of competition. We need to thank our co-chairmen, Nick Perdaris and Chris Mellas for an outstanding job. Both devoted countless hours to the project. They gave time which most of us would not have even thought about, let alone actually worked. Devotion to a cause is seldom demonstrated any better. We owe them considerable gratitude. Thank you!

The leadership which you saw would have been in vain, had it not been for the grass roots effort by YOU, the members of the Ahepa Family. You stepped up to the plate when it counted and supported a program we all believed in. Your financial support was exemplary. The Ahepa Family of the 20^th District did itself proud funding the float. The other facet of your outstanding support was the physical labor required to actually decorate a complex and intricate float such as ours. You did a phenomenal job! Thanks!

I will not use much space here on last year’s float; it was excellently covered in the Winter Issue of the ‘AHEPAN’. Please take the time to read the article. Learn about the float, and how it became a reality. During January and February of this year, the Float Committee in conjunction with the Ahepa Supreme Lodge and the Ahepa Board of Directors reached a decision to enter the Tournament of Roses Parade for a second year. We will be there on January 1, 2000! Your support, financially and physically are again required if we are to make the world sit up and take notice of the Greek-American Community, led by the Ahepa Family.

As I mentioned in this year’s first edition of the El Camino, increased membership is a primary goal of our Supreme Lodge. Many chapters have taken it to heart in the 20^th. Congratulations! Some of you have not yet responded. Please do so-it is important for the Order of Ahepa. We must show the politicians in this country that we indeed represent a large number of voters. The political reality is that the numbers alone control what will get their attention. If they think that we can control their political future, they will listen to our concerns. In this issue are listed the new and reinstated members I am aware of. Let’s continue to make that list grow. We have a great start on this important program!

The District Convention of the 20^th District is just around the corner. Hesperia # 152 and Alkandre # 43 are the host chapters. The convention site will be the Radisson Wilshire Plaza Hotel. It is located on the corner of Normandy and Wilshire. The host chapters are doing an outstanding job to prepare for you. In response, they need your help in two areas: they need you to register early so they can adequately plan for the events and they need you to financially support their Convention Album. You will find information throughout this issue concerning the District Convention.

The remaining event which has taken a portion of my time this year is the Supreme Convention which will take place in San Diego over the 4^th of July weekend. It is so seldom that we get to host a national convention that we must rise to the task and show the rest of the world that the west coast is really the best place to host a national convention. This will truly be an international convention because we will have a large contingent from Australia and Canada as well as rumored representatives from Greece. The host chapters from the greater San Diego area are planning an outstanding weekend for your enjoyment and for the well-being of the Orders. One of the highlights will be the presentation of the ‘Queen’s Trophy’ by the President of the Tournament of Roses, at the Grand Banquet. This year you have the opportunity to participate in the National Convention experience at a minimal travel cost. Many of you who are not delegates from your chapters can still enjoy the camaraderie and the social events of the Convention. Make your reservations early. The beautiful Marriott, the Convention center, is rapidly running out of rooms. Now is the time for you and your chapter to place your ads in the Convention Album that will be going to press soon. Again, you will find Supreme Convention information throughout this issue.

Fraternally,

Lyle Hochberger
District Governor