Santa Barbara AHEPA Chapter 243

Brothers & Sisters


Issari. A mountain village like probably a thousand in Greece. A village that not many would have noticed, but for the devastating fires in Greece that almost took this village off the map. At the last moment, it was spared and the flames that had Isari surrounded stopped. A few more feet and we would be talking about a village in ashes and loss of lives.


The Miracle at Issari. We don't know if it was divine intervention or just a change of wind direction. But the people ofIsari who were huddled in the Church know. Now there is a new Icon of St. Phanouris in the Church. It was on hisnameday that the fires stopped their insatiable appetite that consumed all the forrest of evergreen and olive trees that beautified the region. Today, even looking at the scorched earth, Isari is a beautiful mountain village. I can imagine how it must have looked before the fire. Although the village was spared, the water pump supplying water to the village was destroyed. Not a good thing.


Being summer, there were many visitors in Greece. Many came back with vivid descriptions of what they witnessed. "A national disaster." How to help? The Daughters of Penelope, under Karen Stamatiatis, started a Fund Drive to assist in this relief effort.


The AHEPA Chapter of Washington, DC, has members with roots to Isari including some benefactors that have done great thing in Isari. Due to the urgency of the need for the water pump repair for Isari, the Washington AHEPAChapter approached the DOP and asked them to consider this project in Isari. The DOP agreed and the AHEPAChapter who also participated with the Daughters, got them connected with the right people, cutting through the red tape and repaired the water pump.


Probably he most prominent is Professor Ted Perros. Some of you may remember the Professor from the Supreme Convention Committees he participated. An intellectual, determined and a great guy (I cleaned it up). He worked on Legislation & Constitutional stuff and Publications. They have his family tree in the Museum in Isa ri and point to it with pride. With surprise I stated, "I know him."


Isari is near Megalopolis. To find Isari, the young cab driver turned on his Greek GPS. The GPS indicated straight ahead. We went through villages with no people to ask directions. When we ran out of paved road we decided to go back and try another road. The GPS still said "straight ahead." Eventually we got on the right road we had our doubts. And of course we stayed longer at Isari than we had anticipated. The "Home Base" would call the cab driver to get the status and the driver would say, "We are on the road." I don't know how he explained it when he got back. But it was a family business so I am sure it is OK.


So they repaired the water pump, clea ned the Church which had soot, smoke and heat damage. They eventually received additional financial assistance and the village really looks good and ready for the summer visitors.


This is one story. There are many such stories in the remote villages that are=2 0not so lucky. Get your Chapter or District involved. Ask. Find that village that needs help as a result of the fires. You won't regret it.


Kostas Gus Hazifotis
Citizen-AHEPAN

Hellenism
Hellenism is a term used to describe the spread of Greek culture. Most typically, it is used to describe the spread of Hellenistic civilization during the Hellenistic period, following the conquest of the east by Alexander the Great of Macedonia who spread Greek language.

Hellenism often refers to the social, political, economic, and cultural/religious influences on Europe and the Near East beginning with the final decades of the fourth century BC. The dominant feature of this era was the culture of Classical Greece, with its architectural forms, philosophy, art, drama, literature, paintings, and the social and cultural milieu of the peoples to the east conquered by Alexander the Great.

Hellenism was the cultural and philosophical perspective which spread from Greece through most of the ancient world from the year 333 BC (the time of Alexander the Great) through 63 BC (when Rome came to dominate).

Because of this, many important elements of Greek culture - names, language, architecture, art, philosophy, etc. - influenced politics and culture throughout the Mediterranean region. Even Rome continued to spread aspects of Hellenism because Rome itself was so heavily influenced by Greece of that time.

A small anarchist group has claimed responsibility for 17 firebombings carried out in Greece last week and has threatened further attacks.

All but one of the attacks with makeshift bombs were carried out in Athens on Wednesday and Thursday, and they targeted people such as a top anti-terrorism prosecutor, a prominent politician and a judge.

No injuries or serious damage resulted, but the firebombings were carried out during the day, making them very unusual for arsonists' attacks in Greece.

"Our attacks are not symbolic, they are acts of war. ... We will be back soon," Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei, a self-described "urban guerrilla" group, said in a statement published on a leftist website on Saturday.

It said it dedicated its attacks to "authentic revolutionary" Dimitris Koufodinas, a prominent member of the terrorist organisation November 17, who was arrested in 2002 and is serving multiple life sentences.

The little-known Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei group only surfaced last year, and police have said they know little about it but take its threats of sustained urban guerrilla action seriously.

"This is a new development," Deputy Interior Minister Christos Markoyiannakis told Greek media on Sunday, referring to the claim of responsibility. "We must be vigilant."

The emissaries of the US president Barack Obama arrived in Nicosia yesterday to meet the Cyprian leaders, in order to discuss the possibilities for progressing towards uniting the island. The delegation is leaded by the senator from Illinois Richard Darbin, who is accompanies by the finance minister of the State Alexis Yanoulis, American with Greek origin, whose close friendship with Obama is frequently stressed by the Greek media.

The messengers of Barack Obama will talk in Nicosia with the Cyprian president Dimistris Hristofias, in Athens with the Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis and with the Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyanni. Senator Darbin will also go to Turkey, accompanied with the chairman of the Congressional Study Group on Turkey and congressman of Florida Richard Wexler. In Ankara, they will be greeted by the President Abdilah Gul, and in Istanbul by the ecumenical patriarch Vartolomey.

The tour of Barack Obama’s emissaries is expected with great interest because during his presidential campaign he expresses some definitive opinions about the political situation in Southeast Europe. The Greek politicians

Ahepa Chapter243 general information
ORDER OF AHEPA SANTA BARBARA CHAPTER #243
Established October 17, 1929
“Promoting the Harmony of Greek Culture, Service, and Community”
“Keeping the Spirit Alive”
http://www.ahepa20.org/~ chapter243/
Or www.ahepa20.org/chapters (easier for some)
** E-mail: ahepa243@gmail.com **
*If each brings in one new member-that will be fine in 2009*
General mailing address: Ahepa Chapter #243, c/o Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 1205 San Antonio Creek Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93111.
(805) 683-4492, Fax (805) 964-2774 http://www.saintbarbara.net/ (please note our e-mail address above).
2008-2009 officers: Pres. James Arger, Vice. Pres. George Papazacharioudakis, Treasurers- Steve & Chris Compogiannis, Sec'y & immediatePast President James Brown, Past District Governor Costandino Frangos.
Meetings held on the third Monday of the month (12) @ Harry's Plaza Cafe' in the Lorretto Plaza at the corner of State St. and Las Positas Rd,
6:30-6:45 start time. We have a wide range of vision and activity. We welcome your visitation.

ORDER OF AHEPA
SANTA BARBARA CHAPTER #243
Established October 17, 1929
“Promoting the Harmony of Greek Culture, Service, and Community”
“Keeping the Spirit Alive”
http://Ahepa20.org/~chapter243/
www.ahepa20.org/chapters (easier for some)
**E-mail: ahepa243@gmail.com **
“Let’s get our projects in line in 2009”



January is the first month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. The first day of the month is known as New Year's Day. It is, on average, the coldest month of the year within most of the Northern Hemisphere and the warmest month of the year within most of the Southern Hemisphere…. Beginning in the sixteenth century, European countries began officially making January 1 the start of the New Year once again — sometimes called Circumcision Style because this was the date of the Feast of the Circumcision, being the eighth day from December 25. Historical names for January include its original Roman designation, Ianuarius, the Saxon term Wulf-monath (meaning wolf month) and Charlemagne's designation Wintarmanoth (winter / cold month). In Finnish, the month is called tammikuu, meaning month of the oak, but the original meaning was the month of the heart of winter, as tammi has initially meant axis or core. This month in Czech is called leden, meaning ice month.

From “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”-Most people are scripted in the Scarcity Mentality. They see life as only having so much…A character trait that is essential is the Abundance Mentality---the paradigm that there is plenty out there for everybody.

Ponder on this-The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife’s infidelity came as a shock, like the surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM machine.

HAVE YOU VISITED OUR WEB SITE RECENTLY?

Reminder-Have you paid your 2009 Ahepa dues? If not please see Chris or Steve Compogiannis at our next chapter meeting or mail your dues to Steve Compogiannis 5290 Overpass Rd. #124 Santa Barbara, CA 93111-2049 (967-6311)






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The following minutes were recorded by our hard-working Vice-President George Papazacharioudakis who covered for me. I was detained at work. I appreciate it.


Attendance: Steve Poulos, Steve and Chris Compogiannis, Paul and Archie Tziouvaras, Brian Iorio, Costas Gastouniotis, George Alexiadis, Alex Haimanis, Costas Frangos, and Jim Arger.

Opening prayer was lead by Bill Poulis.

Happy Dollars: George Alexiadis was very impressed of the Constantinople Society event he attended in LA, on Jan 17. Everyone shared Christmas happy times with family and friends.

Nov 17 Minutes: We had no business meeting in December. The Nov minutes were approved by Alex Haimanis and seconded by Bill Poulis.

Treasury report: Compogiannis brothers reported $375 in the Happy Dollars account, $9713.13 in savings and $2685.94 in checking. The account balance is the healthiest ever and much discussion was around what are our plans for using these assets. George Alexiadis was assigned to make recommendation to the chapter on ideas how to spend our assets consentient with our Chapter’s Mission and values.

Correspondence: None reported.

Nov 1 Glendi: Steve Compogiannis provided a preliminary expense summary. The event was well attended and made around $2K profit. As usual, everyone had a great time; the food was great, fun dancing and great band. Everyone’s help and efforts are greatly appreciated.

Dec 1 AHEPA/DOP dinner: Dinner with the DOP was held at the church. The event had low attendance on both ends, possibly due to lack of atmosphere. Stan Nicolaidis made a great meal and $20/person was a great dollar value.

A church request to pay $312 for Christmas tree was declined by both the executive committee off site meeting and by motion at the meeting. The declination was based that we had made no previous commitment for this expense.






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Greek Independence: March 29 after church, was set for our Greek Independence Day celebration. George Papazacharioudakis was appointed as the event chairman. Bill Poulis proposed plans for a fish luncheon menu. $ 300 was allocated to cover expenses for the luncheon. Costa Frangos will check with the Greek Film Festival Organization to be our
main speakers or show a film. There will be an $8 charge for adults and $5 for children, Proceeds will be donated to Alex Haimanis for the Africa Mission programs.

New Social Events: Much discussion took place for another Glendi like event. Valentine’s Day is too close and competes with Jan and Feb events already in place. Brian Iorio was appointed to recommend ideas for such event at the next meeting.

Closing Prayer: By Bill Poulis, 8:05 PM.

Meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM.

February Birthdays-Jim Chachackos (2/18), Chris Compogiannis (2/24), John Laury (2/15), Aheleas Tziouvaras ((2/12).
March Birthdays-Mathu P. Chrestenson (3/24), Steve T. Poulos (3/22).

Our next meeting is February 16, 2009 (another 3-day weekend) at Harry’s Plaza Café’


Respectfully Submitted,
George Papazacharioudakis (Vice President)
James Brown (Secretary)
(The Dynamic Duo)

For Immediate Release
Friday, February 6, 2009
Contact: AHEPA Headquarters
Phone: (202) 232-6300
Email: ahepa@ahepa.org



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