NEXT MEETING
WEDNESDAY
FEBRUARY 2, 2000
7:00 p.m. Meeting
ST. SPYRIDON GREEK
ORTHODOX CHURCH HALL

This is a combined meeting of all three hapters and District Officer visitation.

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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Xronia Polla!A healthy New Year is by far the best I can wish for everyone. I am pleased to say that D.A. George, our illustrious Editor, is progressing well in his recovery. As a result, this issue of Ta Nea will combine December and January. Perastika, D.A.!

The Christmas Party was a wonderfully warm and entertaining evening for all who attended. The UCSD Faculty Club, Premier Foods and chairman, George Pappas, deserve an A+ for their work and preparation. Congratulations to our own Dr. Ari and Kristy Laliotis for winning the party's raffle prizeYtwo reserved seats, including parking space, to watch the Tournament of Roses Parade and see the Hellenic Float! And what a float it was! Winning the Queen's Trophy for best use of roses for the 2nd year in a row!

Our chapter budgeted a $100 donation and raised an additional $267 on the Christmas raffle. Plus members have individually contributed as well. Several members also participated in Chapter #223's bus trip to Viejas casino; that raised several hundred dollars for the float! This year we had a super group of 16 folks - children and adults - travel to Pasadena to decorate the float. Everyone had a great time and hopefully will be able to do it again next year!

We still need to rally for the float. After the tremendous response to the Earthquake Relief Fund, this National AHEPA Project is having difficulty raising the necessary money for this year's float. The show, fortunately, went on this year. But there are no guarantees for next year or beyond, unless we have a system in place to fund this annually. Folks, the hard part is done already - and that was to get a spot in the parade. Getting money to enter a float each year should be significantly easier. If we drop out it will be significantly harder to get back in. We need to ensure this becomes an annual event and Hellenic tradition.

Earthquake Relief Fund - While our chapter has fulfilled its pledge obligation to the National, we still need to repay our coffers. If you have not found time to contribute yet, please do so now and send your donation to our local chapter #505. Foundation - At the last business meeting, we voted on and approved the current foundation By-law draft for distribution to our members. For those of you with e-mail access, you should have received an electronically transmitted copy to review; let us know if you have problems reading it. The rest of the members will receive a hardcopy in the regular mail. Please review these By-laws and provide comments to the committee. I also want to encourage anyone interested in working on the committee to contact me or the chairman, Charlie Kakos. The objective is to get feedback from members over the next two months and to discuss this formally at our March meeting. That is when we will officially vote on this document.

Programs - We started the new year with Fr. Theodore Phillips as our guest speaker. Many attended and enjoyed the tour of the church and explanation of the ichnography.

In February, the San Diego AHEPA Chapter #223 will host a joint chapter visitation meeting in St Spyridon's community hall. The program will include Ms. Mary Danakas, Director of Public Relation and Development of Project Mexico. Ms. Danakas' presentation will include speaking of St. Innocent Orphanage's interorthodox mission outreach organization that was founded in Southern California and operates under the blessing of S.C.O.B.A. (Standing Conference of Canonical Bishops in the Americas).

March 25th Celebration - Plans are underway for this year's Greek Independence Day celebration. Mike Merica, this year's chairman, has written an inspiring play that focuses on the key individuals that organized the Greek revolution. We need volunteers to help prepare. Please come to the next meeting to hear an update!

Scholarships - Here's a reminder that scholarship applications are now available from the National, District, and Chapter level. Just ask any chapter officer for copies to distribute.

The Mid-Winter Conference for District 20 will be held on Saturday, February 12th at the Radisson Hotel & Convention Center, 295 North "E" Street, in San Bernardino. The conference will run from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm and will be followed by a Valentine's Day Greek Glendi in the evening. Please call George Theios at (909) 890-2314 daytime or e-mail at gstlaw@jps.net for further details.

Happy New Year 2000!

Art Pathe

Best Wishes to the following Brothers who are celebrating birthdays:

Al Manos 1/1

Chris Pathe 1/7

Tom Foster 1/9

Mario Panos 1/13

Nick Yphantides 1/19

George Geanoulis 1/24

John Anas 1/28

Mike Manos 2/19

Happy Anniversary!!! to the following Brothers and their lovely brides who are celebrating wedding anniversaries:

Ted & Fani Kyriacou 1/6

Sam & Petroula Eulmi 1/8

Paul & Patricia Guzik 1/9

Jim & Helen Mellos 1/10

Del & Angel Delagrammaticas 1/22

Nick & Penny Alexander 2/1

Peter & Jennifer Stacy 2/2

George & Sandra Geanoulis 2/14

Mario & Toula Panos 2/18

Gary & Dimitra Kaprielian 2/24

Nick & Margarita Zambus 2/24

Marino & Annie Drakos 2/28

Meeting Agenda - The following is the meeting agenda for the next Social/General Chapter Meeting, being held at St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church Hall, Wednesday, February 2, 2000:

" Introduction of Distict Officers

" Sreaker Presentation

" District Officer Presentations

" Rose Bowl Float Announcements

" AHEPA Event Announcements

" Good of the Order

General Business Meetings - General Business Meetings are held every third Thursday of the month. The next meeting will be Thursday, February 17, 2000, at SS. Constantine and Helen Senior Citizen Center at 7:00 p.m. All Officers and appointed officers are expected to attend. Any interested members may attend. Come and see your administrative board at work planning and coordinating for better functions and best events for the membership.

Costas Lyrintzis Memorial Scholarship Fund -

Brothers, we of the Hellenic Community of San Diego must keep Costas' memory alive, and we can do this by instituting a memorial scholarship in Costas' name. Please send your tax deductible contributions, in any amount to: Order of AHEPA, c/o George Polos Chapter 505, P.O. Box 2682, Del Mar, CA 92014.

We need TA NEA Advertisers! - This newsletter is budgeted to be funded and made possible by those that place advertisements into the publication. We have run some issues without Ads and we must not allow this to continue to happen! If we wish to continue this publication we must encourage more advertiser submissions.

Ad space rates are: one full page (8 1/2" by 11") $125 per issue, half page (5 1/2" by 8 1/2") $75 per issue and $25 for business card ads per issue. Please contact Brother D. A. George to place your next ad. All necessary art work will be created for you and as always, readers, please patronize our advertisers. Thank you.

Please Notify Us - Should you know of any Brother recovering from illness or surgery, or known to be hospitalized, please notify Brother Alex L. Rigopoulos at 233-7158 or 469-9239.

Newsletter Entries - Please direct all newsletter announcements for "TA NEA" to the editor: Brother D. A. George, (619) 273-2868, FAX (619) 273-0416 or e-mail: dageo@worldnet.att.net. All entries must be received by the 20th of each month.

Tucson AHEPA Chapter 275, paid tribute to a staunch Ahepan PDG/PSG Ptolemeos "Pete" Kotzambasis, on Sunday, October 3, 1999 held at the Skyline Country Club in Tucson; where practically the entire membership were in attendance including friends and his peers of past District and National officers.

The Chapter's Certificate of Appreciation was officially presented by Tucson AHEPA President, George Ruboyianes. On behalf of Past Supreme President Lee Rallis, a plaque was presented by the Master of Ceremonies, Elias Kotzambasis (son of Pete and PDG/DOP Lois Kotzambasis).

Pete travelled with PSP Lee Rallis and PSG Chris Zazas to Australia, Greece and Istanbul during Pete's tenure.

Please join us for AHEPA's Annual Dinner Dance on Saturday, February 10. We will be honoring AHEPA's senior members over 75 years of age. Among them is our "Papou" George Kalogeris. At 102 years of age this man has lived in three centuries and is most likely the eldest Greek in San Diego County. His wife Mary is 97. If we are lucky he may even entertain us with his bouzouki. Also to be honored are George Koutris, 88 and Arthur Nasikas, 93. The celebration is at The Cyprus Room at St. Spyridon. No-host cocktails begin at 6:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. dinner & dancing. The donation $25.00 per person. Reservations must be made by Monday, February 14th. Seating will be limited. The profits of this event will go towards our annual scholarships for students.

1st Prize of the dinners raffle is $500.00 cash spending money and a 7-night stay for two at the beautiful Peninsula Hotel, an all-inclusive seaside resort in Agia Pelagria, Crete. The owner of the resort, Christos Bellos, is a member of our own chapter. In addition, there will be many other prizes and gift certificates donated by other generous members. If you would like to donate any of your products or services, or if you are 78 years or older, please contact John Koutsoukos at 619-447-4424.

Far reservations for this special occasion, call by Monday, February 14th^*, and pay at the door: Charles Apostolas 619-460-7260, John Koutsoukos 619-447-4424, Eleni Merzklotis 619-482-0308, Catherine Taylor 619-670-9920, or Katy Vagelatos 858-484-6996.

^*If you make reservations and for some reason cannot attend, please be sure to cancel your reservation. Regretfully, those who don't cancel their reservation and do not attend will be billed.

Eurostat reports that of all the EU nations the Greeks consume more energy per capita than any other of the 15 nations. Energy consumption jumped by 37% between 1979 and 1996. Cars and households are the major guzzlers. The increase in cars and car use in the large Greek cities has been dramatic in the last two decades. The congestion coupled with the fact that cars are stuck in traffic or cruising at low speeds forces them to burn more fuel. As for the homes, they use more energy because they were not built with heat conservation in mind, says Professor Matheos Santamouris of the University of Athens. Double-glazed windows and better insulation could cut energy consumption in Greek homes by 60%, he pointed out. Denmark, in case you care, is the most frugal [or shall I say wise] energy consumer in all of Europe.

The House of Tolerance is a small, private museum in Mugla, in southwestern Turkey which contains many artifacts left behind in 1922 by Asia Minor Greeks who lived for centuries in that city. The museum is run by collector and author Ertugul Atanta and it contains a large cross discovered under the foundations of a home, utensils and appliances, religious relics, and even human bones found scattered in the Greek cemetery. Atanta has been collecting these Items since 1988 and over the years he has written articles and novels about the departed Greeks. His book "The Traces of the Mugla Greeks" was followed by two novels - Antonra -The Exodes from Asia Minor and Turkified Greeks.

Dr. Theodore Kaltsounis, Professor of European Studies at the Jackson of International Studies, gave a substantive speech during the 3rd International conference of SAE in Thessaloniki. He made reference to "the strategic importance of Greek Chairs in U.S. universities" and the "de-HeIlenization" the Greek Orthodox Church which keeps recruiting non-Greek priests, and Prof. Kaltsounis

went on to say, that the Church cares much for Orthodoxy and very little for Hellenism, while, in contrast, the Church should be the guardian and the custodian of Greek language and culture. As for AHEPA, he argued that it should stop giving out these Scholarships to students who do not need them and concentrate on establishing Greek programs and Greek Chairs in American universities. Three years ago, as

a member of AHEPA's Educational Foundation, I proposed the same thing - Prof. Kaltsounis should know - but the response was that the dollars for the scholarships cannot be allotted for other purposes because they were made specifically so designated in the wills of departed Ahepans.

TA NEA finally published the results of its survey of "The Book of the Century." Forty authors were solicited to give

their opinion, and first among their preferences, with 9 votes,

was Cavafy's Complete Works. Nobel prize winner Elytis, with "Axion Esti" and "Prosanatolismoi" came second with 5 votes.

Five votes were also given to Kazantzakis for the works Report to Greco and Kapitan Mihalis, while Kpstas Tachtsis received three votes for his novel To Trito Stefani (known in English translation as "The Third Wedding."). Others like Serens, Papadiamantis, Politis, etc., received one of two votes.

This dinner party in Sidney, Australia was touted as "The Party of the Century" and it was indeed the most expensive dinner party that ever took place. It was attended by actors like Bruce Willis, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, royal families of Monaco and the Middle East, by multimillionaires from Switzerland, Canada, Australia and the U.S. and, according to The Herald Sun, by Greek ex-King Constnntine, his family, his son Pavlos with his wife Marie-Chantal and her very wealthy parents. The affair took place in Garden Island, an isle next to the Sidney harbor, and it cost (put on your seat belts!) $160,000 a person. Now, I wonder if that includes the after-dinner mint.

Aids is galloping in Greece in accordance with its population, Greece is now ranked 10th in casualties in all of Europe. Four-five years ago if memory serves me, it was ranked 14th. Even more disturbing, according to ETHNOS (3 Dec., 1999) is that eight strains of the virus have been detected in the last few years. While the rest of Europe is coping with the Type B virus, Greece apparently contracted the other strains from Africa where AIDS is tearing up the continent. Officially, the total number of AIDS deaths in Greece is 1,134 (128 of these women). But because of the stigma, one has to conclude that many AIDS deaths have not been reported. The number of HIV carriers, incidentally, remains unknown.

One of my favorite columnists in TA NEA is Lefteris Papadopoulos. He is earthy, forthright and with a clear, lively style. In a recent column (Nov. 24, 1999) he went out on a limb and predicted that Hillary Clinton will be visiting Greece again within a year. Though there is truth in her declarations of love for Greece, says Papadopoulos, the primary reason for her second visit will be that she needs the Greek votes in New York. (The columnist is somewhat hyperbolic in stating, however, that the Greek population of Astoria alone is 300,000). It is not just the Greek votes that compel the U.S. First Lady revisit, explains Papadopoulos, but the generosity of the wealthy Greeks. Similarly, he adds, in order to win the votes and the dollars of the Jewish American community, Mrs.Clinton visited Israel.

It's been weeks since President Clinton's visit and the Greek media are still preoccupied with its repercussions. I liked one radio-commentator's comments (didn't catch his name) especially: the great embarrassment for Greece, he said, is not so much that several punks and thugs set fires and vandalized cars and shops, but that President Clinton's words and demeanor turned out to be friendly toward Greece, and, in contrast to all that the world saw on their TV screens, he proved to be "a civilized, polite guest."

While 2,870 books were published in Greece in 1990, close to six thousand books (5,941) were published last year. Large and small, there are some 500 publishers in Greece. 428 of the books published last year were reprints while the rest (most of them published at the expense of the authors) were first editions. From the books that were translated from another language, 55% were from English, while 40% of the books published in original Greek were fiction (novels and short stories).

AHEPA refused to participate in the SAE (Simvoulio Apodimou Ellinismou) Conference in Thessaloniki. Why? The reasons, Supreme President Dariotis, explains are "based upon the previous experience of AHEPA Family members at the last two SAE meetings, and the total lack of communication between AHEPA and SAE during the intervening periods. Could somebody elaborate? Why should these two important Diaspora organizations suffer from " a total lack of communication"? Aren't they both dedicated to promoting and defending Hellenism? Exactly why does AHEPA choose to spin in its own orbit?

Re-printed by permission of THE GREEKAMERICAN)

The El Camino Real Ahepa Scholarship Foundation of District 20 invites you and your family members to take advantage of the scholarships made available. The sole purpose of this program is to grant scholarships to worthy students who are members of Sons of Pericles or Maids of Athena, of District #20, or whose parents are members of the Order of AHEPA or Daughters of Penelope, living in District #20 and who have been awarded by this Scholarship Foundation less than four (4) times. All completed applications will be evaluated by an impartial panel of administrators/professors from accredited colleges or universities.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A SCHOLARSHIP THE APPLICANT MUST :

1. Be a graduating senior entering college in 2000, or currently enrolled in a university or college with a minimum of 12 semester hours working toward an undergraduate degree;

2. Have a Cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 3.0;

3. Complete all pages of the application IN THEIR ENTIRETY;

4. provide only one (1) letter of recommendation on official stationery from one Of the following:

a. Member of Ahepa Family;

b. Professor, teacher or counselor; or

c. Member of Clergy.

5. Write an essay of 500 words or less describing any special circumstances which the applicant thinks the panel should take into consideration when evaluating the application, for example:

a. Career aspirations

b. honors classes/activities

c. extracurricular/community activities

d. Participation in Ahepa Family and church-related activities

6. Have the school send an official transcript of your high school grades, including class rank and standing;

7. Furnish a completed official Chapter Endorsement;

8. (For college and university students only) provide all items above, plus a transcript of college grades. Applicants of junior status and above need not provide a high school transcript.

9. A recipient can receive a scholarship from the El Camino Real Scholarship Foundation only four (4) times.

TO BE CONSIDERED, ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN THE DEADLINE OF MARCH 1, 2000.

Applications are available by request through Chapter Secretary D. A. George, 4721 Murat Place, San Diego, CA 92117, (858) 273-2868 voice, (858) 273-0416 FAX, or dageo@worldnet.att.net e-mail.

If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving isn't for you.

One of the hardest things about business is minding your own.

Dear Sisters,

Happy New Year, ladies!

Our next meeting will be held in the Saint Spyridon community hall on Wednesday, February 2, 2000 at 7:00 pm. We will join the San Diego Daughter's and all three chapters of AHEPA during their program portion and district visitation. Please make every effort to attend this meeting.

Thanks to all of you who kindly donated a Christmas gift(s) for the E.Y.E. Center; the gifts have been distributed. Your efforts have helped to make this year's Christmas a bit more meaningful for some special people in need!

See you at the next meeting!

Joanna Pathe

Sheftalia are very tasty and they are usually served as hot mezethes. In Cyprus, those who decide to drink a glass of wine or two, often include sheftalia among their other mezethes. Sheftalia are cooked on a brazier with charcoal which is usually placed near the table outside in the yard. In this way they can watch the sheftalia being cooked and when they are ready they take them out of the spits right into their plates. Steftalia can also be served as a main dish, with souvlakia and sheftalia mixed and they are put in a pita bread enveloped together with finely chopped parsley, onion and some pickled vegetables.

2lbs. of minced meat (pork and beef mixed)

1 packet of lamb suet

1 cup of finely chopped onions 1/4 cup of bread crumbs

1 cup finely chopped parsley 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon powder

1 tsp. of dry mint or two tsp. of fresh mint 1/2 tsp. of pepper

1 tsp. salt

Put the suet in luke warm water until it softens. Put all the ingredients in a bowl and knead well. Leave them for about a 1/2 hour. Cut suet in square pieces 4" x 4" and put onto each piece a tsp. of the prepared mixture. Start rolling, then close the two edges and keep on rolling until there is no more suet. Pierce each sheftalia through two spits or a double one, because if we use only one spit the sheftalia will spin on the spit while cooking. Cook on bright red charcoal. It must be emphasizes that the fire must be low and there should be no flame at all. Turn the spits every 2-3 minutes and cook for 15-20 minutes until the suet is light brown.

Joint Meeting at St Spyridon, Wednesday, February 2, 2000, Ms. Mary Danakas, Speaker

Chapter #223 Annual Dinner Dance February 19, 2000, St. Spyridon Church Hall

District 20 Mid-Winter Conference, Saturday, February 12, 2000, San Bernardino

For 2,500 years, civilizations, empires and kingdoms have come and gone, often with only a ruin or series of ruins as testament to the glory and accomplishments what that civilization, empire or kingdom has given to the development of man.

Hellenism and the Hellenic Empire were not known by territorial boundaries, but by language and culture. Though the various ruins may be in disintegration or have disappeared, the great contribution that Hellenism has given to the advancement of man has been in ideas and concepts:

The idea and concept of democracy, the idea and concept of the individual worth as a citizen and the idea and concept of the Olympic Games, with a unilateral peace during the Olympic Games.

While other civilizations have been lost in the past 2,500 years, these universal truths as concepts and ideas have endured. The challenge of the Diaspora is not to lose itself in their new countries and to lose their inheritance. The challenge of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) is to help the various generations of the Diaspora to keep their Hellenic identity and culture alive.

The majority of the young Hellenic Diaspora has never been to Hellas and the outlook is that many will not go. The Greek language is gone for many. The centers of Hellenism in the Americas of New York, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto and Montreal are not the issue. The reaming 500-plus communities that represent the majority of the Hellenic Diaspora are the issue.

SAE, the Greek Orthodox Church of the Americas and the various Hellenic organizations should create a joint venture to sponsor the eighth grade of each community each year for a 10 to 14 day excursion to Hellas. The excursion would expose the youth of the Americas that normally would not go to Greece to the cultural, historical and modern elements of Hellas.

This excursion would create a physical bond long after the direct relationship with past relatives is gone. This excursion would hopefully help the youth of the Americas to take extra personal efforts in extending their education in Hellenism and keeping a commitment and contact with Hellas and Hellenism.

The financial burden would be delegated accordingly between the individual youth going, the communities and the Greek government. Many facilities, such as the Ionian Village could be utilized in a more complete manor. When such educational programs are created, many foundations are prone to be supportive. The Greek Orthodox Church in the Americas should be an able arm in implementing this program through its communities.

The president of North and South America SAE office would handle the initial organizing efforts in the Americas to create an organization that would be able to put such a program into effect and keep it going.

A committee should be established to look into the needs, requirements and logistics to implement such an excursion and report to the World President, President of North and South America and the proper ministry in Greece. The decision to proceed then should be made and implemented.

There are many challenges to maintain the Hellenism of the Diaspora. A Hellenic excursion is a major undertaking and should at least be researched in order to make a true and educated decision.

Hellas is the living image of Hellenism. The Diaspora and Hellenes are the vessels into which it is stored and passed on to our fellow man.

(Harry T. Cavalaris, of Charlotte, NC, is a representative of the Archdiocese at the SAE World Congress, former AHEPA Supreme Governor and Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.)

Everyone knows the American Cancer Society, but how about the Cancer Fund of America? Some questionable charities count on their soundalike names to attract donations. (The Cancer Fund of America recently paid large fines to settle charges brought by more than a dozen states for using deceptive mailings that violated consumer protection laws.) So be aware.

It was Christmas Eve and in a merry mood, a judge asked a prisoner, "What are you charged with?"

"Doing my Christmas shopping early," replied the defendant.

"What? That's no offense!" said the judge. How early were you doing this shopping?"

"Before the store opened," explained the defendant.

• Juvenile court to try shooting victim
• Drunk gets nine months in violin case
• Man struck by lightening faces battery charge
• Police begin campaign to run down jaywalkers
• Killer sentenced to die for second time in ten years