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The AHEPA Family Thirty Eighth Biennial Banquet

The Renaissance Mayflower Hotel Washington, D.C.

March 7, 2008 Booklet Template 2/14/08 12:56 PM Page 4

honoree George Bistis

George Bistis has supervised the Voice of America Greek Service coverage of all major developments in the relations between the U.S. and Greece and the U.S and Cyprus in the last three decades. Born in Nicosia, Cyprus, in 1944 and raised in Greece, the moth- erland of both his parents, he joined VOA in Washington D.C. in 1967, following studies at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

Mr. Bistis has produced and presented more than 500 television programs and has written, edited, hosted or directed over 75.000 radio shows. He has also directed more than 20 plays on aca- demic and community theaters in the U.S. and Europe.

His journalistic credits include live event coverage from the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon and the U.N. Headquarters, in connection with visits of Greek and Cypriot dignitaries. He has also interviewed Presidents, Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of Greece in the post 1974 era, all Presidents and Foreign Minis- ters of Cyprus since its independence, as well as other European leaders, including several heads of government, and U.S. officials in the executive and legislative branches. Booklet Template 2/14/08 12:56 PM Page 4 Booklet Template 2/14/08 12:56 PM Page 4

Similarly Mr. Bistis has covered international developments from cit- ies such as London, Brussels, Munich, Athens, Thessaloniki, Nicosia, Ankara, Istanbul, Rome and Riga and has reported U.S. and Greek American news from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, Tampa, St. Augustine, Dallas, , Boston, Atlantic City, Phila- delphia and Baltimore.

Mr. Bistis has received 3 Meritorious Honor Awards, a VOA Gold Medal, a Superior Accomplishment Award and many Excellence-in- Programming honors, including the 1997 VOA News Program Award for “Decision 96 – Americans at the polls” and the 1986 VOA Re- mote Broadcast Award for “Tarpon Springs: An American port city with a Greek soul”. He has also won awards for Best Script, Best Documentary and Best Feature Program.

Additionally, he has twice won the William Dunstan Best Director Of The Year Award for his staging of the drama “I Never Sang For My Father” (1980) and the comedy “Lloyd George Knew My Father” (1977) at a local Washington community theatre. In 1999 Mr. Bistis was honored with an Ipekci Greek-Turkish Friend- ship and Peace Prize for a series of reports and exclusive interviews, which were termed as helpful in ushering the era of Greek-Turkish rapprochement. Two years later, he received a second peace prize in Athens, Greece, the 2001 Ipekci Award for Communication, the highest honor bestowed to a journalist by a joint Greek-Turkish com- mittee, for developing and co-hosting the first ever electronic dia- logues between people from the two sides of the Aegean.

Last November, Mr. Bistis was honored with a coveted international award designed to showcase significant individual contributions for the promotion of human dignity, friendship and goodwill: the 2007 Gusi Peace Prize for Broadcast Journalism. The award was presented at a gala ceremony, held in Manila, Philippines, by Vice President Noli De Castro, on behalf of President Gloria Aroyo and the Gusi Peace Price Foundation. Mr. Bistis was cited for his “untiring efforts, working for people’s amelioration, to find peaceful solutions to po- litical and social issues through broadcast journalism.” He is the first American honored with a Gusi Peace Prize in Journalism.

Mr. Bistis is married to Barbara Vrettos. They have two sons, Jeffrey and Telly. Booklet Template 2/14/08 12:56 PM Page 4

honoree John Catsimatidis

John Catsimatidis is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Red Apple Group. The Red Apple Group has holdings in oil refining, retail petroleum products, convenience stores, supermarkets, real es- tate and aviation.

Catsimatidis grew up in . During college, while studying engineering at the Bronx campus of , Catsimatidis opened his first store in 1968 on ’s upper Westside. This su- permarket evolved into Manhattan’s largest, high quality supermarket chain, Gristedes’ Supermarkets. Catsimatidis took over this 114-year- old company transforming it into an iconic staple of New York City life. At this same time Catsimatidis owned and operated Pantry Pride Supermarkets of .

In the 1986 Catsimatidis acquired United Refining Company of Warren ). United Refining, with a 70,000 bpd, capacity provides the energy needs of Western Pennsylvania and New York through its network of over four hundred gas stations and convenience stores. A successful IPO of another of Mr. Catsimatidis’ energy companies raised $450,000,000 in early 2008.

As Catsimatidis business holdings increased, likewise his real estate in- vestments. Red Apple Real Estate is a strong investor in the New York, New Jersey and Florida real estate markets. Red Apple Real Estate has proposed a $500 million combined commercial and residential development project proximal to the new landscape of the downtown Brooklyn Development area. Booklet Template 2/14/08 12:56 PM Page 4 Booklet Template 2/14/08 12:56 PM Page 4

John Catsimatidis, himself jet pilot, was a pioneer in business jet man- agement 1977. His company, United Jet Fleet, with over forty aircraft eventually sold to Net Jets. Mr. Catsimatidis owned Capitol Airlines at the time it was the eleventh largest commercial airline in the Unit- ed States. Currently Mr. Catsimatidis’ Red Apple Aviation operates a small fleet of corporate aircraft.

Mr. Catsimatidis’ companies post annual sales near $4 billion. With 8,000 employees, John Catsimatidis is a major employer in the New York City metropolitan area and upstate New York.

John Catsimatidis places his family, his Church and his Greek heritage at the top of his personal priorities. He has served on the Executive Board of the Greek Orthodox Church of America and the Federation of Hellenic Societies of greater New York has elected Mr. Catsimatidis two years in a row to head the now famous Greek Parade on New York City’s 5th Ave. Mr. Catsimatidis was the first to arrange live television broadcast of the Parade in 2007 and has made arrangement to televise it once again in 2008.

John Catsimatidis’ charitable interests are as varied as his business inter- ests. He has served on the board of directors of New York’s Police Ath- letic Leagues (PAL) since the 1984. Mr. Catsimatidis is the co-founder of the Brooklyn Tech Alumni Foundation Capitol Campaign, the first foundation in the country established on behalf of a public school, and sits on the board of the New York State Troopers Foundation.

Mr. Catsimatidis is a significant supporter of the Juvenile Diabetes’, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s research foundations, and is a consistent supporter of the Outward Bound organization. John Catsimatidis was the honored in 2007 by New York’s ‘Appeal of Conscious Foundation’ for his active role supporting religious freedom around the world.

A legendary fundraiser in New York and national politics, Catsimatidis is deeply committed to his community and country. He has made note with increasing frequency, he may seek elective office himself at sometime in the near future.

John and Margo Catsimatidis have two children, daughter Andrea John (AJ), 17 and son John Jr., 14. Booklet Template 2/14/08 12:56 PM Page 4

My Fellow Members and Friends of the AHEPA Family,

It is indeed my honor to welcome you to Washington for the 2008 38th AHEPA Biennial Banquet.

This year as we gather in our Nation’s Capitol our theme, “AHEPA Hon- ors Public Service”, is appropriate as we honor those members of our community who serve the public in elected positions across the United States. Hundreds of Greek Americans throughout our country either hold or are running for office in their respective cities and states. We are fortunate to have many of them here with us tonight. Their public service is truly an example for each and every one of us and is why we honor them with the AHEPA Public Service Award.

This evening we also pay tribute to two Greek-Americans who have excelled in their respective careers and exemplify the values and ide- als, which are synonymous with the Order of AHEPA. Mr. John Catsi- matidis of New York and CEO of the Apple Group is the recipient of the AHEPA Aristotle Award. This award is presented to an outstanding Hellene who has distinguished himself in his respective profession. Mr. George Bistis of Washington and Chair of the Greek Desk of the Voice of America is the recipient of the Demosthenes Award, which is award- ed to an outstanding Hellene, who excels in the field of journalism. All of honorees this evening join a long list of previous honorees that have been recognized over the past eighty-five years by the Order of AHEPA.

The 2008 AHEPA Biennial Banquet is an occasion for all of us to cele- brate the accomplishments of those in our community who distinguish themselves and to accentuate those Hellenic ideals, which have been passed down to us and are so evident in every facet of today’s society.

On behalf of AHEPA, I extend my heartfelt wishes to each and every one of you for a most memorable and enjoyable affair.

Sincerely, Ike Gulas, Supreme President Booklet Template 2/14/08 12:56 PM Page 4 Booklet Template 2/14/08 12:56 PM Page 4

Dear AHEPA Family and Friends,

On behalf of the Grand Lodge and the Daughters of Pe- nelope, it is my great pleasure to congratulate our Brother Ahepans on a successful 38th Biennial Banquet. This outstanding event offers all of us the opportunity to join together and honor exemplary individuals as well as those in various segments of our government. We applaud this year’s decision to recognize those who contribute to the area of Public Service, and we join in offering our respect and gratitude to these fine people.

In addition, this weekend gives the Daughters of Penel- ope their own opportunity to give honor where it is due, through the Salute to Women. The Salute reception recog- nizes an outstanding woman who has excelled in her field or profession. Our recipient this year is the Foreign Min- ister of Cyprus, Her Excellency, Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis. Foreign Minister Kozakou-Marcoullis has demonstrated excellence in her career and we are honored to have such a distinguished individual as our recipient. We invite you to attend the Salute to Women reception Saturday morning, so that you may meet Her Excellency Kozakou-Marcoullis.

Again, congratulations, and we thank all of you for your dedication to Public Service and your continued civic in- volvement for the betterment of mankind.

Sincerely, Karen Stamatiades Grand President, Daughters of Penelope Booklet Template 2/14/08 12:56 PM Page 4

Hello everyone,

Welcome to the 38th Annual AHEPA Biennial Banquet. It is with great honor and pride that I address you all, as this is my first time attending the banquet and I am truly looking forward to the weekend’s events.

This year, we salute public service, a concept which is one of the cornerstones of the AHEPA family. A concept to which I have seen countless Brothers and Sisters rise up to embrace openly and without question. It is one of the many concepts surrounding our family that makes us as unique and strong as we are.

This year, the Sons of Pericles, like the other Orders, have sought to make public service one of their strongest drives. I have been lucky enough to meet with and speak to Brothers initiating fundraisers and drives for various causes, the least of which not being last summer’s tragic wildfires in Greece and Cooley’s Anemia. Already we have had chapters asking what they can do, donating funds and goods, and spreading the word to inform the uninitiated about these very worthy causes.

Such enthusiasm has led to my personal mantra for the year: “Spread the passion.” The passion of Hellenism that helped to define modern philanthropy. The passion for camaraderie that sets us apart from other special interest groups. The passion to acknowledge what doesn’t work and how to make it better.

It is this passion that is inherent within the Supreme Lodge and our Brothers worldwide. It is this passion that makes us all proud to be Sons!

Sincerely, Rick Pecka Supreme President, Order of the Sons of Pericles Booklet Template 2/14/08 12:56 PM Page 4 Booklet Template 2/14/08 12:56 PM Page 4

MAIDS OF ATHENA JUNIOR AUXILIARY OF THE DAUGHTERS OF PENELOPE 1909 Q STREET N.W. • SUITE 500 • WASHINGTON D.C. • 20009 PHONE: (202) 232-6300 • FAX: (202) 232-2140 • EMAIL: [email protected]

March 7, 2008

Dear AHEPA Family and Friends,

Welcome to Washington, DC! On behalf of the entire Maids of Athena Grand Lodge, as well as Washington, DC Muses Chapter #22 of the Maids of Athena, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the 38th Biennial Banquet.

The weekend is sure to be one to remember. To be able to have a chance to salute public service with not only fellow AHEPA family members, but members of Congress as well is an opportunity that should be taken advantage of.

In addition to Friday’s banquet, the Maids of Athena would like to give our best wishes to our Sisters in the Daughters of Penelope for a successful Salute to Women honoring Her Excellency Erato Kozakou- Marcoullis on Saturday.

Best wishes for a successful event!

With Love in Pi Alpha,

Stephanie E. Maniatis Maids of Athena Grand President