AHEPA CHAPTER MEETS WITH CONGRESSMAN GARY PETERS

Peter J. Parks, President, Alpha/Bloomfield Ahepa Chapter recently contributed to malista the attached photos and information regarding political advocacy efforts that are ongoing in the Greek American Community.

On Saturday, January 24, 2009, along with several other Ahepans and our wives, I had an opportunity to meet with first term U.S. Congressman, Gary Peters, from Michigan's 9th Congressional District. Over a wonderful dinner, we had an opportunity to speak with Congressman Peters about a number of issues of concern to Greeks and Greek-Americans, including the Visa-waiver program, the issue over the name "Macedonia", Cyprus, the Patriarchate, etc.
We also informed Congressman Peters that, at the national level, Ahepa maintains a "scorecard" relative to the voting record of each senator and congressman on issues of importance to Greece and to Greek-Americans. In discussing this issue we emphasized that his predecessor, Joe Knollenberg actually had a decent voting record on such issues.

All in all I think the dinner meeting was beneficial. We provided Mr. Peters with a number of print-outs and position papers. He expressed his sincere gratitude for our support during his election campaign and his intention to educate himself on these issues. We concluded the evening by agreeing to keep in close contact with Congressaman Peters' office and with the expressed intention to invite Mr. Peters to an upcoming Greek social function (i.e. the St. Nicholas Opa Fest) and/or to a speaking engagement to the local Greek community and/or our metropolitan Detroit Ahepa and Daughters of Penelope Chapters.

Malista!