Congressional Caucus on
Hellenic Affairs
Supreme President Leads Way,
Contacting Six House Members
WASHINGTON-The Congressional
Grassroots Network of the American Hellenic
Educational Progressive
Association (AHEPA) is helping the Congressional
Caucus on Hellenic Affairs in
the 109th Congress, a bipartisan body in the
U.S. House of Representatives
aimed at strengthening relations between the
U.S. and Greece, surpass its
membership total from the 108th Congress,
announced Supreme President
Franklin R. Manios.
"Our grassroots has been
active and effective all across the United
States," said Manios,
who personally sent letters to six members of the Ohio
delegation of the House of
Representatives. "We are able to reach not
just urban areas, but also
rural parts of the country. It's our greatest
asset and I'm proud of our
effort but more work is needed."
According to Manios, whose
own member of Congress joined the Hellenic
Caucus for the first time,
sometimes the process is as simple as a constituent
picking up the phone or
faxing a letter requesting a representative to
join or rejoin.
However, sometimes follow-up calls are needed also. He added
AHEPA family members have
outreached to as many as 30 representatives
within the last month.
Currently, the Caucus has 122
members.
"Obviously, a task of
this size needs the involvement of the entire
community," Manios said.
"That's why I've personally asked for the help
of fellow Greek American
organizations to achieve this common goal."
Yesterday, the supreme
president sent letters to presidents of Greek
American organizations
requesting and encouraging them to participate in
this campaign.
Manios adds that members who
join the Hellenic Caucus will be identified
and credited for doing so in
the AHEPA Congressional Scorecard.
"The Scorecard is our
way of letting our constituents know where their
member of Congress stands on
issues of concern to the Greek American
community," he said.
Also, Manios praised the
organization and leadership of the Co-Founders of
the Caucus, Reps. Michael
Bilirakis (R-9-FL) and Carolyn Maloney
(D-14-NY), both of who are
vital to the Greek American community's success on Capitol Hill.
"Without them, the
Caucus would be nowhere near 122 members," Manios said.
A listing of current members
of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic
Affairs can be found at www.ahepa.org
http://www.ahepa.org> by clicking
on the
"Action Alerts" web
page
To join the AHEPA Grassroots
Congressional Contact Network, please visit
www.ahepa.org
<http://www.ahepa.org> and click
on "AHEPA Capitol Hill."
