Maids of Athena

(L-R) Sia Zois, Kiki Amanatidis, Victoria Pavlopoulos, Marianthe Kolokithas, Angela Armstrong

On July 1, 2009, the Maids of Athena delegation at the 87th Annual AHEPA Supreme Convention elected a new Grand Lodge to serve the order for the 2009-2010 year.  The election results are as follows:

• Grand President: Sia Zois, Dayton, OH; Venus Maleia Chapter 129
• Grand Vice President: Kiki Amanatidis, Scottsdale, AZ; Dynami ke Doxa Chapter 270
• Grand Secretary: Victoria Pavlopoulos, Atlanta, GA; Sigma Alpha Delta Chapter 87
• Grand Treasurer: Marianthe Kolokithas, Charleston, SC; Pan-Athenians Chapter 68
• Grand Governor: Angela Armstrong, Chandler, AZ; Dynami ke Doxa Chapter 270

The Daughters of Penelope have elected Demi Thomas, of Ridgewood, NJ, as this years Maids of Athena National Advisor.  Congratulations to the incoming Grand Lodge!

Maids of Athena came from far and wide to participate in the 87th Annual AHEPA Supreme Convention in beautiful San Francisco, California from June 29th to July 5th 2009.  Events were as follows:

•  Maids of Athena General Session
• AHEPA Greek Night
• AHEPA Grand Ball
• Sons & Maids Celebrate the Youth Awards Brunch
• Sons & Maids Comedy Hour featuring Angelo Tsarouchas

The Maids had an incredibly successful and fruitful general session on Wednesday, and broke to speak on the Daughters of Penelope Convention Floor.  Legislation was passed that will allow active Chapters to hold up to three of their four non-ritualistic meetings electronically (via conference call, chatroom, etc.) and to allow Chapters to send more delegates to National Convention.  There were thirty-two Maids of Athena Delegates and Alternates that participated in the National Convention this year, which is a record number for the past five years.  Congratulations to all the Sisters in attendance for making an amazing impression on the rest of the AHEPA Family!

On Friday Afternoon, the Maids of Athena Co-Hosted the Sons and Maids Celebrate the Youth Awards Brunch.  We were fortunate to receive a visit from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, and His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco. 

 Award recipients for the 2008-2009 year are as follows:

• Maid of the Year: Diane Simeon, Muses Ch. 22; Washington, DC
• Chapter of the Year: Delphia Chapter 93; Greenville, SC
• Chapter President of the Year: Alexandra Penz, Anastasia #133; Ann Arbor, MI
• District of the Year: Mother Lodge District 1
• District Advisor of the Year: Voula Zois, District 11
• Community Service Award: Cassandra Hera #185; Calgary, Alberta Canada
• Gent of the Year: Yianni Googas, Phocion #44, Albany, NY
• Wall of Honor: Mary Verges, PGP
• Heart of the Maids: Joanne Saltas, Grand Advisor
• Chapter Advisor of the Year: Patti Chrysostom; Pan-Athenians #68, Charleston, SC
• Presidential Awards:  Demetrios Vidalis, Basil Mossaidis, Elena Saviolakis, Nick Stratas, Diane Simeon
• MOA and SOP Delegation with His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios & His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco at the Sons & Maids Celebrate the Youth Brunch. 

In addition, the Maids of Athena were the recipients of a $10,000 Grant from the AHEPA National Housing Corporation. 

National Scholarships were also awarded at our Awards Brunch.  Congratulations to the winners!

$1000 Scholarship

• Julie Fiedler, Dynami ke Doxa #270; Chandler, AZ

$500 Scholarships

• Athena K. Zois - Venus Maleia #129, Dayton, OH
• Alexandra Pavlostathis - Sigma Alpha Delta #87, Atlanta, GA

$250 Scholarships

• Despina Vastakis - Sigma Alpha Delta #87, Atlanta, GA
• Alexandra Penz - Anastasia #133, Ann Arbor, MI

The Sons and Maids cohosted a comedy hour, featuring Greek Canadian comic Angelo Tsarouchas, on Saturday Afternoon.  A great time was had by all, and the Sons and Maids were honored to have had the opportunity to play host to such an accomplished comedian.  Following the performance, Angelo met the Maids of Athena present, and was kind enough to take a picture with them as well.

 Angelo also helped us out by drawing the first winner for our raffle!  The Maids of Athena, along with the Sons of Pericles, held a raffle throughout the year to raise money for our joint National project, the AHEPA Cooley's Anemia Foundation. 

Congratulations to all our winners!

• $1000 Cash Prize - Mary Blougouras
• Flat Screen HD TV - Lee Polydor (generously donated back to the Sons & Maids)
• NFL Player's Association Prize Package - Anna Helene Panagakos
• Autographed Emily Giffin Novel - Angie Speliopoulos
• $50 Dunkin Donuts Gift Card - DOP Menelaos #53, Atlanta, GA
• Microsoft Gift Bag - Nick Kaffes
• Starbucks gift box - Fr. Ken Anthony
• $25 CVS gift card - Mr. Patsios (generously donated back to the Sons & Maids)
• Mystery Autographed Novel Gift Basket - Lou Pikakis, Tim Maniatis, Kathy Lawrence, Tony Capranica