Brothers It is my wish to meet with all of you across the country during the course of the year. The importance of these meetings is that as we exchange our ideas on issues that concern us all, our successes and challenges, we are creating a pipeline of information to the District and Supreme lodges, thus giving them the information they need to formulate action to deal with your concerns. Of course, these meetings don't necessarily have to be formal business meetings. In fact, we all know that more often then not more things are accomplished over a cup of coffee than a drawn out two hour formal business meeting. I would like to give you a brief overview of my meetings and activities over the last couple of months:

• I participated in the London Chapters' Annual Boxing day Christmas party, It was a well organized and well attended event. Congratulations to the London AHEPA Family. I appreciated the opportunity to meet and talk to my Chapter brothers from my new role as Canadian President of AHEPA

January 2009 (A very busy month)·

January 2nd -5th found me in Tarpon Springs, Florida attending the Supreme Lodge meetings and participating in the South Eastern AHEPA Leadership Conference. I also took the opportunity to visit the property AFCFC inherited from the late Brother Nick Logothetis. I met the real estate agent and discussed some our options.

On January 12 I was pleased to attend the Toronto AHEPA Family meeting and their annual cutting of the Vasilopita.

On the week end of January 24th I had the pleasure of being in the city of Montreal, home to one our biggest chapters in Canada. I don't mind telling you, it was a hectic two days. First along with Brother Nicholas Katsepontes who came in from Ottawa and Brother Frank Antoniou we met the lawyers and accountants of the Nick Logothetis estate. If all goes well we are looking for closure by the end of April. I Also met with the Ahepa Canada webmaster Maki Papadopoulos, with Sister Olga Psilopoulou, who offered some ideas concerning our Foundation, went for an interview on Odyssey TV which gave me the opportunity to announce to everyone across Canada that the 2010 National Convention will be held in Canada and specifically in Montreal. On Friday night I was invited by the Montreal Brothers out to dinner at Atomic, a restaurant where past Canadian AHEPA Presidents Fonda Scoufaras and Frank Antoniou entertained every one with the exploits of their misspent youth. On Saturday Brother Frank and I drove to Ottawa for a meeting with the Ottawa Brothers in order to explore who the Ottawa Chapter can play a bigger role in the political life in Ottawa and also the future of their Chapter. I thank the Brothers and the President Niko Hatzitheodosiou for their gracious welcome and hospitality.

February 2009

February found me back in Montreal attending, for the eighth year, the Montreal's AHEPA Family 10th annual St Valentines Ball . A grand and phantasmagoric event that raised $60 000 for the Shriners Children's Hospital and the Giant Steps School Foundation for Autistic Children. I also had the opportunity to attend Kitchener's Apokriatiko Horo. I thank the Brothers for their hospitability . I had a terrific time along with the opportunity to meet a lot of the Brothers. I will be back next year. President or no President!

March 2009

Wednesday the 4th of March was an adventurous day. I left Stratford at 11:00 in the morning drove to Toronto, picked up District 23 Governor Andy Tzemis and drove to Ottawa to attend that Chapter's meeting and elections. The Chapter president is Bother George Pitsicoulis and Vice President Brother Nicholas Katsepontes . I congratulate them and wish them" kali dynami". I also would like to thank Brother Nick Hatzitheodosiou for all his work and efforts in running the Chapter the last five years.

Future plans

• Visit Winnipeg Chapter, March 20th 2009 on the occasion of their big fundraising Gala to benefit the New Museum Of Human Rights

• Visit Montreal Chapter, March 21, 2009 for dinner honoring our past AHEPA Canada President Frank Antoniou

• Visit Parliament Hill in Ottawa, April 2009

In closing, I would like to thank all the Brothers and Sisters that I met in my visitations the last couple of month for their warmth and hospitality. I'm looking forward to my visits to our chapters in Western Canada. I urge you all to feel free to invite me to any of your event s no matter how big or how small. See you all soon Fraternally Nick Aroutzidis .

Fraternally
Nick Aroutzidis
President AHEPA CANADA.