"Hoosier District"
Chapter 78 -Merrillville
AHEPA Chapter 78
P.O. Box 11052
Merrillville, Indiana 46411
Phone: 219-769-7850
Fax: 219-769-6017
Email: ahepa78@sbcglobal.net
Chapter 78 ("Mother Lodge")Facts and Figures:
Established: July 22nd, 1925
Current Members: 131
Current Life Members: 14
Chapter location: Merrillville
Meeting location: Ahepa Phase IV - Merrillville, Indiana
Meeting Schedule: Chapter 78 meets the 1st Wednesday of every month. (Note: Do not meet in June, July, and August)
First President: Alex Eliopoulos
Active Life Member list: 12
62 years - John Trakis
60 years - Dino Manolopoulos
59 years - Chris Argeropoulos
56 years - John Demetrakis
55 years - Ted Monanteras, and George Vlahos54 years - Michael Kapnas
52 years - Louis Bravos
51 years - George Gatsios
50 years - Andrew Paramantgis, Spero Stamos, and James Thomas
Past Supreme President: (1) Michael Spirtos
Past Supreme Lodge: (2) Michael Spirtos, Chris Peppas
Past Supreme Governors: (2) Michael Spirtos, Chris Peppas
Past District Governors: (10) Michael Spirtos, Theodore Tsangaris, Michael Zonakis, Chris Trakas, William Damaskos, John Bizanes, John Demetrakis, Sam Kyres, Chris Peppas, George Halkias
Chapter 78 is VERY proud of its apartments for our community senior citizens. We have 6 apartment complexes built and occupied.
AHEPA 78 Phase I - OPEN 1992
AHEPA 78 Phase II - OPEN 1995
AHEPA 78 Phase III - OPEN 1997
AHEPA 78 Phase IV - OPEN 2002
AHEPA 78 Phase V - OPEN 2006
AHEPA 78 Phase VI - OPEN 2009
Click Here for AHEPA National Housing website
Click HERE for the Merrillville AHEPA Chapter 78 Scholarship application form!!
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Please click HERE to see more of what AHEPA Chapter 78 is doing to answer the call for the United We Serve campaign!
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The Metropolis of Chicago St. Iakovos Retreat Center is located in Kansasville, Wisconsin. Centrally located within the Metropolis there are 137 acres with 35 acres of original woods and hills and an 8 acre lake. Breaking ground for a new 35 room Residence Hall, which will hold 140 guests is getting closer, and planned for the spring of 2012. It will be the future home for Fanari Camp and many other programs of the Metropolis Parishes, Hellenic and other groups. Fifteen breathtaking Proskynetaria are being placed along the wooded trails for visitors to stop and offer their prayers, and remind us of the blessings God has bestowed upon us. It has been said tha...t “This Is a Place Where Gods Creation Speaks”.
Several of our Chapter Brothers have made the 100 mile trip from Merrillville to tour and enjoy the natural beauty of the existing facilities. Members of our Son’s of Pericles Sophocles Chapter #53 have made two weekend trips to the Center. They donated and installed new basketball, volleyball and tennis court nets, and worked on maintenance of the courts clearing weeds and wild vegetation.
Over the past 2 years Ahepa Chapter 78 has earned a reputation of being a significant philanthropic organization throughout the Northwest Indiana Community. Eighty five percent of our members are Hellenic Americans and most are members of Saints Constantine & Helen Cathedral in Merrillville. When our Priest Father Ted Poteres, also a member of the St. Iakovos Retreat Center Board of Directors, asked us to consider a grant to the Retreat Center’s fund raising campaign we immediately became enthused about the idea. In keeping with our ideals of philanthropy, civic responsibility, and family values, the members of Ahepa 78 elected to make a generous gift of $100,000 to the St Iakovos Retreat Center. We hope that this donation will encourage others to join with us to proliferate the construction of the Retreat Center, a place of fellowship for our Greek Orthodox Faith, preserve our Hellenic Heritage and especially a wonderful facility for our youth.
On October 27, at the Metropolitan Iakovos Nameday Banquet with 600 in attendance, Chapter #78 received special recognition and was honored by Metropolitan Iakovos for their $100,000 donation.
Shown here with the Metropolitan from left to right standing are: Louis Gikas, President #78, Father Ted Poteres, Nick Chimitris, Bill Mehas, John Demetrakis,Nick Kavadas - AHEPA District 12 Governor, Nick Fitousis,Matt Kochevar, and Ron Johnson, seated are Sam Kyres,Andrew Kyres,Nick Poteres,Metropolitan Iakovos, Pete Kavadas,John Kavadas,and Sam Benjamin.
President:
Louis Gikas
Vice President:
Sam Benjamin
Secretary:
Nick Fitousis
Chapter Corr. Contact:
Nick Gianikos
Treasurer:
Nick Tournis
Warden:
Nick Mangos
Chaplain:
Jim Saddler
Captain of the Guard
John Demetrakis
Board of governors
Chairman: George Stroguiludis
Gov #1: Sam Kyres
Gov #2: Tom Kayes
Gov #3: Theo Koulianos
Gov #4: George Domoras
