ANCA DESK: HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL ACTIVITY IN THE EASTERN REGION
by Michelle Hagopian
February 28, 2013
Have you been following ANCA activity in the Eastern Region? If not,
you’re missing out! The Eastern Region has at least 20 local ANC
chapters, and that number continues to grow.
Did you know there’s an ANC chapter in southern Illinois, and soon
to be one in Missouri? How about in Louisiana? In most states or
cities where Armenians live, you can bet there’s a local ANC chapter,
whether it’s made up of 50 people or 5.
What has my local ANC been doing lately, you may ask? In this week’s
column, I’m going to highlight the activity of the ANC of New Jersey
and ANC activity in Maine. Of course, this isn’t the only activity
going on in the region; rather, it’s a sample.
In Portland, Maine, Baku pogroms survivor Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte
discussed her family’s narrow escape from Azerbaijani aggression and
the need for expanded U.S. support for the economic and political
development of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh with newly elected
U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) during a meeting on Feb. 18.
Astvatsaturian Turcotte is an accomplished lawyer and author who
shared a copy of her recently published family memoire, Nowhere: A
Story of Exile, with the Senator and his staff. She also spoke about
anti-Armenian massacres that began in 1988 at a Capitol Hill event
last December that the ANCA helped organized. “The reality of today
and the last 24 years since 1988 is that Armenians there are no safer
under Azeri rule than we were in Baku,” she said. “The anti-Armenian
rhetoric and propaganda plagues its policies. Artsakh Armenians could
and should never be subjected to the Azeri government.”
Work like this truly embodies the grassroots nature of the Armenian
cause, and people like Astvatsaturian Turcotte take initiative to work
on issues critical to our community every day. For every article or
press release you read on a weekly basis, there are other meetings
or Hai Tahd events that slip by without much discussion.
For example, did you know the ANC of New Jersey received support
from a fundraiser held at the Babylon Mediterranean Restaurant in
River Edge, N.J., on Feb. 12? The event drew more than 100 people
and raised funds for the ANC there.
To quote ANC of New Jersey activist Taline Chalian: “The food was
great, and this was a great opportunity to connect with fellow ANC
supporters in our community. We’re planning on hosting more events
like this several times a year.”
The fundraiser was inspired by prior community nights, and was
a chance to bring the community together and socialize. Babylon
is an Assyrian-owned business, but the owner has worked with the
Armenian community in New Jersey for years and is supportive of
Armenian events. This event is a great example of the ANC of New
Jersey working to engage the community and raise awareness for the
work the ANCA does locally. The ANC of New Jersey has long been one
of our most active local chapters, and this fundraiser was a wonderful
way to start off the year.
The ANC of New Jersey also met with Congressman Scott Garrett
(R-N.J.-5) at a meeting hosted by the Armenian Home for the Aged
on Jan. 29. ANC of New Jersey co-chairs James Sahagian and Karine
Shnorhokian expressed appreciation to the Congressman for his continued
support for recognition of the Armenian Genocide, his support on the
“Return of Churches” resolution in the last Congress, and other items
of concern to the Armenian-American community.
These meetings are crucial to ANCA work, especially with
Representatives like Garrett who has been a strong supporter of
Armenian issues since being elected to Congress in New Jersey’s 5th
District in 2003. He’s consistently received a rating of “A” on his
Congressional report cards because of his advocacy on behalf of his
Armenian constituents.
Again, this is just a sampling of what local ANC chapters have been
accomplishing in the Eastern Region. We’d love to highlight more
local activity. If your ANC has done something noteworthy recently,
e-mail me at michelle@anca.org or ancaer@anca.org so we can create
a press release and spotlight it in this column. And as always, if
you want to get involved or learn more about the ANCA, please reach
out to me via e-mail at any time.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress