New ALMA director has big plans for museum
By Ericka Crouse/ Correspondent
Friday, February 18, 2005
Watertown TAB & Press, MA
Feb 18 2005
Berj Chekijian, an active member of Boston’s Armenian community
and former fiber optic engineer, was named the new director of the
Armenian Library and Museum of America.
“A museum is a mirror of your culture, of your history,” said
Chekijian, “We as Armenian-Americans are very fortunate to be here
in Watertown, which has been an Armenian hub. The city has given use
an opportunity to prosper, and we’re giving that back to the city by
putting this mirror here.”
Chekijian, whose leadership roles in the Armenian community include
helping to found Boston chapters of Armenian youth and cultural
organizations, believes that his background in engineering will help
him to help ALMA become an accredited museum. To earn accreditation
from the American Association of Museums, an institution must ensure
certain standards of quality and must catalogue its collection.
“It’s a project that methodically has to be done, and as an engineer
I have done those things for my company,” said Chekijian.
Haig Der Manuelian, chairman of ALMA’s board of directors and member
of the selection committee for the position, said of Chekijian, “He’s
deeply rooted in Armenian tradition and history and culture. He’s
conversant in the language. He even teaches the language.
“He has great, mature judgment,” said Der Manuelian, “He brings a
lot of ideas. We look forward to great things from him.”
Long anxious to serve the Armenian community and to protect and teach
his cultural heritage, Chekijian is implementing some new initiatives
at the museum to make the information available to more people. He led
the drive to change ALMA’s hours to include evening and weekend hours
“so that it will be accessible to working people,” he said.
Chekijian is also involved in creating the museum’s new Web site, which
will include a catalogue of all the books available in the library
as well as a rotating exhibit of pieces from the museum’s collection
of over 20,000 cultural artifacts, books, photographs and art.
Chekijian is replacing Robert Parsekian, who left the directorship
to go into the real estate business with his father.
Author: Jagharian Tania
Endorsements Announcement
Armenian National Committee – Glendale
721 S. Glendale Ave
Glendale, CA 91205
Tel: (818) 243-3444
Fax: (818) 243-3009
E-mail: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release ~ Febraury 18, 2005
Contact: Alina Azizian – 818.243.3444
ANCG ANNOUNCES ENDORSEMENTS FOR CITY ELECTIONS
Glendale, CA — The Armenian National Committee of Glendale announced
Thursday its list of endorsed candidates for the Glendale City
Municipal Elections. The endorsements include candidates for Glendale
Unified School District Board of Education, Glendale Community College
Board of Trustees, City Clerk and City Treasurer. The committee is
holding off on endorsements for city council until a later date.
“With 19 candidates in the City Council race, the endorsement
process is inevitably taking a few weeks,” stated board member
Armond Gorgorian. “We really want to make sure we take the time to
meet with candidates as well as community members in order to make
a well informed endorsement decision.”
Regardless of the City Council race, the ANCG went ahead with
it’s endorsement of 8 candidates for various races. In the highly
publicized City Clerk race, the Armenian National Committee of Glendale
endorsed Ardashes ‘Ardy’ Kassakhian. The committee endorsed incumbent
Ronald Borucki for City Treasurer along with all three incumbents
for the College Board of Trustees: Armineh Hacopian, Anita Quinonez
Gabrielian and Victor I. King. Finally, for GUSD Board, the ANCG
endorsed incumbents Greg Krikorian and Chuck Sambar as well as Nayiri
Nahebedian for the remaining seat.
“The Armenian National Committee of Glendale believes that these
8 candidates are the best candidates for their respective races.
We are confident that these candidates bring with them the experience
and leadership skills necessary to improve our city and serve our
community,” announced Alina Azizian, Executive Director of the ANCG
(or stated the announcement).
The endorsements come less than 2 months before the April 5th
elections. The ANCG will spend the next 6 weeks encouraging people
to register to vote and get active on campaigns, Azizian stated.
The ANCG will also be launching a voter education campaign to inform
voters about the candidates, the issues and the voting process.
For more information regarding the candidates or ways to get involved,
please contact the Armenian National Committee of Glendale at
818.243.3444 or
#####
Annual clergy conferences bring clergy together for reflection
PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
February 17, 2005
___________________
LENTEN RETREATS GIVE CLERGY CHANCE TO FOCUS ON FAITH
Clergy throughout the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern) are in the middle of their annual Lenten retreats, this year
focused on helping clergy find a balance between their pastoral duties
and their personal and family obligations.
“Clergy must be a leader for the community, a father for the young, and
a comforter for the ill and troubled, but at the same time they must be
sure to be all those to their own family as well,” said Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese. “Today’s clergy find
themselves pulled in all directions, but we must never forget the
importance of one’s family.”
The first regional retreat was held from February 14 to 16, 2005, for
the 12 clergy in the Mid-West region and Southern parishes. It brought
clergy from Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida, and Texas to the
Chicago suburb of Mudelein, IL.
The guest leader of the Midwest retreat was Rev. Anthony Yazge, pastor
of the St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Terre Haute, IN, who has
been a leader in youth ministry in the Antiochian Archdiocese.
The 16 clergy from the New England region — Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, and Watervliet, NY — will meet in Shrewsbury, MA,
for a session lead by Rev. Joseph Purpura, who has served as the youth
director for the Antiochian Church for more than 10 years.
The 25 clergy from the Mid-Atlantic region — New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Washington, Virginia, and Connecticut — will meet from
February 28 to March 2 for a retreat lead by Fr. Alexis Vinogradov, a
pastor with the Orthodox Church of America who has worked on church
architecture and in youth ministry.
The annual Lenten retreats for clergy are organized by Fr. Karekin
Kasparian, coordinator of the Diocese’s Pastoral Support Ministry, which
is charged with assisting pastors in doing their jobs well.
— 2/17/05
# # #
www.armenianchurch.org
BAKU: OSCE chairman to visit Baku
OSCE chairman to visit Baku
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Feb 17 2005
The OSCE chairman-in-office and Slovenian Foreign Minister, Dimitrij
Rupel, is expected to visit Baku in April as part of his tour of the
South Caucasus region.
During the visit, Rupel will meet with President Ilham Aliyev to
discuss issues relating to democratic development, human rights
and freedom of press, as well as preparations for the parliamentary
elections due in Azerbaijan in November.
The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper Garabagh and the role
of the OSCE in the conflict resolution will be in focus as well.
The OSCE chairman is due to meet with the Milli Majlis (parliament)
Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
Armenian orgs of Krasnodar preparing for measures dedicated toArmeni
PanArmenian News
Feb 14 2005
ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS OF KRASNODAR PREPARING FOR MEASURES DEDICATED
TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE 90-TH ANNIVERSARY
14.02.2005 17:16
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A number of Armenian organization acting in the
Russian city of Krasnodar have united in a new public structure named
the Coordination Council of Armenian Organization of Krasnodar, IA
Regnum reports. The new structure aims at coordination of efforts in
holding joint measures and cooperation on other issues. In 2005 the
Council plans a series of measures dedicated to the 90-th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey. A cinema festival,
publication and presentation of books on Armenian themes, an
exhibition of works of Armenian artists of Krasnodar, scientific
conference on Genocide and other mass measures are to be held.
Hearings On Current Situation In Armenia To Be Organized In LateFebr
HEARINGS ON CURRENT SITUATION IN ARMENIA TO BE ORGANIZED IN LATE
FEBRUARY
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12. ARMINFO. The Armenian Parliament’s permanent
commission on defence, national security and internal affairs
is organizing hearings on the country’s current situation with
the participation of the force and the law structures, informed NA
Speaker Artur Baghdasaryan in the interview to “Haykakan jamanak”
newspaper commenting on frequent cases of bloody quarrels in Armenia.
Baghdasaryan noted that everyone will be given an opportunity to
express his position. “Not the power must restrain the law, but the
power activity must be restrained by the law”, he stressed. -r-
Karabakh Problem Will Undoubtedly Be Resolved On The Basis OfPolitic
KARABAKH PROBLEM WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE RESOLVED ON THE BASIS
OF POLITICAL COMPROMISES: DEFENSE MINISTER OF ARMENIA SERGE SARGSYAN
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11. ARMINFO. The Karabakh problem will undoubtedly
be resolved on the basis of political compromises, Secretary of the
Presidential National Security Council, Defense Minister of Armenia
Serge Sargsyan says in response to the questions of the readers of
“Yerkir” newspaper.
He says that there are no doubts that the Armenian party did not
pursue a goal of increase the territories of Armenia or Nagorny
Karabakh when establishing the security zone in the course of 1992-94
military actions. If yielding the security zone would bring safer
conditions for Karabakh people, this topic is subject to discussion.
But, if the point is voluntary yielding of the zone without additional
guarantees for Nagorny Karabakh, he says.
Meeting with Dutch MP Rouvoet on his motion on Armenian Genocide
FEDERATION OF ARMENIAN ORGANISATIONS IN THE NETHERLANDS (FAON)
24 April Committee
Weesperstraat 91
NL – 2574 VS The Hague
Contact: M. Hakhverdian
Tel. 070 4490209
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Meeting with Mr. Andre Rouvoet
the Chairman of Christion Union faction of the Dutch Parliament
Organized by the 24 April Committee of Federation of Armenian Organisations
of the Netherlands (FAON)
This is an invitation for an information evening concerning the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide by Dutch Parliament. The Chairman of Christian
Union faction Mr. Andre Rouvoet, who introduced the motion on the Armenian
Genocide will be present at this meeting. This evening will take place at
the Abovian Cultural Center of The Hague, The Netherlands, on Wednesday,
February 16, 2005 at 7:00 pm precisely, doors open at 6:30 pm.
Date: Wednesday, 16 February 2005
Time: 7 pm precisely, doors open from 6:30 pm
Place: ABOVIAN CULTURAL CENTER
Address: Weesperstraat 91 – The Hague, The Netherlands
Subject: Recognition of the Armenian Genocide
by the Dutch Parliament
The Motion of Rouvoet of December 21, 2004
Admission: Free
Las Vegas deportation case illustrates mixed-family issue
The Associated Press State & Local Wire
February 7, 2005, Monday, BC cycle
Las Vegas deportation case illustrates mixed-family issue
LAS VEGAS
An appeals court ruling has given a southern Nevada family hope they
can win an immigration case and avoid deportation to Mexico.
A lawyer representing Luz Maria Medrano and her family said the
decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco
could set a precedent for families with some members born in the U.S.
or who have become U.S. citizens.
The family’s case hinges in part on the status of 6-year-old Angel
Bacilio, who was born in the U.S. and is the only member of the
family in the country legally.
An immigration law expert at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Boyd
School of Law said the case illustrates the complexity of immigration
cases involving families with some legal residents and others who are
not.
“Someone born here has citizenship, but can’t sponsor a parent or
family members until he or she is over 21 years old,” said David
Thronson, co-director of the UNLV immigration law clinic.
The new Mexican consul in Las Vegas, Mariano Lemus Gas, said the
issue of mixed-status families facing deportation should be dealt
with uniformly rather than case-by-case.
He said he believes American immigration law should be reformed to
balance industry’s need for immigrant labor with workers’ rights and
dignity.
Lemus Gas said he was tracking about 16 immigration reform
initiatives in Congress.
“I hope your Congress can approve at least some of them,” he said.
When the family appeared before U.S. Immigration Court Judge Harry
Gastley in November, they argued they should be allowed to remain in
the U.S. because Angel has learning disabilities and needs special
therapy. It would be a hardship for him to leave to Mexico should his
parents and older brother be deported, they said.
The judge held that Angel could adapt to life in Mexico and his
condition did not constitute a hardship under the law, Gastley said.
The family – Medrano, 39, Angel Bacilio-Gutierrez, 33, Demian
Martinez-Medrano, 16, and Bacilio, 6 – is now represented by Las
Vegas lawyer Leon Rosen, 81.
Rosen said the appeals court’s Jan. 26 ruling opens discussion about
whether an attorney should be assigned in all deportation cases, like
in criminal matters.
Federal law currently classifies deportation as a civil matter, where
people have a right to an attorney but aren’t guaranteed one.
Medrano, a Mexican immigrant, was divorced, desperate and destitute
when she entered the U.S. illegally with her son, Demian, about 1990.
She made her way to Chicago, where she lived with an uncle and worked
in restaurants before moving to Las Vegas in 1997.
She met her husband, Angel Bacilio-Gutierrez, 33, a Mexican immigrant
who had entered the country illegally when he was 14. She studied
English and real estate, and now works in a real estate agent’s
office.
Demian, who has spent almost all of his life in America, told the Las
Vegas Review-Journal he thinks of himself as an American.
“I go to movies, go bowling, go to school and stuff,” he said. “This
all of a sudden makes me feel like an outsider.”
Las Vegas had another case recently in which two girls were rescued
from deportation to Armenia when U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security
Tom Ridge intervened at the behest of Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.
Thronson said U.S. authorities increasingly face complex immigration
cases involving families of mixed status.
A recent study by the Urban Institute, a social policy research
group, found 85 percent of families led by non-citizens have members
of mixed status.
Thronson said the Medrano family’s best chance will be to prove they
have lived here more than 10 years, are of good moral character, have
no convictions and would face exceptional and unusual hardship if
deported.
“Saying that life would be harder or that they’d lose opportunities
(in Mexico) isn’t going to be enough,” Thronson said. “But if they
can establish there’s a disability or a need for medical care, that
could do it.”
Bacilio-Gutierrez said he fears the worst if his family loses its
appeal.
“If they send us to Mexico, this whole family is going to be
destroyed,” he said.
Ruling coalition calls opposition to cooperation
PanArmenian News
Feb 3 2005
RULING COALITION CALLS OPPOSITION TO COOPERATION
03.02.2005 18:11
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today the ruling parliamentary coalition of Armenia
spread a statement, which calls Justice and National Unity opposition
factions to joint work over the draft of constitutional reforms. The
statement welcomes the opposition desire to take part in the work
over constitutional changes and says that proposals made by members
of those factions deserve attentive examination. The statement ends
in a call to opposition parties to participate in the parliamentary
debate over constitutional reforms. The statement is signed by three
parties forming the ruling coalition: the Republican, ARF
Dashnaktsutyun and Orinats Yerkir.