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Youth organization leadership plans for growth

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  • Youth organization leadership plans for growth

    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: www.armenianchurch.org

    September 28, 2004
    ___________________

    ACYOA CENTRAL COUNCIL WORKS ON IMPLEMENTING GOALS

    You can't move forward without a map. During their first meeting this
    fall, the volunteer leaders of the Armenian Church Youth Organization of
    America (ACYOA) sat down to look at their map and see how they can get
    to where they want to go.

    The ACYOA Central Council and its executive secretary gathered at the
    St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church in Wynnewood, PA, on Saturday, September
    11, 2004, to plan ways to reach the organization's goals for the coming
    year, which were established during a July meeting in New York City.

    PLANNING GROWTH

    During the July meeting -- with the input of Archbishop Khajag
    Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese, and Dr. Sam Mikaelian,
    executive director of the Diocesan Center-- the ACYOA Central Council
    compiled a list of goals for the group, divided into four categories for
    the organization to address.

    Each broader goal was given a time frame for completion, and each was
    broken into smaller goals, to facilitate planning and execution.

    According to the goals set by the Central Council by May 2005, ACYOA
    will:

    * Improve communications by increasing contacts between the Central
    Council and the chapters and parishes;

    * Strengthen existing programs by expanding and improving its highly
    successful Armenia Service Program (ASP) trip to Armenia in 2005,
    studying the possibility of establishing a second trip to Armenia, and
    planning unique fall regional conferences to be held in each region;

    * Work with local parishes and chapters to expand local chapters,
    develop resources for local leaders, and establish or revitalize three
    new chapters;

    * Implement a new fundraising strategy by establishing a fundraising
    committee and developing new fundraising methods.

    CONNECTING PARISHES

    One new project discussed during the September meeting is called "ACYOA
    Fasts for Armenia." This effort is meant to allow local ACYOA chapters
    throughout the Diocese to participate in the same project on the same
    day.

    During "ACYOA Fasts for Armenia," to be held on a day yet to be
    determined, ACYOA members will come together and fast while
    participating in Bible studies and other activities. The objective is
    to increase hunger awareness and raise funds to benefit Armenia.

    It is just one of the ways the Diocesan ACYOA leadership is working to
    tie together young Armenians in parishes throughout the Diocese. They
    will host a series of fall regional conferences this year, bringing
    young Armenians together to discuss their faith. Topics of discussion
    will include learning to live within God's word, sexuality and spouses,
    and programming ideas for local ACYOA leaders.

    The first regional conference will be for Midwest regional parishes on
    Saturday, October 23, 2004, at the St. John Church of Southfield, MI.
    Mid-Atlantic parishes will meet at the St. Mary Church of Livingston,
    NJ, on Saturday, November 6, 2004. The Holy Resurrection Church in New
    Britain, CT, will host the New England parishes on Saturday, November
    13, 2004. And on Saturday, January 15, 2005, Southern parishes will
    gather at the St. Sarkis Church of Dallas, TX.

    These day-long conferences are free and open to anyone between the ages
    of 18 and 28. If you would like more information on any of the
    conferences, e-mail ACYOA Executive Secretary Nancy Basmajian at
    [email protected].

    ACYOA members and young Armenains will also have the chance to get
    together this fall in Boston, when the ACYOA chapter at the Holy Trinity
    Church of Cambridge, MA, hosts the Archbishop's Tournament.

    Besides planning ACYOA programming, during their fall meeting the
    Central Council members discussed other projects, including
    participation in the upcoming meeting of the Standing Committee of
    Oriental Orthodox Youth of America (SCOOYA) and sending representatives
    to a Pan-American Youth Meeting to be held in October. That meeting
    will bring together youth leaders from the Eastern Diocese, Western
    Diocese, and Canadian Diocese to help increase communication and discuss
    common challenges that face the youth of the Armenian Church.

    After their business meeting, on Sunday, September 12, all seven ACYOA
    Central Council members worshipped with the parishioners at the St.
    Sahag and St. Mesrob Church, after which they joined the parish for its
    annual parish picnic.

    -- 9/28/04

    E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News
    and Events section of the Eastern Diocese's website,
    www.armenianchurch.org.

    PHOTO CAPTION (1): Members of the Central Council of the Armenian
    Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA) gather in Wynnewood, PA,
    for a planning meeting on September 11, 2004.

    PHOTO CAPTION (2): During a recent meeting, the ACYOA Central Council
    set goals and objectives for the coming year, which include supporting
    local parishes in establishing ACYOA chapters and formulating a
    fund-raising strategy.

    PHOTO CAPTION (3): The St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church of Wynnewood,
    PA, welcomed the ACYOA Central Council members during its annual picnic
    on September 12, 2004.

    # # #
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