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Nevada ANC Marks 2006 as a Year of Progress and Success

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  • Nevada ANC Marks 2006 as a Year of Progress and Success

    Nevada ANC Marks 2006 as a Year of Progress and Success
    ASBAREZ, 12/29/2006

    LAS VEGAS--Bolstered by strong community support and a dedicated team
    of volunteers, the Nevada Armenian National Committee (ANC) had a
    banner year in 2006. The Silver State's ANC chapter focused this year
    on educating local, state and federal officials on issues of concern
    to Nevada's rapidly growing Armenian American community.

    Thanks in large part to the work of the Nevada ANC, the state is home
    to a delegation of House and Senate members who have consistently
    offered strong support for Armenia in the U.S. Congress. The Nevada
    ANC maintains strong and long-term relationships with incoming Senate
    Majority Leader Harry Reid, Sen.

    John Ensign, Representatives Shelley Berkley and Jon Porter and
    incoming Gov.

    Jim Gibbons. The chapter also has a strong and positive working
    relationship with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and Las Vegas City
    Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian, wife of famed basketball coach Jerry
    Tarkanian.

    "We are pleased with the growth of the Nevada ANC," remarked the
    chapter's co-chairman Ara Shirinian. "Our chapter is committed to
    unifying our community around common issues that all Armenian
    Americans support. As an example, this year we took some major strides
    in working with Las Vegas officials to erect a monument in tribute to
    the victims of the Armenian Genocide and worked to introduce a
    genocide education curriculum in our public school system," Shirinian
    added.

    Incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a strong friend of the
    Nevada ANC, has played a leading role in blocking the nomination of
    Richard Hoagland to serve as America's next ambassador to Armenia. In
    a letter to the Nevada ANC this summer, Senator Reid shared that he
    was "extremely concerned" by the reluctance of Richard Hoagland to
    acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. Most recently, on December 1st,
    Senator Reid called on President Bush to withdraw the Hoagland
    nomination and propose a new candidate to serve in this important
    diplomatic post. The incoming Majority Leader stressed that, in light
    of the broad-based opposition within Congress, the extensive media
    coverage this issue has received, and the strong stand of the Armenian
    American community against the nomination, "it would serve neither our
    national interests nor the U.S.-Armenia relationship to expect
    Ambassador-designate Hoagland to carry out his duties under these
    highly contentious and profoundly troubling circumstances."

    Supporters of the Nevada ANC hosted a number of fundraisers in support
    of area politicians. In July of this year, ANC supporters in the Las
    Vegas area sponsored a fundraiser for Republican U.S. Senator John
    Ensign. Ensign has emerged as a vocal proponent of U.S. recognition
    of the Armenian Genocide and introduced an Armenian Genocide
    resolution in the recently concluded 109th Congress. Also in 2006,
    Nevada ANC supporters hosted a fundraiser for Congresswoman Shelley
    Berkley, a member of the powerful House International Relations
    Committee and an active member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
    Issues.

    "I believe the growth in Nevada's Armenian American community has
    provided a positive opportunity for our ANC chapter to grow as well,"
    commented Nevada ANC co-chairman Dr. Armen Hovanessian. "And with the
    recent changes in Washington, our good friend Senator Reid is now the
    majority leader of the U.S.

    Senate. All of this, the growth in our community and the change in
    Washington, presents a golden opportunity for Nevada's Armenian
    American community to play a major role in advancing the Armenian
    Cause," Hovanessian added.

    During the course of the year, the Nevada ANC joined together with
    other community organizations in participating in an April 24th
    ceremony that drew over 400 participants. Among the public officials
    who attended the ceremony were incoming Governor Jim Gibbons,
    Congressmembers Shelley Berkley and Jon Porter and candidate forNevada
    Secretary of StateDanny Tarkanian. Supporters of the Nevada ANC also
    hosted a successful fundraising event for the ANCA at the home of
    Dr. Armen and Lena Hovanessian.

    The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American
    grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
    network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United
    States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
    actively advances the concerns of the Armenian-American community on a
    broad range of issues

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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