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BAIRAMIAN: A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
By: William Bairamian
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2011/06/02/bairamian-a-unique-opportunity/
Thu, Jun 2 2011
The United States is a big country, and it has Armenians strewn across
every single state.
Despite the strength of Armenian Americans on the national political
stage, there aren't any events that allow all politically motivated
members of the community to congregate in one place to discuss the
future of our efforts-except one. The ANCA Leadership Conference,
hosted by the ANCA National Headquarters is the only such event.
It is the premiere occasion event where Armenian American activists
can gather to learn about the challenges the Armenian Cause faces
and an opportunity for them to discuss, face to face, ways to improve
the approach to our work.
In the past half century, a lot has changed for Armenians. An
independent Armenian state was founded. An historic Armenian land
was fought for and regained by the brave sons and daughters of the
Armenian nation. The Armenian Genocide went from the brink of being
forgotten in many places and denied in others to being discussed on
the international stage, with nary a serious denier to be found today.
These developments didn't happen by accident-activists made them
happen. Whether they were declaring independence in Armenia, fighting
for independence in Artsakh, or bringing the issue of justice for the
Armenian Genocide to the fore, activists were the ones who accepted
the personality responsibility of advancing the Armenian Cause.
Now, as the Cause has reached a crossroads, active and powerful but
facing resurgent enemies with financial resources greater than that
of all Armenians combined, it must change to adapt to the current
environment. That's why the ANCA has entitled this year's Leadership
Conference "Armenian Cause 2.0."
It's all about the direction to take, learning from the great successes
and the occasional shortcomings, while using the community's potential
resources-financial, human and, especially, technological-to forcefully
promote the Cause and to unapologetically stand up for what's right.
This conference is for every Armenian American. The decisions made in
Congress are affected by constituents on the ground in their districts
and those decisions in turn affect everyone. We as a community must
be better prepared to confront the challenges that we will undoubtedly
face in the near and distant futures.
We have been fortunate to have dedicated leaders, activists, and
benefactors to clear the path over the past decades. Now, with a
large, more widely educated, and better integrated Diaspora, we have
to seize the power that is ours for the taking. There is no better way
to learn how to do this than to hear it from the seasoned veterans
of the Armenian Cause while meeting the new generation of leaders
who will carry the mantle for the coming many decades.
Do not wait for next time. Armenia can't wait. Arstakh can't wait.
Javakhk can't wait. Justice for the Genocide can't wait. Go to
Washington, DC and come back to your community with a renewed vigor and
the skills necessary to take the Armenian Cause to the next level-2.0.
To read more about the conference and to register, click here.
By: William Bairamian
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2011/06/02/bairamian-a-unique-opportunity/
Thu, Jun 2 2011
The United States is a big country, and it has Armenians strewn across
every single state.
Despite the strength of Armenian Americans on the national political
stage, there aren't any events that allow all politically motivated
members of the community to congregate in one place to discuss the
future of our efforts-except one. The ANCA Leadership Conference,
hosted by the ANCA National Headquarters is the only such event.
It is the premiere occasion event where Armenian American activists
can gather to learn about the challenges the Armenian Cause faces
and an opportunity for them to discuss, face to face, ways to improve
the approach to our work.
In the past half century, a lot has changed for Armenians. An
independent Armenian state was founded. An historic Armenian land
was fought for and regained by the brave sons and daughters of the
Armenian nation. The Armenian Genocide went from the brink of being
forgotten in many places and denied in others to being discussed on
the international stage, with nary a serious denier to be found today.
These developments didn't happen by accident-activists made them
happen. Whether they were declaring independence in Armenia, fighting
for independence in Artsakh, or bringing the issue of justice for the
Armenian Genocide to the fore, activists were the ones who accepted
the personality responsibility of advancing the Armenian Cause.
Now, as the Cause has reached a crossroads, active and powerful but
facing resurgent enemies with financial resources greater than that
of all Armenians combined, it must change to adapt to the current
environment. That's why the ANCA has entitled this year's Leadership
Conference "Armenian Cause 2.0."
It's all about the direction to take, learning from the great successes
and the occasional shortcomings, while using the community's potential
resources-financial, human and, especially, technological-to forcefully
promote the Cause and to unapologetically stand up for what's right.
This conference is for every Armenian American. The decisions made in
Congress are affected by constituents on the ground in their districts
and those decisions in turn affect everyone. We as a community must
be better prepared to confront the challenges that we will undoubtedly
face in the near and distant futures.
We have been fortunate to have dedicated leaders, activists, and
benefactors to clear the path over the past decades. Now, with a
large, more widely educated, and better integrated Diaspora, we have
to seize the power that is ours for the taking. There is no better way
to learn how to do this than to hear it from the seasoned veterans
of the Armenian Cause while meeting the new generation of leaders
who will carry the mantle for the coming many decades.
Do not wait for next time. Armenia can't wait. Arstakh can't wait.
Javakhk can't wait. Justice for the Genocide can't wait. Go to
Washington, DC and come back to your community with a renewed vigor and
the skills necessary to take the Armenian Cause to the next level-2.0.
To read more about the conference and to register, click here.