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AGHJAYAN: INVESTING IN ANCA YIELDS DIVERSE, PROVEN RETURNS
by George Aghjayan
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/05/16/aghjayan-investing-in-anca-yields-diverse-proven-returns/
May 16, 2012
On May 20, the ANCA Endowment Fund will host its third telethon in
the past decade. By now, you have seen it on websites, read about it
in e-mails and the community press, and seen it on television and
social media sites. Hopefully you, in turn, are sharing the news
with your friends and family, confirming your donation commitment,
and planning to attend one of the many viewing parties nationwide.
The 2009 ANCA Leo Sarkisian Interns doing us proud.
Spreading the word about, planning to participate in, and donating to
this event may seem small and, in the busy lives we all share-balancing
work, raising children, taking care of parents, excelling in school,
maintaining our health, and nurturing our social network-something
that is easily forgotten or not prioritized.
But, it is also one of the greatest opportunities to invest in the
success of the community. Contrary to popular perception, it is not
merely a direct investment in issues, but rather a contribution to
the diversified foundation of issues, people, and presence.
We all know the issues. Justice for the Armenian Genocide, promoting
a stronger U.S.-Armenia relationship, as well as relationships with
the Armenian nation throughout the region, and building stronger
civic engagement among Americans of Armenian ethnicity.
The ANCA's successes in raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide
are well known. These include its legal research revolving around
the continued protection of Armenian Genocide-related state laws,
the change in the climate on Capitol Hill from genocide denial to
affirmation deferral, and educating the current generation of public
officials (as well as Armenian Americans) about the ongoing academic
advances in the fields of genocide reparations and restitution.
The ANCA remains at the forefront, the American leader in ensuring
continued growth and expansion of the relationship between the U.S.
and the Republic of Armenia. From ensuring that public officials at
all levels are reminded of its disproportionately large contribution
to American-led and international peace-keeping missions throughout
the world to making sure humanitarian assistance is justly received
by Armenian communities throughout the region, the ANCA continues to
push the envelope.
However, its greatest success is the return on that investment in
the communities across this great country. America continues to be a
land of opportunity where civic engagement and public service is the
center of power. No matter what the "outside" influence, it is those
"inside" the Congress, state legislatures, county seats, and city
halls who shape and cast the final vote.
For over two decades, the ANCA has run the Leo Sarkisian Internship
in Washington, D.C., and through this and other internship programs
has sponsored hundreds of young Armenian Americans to come and
learn-through active engagement-the nuances of and challenges faced
by Hai Tahd.
Nearly 10 years ago, the ANCA started the Capitol Gateway Program.
This initiative seeks to evolve the ambitious Armenian youth
presence in Washington, D.C. from educating an ever-transient group
of students to a vibrant community of young professionals plugged into
all sectors. Dozens of recent college graduates and new professionals
have made the nation's capital their new home, and in many cases the
nation's Capitol their place of work, something that would not have
been feasible without the support of the ANCA.
These successes are the tip of an iceberg that is comprised of hundreds
of thousands of staff and volunteer hours, who, in turn, worked out of
offices, on campuses, and in community centers across the nation. It
is the result of efforts as big as organizing conferences that bring
together experts from around the world and as unsung as staying up
late nights writing and then putting together informational packages
for public officials, educators, the media, and our own supporters.
Yet there is so much more we can do. There is so much more we need
to do. The bar of success is ever moving. Greater success brings more
challenges by those who seek to marginalize or tear us down. Greater
success brings larger expectations, and rightfully so!
Armenians have a rich, multi-millenia culture about which they should
be proud. Armenians have contributed extensively to the U.S. though
their successful realization of the American Dream. But resting on
these laurels condemns us to history and eliminates our future.
Join me in supporting the 2012 ANCA Endowment Fund Telethon.
Contribute, get your family and friends to donate, and let us-all
together-watch this momentous event.
Together, with your support of the ANCA, we will continue to be a
leading force in writing the next chapter of the Armenian experience
in America.
George Aghjayan is chairman of the ANCA Eastern Region.
From: Baghdasarian
by George Aghjayan
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/05/16/aghjayan-investing-in-anca-yields-diverse-proven-returns/
May 16, 2012
On May 20, the ANCA Endowment Fund will host its third telethon in
the past decade. By now, you have seen it on websites, read about it
in e-mails and the community press, and seen it on television and
social media sites. Hopefully you, in turn, are sharing the news
with your friends and family, confirming your donation commitment,
and planning to attend one of the many viewing parties nationwide.
The 2009 ANCA Leo Sarkisian Interns doing us proud.
Spreading the word about, planning to participate in, and donating to
this event may seem small and, in the busy lives we all share-balancing
work, raising children, taking care of parents, excelling in school,
maintaining our health, and nurturing our social network-something
that is easily forgotten or not prioritized.
But, it is also one of the greatest opportunities to invest in the
success of the community. Contrary to popular perception, it is not
merely a direct investment in issues, but rather a contribution to
the diversified foundation of issues, people, and presence.
We all know the issues. Justice for the Armenian Genocide, promoting
a stronger U.S.-Armenia relationship, as well as relationships with
the Armenian nation throughout the region, and building stronger
civic engagement among Americans of Armenian ethnicity.
The ANCA's successes in raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide
are well known. These include its legal research revolving around
the continued protection of Armenian Genocide-related state laws,
the change in the climate on Capitol Hill from genocide denial to
affirmation deferral, and educating the current generation of public
officials (as well as Armenian Americans) about the ongoing academic
advances in the fields of genocide reparations and restitution.
The ANCA remains at the forefront, the American leader in ensuring
continued growth and expansion of the relationship between the U.S.
and the Republic of Armenia. From ensuring that public officials at
all levels are reminded of its disproportionately large contribution
to American-led and international peace-keeping missions throughout
the world to making sure humanitarian assistance is justly received
by Armenian communities throughout the region, the ANCA continues to
push the envelope.
However, its greatest success is the return on that investment in
the communities across this great country. America continues to be a
land of opportunity where civic engagement and public service is the
center of power. No matter what the "outside" influence, it is those
"inside" the Congress, state legislatures, county seats, and city
halls who shape and cast the final vote.
For over two decades, the ANCA has run the Leo Sarkisian Internship
in Washington, D.C., and through this and other internship programs
has sponsored hundreds of young Armenian Americans to come and
learn-through active engagement-the nuances of and challenges faced
by Hai Tahd.
Nearly 10 years ago, the ANCA started the Capitol Gateway Program.
This initiative seeks to evolve the ambitious Armenian youth
presence in Washington, D.C. from educating an ever-transient group
of students to a vibrant community of young professionals plugged into
all sectors. Dozens of recent college graduates and new professionals
have made the nation's capital their new home, and in many cases the
nation's Capitol their place of work, something that would not have
been feasible without the support of the ANCA.
These successes are the tip of an iceberg that is comprised of hundreds
of thousands of staff and volunteer hours, who, in turn, worked out of
offices, on campuses, and in community centers across the nation. It
is the result of efforts as big as organizing conferences that bring
together experts from around the world and as unsung as staying up
late nights writing and then putting together informational packages
for public officials, educators, the media, and our own supporters.
Yet there is so much more we can do. There is so much more we need
to do. The bar of success is ever moving. Greater success brings more
challenges by those who seek to marginalize or tear us down. Greater
success brings larger expectations, and rightfully so!
Armenians have a rich, multi-millenia culture about which they should
be proud. Armenians have contributed extensively to the U.S. though
their successful realization of the American Dream. But resting on
these laurels condemns us to history and eliminates our future.
Join me in supporting the 2012 ANCA Endowment Fund Telethon.
Contribute, get your family and friends to donate, and let us-all
together-watch this momentous event.
Together, with your support of the ANCA, we will continue to be a
leading force in writing the next chapter of the Armenian experience
in America.
George Aghjayan is chairman of the ANCA Eastern Region.
From: Baghdasarian