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ANCA Desk: Highlighting Local Activity In The Eastern Region

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  • ANCA Desk: Highlighting Local Activity In The Eastern Region

    ANCA DESK: HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL ACTIVITY IN THE EASTERN REGION
    by Michelle Hagopian

    http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/02/28/anca-desk-highlighting-local-activity-in-the-eastern-region/
    February 28, 2013

    Have you been following ANCA activity in the Eastern Region? If not,
    you're missing out! The Eastern Region has at least 20 local ANC
    chapters, and that number continues to grow.

    Did you know there's an ANC chapter in southern Illinois, and soon
    to be one in Missouri? How about in Louisiana? In most states or
    cities where Armenians live, you can bet there's a local ANC chapter,
    whether it's made up of 50 people or 5.

    What has my local ANC been doing lately, you may ask? In this week's
    column, I'm going to highlight the activity of the ANC of New Jersey
    and ANC activity in Maine. Of course, this isn't the only activity
    going on in the region; rather, it's a sample.

    In Portland, Maine, Baku pogroms survivor Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte
    discussed her family's narrow escape from Azerbaijani aggression and
    the need for expanded U.S. support for the economic and political
    development of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh with newly elected
    U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) during a meeting on Feb. 18.

    Astvatsaturian Turcotte is an accomplished lawyer and author who
    shared a copy of her recently published family memoire, Nowhere: A
    Story of Exile, with the Senator and his staff. She also spoke about
    anti-Armenian massacres that began in 1988 at a Capitol Hill event
    last December that the ANCA helped organized. "The reality of today
    and the last 24 years since 1988 is that Armenians there are no safer
    under Azeri rule than we were in Baku," she said. "The anti-Armenian
    rhetoric and propaganda plagues its policies. Artsakh Armenians could
    and should never be subjected to the Azeri government."

    Work like this truly embodies the grassroots nature of the Armenian
    cause, and people like Astvatsaturian Turcotte take initiative to work
    on issues critical to our community every day. For every article or
    press release you read on a weekly basis, there are other meetings
    or Hai Tahd events that slip by without much discussion.

    For example, did you know the ANC of New Jersey received support
    from a fundraiser held at the Babylon Mediterranean Restaurant in
    River Edge, N.J., on Feb. 12? The event drew more than 100 people
    and raised funds for the ANC there.

    To quote ANC of New Jersey activist Taline Chalian: "The food was
    great, and this was a great opportunity to connect with fellow ANC
    supporters in our community. We're planning on hosting more events
    like this several times a year."

    The fundraiser was inspired by prior community nights, and was
    a chance to bring the community together and socialize. Babylon
    is an Assyrian-owned business, but the owner has worked with the
    Armenian community in New Jersey for years and is supportive of
    Armenian events. This event is a great example of the ANC of New
    Jersey working to engage the community and raise awareness for the
    work the ANCA does locally. The ANC of New Jersey has long been one
    of our most active local chapters, and this fundraiser was a wonderful
    way to start off the year.

    The ANC of New Jersey also met with Congressman Scott Garrett
    (R-N.J.-5) at a meeting hosted by the Armenian Home for the Aged
    on Jan. 29. ANC of New Jersey co-chairs James Sahagian and Karine
    Shnorhokian expressed appreciation to the Congressman for his continued
    support for recognition of the Armenian Genocide, his support on the
    "Return of Churches" resolution in the last Congress, and other items
    of concern to the Armenian-American community.

    These meetings are crucial to ANCA work, especially with
    Representatives like Garrett who has been a strong supporter of
    Armenian issues since being elected to Congress in New Jersey's 5th
    District in 2003. He's consistently received a rating of "A" on his
    Congressional report cards because of his advocacy on behalf of his
    Armenian constituents.

    Again, this is just a sampling of what local ANC chapters have been
    accomplishing in the Eastern Region. We'd love to highlight more
    local activity. If your ANC has done something noteworthy recently,
    e-mail me at [email protected] or [email protected] so we can create
    a press release and spotlight it in this column. And as always, if
    you want to get involved or learn more about the ANCA, please reach
    out to me via e-mail at any time.



    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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