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ANCA IS ON THE MOVE IN IDAHO
Http://Asbarez.Com/108850/Anca-Is-On-The-Move-In-Idaho/
Monday, March 18th, 2013
Armenian Community Of Boise, Idaho Gatheres For ANCA Town Hal Meeting
BY WILLIAM BAIRAMIAN
BOISE, Idaho-Johnny Kazian Is 80-Years Old. He Is A Korean War
Veteran, A Former Hollywood Stuntman, And An Oil Field Engineer. He Is
Also A Leading Force For The Armenian Cause In Boise, Idaho.
On Saturday, March 2, The Armenian National Committee Of America
-Western Region (ANCA-WR) Traveled To Boise For A Town Hall
Spearheaded By Johnny Kazian. The Gathering With A Small But Lively
Idaho Armenian Community Was Reminiscent Of The Town Hall Meetings
Once Held In Small Towns Across The United States. The ANCA Town Hall
meeting was held in the basement hall of the quaint Saints Constantine
and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, where a dozen Armenian-Americans -
originally from Boise, Baku, Philadelphia, Istanbul, and Yerevan -
gathered to learn about the ANCA's work and discuss ways of becoming
involved in the political process.
Sitting in an all-American diner earlier that morning, a hearty
Mountain West breakfast of steak, eggs, bacon, and hash browns before
him, Mr. Kazian shared his family's story with me. His father was the
only survivor of the Armenian Genocide - he was from Sebastia. "He was
a great man, one of a kind," said Mr. Kazian, fondly remembering his
father.
I had met Mr. Kazian in Washington, DC, years ago when he bravely
walked through the halls of Congress to advocate, with the ANCA, for
the Armenian American issues so dear to him. Years later, in Boise, I
realized that the resolve in his eyes when he spoke with me was one of
the reasons why I work for the ANCA and why I was in Idaho - because
people like him believe that Armenians deserve justice and that they
will fight for it with passion and undying devotion.
Later that day, as we sat in that church hall, the small Boise
Armenian community trickled in. Among them was Flora, a survivor of
the Baku pogroms perpetrated by Azerbaijani mobs, encouraged by the
government, against the city's Armenian population. She had escaped to
Yerevan and then moved to Boise to start a new life. She had brought
cake and others had brought delicacies to share with their
compatriots.
The vibrant discussion that followed the introductory remarks about
the ANCA's efforts evidenced the Boise Armenian community's interest
and readiness to play its part in the Armenian Cause.
One of the attendees asked, "What makes you think we're going to win
considering the odds we're up against?" Looking around, the answer was
clear: we had already won. Sons, daughters, and grandchildren of the
Armenian Genocide, Stalinist purges, and Azerbaijani pogroms sat
around the table, as Armenians, and talked about how they can
contribute to the goals of their people - there could be no greater
victory.
After the church hall emptied out and everyone did their part in
cleaning up to leave the room tidy, a small group remained outside.
Kazian sat in his car and, before driving off, said, in a resounding
tone, "This isn't our last meeting. I'll see you again soon!" I
believe him, which is the only thing I could do. After all, this man
had spent his whole life believing.
The next ANCA Town Hall meeting will take place in Fresno, California
on March 16 and, following that, in Phoenix, Arizona on April 7. A
previous ANCA Town Hall was held in Las Vegas, Nevada earlier this
month.The ANCA Town Hall meetings are being held across the nation
consistent with the ANCA's belief in grassroots organizing and
activism.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.
Http://Asbarez.Com/108850/Anca-Is-On-The-Move-In-Idaho/
Monday, March 18th, 2013
Armenian Community Of Boise, Idaho Gatheres For ANCA Town Hal Meeting
BY WILLIAM BAIRAMIAN
BOISE, Idaho-Johnny Kazian Is 80-Years Old. He Is A Korean War
Veteran, A Former Hollywood Stuntman, And An Oil Field Engineer. He Is
Also A Leading Force For The Armenian Cause In Boise, Idaho.
On Saturday, March 2, The Armenian National Committee Of America
-Western Region (ANCA-WR) Traveled To Boise For A Town Hall
Spearheaded By Johnny Kazian. The Gathering With A Small But Lively
Idaho Armenian Community Was Reminiscent Of The Town Hall Meetings
Once Held In Small Towns Across The United States. The ANCA Town Hall
meeting was held in the basement hall of the quaint Saints Constantine
and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, where a dozen Armenian-Americans -
originally from Boise, Baku, Philadelphia, Istanbul, and Yerevan -
gathered to learn about the ANCA's work and discuss ways of becoming
involved in the political process.
Sitting in an all-American diner earlier that morning, a hearty
Mountain West breakfast of steak, eggs, bacon, and hash browns before
him, Mr. Kazian shared his family's story with me. His father was the
only survivor of the Armenian Genocide - he was from Sebastia. "He was
a great man, one of a kind," said Mr. Kazian, fondly remembering his
father.
I had met Mr. Kazian in Washington, DC, years ago when he bravely
walked through the halls of Congress to advocate, with the ANCA, for
the Armenian American issues so dear to him. Years later, in Boise, I
realized that the resolve in his eyes when he spoke with me was one of
the reasons why I work for the ANCA and why I was in Idaho - because
people like him believe that Armenians deserve justice and that they
will fight for it with passion and undying devotion.
Later that day, as we sat in that church hall, the small Boise
Armenian community trickled in. Among them was Flora, a survivor of
the Baku pogroms perpetrated by Azerbaijani mobs, encouraged by the
government, against the city's Armenian population. She had escaped to
Yerevan and then moved to Boise to start a new life. She had brought
cake and others had brought delicacies to share with their
compatriots.
The vibrant discussion that followed the introductory remarks about
the ANCA's efforts evidenced the Boise Armenian community's interest
and readiness to play its part in the Armenian Cause.
One of the attendees asked, "What makes you think we're going to win
considering the odds we're up against?" Looking around, the answer was
clear: we had already won. Sons, daughters, and grandchildren of the
Armenian Genocide, Stalinist purges, and Azerbaijani pogroms sat
around the table, as Armenians, and talked about how they can
contribute to the goals of their people - there could be no greater
victory.
After the church hall emptied out and everyone did their part in
cleaning up to leave the room tidy, a small group remained outside.
Kazian sat in his car and, before driving off, said, in a resounding
tone, "This isn't our last meeting. I'll see you again soon!" I
believe him, which is the only thing I could do. After all, this man
had spent his whole life believing.
The next ANCA Town Hall meeting will take place in Fresno, California
on March 16 and, following that, in Phoenix, Arizona on April 7. A
previous ANCA Town Hall was held in Las Vegas, Nevada earlier this
month.The ANCA Town Hall meetings are being held across the nation
consistent with the ANCA's belief in grassroots organizing and
activism.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.