Tweet
ANC-IL FUNDRAISER FEATURES HAMPARIAN
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/10/22/anc-il-fundraiser-features-hamparian/
By Contributor // October 22, 2013
GLENVIEW, Ill.-On Sun., Oct. 6, a crowd of supporters of the Armenian
National Committee (ANC) of Illinois gathered at the home of Dr.
Khachig and Lena Ishkhan to hear about recent developments in Hai
Tahd at the local, regional, and national level.
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian speaks at an ANC of Illinois
fundraiser at the home of Dr. Khachig and Lena Ishkhan on Oct. 6.
The featured speaker of the event was ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian, who discussed the various phases that Armenian political
activity has passed through. He described how Armenian political
activity began nearly a century ago when efforts were centered
around fostering sympathy, especially with regard to securing aid for
victims of the genocide and for Armenia's fledgling republic. With
the Soviet takeover of the republic, Hamparian said, the community
entered a stage of partisanship, which peaked during the Cold War,
when different elements aligned themselves within the different poles.
Hamparian discussed how in the 1960's and 1970's, the community began
to take a more outward focus, organizing protests and becoming more
forceful in our demands. In the 1980's and 1990's, the community grew
much active in lobbying efforts and influencing the decision-makers
within our government structures. More recently, the ANCA has tried to
expand the community's reach by helping young Armenian Americans join
the government structures and eventually become the decision-makers.
He also described how the ANCA's palette of issues has expanded beyond
human rights and the genocide, to demands for reparations, support for
Armenia, Karabagh, and Javakhk, and support for Armenian communities in
Iraq, Syria, and other areas in turmoil. He talked about the transition
of Armenia's relationship with the U.S. from one that is aid-based
to one that is trade-based in order to help fuel economic growth.
Earlier, ANC of Illinois Chair Claude Ohanesian opened the program
by thanking everyone for attending. He then presented hosts Khachig
and Lena Ishkhan with a gift of a signed copy of the newly published
book One Church, One Nation by Hrair Hawk Khatcherian.
Reviewing some of the many activities of the ANC of Illinois, Ohanesian
spoke about the organization's continuing efforts to raise awareness
about Armenian issues with local, state, and federal officials,
mentioning meetings with Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Armenian Caucus
Co-Chair Congressman Michael Grimm, Congressman Brad Schneider,
members of the Illinois State Assembly, and others.
Ohanesian also spoke about the ANC's 2013 Armenian Genocide
commemoration, which was co-hosted by the Illinois Holocaust Museum
and featured noted author Peter Balakian. He also discussed continuing
efforts with the museum to mark the Centennial of Armenian Genocide.
He then introduced Illinois State Holocaust and Genocide Commission
member and long-time ANC activist Greg Bedian to provide an update
on the commission and other outreach activities.
Bedian, who was appointed to the commission by Gov. Quinn, described
the newly organized commission's efforts to raise genocide awareness.
He spoke about how the commission was working to encourage the various
communities impacted by genocide to work more closely together and
learn from each other, and how the ANC had hosted a meeting of the
commission at the Armenian Community Center in March. He also discussed
the international academic conference held in May that was co-organized
by the ANC and the Assyrian and Greek communities, and held at the
Illinois Holocaust Museum. It was the first major conference ever
held devoted to the three genocides committed by the Ottoman Turks.
Upon conclusion of the program, attendees were given copies of the
book A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide, written
by Samantha Power, the current U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
The Armenian National Committee of Illinois is a grassroots public
affairs organization that works in coordination with a nationwide
network of offices, affiliated organizations, and supporters to inform,
educate, and actively advance the concerns of the Armenian-American
community on broad range of issues.
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/10/22/anc-il-fundraiser-features-hamparian/
By Contributor // October 22, 2013
GLENVIEW, Ill.-On Sun., Oct. 6, a crowd of supporters of the Armenian
National Committee (ANC) of Illinois gathered at the home of Dr.
Khachig and Lena Ishkhan to hear about recent developments in Hai
Tahd at the local, regional, and national level.
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian speaks at an ANC of Illinois
fundraiser at the home of Dr. Khachig and Lena Ishkhan on Oct. 6.
The featured speaker of the event was ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian, who discussed the various phases that Armenian political
activity has passed through. He described how Armenian political
activity began nearly a century ago when efforts were centered
around fostering sympathy, especially with regard to securing aid for
victims of the genocide and for Armenia's fledgling republic. With
the Soviet takeover of the republic, Hamparian said, the community
entered a stage of partisanship, which peaked during the Cold War,
when different elements aligned themselves within the different poles.
Hamparian discussed how in the 1960's and 1970's, the community began
to take a more outward focus, organizing protests and becoming more
forceful in our demands. In the 1980's and 1990's, the community grew
much active in lobbying efforts and influencing the decision-makers
within our government structures. More recently, the ANCA has tried to
expand the community's reach by helping young Armenian Americans join
the government structures and eventually become the decision-makers.
He also described how the ANCA's palette of issues has expanded beyond
human rights and the genocide, to demands for reparations, support for
Armenia, Karabagh, and Javakhk, and support for Armenian communities in
Iraq, Syria, and other areas in turmoil. He talked about the transition
of Armenia's relationship with the U.S. from one that is aid-based
to one that is trade-based in order to help fuel economic growth.
Earlier, ANC of Illinois Chair Claude Ohanesian opened the program
by thanking everyone for attending. He then presented hosts Khachig
and Lena Ishkhan with a gift of a signed copy of the newly published
book One Church, One Nation by Hrair Hawk Khatcherian.
Reviewing some of the many activities of the ANC of Illinois, Ohanesian
spoke about the organization's continuing efforts to raise awareness
about Armenian issues with local, state, and federal officials,
mentioning meetings with Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Armenian Caucus
Co-Chair Congressman Michael Grimm, Congressman Brad Schneider,
members of the Illinois State Assembly, and others.
Ohanesian also spoke about the ANC's 2013 Armenian Genocide
commemoration, which was co-hosted by the Illinois Holocaust Museum
and featured noted author Peter Balakian. He also discussed continuing
efforts with the museum to mark the Centennial of Armenian Genocide.
He then introduced Illinois State Holocaust and Genocide Commission
member and long-time ANC activist Greg Bedian to provide an update
on the commission and other outreach activities.
Bedian, who was appointed to the commission by Gov. Quinn, described
the newly organized commission's efforts to raise genocide awareness.
He spoke about how the commission was working to encourage the various
communities impacted by genocide to work more closely together and
learn from each other, and how the ANC had hosted a meeting of the
commission at the Armenian Community Center in March. He also discussed
the international academic conference held in May that was co-organized
by the ANC and the Assyrian and Greek communities, and held at the
Illinois Holocaust Museum. It was the first major conference ever
held devoted to the three genocides committed by the Ottoman Turks.
Upon conclusion of the program, attendees were given copies of the
book A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide, written
by Samantha Power, the current U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
The Armenian National Committee of Illinois is a grassroots public
affairs organization that works in coordination with a nationwide
network of offices, affiliated organizations, and supporters to inform,
educate, and actively advance the concerns of the Armenian-American
community on broad range of issues.